It’s truly inspiring to talk with a man who can take such pride in his musical legacy. Roy Ayers has recorded 86 albums in his time but he’s far from finished yet. The legendary vibraphonist, bandmaster, and all round soulful cat has just completed an album with DD Bridgewater, the celebrated jazz vocalist from Memphis, Tennesee. The pair are old friends, having worked together many times since they met in ‘78 and Ayers speaks of her with great fondness.
“DD is an old crony of mine, I went back and did some stuff with her,” Ayers, who celebrated his 68th birthday last month, rasps warmly. “She was very excited, and she’s still got the fire and the touch and she’s still as exciting as ever. We had a good time, we recorded it right here in Manhattan.”
The only volume of Roy’s work missing from his extensive personal collection is a Japan release vinyl LP called All Blues. Fully complete or nor it’s a quite a catalogue to look back on, hard physical proof of a life spent pursuing a prodigious talent that spread joy and happiness to people of all descriptions the world over. “But other than that I have all of them, I’m glad I kept them,” he continues. “I’m very proud. I’m very happy that I did it, it makes me feel good. And people talk about all the old stuff all the time just like you and I are talking about it. It’s a wonderful feeling.”
There are rooms on all the continents where Ayers is in constant demand to appear. Chicago and Philadelphia are both US soul strongholds and Roy has residencies in both cities, as he does at SOBs in downtown Manhattan. Although interestingly enough the recording artist describes the London crowd as his “greatest crowd of all”. His residency at historical London venue Ronnie Scott’s has been on hold for the last three years to allow him to play to a larger audience at the Jazz Cafe.
“We do ten dates [at the Jazz Cafe] every year from Christmas until right after New Years. Ten days straight, and we sell out every show. So now Ronnie Scott’s are going to have me back in March because they are hungry,” his voice breaks into peals of infectious laughter. “They changed the format for a while, but now I’m going back to Ronnie Scott’s to kick booty!”
The Pacific leg of this ‘Roy Ayers Ubiquity’ tour takes in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast, as well as New Zealand. Joining the Ubiquity ensemble will be Lee Pearson on drums, whom Roy has generous praise for. “I think probably he’s the greatest drummer in the world. He studied here with Max Roach many years ago. He’s only about 24 years old, he’s fantastic. He makes people stand up and say ‘wow, he’s incredible!’ The piano rests in the safe hands of Mark Adams (“One of the great pianists, he’s worked with the great bass player, Ron Carter”), Donald Nicks on bass, Rae Gaskins on sax, and John Pressley will be sharing the vocals with Ayers himself.
“We’re gonna be playing all the favourite songs like Everybody Loves The Sunshine, and Running Away, Don’t Stop The Feeling, some great songs. Last time I played out there was at the Basement, it was wonderful. I’m looking forward to the same excitement every time I come out there, because the Sydney crowd reminds me of the great people in Britain, in London.”
Catch the Roy Ayers experience at the following dates…
Friday 17th October – Caloundra Festival – Caloundra, QLD
Saturday 18th October – York Jazz Music Festival Avon Terrace, York WA
Sunday 19th October – Rocket Bar Adelaide, SA 5000
Thursday 23rd October – Prince Of Wales St Kilda Vic
Friday 24th October – The Forum, Moore Park NSW 1363
