Episode #154 Gil Scott-Heron Memorial Show

Episode 154 with special guest Cosmo Baker

Episode #154

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offering - Gil Scott-Heron

it's your world - Gil Scott-Heron

the needle's eye - Gil Scott-Heron

angola, louisiana - Gil Scott-Heron

no knock - Gil Scott-Heron

peace go with you brother - Gil Scott-Heron

winter in america (live) - Gil Scott-Heron

I'll take care of you - Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie XX

racetrack in france - Gil Scott-Heron

your daddy loves you - Gil Scott-Heron

angel dust - Gil Scott-Heron

washington D.C. (boombox video version) - Gil Scott-Heron

Richard Pryor SNL intro/Johannesburg (live) - Gil Scott-Heron

essex - Gil Scott-Heron

must be something - Gil Scott-Heron

whitey on the moon - Gil Scott-Heron

who'll pay reparations on my soul? - Gil Scott-Heron

paint it black - Gil Scott-Heron

inner city blues (make me wanna holler) - Gil Scott-Heron

legend in his own mind - Gil Scott-Heron

new york city - Gil Scott-Heron

free will - Gil Scott-Heron

Lady Day and John Coltrane - Gil Scott-Heron

liberation song - Gil Scott-Heron

revolution talk - Gil Scott-Heron

the revolution will not be televised (early version) - Gil Scott-Heron

the revolution will NOT be televised - Gil Scott-Heron

the bottle (live snake version) - Gil Scott-Heron

home is where the hatred is - Gil Scott-Heron

new york is killing me - Gil Scott-Heron

grandma's hands - Gil Scott-Heron

we almost lost Detroit - Gil Scott-Heron

pieces of a man - Gil Scott-Heron

Ronnie Mathews R.I.P.

It took me a minute to post this...

When I was a young, my older sister had a friend who spent a lot of time at our house. Part of the reason (aside from the fact that they were like sisters themselves), was that her father was a touring musician who spent a lot of time on the road. As a kid, that was all I knew.

Her father was Ronnie Mathews. He was a jazz pianist who played with Max Roach from 1963-1968, and with Art Blakey as one of the original jazz messengers. In his twenties, he toured internationally and recorded with Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Roy Haynes and Elvin Jones, and later played with the likes of Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin, TS Monk & Roy Hargove.

Serious business.

I got to know Ronnie as I got older, though not as well as I would have liked. I do want to thank him though, for always taking the time to talk to me about what he was doing, and for taking a genuine interest in what I was up to creatively.

When I heard he was sick, my first thoughts went to his daughter and her family. I have been somewhat lucky in that I haven't had extensive personal experience with the passing of those closest to me. So to Ronnie's family, my heart goes out.

I then started to think about his legacy as a musician. He has been proclaimed by music writers and fellow musicians as on of the most underrated artists of his generation. About a week before his passing, I attended a benefit concert for him at Sweet Rhythm. It was an overwhelming turnout. So many great musicians and friends came through, it was quite astounding. Ronnie passed away roughly a week later.

So it goes.

Rest in peace Ronnie, you are missed.


Ronnie with Art Blakey, Elvin Jones & Sunny Murray

"Monk's Dream", with Johnny Griffin, live at the Village Vanguard, 1981


Ronnie Mathews (as I knew him) at the Thelonious Monk Tribute Concert