It's been 40 years since Jay Hoggard graduated from Wesleyan University (and over 25 since he's been on the faculty of his alma mater). Balancing the life of a professional musician as well as an educator, husband, and father, Hoggard has performed around the world, recorded more than 20 albums as a leader, and served as a mentor for musicians such as trumpeter Taylor Ho Bynum and vibraphonist Chris Dingman. His early albums for India Navigation Records explored African rhythms plus, at around the same time, he recorded commercial Lps for GRP Records. In the 1990s, Hoggard made a series of albums for the Muse Label, including a personal favorite "In The Spirit" (1992) that featured pianist Anthony Davis, reed master Dwight Andrews, bassist Mark Helias, flutist James Newton, and drummer Ed Blackwell. He also recorded albums that featured musicians such as guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Geri Allen, drummers Marvin "Smitty" Smith and Frederick Waits. As a sideman, he worked and recorded with pianist Davis, Newton, plus saxophonists Chico Freeman and Oliver Lake.
Like many musicians caught in the midst of the major label collapse of the 21st Century, Jay Hoggard started his own label in 2003, JHVM Music, a move that has allowed him to record a wide variety of material, from a Christmas album to a duet with long-time associate James Weidman (piano, organ) to a tribute to his mentor Lionel Hampton.
Which bring us up to 2016. On April 29 and 30, the Center for the Arts at Wesleyan University presents its annual Jazz Weekend. Each year, the Music Department invites an artist for a weekend of music starting on Friday night with a concert, free and open to the public, featuring the University Jazz Orchestra, directed by Professor Hoggard, and the Jazz Ensembles, directed by Noah Baerman, Visiting Instructor, and Pheroan akLaff, Visiting Assistant Professor of Music. The concert takes place at 8 p.m. in Crowell Concert Hall, Wyllys Avenue, in Middletown
Saturday night, which happens to be International Jazz Day, belongs to the Jay Hoggard Harlem Hieroglyphs Ensemble. It's a quintet setting that finds the vibraphonist playing music from his new double-CD ("Harlem Hieroglyphs") with James Weidman, drummer Pheroan akLaff, bassist Belden Bullock, and saxophonist René McLean. The album (cover pictured left), funded in part by Wesleyan GISOS (Grant in Support of Scholarship), brings together the many influences on Hoggard's life, from the gospel music he heard in church (including the sacred music of Duke Ellington) to the sounds of African percussion to mentors like the afore-mentioned Lionel Hampton and Milt Jackson to the popular music on the radio and so much more.
Messrs. Weidman and Bullock both play on the album along with Yoron Israel (drums), Gary Bartz (alto and soprano saxophones), and, on 6 of the 18 tracks, Nat Adderley, Jr. (piano, organ). Mr. Bartz, who first came to critical notice in the mid-1960s playing in the Max Roach/Abbey Lincoln group and then moving on to Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, is a welcome addition to this music. It's not just because he's such an inspired musician but it marks the first time the vibraphonist has recorded with a reed player since the early 90s. The first disk opens with "If I Were a Bell", the Frank Loesser classic from "Guys and Dolls", which Miles Davis first recorded in 1956. The group gives the tune a gentle swing, the clear tones of the vibes meshing well with the soft tones of the alto sax. Moving on to the blues of Hoggard's "Harlem Jazzbirds Swingin' and Swayin'"; the piece bounces sweetly atop Bullock's bass, Weidman's piano chords and Israel's masterly brush work. Gospel chords from the piano leads the group into "I Am Free", a funky original that also reflects the influence of South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim. For this listener, the highlight on disk 1 is the emotionally strong performance of Bernard Ingher's "Everything Must Change", an oft-recorded ballad, most notably by Nina Simone and Quincy Jones with James Ingram. Here, it's the expressive alto saxophone that shares the lead with ringing tones of the vibraphone. Nothing is rushed, the musicians pouring their souls into the song creating a beautiful experience.
Wesleyan CFA
CD 2 opens with the fiery "Sonic Hieroglyphs" with great solos by the leader, Bartz (on alto), and pianist Weidman, all powered by Bullock's walking bass and Israel's high-flying cymbals. There's a rollicking version of Sonny Rollins' "Airegin" - it's one of the shorter tracks (3:33) but the musicians give their all. "I Live Because I Breathe" is a lovely ballad with a handsome melody, a splendid vibes solo, and fine soprano sax counterpoint. An African feel permeates "Mystical Cycles of Skin, Wood, and Metal", the hypnotic rhythms and circular melody, the pulsating vibraphone, Adderley, Jr.'s piano working in tandem with the organ work of Weidman, all creating a musical wonderland. Hoggard and Weidman (on piano) paint a sublime portrait of Duke Ellington's "My Love", a piece the Maestro wrote for his Third Sacred Concert. Following that track is a impressionistic solo work "Pleasant Memories." It's one of the two pieces on the album that is over 9 minutes long yet the music moves forward easily and melodically, going through several different moods and sonic variations (there are moments where the vibraphone sound like steel drums and marimbas).
Anyone who is acquainted with Jay Hoggard knows he's one of the most positive persons you'll ever meet. The music on "Harlem Hieroglyphs" is imbued with joy, hope, and wonder. His story is not only filled with his history but also his accomplishments and dreams. This is music that breathes, that swings with ease, soothes the soul, and makes one smile.
For more information about the album, go to www.jayhoggard.com. To get tickets to Saturday's 8 p.m. concert, go to www.wesleyan.edu/cfa or call 860-685-3355.
Here's "Everything Must Change" to whet your appetite and the show:
One of the nicer people to wield mallets, Jay Hoggard spends a good deal of time teaching Wesleyan University students about jazz, jazz history and leading the Wesleyan Big Band. When he's not on campus, he can found in venues around the country, working with Bill Cosby and various other ensembles. He, also leads his own group and will be performing several times in August and September, including heading the New Haven Jazz Festival on Saturday August 13 (it's a free afternoon and evening of music.)
Before that, he'll appear this Monday night (July 25) in Hartford, Jazz in Bushnell Park series. With his long-time musical compatriot James Weidman (piano), they'll be "Paying Tribute to the Great Abbey Lincoln", the wonderful vocalist and songwriter who passed 11 months ago. Joining them will Bruce Cox (drums), Brad Jones (bass) and Leena Conquest (vocals.) Ms. Lincoln amassed quite a songbook over her 4+ decades as a singer so this concert looks to be an exciting evening. Opening the show at 6 p.m. will be the UMOJA Ensemble with the headliners onstage at 7:30 p.m. If you are unable to attend, tune in to WWUH 91.3 FM or online at wwuh.org. In case of bad weather, the show moves indoors to Asylum Hill Congregational Church, 814 Asylum Avenue. For more information, go to www.hartfordjazzsociety.com.
One of Professor Hoggard's students was profiled in today's Sunday New York Times (here is the link - www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/arts/music/the-vibraphonists-jason-adasiewicz-and-chris-dingman.html.) Chris Dingman came to Wesleyan in 1998 as a drummer and soon switched to vibraphone at his Professor's suggestion. After graduation, he attended the Thelonious Monk Institute (at that time, based in Los Angeles, California) and began a career as a professional musician. Wes grad Steve Lehman (saxophone) hired him and Dingman has appeared on several of his CDs as well as being a member of his touring group. Earlier this year, Dingman self-released his debut CD, "Waking Dreams", and it is one of the best recordings of this (or any recent) year (my review is here.) Professor Hoggard and the Wesleyan Music Department gets a good deal of credit in helping young Mr. Dingman on his way. Check it out!
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