Olu Dara

Olu Dara, born Charles Jones III in Louisville, Mississippi in 1941, is an American trumpeter, cornetist, guitarist and singer. He first became known as a jazz musician, playing alongside avant-garde musicians such as David Murray and Henry Threadgill.

Related Topics:
Louisville, Mississippi - 1941 - American - Trumpeter - Cornetist - Guitarist - Singer - Jazz - Avant-garde - David Murray - Henry Threadgill

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With his first album under his own name, 1998's In the World: From Natchez to New York, Dara revealed another aspect of his musical personality: the leader and singer of a band immersed in African-American tradition, playing a tropical mix of blues, folk, and jazz, with tinges of funk, African popular music and reggae. Neighborhoods, with guest appearances by Dr John and Cassandra Wilson, followed in a similar vein in 2001.

Related Topics:
1998 - Blues - Folk - Jazz - Funk - Reggae - Dr John - Cassandra Wilson - 2001

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Rapper Nas (Nasir Jones) is Dara's son. He encouraged his father to record the music he was playing with his band, and guested on a track on In the World. Dara played the trumpet on the track "Life's A Bitch" from Nas's debut album Illmatic in 1994. In 2004, his vocals were featured on Nas's single "Bridging the Gap", from his album Street's Disciple.

Related Topics:
Rapper - Nasir Jones - Trumpet - 1994 - 2004

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