Curtis Lundy: A Tribute to Bags and Trane

Friday, March 18th and Saturday, March 19th

Curtis Lundy:  A Tribute to Bags and Trane

“Bags & Trane” is an album credited to jazz musicians Milt Jackson and John Coltrane, released in 1961 on Atlantic Records, catalogue SD 1368. Taking its title from Jackson and Coltrane’s nicknames, it is the only collaborative record by the pair, although only Jackson contributed original compositions. In actuality, the album belongs in Jackson’s discography, as he was the session leader and still signed to Atlantic under the auspices of the Modern Jazz Quartet, and not in that of Coltrane, who had left the label for Impulse Records at the time of this album’s issue. However, like Prestige Records before them, as Coltrane’s fame grew after he had stopped recording for the label, Atlantic used varied unissued recordings and released them with Coltrane’s name more prominently displayed.

Masterfully leading us through this musical legacy is the Curtis Lundy Band.  Curtis is a double bass player, composer, producer, choir director and arranger. Lundy is best known for his work as part of jazz vocalist Betty Carter‘s band,[1] through whose ranks several eventually renowned musicians passed.

Lundy has also played on other jazz artists’ recordings, including albums by John Hicks, Bobby Watson, the Steve Nelson Quintet and Johnny Griffin. In the late 1980s, he briefly stepped out of the background and issued Just Be Yourself (1988). A decade later, with Justin Time Records, he released Against All Odds(1999) and Purpose (2002). Both albums feature pianists Hicks and Anthony Wonsey.

Lundy’s arrangement of “Walk With Me”, recorded by the ARC Gospel Choir, was sampled by rapper Kanye West and became the Grammy Award Winning hit “Jesus Walks”.

Friday and Saturday Showtimes:  7:30pm and 9:30pm

Admission:  $29.