Fusion saxophonist Melton Mustafa Jr has recently produced his father, the legendary trumpet player Melton S. Mustafa's latest solo album "The Traveling Man". Melton
has performed with some of the top names in Jazz including the Count Basie Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Woody Herman Orchestra, Bobby Watson, Jaco Pastorius, George Cables, John Hicks, Charlie Mingus Dynasty, and Gunter Shuller, among many others. Click here to preview/purchase and see below for pics and Melton Junior's thoughts on producing the album.
Melton Mustafa: Mustafa on Sax
Producing “The Traveling Man” has been one of the most significant, rewarding, eye opening, humbling and life changing events in my life. This CD is a musical story about a man traveling through the world and his life experiences. Ironically enough, while following this musical journey of life you can hear joy, pain, celebration and struggle.
This project is significant to me because it documents my dad (Melton S. Mustafa’s) original small band music and introduces a young and super talented saxophonist by the name of Patrick Bartley. At the time of this recording Patrick was in the 11th grade and had expressed an interest in my dads music. My dad (Melton S. Mustafa) looked at this recording as an opportunity to pass the torch to the next generation of jazz musicians. Recording this CD was life changing because during the recording we discovered that dad was in stage 4 of prostate cancer. Before this, we knew something was wrong but it had not been diagnosed. It was very humbling, seeing a man play through that type of pain. This sickness made playing the trumpet almost impossible and extremely difficult to watch. As you listen to the recording you can hear both his love for music and the pain of a debilitating disease we call cancer.
I am humbled by the fact that I was able to produce such a significant CD, which documents original jazz music by Melton S. Mustafa, introduces saxophonist Patrick Bartley and features Pianist Mulgrew Miller, Drummer Victor Lewis, Bassist Essiet Essiet, Trombonist Jason Jackson and Percussionist Ray Mantilla. Thank you mom Zakiyyah Mustafa and dad Melton S. Mustafa for being so supportive. As with all of the projects I have produced, I hope you enjoy!
Executive Producer
Melton Rahsaan Mustafa
www.mustafaonsax.com
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