Bobbi Humphrey
Encyclopedia
Barbara Ann Humphrey (born April 25, 1950) is an American
jazz
flautist
and singer
who plays fusion
, jazz-funk
and soul-jazz styles. Bobbi Humphrey has performed for audiences around the world.
She was born in Marlin, Texas
, and raised in Dallas
. Her flute training included classical and jazz
styles in high school. She continued her studies at Texas Southern University
and Southern Methodist University
. Dizzy Gillespie
saw Humphrey play at a talent contest at Southern Methodist, and inspired her to pursue a musical career in New York City
. She followed his advice, getting her first big break performing at the Apollo Theatre
on Amateur Night. She eventually began playing regularly throughout the city, including a gig with Duke Ellington
.
By 1972, she was recording for the Blue Note Jazz label, one of the first female instrumentalist to do so. Humphrey has played with well-known musicians, ranging from Duke Ellington
to Lee Morgan
. Guitarist George Benson
and Humphrey were guest musicians on Humphrey's friend Stevie Wonder
's single "Another Star" from his Songs in the Key of Life
(1976) album. In 1976, she was named Best Female Instrumentalist by Billboard. In 1994 Humphrey launched her label, Paradise Sounds Records, releasing Passion Flute, which continues to be one of her best-selling recordings.
Bobbi Humphrey has played at the Apollo Theatre
, Hollywood Bowl
, Carnegie Hall
, Montreux Jazz Festival
, Russian River Jazz Festival (Northern California), and other venues around the world.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
and singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
who plays fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
, jazz-funk
Jazz-funk
Jazz-funk is a sub-genre of jazz music characterized by a strong back beat , electrified sounds, and often, the presence of the first electronic analog synthesizers...
and soul-jazz styles. Bobbi Humphrey has performed for audiences around the world.
She was born in Marlin, Texas
Marlin, Texas
Marlin is a city in Falls County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,628 at the 2000 census, but decreased to 5,967 by 2010. It is also the county seat of Falls County, and has been so since 1851...
, and raised in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. Her flute training included classical and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
styles in high school. She continued her studies at Texas Southern University
Texas Southern University
Texas Southern University is a historically black university located in Houston, Texas, United States....
and Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
. Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
saw Humphrey play at a talent contest at Southern Methodist, and inspired her to pursue a musical career in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She followed his advice, getting her first big break performing at the Apollo Theatre
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. Designed by architect Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfield, and the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street, its doors opened on 21 February 1901 with the American...
on Amateur Night. She eventually began playing regularly throughout the city, including a gig with Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
.
By 1972, she was recording for the Blue Note Jazz label, one of the first female instrumentalist to do so. Humphrey has played with well-known musicians, ranging from Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
to Lee Morgan
Lee Morgan
Edward Lee Morgan was an American hard bop trumpeter.-Biography:...
. Guitarist George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
and Humphrey were guest musicians on Humphrey's friend Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's single "Another Star" from his Songs in the Key of Life
Songs in the Key of Life
Songs in the Key of Life is the 13th album by American recording artist Stevie Wonder, released September 28, 1976, on Motown Records. It was the culmination of his "classic period" albums. An ambitious double LP with a 4-song bonus EP, Songs in the Key of Life became among the best-selling and...
(1976) album. In 1976, she was named Best Female Instrumentalist by Billboard. In 1994 Humphrey launched her label, Paradise Sounds Records, releasing Passion Flute, which continues to be one of her best-selling recordings.
Bobbi Humphrey has played at the Apollo Theatre
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. Designed by architect Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfield, and the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street, its doors opened on 21 February 1901 with the American...
, Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
, Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music festival in Switzerland and one of the most prestigious in Europe; it is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva...
, Russian River Jazz Festival (Northern California), and other venues around the world.
Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Flute In Flute In Flute In is the debut album by American jazz flautist Bobbi Humphrey recorded in 1971 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Andrew Hamilton awarded the album 4 stars stating "Bobbi displays dexterity and power throughout her coming out, mainstream LP".-Track... |
Blue Note |
| 1972 | Dig This! Dig This! Dig This! is an album by American jazz flautist Bobbi Humphrey recorded in 1972 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 3 stars.-Track listing:# "Lonely Town, Lonely Street" - 4:33... |
Blue Note |
| 1973 | Blacks and Blues Blacks and Blues Blacks and Blues is the third studio album by American jazz flautist Bobbi Humphrey recorded in 1973 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:... |
Blue Note |
| 1973 | Bobbi Humphrey Live: Cookin' with Blue Note at Montreux Bobbi Humphrey Live: Cookin' with Blue Note at Montreux Bobbi Humphrey Live: Cookin' with Blue Note at Montreux is a live album by American jazz flautist Bobbi Humphrey recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1973 and released on the Blue Note label.-Track listing:# "Virtue" - 9:06... |
Blue Note |
| 1974 | Satin Doll Satin Doll (album) Satin Doll is the fourth studio album by American jazz flautist Bobbi Humphrey recorded in 1974 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:... |
Blue Note |
| 1975 | Fancy Dancer Fancy Dancer Fancy Dancer is the fifth studio album by American jazz flautist Bobbi Humphrey recorded in 1975 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:... |
Blue Note |
| 1977 | Tailor Made | Epic |
| 1978 | Freestyle | Epic |
| 1979 | The Good Life | Epic |
| 1989 | City Beat | Malaco |
| 1990 | Let's Get Started | Warner Bros |
| 1994 | Passion Flute | Paradise Sounds |