IVORY FLOW: A New CD By the Legendary Bobby Lyle
The editor of Schmooze Jazz magazine interviews Bobby Lyle about his new CD IVORY FLOW. His single “Living in the Flow” is on Billboard, and Lyle talks about what inspired the creation of his smooth/contemporary jazz masterpiece!
Platinum-selling artist Bobby Lyle was inducted in the Black Music Awards (BMA’s) Hall of Fame in Houston, TX., on November 8, 2020, he was nominated for an Emmy as Bette Midler’s Music Director, and his latest single “Living in the Flow” is charting on Billboard. Known for his epic album The Genie, Lyle continues to perform regularly, playing piano and organ with his band, as a featured artist, and as a solo pianist. After 15 albums later, he has done it again from his label New Warrior Music with his most recent release, Ivory Flow!
Bobby Lyle Ivory Flow features Lyle on all keyboards and an all-star lineup of guest artists. The single, “Living in the Flow,” entered Billboard at #25 on April 10, 2021, and features bassist Nate Phillips, guitarist Kerry Wilkens, trumpeter Vincent Gross, and drummer Jay Williams. The list of musicians on the entire album includes heavy hitters in the world of contemporary and traditional jazz, including Stanley Clarke, Rick Braun, Brian Bromberg, Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Najee Rashad; Marcus Miller, Everette Harp, Paul Jackson Jr., Vinnie Colaiuta, John Patitucci, and others.
Schmooze Jazz Editor Kaylene Peoples interviews the Bobby Lyle about his latest release.
Interview by Kaylene Peoples | Responses by Bobby Lyle
Kaylene Peoples: Congratulations on completing your new album. I call it an album, not a CD, because in my opinion, it is a project, not just a tactile disc. You’ve been working on this album for a few years now. Tell me what inspired it?
Bobby Lyle: The inspiration for this Ivory Flow Project was two-fold. First, it had been at least six years since I had put out any new product and secondly, my writing (which had never stopped) had created quite a backlog of songs. Add to this the constant inquiries from my fans about when was something new coming, and you can see the boiling point that was finally reached. When I told myself “it’s time for you to get busy in that studio,” I rolled up my sleeves and never looked back. More than two years later, here is Ivory Flow ready for the marketplace.
Kaylene Peoples: You’re on Billboard for your single “Living in the Flow.” Please tell me about that track and what inspired it?
Bobby Lyle: This tune was chosen as the first radio single because of the front and center piano melodies and the airwaves-friendly groove laid down by bassist Nate Phillips and drummer Jay Williams. Kerry Wilkens gave me superb guitar work on this one. As far as inspiration, I love to observe the flow of life, whether it’s children on a playground, people bustling through a busy airport, birds and squirrels in the park, or me just silently driving through the countryside. This song seems to reflect all that.
Kaylene Peoples: You have such a range of styles, all interdependently creating a seamless flow. For instance “Feel the Heat” has a serious latin vibe. What made you decide to cross genres?
Bobby Lyle: I have always loved Latin flavored music with its sometimes sultry, sometimes fiery rhythms. On most of my projects I have tried to include something from this genre. This tune is the latest entry. I had some very expert assistance from Najee Rashad whose fiery flute sparkled throughout. The crisp percussive undercurrent was provided by drummer Sonny Emory and percussionist Lenny Castro. And of course the solo heat brought by bassist Stanley Clarke will have listeners buzzing for some time.
Kaylene Peoples: Let’s talk about how you chose your line up. You have an impressive all-star stable of top musicians on this album, ranging from Kirk Whalum to Nathan East! I understand you did much of the album remotely.
Bobby Lyle: It’s sort of a reunion album in that I was able to send out files to friends who appeared on my albums in the past, and are stars with their own discographies. They were all completely dedicated to making the songs come to life. You’ll hear Gerald Albright, Marcus Miller, Rick Braun, just to name a few. Because of the pandemic, sending out files is the way we have to record nowadays, and because everyone lives in different cities. The trick is to make it sound and feel like we were all in the studio together.
Kaylene Peoples: It does sound like you were all just grooving at the same time. It is an incredible body of work and the musicianship speaks for itself. Do you have a favorite track?
Bobby Lyle: I do not have a favorite track, but “Feel the Heat,” ”Tommy’s Song,” and “Hello Maceo” always seem to get me going.
Kaylene Peoples: You have a diverse, musical background. You’re first success was from the album The Genie. This was under the category of fusion . . . truly a masterpiece. You have released several CDs in your career, but today you are popular in the smooth jazz world. Why did you choose this style for the majority of your releases?
Bobby Lyle: Yes, “The Genie” did kick off my recording career during a time when there was much more fusion activity with groups like Weather Report, Return to Forever, Mahavishnu, etc. I’ve always written in various styles and let the labels and categorizations come to me rather than the other way around. However from a business standpoint, I can say that my publishing company is always healthier when I can keep some contemporary stuff out there and get the airplay of same tracked. It keeps me afloat during periods like this when our venues are shut down due to the pandemic, virtually eliminating live performances.
Kaylene Peoples: Who have been your musical influences?
Bobby Lyle: I’ve studied all the masters beginning with Art Tatum and running through Oscar Peterson, Erroll Garner, Bud Powell, Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Chick (Corea), Keith (Jarrett) and Herbie Hancock. Each has some little gems, be it harmonic or technical, that I could weave into my own developing style. I also studied horn players like Miles, Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Morgan, Sonny Rollins, Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard just to see how they constructed their flawless improv lines. And of course organist Jimmy Smith and guitarist George Benson are a master class.
Kaylene Peoples: I can hear all those influences in you music, and many on this CD. For example, the cover “In A Sentimental Mood.” This is a favorite jazz standard.
Bobby Lyle: This is the only track out of the 11 that is not an original. This Duke Ellington (one of my all-time favorite composers) creation with lyrics by Manny Kurtz kept going round in my head and I knew I had to record it if I could find the right vocalist. Well find her I did in the person of Tatiana Mayfield, a brilliant young singer from Dallas Texas whom I had seen years before when she came to Houston to perform. We worked out a unique and contemporary arrangement that still allowed her to channel her inner Ella with some killer scatting in the end vamp. The rhythm section was anchored by bassist Brian Bromberg with drummer Mark Simmons enhancing the loop. Rick Braun’s Miles-like muted trumpet fills and solo were the cherry on top of this musical sundae.
Kaylene Peoples: Tatiana’s vocals are stunning on this track. The whole ensemble is magical.
Bobby, you mentioned “Hello Maceo.” This track is seriously funky. I’m curious about the production. Please fill me in on that one.
Bobby Lyle: Maceo Parker was the soulful alto saxophonist in James Brown’s band years ago whom James would often call out to rock a solo. I was developing this super funky track that kept reminding me of something Maceo would jam on so finally I just went ahead and named it “Hello Maceo.” I knew I had to put together some badass horns to capture the flavor of that era of Brown’s bands. I first called Gerald Albright (who has often said that Maceo was a huge influence on him) to be the lead soloist. Then I filled out the section with some other outstanding players you might have heard of: Kirk Whalum on tenor sax, Najee Rashad on flute, and Andre Hayward on trombone. The first time ever these guys appeared together on the same track. I programmed the funkiest drum loop I could, then brought in the brilliantly wicked Marcus Miller to play the bass lines. The chunky guitar work was done by Kerry Wilkens, John Calderon, and Craig T. Cooper. I was so blessed to end up with a “knock ya sox off” slammin’ track. I hope Maceo will be proud of the tribute.
Kaylene Peoples: And the smooth jazz genre that you have mastered and helped pioneer is epitomized in your ballad “Where Are You.” It’s beautiful and so serene. Can you tell me a little about this song?
Bobby Lyle: “Where Are You” is a ballad that features electric and acoustic piano. Written in a minor key, it projects such a sense of longing and loneliness that it was a natural reaction to name it as I did. Everette Harp complemented the melodies so beautifully with his heartfelt saxophone lines, and Tatiana Mayfield reappears to add her sultry vocal touches to the choruses.
Kaylene Peoples: Tell me about “What Kind of World.”
Bobby Lyle: “What Kind of World” is my musical reaction to all of the negative things swirling around us these days: racism, injustice, political divisiveness, etc. Add to this the pandemic and numerous natural disasters that we have no control over, it really does make you ask . . . “What kind of world are we living in?” I built the track over a funk groove and repetitive horn figure and featured some very fine Houston musicians: Kyle Turner and Ken Mondshine on saxophones, John Calderon on guitar, Patrick Williams on drums, and Andre Venson teamed up with Tatiana Mayfield for vocals on the intro. Michael Manson sent me the funky bass track from Chicago.
Kaylene Peoples: Would you mind if we circle back to our earlier conversation. You mentioned “Tommy’s Song.” I would love to hear more about track. Would you share what went into creating such a beautiful song?
Bobby Lyle: When my son Thomas Lee Lyle passed away in 2017, I was devastated. The only thing that helped me to climb out of that emotional hole was to begin creating a musical tribute to him. This mid-tempo track was the result of that quest. Najee Rashad played beautifully on the soprano sax, navigating through shifting chord changes he had never seen prior to the session. Billy Kilson locked in on my keyboard bass line with a very musical and dynamic drum performance. I still get a little sad when I listen to it, but the way the ending lifts up and soars dramatically, that reminds me that he has ascended to a better place and reunited with his mom Delores who passed away in 1989. I miss them both every day, but my work and creativity are constantly inspired by their ever present spirits.
Kaylene Peoples: Thank you for sharing that with our readers. I’d like to talk about the projected second single “Nujazzy.” This is a very hooky, contemporary jazz gem. Please tell me about it.
Bobby Lyle: “Nujazzy” is a mid-tempo track and is being considered for the second single. It has what I like to call a “happy” groove. Drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and bassist Nathan East have much to do with that. Guitarist John Calderon brings his fusion sound to the bridges and his solo, making this tune unique from the others. The title was just an on-the-spot creation while reaching for something catchy.
Kaylene Peoples: You end the album with your solo performance on multiple keyboards on this composition, which I find fitting. It has a bluesy feel. Tell me about “Indigo Nights.”
Bobby Lyle: This tune started out as a solo piano piece, but I later enhanced it with keyboard bass and strings. It’s a traditional blues with some alternate chord changes added to make it interesting. It seemed like a fitting ending to a musical journey that touched on so many styles and grooves throughout the 11 tracks. The palate cleanser if you will.
Kaylene Peoples: What is the one defining moment that sticks out in your head as a pianist/recording artist?
Bobby Lyle: I would say two definite highlights would be signing with Capital Jazz (my first record deal) and later Atlantic Jazz, because the bulk of my discography is on these two major labels. But there’s also getting to #1 on the Billboard jazz album chart with “The Journey” in ’91. This Atlantic release contained my original song,“Viva Mandela,” which celebrated the legendary African leader finally being released from prison after 27 years. Mandela came to speak in Los Angeles at the Coliseum. The night before, they held a banquet for him at the Beverly Hills hotel. Quincy Jones was in charge of the entertainment, and called me to perform my Mandela song. Looking out and seeing Mandela smiling from ear to ear while I paid musical tribute to him on stage was also a huge highlight for me.
Kaylene Peoples: How has the pandemic affected you as a musician?
Bobby Lyle: Being shut in by the pandemic has given artists something we previously never seemed to have enough of: TIME! People have chosen to use it in different ways, but for me it has been an opportunity to go deeper into all the elements of my artistry: Playing, composing, and teaching (sometimes by Zoom). I have reconnected with some of my classical books and that has opened up new musical avenues. But most importantly I’ve been able to focus on finishing my latest project Ivory Flow. I can’t call it a comeback album because I never stopped performing and being active in music. Let’s say I’m reemerging as a recording entity with this project.
Kaylene Peoples: Any last words?
Bobby Lyle: Music will always be food for the human soul. No civilization can exist for very long without it. I feel very proud to be a part of the unending lineage that passes the torch from generation to generation, contributing to the soundtrack of people’s lives—being a balm to their spirits during troubled times, and helping them to celebrate the good times. I dream of reconnecting with live audiences and exchanging that rare energy once this pandemic is vanquished.
TRACK LIST FOR IVORY FLOW—BOBBY LYLE & FRIENDS
1) “Living In The Flow” Featuring Kerry Wilkens Guitar, Vincent Gross Trumpet, Nate Phillips Bass, and Jay Williams drums
2) Feel the Heat Featuring Najee Rashad Flute, Stanley Clarke Bass, Sonny Emory Drums, and Lenny Castro Percussion
3) “In A Sentimental Mood” (by Duke Ellington) Featuring Tatiana Mayfield Vocals, Rick Braun Trumpet, and Brian Bromberg Bass
4) “Hello Maceo” Featuring Gerald Albright and Kirk Whalum Saxes, Najee Rashad Flute, Marcus Miller Bass, Andre Hayward Trombone
5) “Where Are You” Featuring Everette Harp saxophone and Tatiana Mayfield Vocals
6) “What Kind of World” Featuring Kyle Turner & Ken Mondshine Saxes, Jon Calderon Guitar, Tatiana Mayfield & Andre Venson Vocals.
7) “Spirit Song” Featuring Kirk Whalum Sax, Andre Hayward Trombone, Paul Jackson, Jr. Guitar
8) “Tommy’s Song” Featuring Najee Rashad Soprano Sax, and Billy Kilson Drums
9) “Nujazzy” Featuring John Calderon Guitar, Nathan East Bass, and Vinnie Colaiuta Drums
10) “Cleo’s Waltz” Featuring Marion Meadows Soprano Sax, John Patitucci Bass, and Mark Simmons Drums
11) “Indigo Nights” Bobby Lyle all Keyboards.
Visit: Bobbylylethegenie.com and The Genie Record Store to purchase your own autographed copy of Ivory Flow!
Fantastic interview! Bobby Lyle is an amazing artist. This cd reflects, once again, his incredible talent!