Artists Spotlight: Akbar DePriest
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Akbar DePriest's album,
Central Avenue Roots |
Akbar DePriest, musician and teacher
(May 16, 1930 - May 2, 2007)
Recipient of numerous RACC Project Grants
NOTE: Akbar DePriest Tribute, September 16th, 2007, 1:00 to 5:00 pm, 2290 N. Baker Drive, Canby, Oregon 97013. RSVP by 9/3 to bdetman@metgroup.com or 503.329.8926. Cost $35 per person.
On May 2nd, Portland lost one of our great artists and teachers, Akbar Depriest. His legacy is reflected by the impact he made on the Portland jazz community and in the lives of the young people he taught and in the audiences he played for. As a RACC grant recipient many times over, he embodied the true spirit and nature of an accomplished artist. He will be remembered for his incredible talent as a classic jazzman. But more importantly, Akbar Depriest was the most gracious ambassador for the art form he loved…jazz. Thank you Akbar, for all you’ve given to this community and all the lives you touched; artist, teacher and friend.
–Lorin S. Dunlop, RACC Grants Officer
Biography:
Akbar DePriest had a long and rich career as a jazz artist. It began in 1955 when he left L.A. on a tour of the “chitlin circuit”. For the next 50 years he performed with jazz greats like guitarist George Estridge, pianist Joe Keel, Kenny Drew, Jof Lee and Gordon Lee, saxophonists Eddie Harris, Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster, Javon Jackson in major cities across the United States and Europe.
He was an active participant in the Portland jazz scene since moving to the city in 1987, performing with Portland artists Thara Memory, Janice Scroggins, Hadley Caliman, Jof Lee and others. After playing on many recordings, Akbar released Live on the Willamette under his own name. And co-produced Central Avenue Roots with saxophonist/composer Bennie Maupin, featuring bassist Andre St. James, Janice Scroggins and Thara Memory. Most recently he produced Inclusion featuring Javon Jackson. In addition to performing, Akbar was an established teacher. He was an artist in the schools, teaching courses in jazz history and serving as co-director of jazz bands at the University of Portland (1993).
He served as the music director of DePriest Family Jazz, a nonprofit organization that grew out of The DePriest Project, in 1991. Working with DePriest Family Jazz, Akbar played with and organized concerts for internationally acclaimed artists and emerging talent, including Red Holloway, Bennie Maupin, Javon Jackson, Greg Tardy, Mario DePriest, Ed Bennett, Derek Sims and Farnel Newton.
Akbar’s great gift to Portland was the DePriest Project and its series of family concerts that synthesized Akbar’s lifetime of experience and vast connections in the jazz world. Akbar strove to “give back to the Portland community” what he received from the artists he had contact with since growing up in south central L.A. and traveling the world. DePriest Family Jazz series continues to bring great concerts to all ages.
Contact Information:
website: www.depriestproject.com
Back to Artists Spotlight
RACC Staff to Contact
Mary Bauer
Communications Associate
503.823.5426
mbauer@racc.org
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