A Tribute To My Big Brother Bobby Few

A Tribute To My Big Brother Bobby Few

By T.K. Blue (Talib Kibwe) 2/22/22

Mr. Bobby Few was a musician of immense musical offerings and rests in the highest pantheon of jazz masters! I was so fortunate and blessed to know him and share his stage in the creation of art deemed necessary and vital for the nourishment of the human soul!

Upon my desire to move to Europe in the fall of 1981, a close friend advised me to check out Paris, France. She was a singer and also suggested I should seek out pianist Bobby Few. I knew of his recorded work with Albert Ayler and Booker Ervin, which impressed me tremendously.

After a two-month stay in Switzerland I arrived to live in Paris December of 1981. No doubt I made a beeline to the first jazz club where Master Few was performing: The Dreher in Chatelet, Les Halles.  We clicked immediately and went on to establish a profound and wonderful relationship. I remember one of the very first concerts we did together at a church on the outskirts of Paris, which featured vocalist Bobby Helms, drummer Oliver Johnson, pianist Booby Few, myself on alto saxophone, and a bassist I can’t remember precisely but it could have been Jack Gregg or Andy McGee.

We performed a multitude of times together in various formats. On one occasion we went to Algeria as part of singer Joe Lee Wilson’s band. It was an exquisite experience as they produced our concert in a huge soccer stadium in Algiers. At the sound check we noticed all the backline was present except a PIANO!!! As a result, brother Few played cow bell on this gig! In addition he did an admirable job and never complained!!

In 1985 I had the esteem opportunity to record my very first LP as a leader in Paris entitled Egyptian Oasis. I assembled a band with Bobby on piano, Sangoma Everett on drums, Louis Petrucciani on bass (the brother of piano legend Michel), and Edouard Detmer the producer of this date. At a rehearsal Bobby was warming up playing a tune I never heard before entitled I Love Music by Emil Boyd and Hale Smith. Both Emil and Hale are from Bobby’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. This composition is a jewel and Bobby’s arrangement transformed it into a multi carat diamond!!! I leaned over his shoulder and said, “my dear brother let’s record it”. The rest is history and this composition remains as one of my most treasured musical experiences.

After hearing of Bobby’s illness I went to visit him and his dear wife Simone, who was always by his side. The memory of seeing him and Simone is priceless. I asked him to play the piano, which he did magnificently! It brought tears to Simone’s eyes, as he had not touched his piano in several months.  I was speechless and treasured every note, phrase, and musical nuance crafted by a master artist.

I had on my phone the Egyptian Oasis recording, and played I Love Music for Bobby. He said, “Wow Talib, you wrote a fantastic arrangement of Hale’s song”. I had to remind him this was his incredible arrangement!!!!

Simone called me from the hospital a short period before Bobby’s transition to the world of our ancestors. It was my last conversation with a dear friend, big brother, and musical mentor. I miss knowing he is no longer with us on the physical plane, but he is forever with us in our hearts and memories. May his soul rest forever in Paradise, shining much love, wisdom, and musical intuition upon us all!

T.K. Blue—Talib Kibwe