James Mtume

James Forman (January 3, 1946 – January 9, 2022), and was raised by his mother, Bertha Forman, and his stepfather, a Philadelphia local jazz pianist, James "Hen Gates" Forman.

He grew up in a musical environment with jazz musicians frequenting his parents' house. He learned to play piano and percussion; however, from his teenage years he was pursuing athletics as a swimmer, having achieved the title of the first black Middle Atlantic AAU champion in the backstroke, and in 1966 he entered Pasadena City College on a swimming scholarship. He was part of the group which celebrated the first Kwanzaa in 1966. In 1967 he co-edited The Quotable Karenga with Clyde Halisi, which has been called "the best expression of Karenga's ideas". Mtume left the US Organisation in 1969. In 1995 he met Louis Farrakhan and remained close to him until the end of his life.

Mtume's professional debut was on Kawaida, a 1969 album by his uncle, Albert Heath. Both albums were intended to merge free jazz and cultural identity.

After his return from the West Coast he moved to New York City and had his first gigs as a sideman for McCoy Tyner (Asante album), Freddie Hubbard, and Miles Davis, whose group he wound up joining and playing in for the next few years.

In 1994, Mtume created music for the show New York Undercover while also creating musical appearance opportunities for other artists on the show.

Personal life and death He was married 55 years to Adrienne Young, whom he named "Kamili" which means "perfect, near perfection." They met at a US Organization gathering in Los Angeles in 1966. Mtume and Kamili raised five children, and have five grandchildren. He died in South Orange, New Jersey, on January 9, 2022, at the age of 76.

Discography

James Mtume's discography includes:

As leader Alkebu Lan: Land of the Blacks (Strata East, 1972) with the Mtume Umoja Ensemble featuring Carlos Garnett on tenor and flute, Leroy Jenkins on violin, Gary Bartz on alto and soprano sax, Stanley Cowell on piano, Buster Williams on bass, Billy Hart on drums, and Joe Lee Wilson, Eddie Micheaux, and Andy Bey on vocals, with Yusef Iman and Weusi Kuumba as poets. Rebirth Cycle (Third Street, 1977) featuring Jean Carn, Stanley Cowell, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jimmy Heath, Cecil McBee, Leroy Jenkins, and Azar Lawrence. Kiss This World Goodbye (Epic, 1978) credited to Mtume In Search of the Rainbow Seekers (Epic, 1980) credited to Mtume Juicy Fruit (Epic, 1983) credited to Mtume You, Me and He (Epic, 1984) credited to Mtume Theater of the Mind (Epic, 1986) credited to Mtume

As sideman With Gato Barbieri Under Fire (Flying Dutchman, 1973), recorded in 1971 Bolivia (Flying Dutchman, 1973)

With Miles Davis On the Corner (Columbia, 1972) In Concert: Live at Philharmonic Hall (Columbia, 1973) Big Fun (Columbia, 1974) Get Up with It (Columbia, 1974) Dark Magus (Columbia, 1974) Agharta (Columbia, 1975) Pangaea (Columbia, 1976), recorded in 1975 The Complete On the Corner Sessions (Columbia, 2007) Miles Davis at Newport 1955 to 1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4 (Columbia Legacy, 2015)

With Jimmy Heath The Gap Sealer (Muse, 1973) The Time and the Place (Landmark, 1994), recorded in 1974

With Eddie Henderson Heritage (Blue Note, 1976) Comin' Through (Capitol, 1977) Mahal (Capitol, 1978)

With Sonny Rollins Horn Culture (Milestone, 1973) Nucleus (Milestone, 1975)

With Pharoah Sanders Wisdom Through Music (Impulse!, 1973) Love in Us All (Impulse!, 1974)

With Buddy Terry Awareness (Mainstream, 1971) Pure Dynamite (Mainstream, 1972)

With McCoy Tyner Asante (Blue Note, 1974), recorded in 1970

With others Art Farmer, Homecoming (Mainstream, 1971) Carlos Garnett, Black Love (Muse, 1974) Albert Heath, Kawaida (O'Be, 1970), recorded in 1969 Harold Land, A New Shade of Blue (Mainstream, 1971) Azar Lawrence, Bridge into the New Age (Prestige, 1974) Abbey Lincoln, People in Me (Philips, 1973) Lonnie Liston Smith, Astral Traveling (Flying Dutchman, 1973) James Spaulding, James Spaulding Plays the Legacy of Duke Ellington (Storyville, 1977) The Piano Choir, Handscapes 2 (Strata East, 1975), recorded in 1974

As composer "The Closer I Get to You" (1977) written with Reggie Lucas. Performed by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway on Blue Lights in the Basement. Atlantic Records, 1977. "Back Together Again" (1980) written with Reggie Lucas. Performed by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway also. The score to the 1986 movie Native Son

As producer (with Reggie Lucas) Stephanie Mills, What Cha' Gonna Do with My Lovin' (20th Century, 1979) Phyllis Hyman, You Know How to Love Me (Arista, 1979) Rena Scott, Come On Inside (Buddah, 1979) Stephanie Mills, Sweet Sensation (20th Century, 1980) Gary Bartz, Bartz (Arista, 1980) Stephanie Mills, Stephanie (20th Century, 1981) Marc Sadane, One Way Love Affair (Warner Bros., 1981) Stephanie Mills, Tantalizingly Hot (Casablanca, 1982) Lou Rawls, Now Is the Time (Epic, 1982) The Spinners, Can't Shake This Feelin''' (Atlantic, 1982) Marc Sadane, Exciting (Warner Bros., 1982)The Best of Mtume & Lucas (Expansion, 2004), compilation

Produced by James Mtume Roy Ayers, You Might Be Surprised (Columbia Records, 1985) LeVert, Bloodline (Atlantic Records, 1986) Tyrone Brunson, The Method (MCA, 1986) Tawatha Agee, Welcome to My Dream (Epic, 1987) Nu Romance Crew, Tonight (EMI America, 1987) Tease, Remember (Epic, 1988) Sue Ann Carwell, Blue Velvet (MCA, 1988) Kiara, To Change and/or Make a Difference (Arista, 1989) Freeze Factor, Chill (Epic, 1989) The Comsat Angels, Falling'' (circa 1980)