Jazz and R&B Musician “James Mtume” Dies at 75
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James Mtume
Musician James Mtume, who worked with jazz greats before heading R&B group Mtume, has died. He was 75 years old. Lisa Lucas, the niece of the late musician, wrote on Twitter, “So much loss.” So much grief. “Rest in power to Uncle Mtume.” She wrote about Mtumae, co-creator of the songs that depicted her life. He was certainly an integral part of her life.
The cause of death has not yet been determined.
Mtume and His Work
James Mtume’s most famous song, “Juicy Fruit,” was sampled in 1994 by rapper, The Notorious B.I.G., for the single “Juicy” of the same name.
In addition to being an all-around musician, James Mtume had an exceptional ability to infuse consciousness into his music and to explore interesting themes within politics, culture, and art.
While playing percussion with his father, Don Cherry, and Herbie Hancock on his uncle Albert “Tootie” Heath’s 1969 album Kawaida, Warren played his uncle’s percussion with his father. The Land of the Blacks is an album Mtume and his band – the Mtume Umoja Ensemble – released in 1972.
As a member of Miles Davis’ band from 1971 to 1975, he contributed to the acclaimed On the Corner sessions. As well as working on records by Sonny Rollins, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Lonnie Liston Smith, Gato Barbieri, Ramsey Lewis, and others, he also published several books.
“Music Is A Unique Art Form. I Mean All Art Is Special”
“Music is a unique art form. All art is special,” he remarked during his 2019 TedTalk.
The musician and producer was not only a member of the Mtume band but also an accomplished songwriter and producer. The Mtume-Lucas sound has been described as “sophistifunk,” which Mtume referred to as a style. They wrote Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway’s “The Closer I Get to You” and Stephanie Mill’s “Never Knew Love Like This Before.”
DāM-Funk, DJ Premier, and Talib Kweli were among those mourning Mtume on social media. Questlove lauded Mr. Mtume for all the wisdom, love, and respect he’s shown him and his brothers over the years.
Ankita Khanrah
Ankita Khanrah is a second-year student of the Master of Communication and Journalism (Integrated) programme at the School of Mass Communication, KIIT Deemed University, Bhubaneswar.
