Jay Hoggard and David Dinkins

jay hoggard jay hoggard jay hoggard && & david dinkins david dinkins david dinkins

By Ron ScottBy Ron Scott By Ron Scott

Jazz Jazz is my beat and when I learned Mayor David Dinkins was the fatherin-law of vibraphonist, composer, and educator Jay Hoggard, I jumped at the opportunity to talk with Jay. What resulted was an engaging Zoom conversation about their relationship and Jay’s music. Jazz Jazz is my beat and when I learned Mayor David Dinkins was the fatherin-law of vibraphonist, composer, and educator Jay Hoggard, I jumped at the opportunity to talk with Jay. What resulted was an engaging Zoom conversation about their relationship and Jay’s music. Jazz Jazz is my beat and when I learned Mayor David Dinkins was the fatherin-law of vibraphonist, composer, and educator Jay Hoggard, I jumped at the opportunity to talk with Jay. What resulted was an engaging Zoom conversation about their relationship and Jay’s music. “When we first met, he was more concerned “When we first met, he was more concerned “When we first met, he was more concerned about my being able to take care of Donna [his about my being able to take care of Donna [his about my being able to take care of Donna [his daughter] and keep her happy. At that time, he daughter] and keep her happy. At that time, he daughter] and keep her happy. At that time, he wasn’t mayor. I think he was Manhattan Borough wasn’t mayor. I think he was Manhattan Borough wasn’t mayor. I think he was Manhattan Borough President,” Hoggard reminisced. President,” Hoggard reminisced. President,” Hoggard reminisced.

Fortunately, Dinkins didn’t seem to mind that Fortunately, Dinkins didn’t seem to mind that Fortunately, Dinkins didn’t seem to mind that Hoggard was a musician. Actually, Hoggard’s musiHoggard was a musician. Actually, Hoggard’s musi Hoggard was a musician. Actually, Hoggard’s musi- cianship may have worked in his favor since Mayor cianship may have worked in his favor since Mayor cianship may have worked in his favor since Mayor Dinkins was a pure jazz connoisseur. “He Dinkins was a pure jazz connoisseur. “He Dinkins was a pure jazz connoisseur. “He was organically into jazz of his era; he was was organically into jazz of his era; he was was organically into jazz of his era; he was a jazz guy listening to Count Basie; Duke a jazz guy listening to Count Basie; Duke a jazz guy listening to Count Basie; Duke Ellington; Johnny Hartman; Billie HoliEllington; Johnny Hartman; Billie Holi Ellington; Johnny Hartman; Billie Holi- day; Ella Fitzgerald; Dinah Washington; day; Ella Fitzgerald; Dinah Washington; day; Ella Fitzgerald; Dinah Washington; Sammy Davis, Jr.; and Nat King Cole,” said Sammy Davis, Jr.; and Nat King Cole,” said Sammy Davis, Jr.; and Nat King Cole,” said Hoggard. “He was close friends with Dizzy GillesHoggard. “He was close friends with Dizzy Gilles-Hoggard. “He was close friends with Dizzy Gillespie, Dr. Billy Taylor, and Lionel Hampton.” Their pie, Dr. Billy Taylor, and Lionel Hampton.” Their pie, Dr. Billy Taylor, and Lionel Hampton.” Their separate bonds with the same musicians added to separate bonds with the same musicians added to separate bonds with the same musicians added to the cohesiveness of their relationship. Hoggard the cohesiveness of their relationship. Hoggard the cohesiveness of their relationship. Hoggard met Hampton in the early 80s but it was during a met Hampton in the early 80s but it was during a met Hampton in the early 80s but it was during a 1988 duo gig with Bobby Hutchinson at Fat Tues1988 duo gig with Bobby Hutchinson at Fat Tues-1988 duo gig with Bobby Hutchinson at Fat Tuesday’s in New York City, when he got the opportuday’s in New York City, when he got the opportu day’s in New York City, when he got the opportu- nity to jam with the master. The elder vibraphonist nity to jam with the master. The elder vibraphonist nity to jam with the master. The elder vibraphonist eventually became a mentor and friend. eventually became a mentor and friend. eventually became a mentor and friend.

Hampton’s health began to deteriorate and he Hampton’s health began to deteriorate and he Hampton’s health began to deteriorate and he asked the then young gun to sit in for him at variasked the then young gun to sit in for him at vari-asked the then young gun to sit in for him at various gigs. Hoggard’s most memorable gigs include ous gigs. Hoggard’s most memorable gigs include ous gigs. Hoggard’s most memorable gigs include the Carnegie Hall Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and the Carnegie Hall Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and the Carnegie Hall Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and playing at Jazzmobile’s summer festival at Grant’s playing at Jazzmobile’s summer festival at Grant’s playing at Jazzmobile’s summer festival at Grant’s Tomb. “Hamp was actually at that gig and sat Tomb. “Hamp was actually at that gig and sat Tomb. “Hamp was actually at that gig and sat next to me as I played. He eventually got up and next to me as I played. He eventually got up and next to me as I played. He eventually got up and played. It was an incredible gig I will never forget,” played. It was an incredible gig I will never forget,” played. It was an incredible gig I will never forget,” Hoggard said with a big smile. Dinkins often atHoggard said with a big smile. Dinkins often at-Hoggard said with a big smile. Dinkins often attended his son-in-law’s concerts, including several tended his son-in-law’s concerts, including several tended his son-in-law’s concerts, including several when Hoggard subbed for Hampton. “I am sure when Hoggard subbed for Hampton. “I am sure when Hoggard subbed for Hampton. “I am sure he came to the Jackie Robinson Jazz Festivals in he came to the Jackie Robinson Jazz Festivals in he came to the Jackie Robinson Jazz Festivals in Connecticut, where I played and Robin Bell SteConnecticut, where I played and Robin Bell Ste-Connecticut, where I played and Robin Bell Stevens was the producer,” recalled Hoggard. vens was the producer,” recalled Hoggard. vens was the producer,” recalled Hoggard.

Hoggard’s album Swing’em Gates is a tribute to Hoggard’s album Swing’em Gates is a tribute to Hoggard’s album Swing’em Gates is a tribute to Hampton, the iconic master vibraphonist. “Eight Hampton, the iconic master vibraphonist. “Eight Hampton, the iconic master vibraphonist. “Eight of the compositions on this recording are tunes of the compositions on this recording are tunes of the compositions on this recording are tunes that I played when Hamp sent me to sub for him that I played when Hamp sent me to sub for him that I played when Hamp sent me to sub for him with his band in the 90s,” Hoggard explained. with his band in the 90s,” Hoggard explained. with his band in the 90s,” Hoggard explained. “Once when Hamp called me to play for him, “Once when Hamp called me to play for him, “Once when Hamp called me to play for him, I asked what tunes he wanted. He replied, ‘Just I asked what tunes he wanted. He replied, ‘Just I asked what tunes he wanted. He replied, ‘Just swing’em gates.’” That conversation inspired the swing’em gates.’” That conversation inspired the swing’em gates.’” That conversation inspired the composition/album title and direction of this mucomposition/album title and direction of this mu composition/album title and direction of this mu- sical tribute with Hoggard’s own interpretations. sical tribute with Hoggard’s own interpretations. sical tribute with Hoggard’s own interpretations.

The recording features a guest appearance by composer and pianist Dr. Billy Taylor on three tunes. It was recorded on his own label, JHVM, in 2007. He credits Hampton for influencing him to start his own record label in 2001 and has recorded seven albums on the label thus far.

He has recorded 22 CDs as a leader and over 50 as a collaborator. His most recent CD, 2016’s Harlem Hieroglyphs, a two-disc JVHM recording, features the often underrated but accomplished alto saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Gary Bartz; pianists/organists James Weidman and Nat Adderley, Jr.; bassistBelden Bullock; and drummer Yoron Israel.

When Dr. Taylor co-founded Jazzmobile in the 60s, Dinkins was one of its first board members. Hoggard not only played on the original Jazzmobile, the same one where Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, and Clark Terry performed, but he also taught there. He recalls the summer day he arrived at Jazzmobile’s office in Harlem, parking in front momentarily to take his vibraphone out of the car. A man standing there helped him, but after finding a parking space and returning, the kind man was gone. He inquired about the person who helped him and was told, “Oh, Lee Morgan, he left.” To this day Hoggard remains almost lost for words when he thinks about that incident, “Wow, Lee Morgan helped me with my vibes, that’s incredible.”

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Beginning in 1993, former Mayor Dinkins hosted a local talk show with guests on WLIB-AM a. His theme song was “The Little Tiger,” a composition that Hoggard had penned a few years prior for his young son, Jamal, who was about six years old at the time. On the album by the same title (Muse Records 1991), Hoggard is accompanied by bassist Marcus McLaurine, pianist Benny Green, and drummer Yoron Israel. What proud grandfather wouldn’t want to have a theme song written by his son-in-law for his only grandson? That sounds like a double-plus to me. Donna and Jay also have a daughter, Kalila.

Hoggard said he hasn’t had a gig since last March, the same horrendous situation all musicians are in since the pandemic. Fortunately, he is a tenured professor of music at his alma mater, Wesleyan University. For over 25 years he has been the director of the Wesleyan Jazz Orchestra and has been conducting both live and Zoom classes. Jay is hoping to get back into the studio by summer; only time will tell.

“I’ve lived long enough and have access to such a large reservoir of music to share,” Hoggard reflected. He continued in his self-deprecating way, “I know a little bit more of what I’m doing, not much but a little.” Jay Hoggard’s music covers the spectrum of music of the African diaspora.

A memorial for David Dinkins is planned for August 2021. You can bet “The Little Tiger” played by Jay Hoggard, will be part of the program.