One of the main challenges of establishing a jazz ensemble is keeping them together through the hard times, when nobody knows them and few are willing to pay more than the customary applause for their time, their effort, their expertise, for their sacred art. But, together TUMOM has remained; it must be the mesmerizing old and new school jazz music their togetherness creates. Thirteen jazz compositions on a double CD! And, every one, a solid hit!

Over the years, The Universal Messengers of Music members all went in different directions, partly out of survival, partly to expand their expertise. They led other bands, wrestled with family and persona! ups and downs, but they kept coming back together. It must be the love for the music they create.

What this means is that they have all grown tremendously and independently over the years. Now, they’ve brought their growth back together, again, and this time they hove packaged it into this double CD, TUMOM. The benefits of their learning have produced a solid jazz album that will be special to almost everybody. TUMOM gives you jewels to play with, to contemplate; to dance to, in remembrance of — there’s just so much here. All you have to do is play this double CD and listen, or dance, or discuss or simply cherish it.

Listen at how the Universal Messengers of Music describe their own compositions in TUMOM. Even when describing their own composition to this masterful collection, they invoke spirituality, inspiration, an innervision about life and death and the “quest of oneself.” It all comes through in TUMOM. 

Raheem Rasta: TUMOM is composed of 13 compositions — three are jazz standards, including “Cool Blues,” by Charlie Parker, “Four,” by Miles Davis and “Little Sunflower,” by Freddie Hubbard.  We improvised the arrangement of “Little Sunflower” ever so slightly in the middle movement (Aka the ‘bridge’). 

We feature 10 original compositions. The feature composition, “In Remembrance: Terrorist Tuesday 911,” is our first “Jazz Docudrama.” It is our musical account of the tragic terror attack against America on Sept. 11, 2001. We over- layered this jazz rendition with words and sound effects to dramatize the impact of that unforgettable day.

Dehrric Richburg: “Spiritual Quest” is a composition that is inspired by the notion that man is born alone and must die alone, but what matters is the worthiness of time spent in a quest of oneself. We have a universe within, as is above so is below. The answer to any question is there, our soul connection to the Creator.. It is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom, untapped for many and we must make this connection to evolve to the next plateau in this endless quest called life and death. 

Raheem Rasta: “Mindy Manor Matters (An Ode To The Solution To The Housing Crisis In America),” honors TUMOM’s first co-producer, Mindell Brenda Lee. Ms Lee, in addition to her role with TUMOM, also provided affordable, housing for the people within their own community.  

AIim Sulimon-Bey: “Battista” personifies both a celebration of life and death. This selection binds the light between the living and the deceased, as the composers illustrate that without death there can be no life. This composition is just one of several highlights of what GOD Almighty has revealed to all of us in it’s raw state and allows us to contribute the greatest celebration on earth, called life. 

Peter L. Wright: “Too Trioish” is a minor blues that speaks to the concept of ‘threes’ as in the Holy Trinity, the Celestial Trinity, and or the Human Trinity of Mind, Body and Soul. Sometimes life can be
‘too trioish.’ 

Dehrric Richburg “Let’s Roll” was the words of a “Flight 93” passenger before the crew took over the plane on that dreadful day of September 11, 2001 and crashed it into the Pennsylvania woods, rather than allow its terrorist commandos to pursue their treacherous destiny, In this composition, TUMOM declares, ‘Let’s Roll with vigor and wage peace’ instead of war, to save the innocent lives of our Planet Earth. 

Vernon Mosby: “Don’t Fake The Funk,” is a funky jazz tribute to remind our listeners don’t fake your true self, your belief or true feeling.

Raheem Rasta: “Moms” (An Ode To The Loving Memory Of Mary Alice Coleman), by, is selection in which he plays all instruments, in a loving remembrance of his late and great mother.

Emory Diggs Jr. & Vernon Mosby: “Bunny’s Song” (An Ode To The Remembrance Of William Edwards) honors our late friend who was loved by all who knew him. Since ‘Bunny’ loved Washington, D.C.’s Go-Go and jazz music, we blended the two musical genres into a delightful, posthumous tribute.

Raheem Rasta: “Merry Christmas Baby and Happy Kwanzaa, Too, Blues,” is a happy, funky blues that incorporates sensual innuendo to create mental candy.

Raheem Rasta: “The Jazz Docudrama - In Remembrance: Terrorist Tuesday 911” by. We believe that this composition is the first “jazz docudrama” on record, as the composition is comprised of jazz music which sets the tapestry upon which the drama of the sounds of the airplane crashes, sirens, babies crying and machine guns are interwoven along with the documented facts narrated by TUMOM’s guest Dana Taylor (MS Ed), describes the horror experienced on that dreadful day - September 11, 2002.  

You are going to love this double CD set, TUMOM.

Liner Notes Written By: Ronald D. Steele, former president of the African American Writers Guild.