Keith Liggins was born in Detroit, Michigan, but grew up in Compton California. As a child, he took piano lessons. He also played trombone at Pius X High School, in Downey, California. However, it wasn't until high school that his muse revealed the musical path he should take.
There were several monsterous musicians at the school then, three of whom were bassists, Kevin Brandon, Gabriel Sanchez and Vito Biondo. Something about the look, tone and musical role of the bass attracted Keith. After hearing Willie Weeks' work on "The Ghetto" and his solo on Donnie Hathaway's "Everything is Everything" and Bob Babbitt's solo on Dennis Coffey's "Scorpio", Keith was forverafter a bassist.
Shortly around the end of his high school days, he joined up with some young muscians in Compton and they formed the band "Skintight". The members of that group were Paul Russo (saxes), Damon Rentie (saxes), Laythan Armour (keyboards), Timothy Griggs (drums), Andrew Williams (guitar), and Debbie Williams (vocals).
Musically, that group played all of the then current funk and R&B. They also emphasized an instrumental jazz flavor reminiscent of some of their influences at that time, such as Grover Washington, The Crusaders, Freddie Hubbard, etc. Andrew Williams was the first person to show Keith the slap technique popularized by Larry Graham and others.
After high school, Keith enrolled at Southern University (S.U.), in Baton Rouge, LA. There he was again exposed to great musical talent and skill. First and foremost was his jazz band and theory instructor, the great clarinetist Alvin Batiste (Bat).
At S.U., Keith got a chance to gig with Bat and other musicians. He often played with bands composed of Rastine Calhoun (saxes), Dennis Nelson (guitar), Mykhale Thomas (drums) and other great players. One of his "idols" at that time was Randy Jackson, a campus legend, most recently associated with the "American Idol" series. Randy was and is an awesome, bassist.
Flash Forward
Then God Stepped In!!
(Actually, He was always there, but He did some nudging and manipulated some circumstances.)
After graduating from S.U., I went to law school, graduated and started practicing law. I did not seriously play my bass for a long time.
(To be continued)
From Branford Marsalis' Page On The Passing of Alvin Batiste (Bat) (http://www.myspace.com/branford_marsalis)ALVIN BATISTE (November 7, 1932-May 6, 2007)
Alvin was a good friend. He was my mentor and one of my musical fathers. I loved him very much, and he will be missed.Statement from Marsalis Music:
Together with the rest of the jazz world, we were saddened to learn of the passing of Alvin Batiste. Known as Mozart to his old friends and as Mr. Bat to his legion of students, Alvin Batiste will be remembered as one of the pioneering modern jazz musicians in New Orleans, as one of the masters of the clarinet in any idiom, and as one of the first and foremost leaders in the area of jazz education.
A total musician, who was the first African-American soloist featured with the New Orleans Philharmonic and the composer of several symphonies, he also founded the jazz studies program at Southern University and was instrumental in launching the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA).
While he did tour and/or record with Ray Charles, Cannonball and Nat Adderley, Billy Cobham and Clarinet Summit (where he collaborated with John Carter, Jimmy Hamilton and David Murray), Alvin Batiste devoted much of his career to sharing his knowledge with the aspiring musicians who studied with him in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Two of these artists, Branford Marsalis and Herlin Riley, are among those featured on what proved to be his final recording, "Marsalis Music Honors Alvin Batiste", which we were proud to release last month.
Alvin Batiste died on the morning of the day he was to be featured at the Jazz Tent at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, a performance that went forward with Branford in his place and became a moving celebration of his art. We join all those who witnessed this concert in expressing our sympathy to Alvin"s wife Edith, his daughter Marcia Wilson, his sons Alvin, Jr. and Maynard, other family members, and the countless musicians and listeners who have been touched and will continue to be touched by Alvin Batiste's artistry.