CINDY BLACKMAN
Cindy Blackman (born November 18, 1959) is an American jazz and rock drummer. Blackman is best known for recording and touring with Lenny Kravitz. Blackman has recorded several jazz albums under her own name, and has performed with Pharoah Sanders, Sonny Simmons, Ron Carter, Sam Rivers, Cassandra Wilson, Angela Bofill, Buckethead, Bill Laswell, and Joe Henderson. Tony Williams is her main drumming influence. In 1997 she recorded Multiplicity as a drum teaching video. “To me, jazz is the highest form of music that you can play because of the creative requirements”, says Blackman. Blackman is married to rock guitarist Carlos Santana. (More from Wikipedia)
While his music is not overtly religious for the most part, one of Lenny Kravitz’s biggest hit songs, “Are You Gonna Go My Way” seems to me to be written as a message from Jesus to humanity; the first verse is:
I was born long ago
I am the chosen I’m the one
I have come to save the day
And I won’t leave until I’m done
The music has a definite Jimi Hendrix vibe; and on the video, the musicians backing Lenny Kravitz with his flowing dreadlocks (the drummer is a woman, Cindy Blackman) look very much like the Jimi Hendrix Experience in their prime. The ceiling above the band has swirling flashes of bright light that are perfect for the music.
(November 2014)
