Don't Call It Jazz: Roy Ayers

Roy Ayers was a visionary composer, musician, bandleader, vibraphonist, and vocalist. He forged a powerful and unique blend of jazz, funk, R&B, rap, and soul that was all his own. His music was brilliant, sounded amazing, and grooved like crazy. He died at the age of 84 in March of 2025.

While in high school, I bought a used copy of his best-of anthology, a 2-CD package entitled: “Evolution”. I instantly recognized a few of his tracks as they had been sampled and reimagined as incredible hip-hop and rap songs by artists such as Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, Common, and more. It’s clear that not only did Roy Ayers move music forward with his own sound, but his powerful and alluring grooves that were reincarnated as the backbone for countless hip-hop tracks, leading to a future generation’s musical revolution.

I wore those CDs out, listening to them constantly and absorbing the incredible music for years. I transcribed many of those songs, writing them out as charts to play with bands in college, and his music is deeply ingrained in my bone marrow. Even to this day, when composing music, I can hear some of Roy’s spirit still shines through.

For these two episodes of Don’t Call it Jazz, I will be celebrating the powerful legacy with a deep dive into his catalogue and some of the hip hop music that was inspired by him. Rest in peace and thank you for the music.

EPISODE 1

1. “We Live in Brooklyn Baby”, 3:45
   
   1. He’s Coming, 1971 (Verve)
2. “He’s a Superstar”, 5:38
   
   1. He’s Coming, 1971 (Verve)

1. “Red, Black, and Green”, 4:40
   
   1. Red, Black, and Green, 1973 (Polydor)
2. “Coffy is the Color”, 3:00
   
   1. Coffy Soundtrack, 1973 (Polydor)

1. “Fikisha”, 2:50
   
   1. Change Up the Groove, 1974 (Polydor)
2. “Change Up the Groove”, 4:34
   
   1. Change Up the Groove, 1974 (Polydor)

1. “Searching”, 3:57
   
   1. Vibrations, 1976 (Polydor)
2. “Vibrations”, 3:03
   
   1. Vibrations, 1976 (Polydor)

1. “Everybody Loves the Sunshine”, 3:53
   
   1. Everybody Loves the Sunshine, 1976 (Polydor)
2. “My Life”, 4:17 – Mary J Blige*sampled*
   
   1. My Life, 1994 (Uptown Records)