Afro-Blue Persuasion – Live at Haight Levels, Vol. 1

Quality unreleased Cuban Jazz from 1967.
Ulysses Crockett studied classical piano from 6 to 14 years old, adding alto saxophone and flute at 16 years old while attending Oakland California’s McClymonds High graduating in 1956 as student body president and Valedictorian entering Stanford University in the fall of 1956.

During the Lawrence Ferlinghetti Bay area beatnik era (circa 1957-1960), Ulysses’ group was known as The Latin Jazz Quintet which included an early female bongo drummer named Joyce Zavaleta. Joyce had an extensive vinyl LP collection of afro-cuban records including compositions and performances of legendary bassist Israel ‘Cachao’ López and international known singer Celia Cruz.
Joyce met U.C. Berkeley Student John Miller and taught him the Cuban piano styles. The regular members of the Afro-Blue Persuasion band consisted of John Miller – piano, Harald Haynes – congas, Robert Belinksy – drums, Ulysses Crockett – vibraphone, and Robert Bing Nathan – upright contrabass.

At nineteen years old each, bassist Paul Jackson (who appears with genius composer, performer and pianist Herbie Hancock) and tenor flautist Robert Harvey were both serving in the U.S. Army station located in the San Francisco base known as the Presidio. On weekends, both Paul and Robert would sit in with the Afro-Blue Persuasion band.

“Live at Haight Levels” is the one and only recorded live performance by the Afro-Blue Persuasion. Finally, the songs are going to see the light of the day after 52 years! This is afro-cuban jazz at its very best! A stunning treasure rarely to be found – unless it’s on Mo-Jazz