Notes Growing up in Louisiana was a very profound experience. It was the perfect environment for me to cultivate my skills as an aspiring jazz artist. Though I decided to relocate long ago, I felt it only right to return in order to record an album with my friends and fellow artists who still reside there. I can remember a strong sense of community when I used to live there. In fact, the reason why my family moved there was because my father (Owusu Bandele) had decided to teach at Southern University so that he would be able to contribute to the commuinty by assiting African American small farmers. That same sense of community was also evident in the fact that so many successful jazz artists would come back home (Wes Anderson, Wynton Marsallis, and Troy Davis to name a few) to perform at local clubs and participate in workshops for young jazz musicians. So much has changed since I left, and yet a lot has remained the same. I decided to drive down to New Orleans from Chicago to record in the only standing recording studio at the time (Word of Mouth studio), bringing with me my longtime friend and fellow musician Fred Jackson, and also one of Chicago's finest vocalists, know as Yaw. The recording session was nothing less than magical- especially considering that we recorded with no rehearsal and none of the other musicians were previously exposed to the music. I had no doubts that the sessions would be great, knowing that the musicians that I chose are all very creative and talented. Though I had left Louisiana long ago, there was still a very powerful chemistry between all of the artists present at the recording session. It is truly a blessing to work with such gifted individuals. I must say though, that there was also a sense of heaviness in the air, being that New Orleans was still in ruins due to hurricane Katrina. Even though the city was torn and tattered, it was good to see that the spirit of the people still living there could not be broken.This album serves as my dedication to New Orleans so that I can give something back and show some respect and appreciation for the forgotten city that has contributed so much culture to the world. Bio Kafele, trumpeter, composer and producer, has been playing the trumpet for over 18 years. The name Kafele (pronounced kuh-FAY-lay) is of Egyptian origin, and means “worth dying for”. Born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Kafele was first exposed to jazz by his parents. In fact, he attributes his love and appreciation for the art to his father who often listened to recordings of John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis among others. Later, his brothers and sisters introduced him to Hip-Hop and R&B. As a byproduct of becoming a Chicago resident for about 10 years, Kafele was inundated with lively, upbeat house, afro-beat, and other types of dance music. This musically enriched background provided the influences that helped cultivate his unique sound. While attending Southern University in Baton Rouge, he studied Jazz Music Theory under the leadership of world-renowned jazz artist and educator, Alvin Batiste. During this time, Kafele was establishing a reputation by performing at various venues in Louisiana, Georgia, Texas and Alabama. He collaborated with a group of talented musicians to form The Kafele Bandele Group. This group frequently performed at M's Fine and Mellow Café in Baton Rouge. He also appeared at the Baton Rouge Blues Festival, House of Blues in New Orleans and the internationally acclaimed New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. After earning a degree in Physics from Southern University, Kafele moved to Chicago with plans to expand and elevate his musical career. Following years of hard work his plan is taking off with an untamable force. In 2003, Kafele officially launched K. Kapano Records, Inc. in which he plans to elevate his own musical career, produce other talented artists, and perpetuate the appreciation of jazz-fusion. Already, he has released his debut album, "Prodigal Moon" which introduces a new genre of music that infuses spontaneous trumpet riffs with pulsating, hypnotic baselines. He calls this music Cool Fusion-a poetic entanglement consisting of the finest elements of jazz and the richness of Hip-Hop and other forms of music. In addition, Kafele has successfully penetrated the Chicago music scene and has performed in Baltimore, New York, Dallas, Detroit, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington D.C. and Miami at the venues listed below: The Wild Hare (Opening for Slum Village), Isaac Hayes, Rhythm, The Cotton Club, The District, The Hot House, The Chicago Theater (opening for Kem), The Congress Theater (opening for Erykah Badu) The House of Blues Chicago (opening for Boys II Men/ Amel Larreuix), Sounds of Brazil in New York, and has been featured on various college and commercial radio stations. He has also had the opportunity to perform internationally in Toronto, Singapore, and Indonesia. Kafele is a musical visionary who believes that there is a difference between music produced for the sole purpose of making money and music created as an expression of one's inner self. He hopes that listeners will recognize this difference in his music. In his own words, "Music is a true reflection of the heart and soul."