Onaje Allan Gumbs at Club Bonafide

Born in Harlem and raised in Queens, Onaje started playing piano at age 7. He graduated from Manhattan’s High School of Music and Art as well as SUNY at Fredonia.
He spent 2 years as pianist, composer, arranger in the band led by the late, great trumpeter Woody Shaw.
As a producer/arranger/pianist, Onaje has worked with other artists such as , Billy Cobham, Kevin Eubanks, Will Downing, Angela Bofill, and Cassandra Wilson.
Signature arrangements: Woody Shaw(Rosewood),Phyllis Hyman(Betcha By Golly Wow and The Answer is You) and for Stanley Jordan(The Lady in My Life).
Solo projects include "Onaje" (Steeplechase - 1976/1995), "That Special Part of Me" (MCA/Zebra - 1988), "Dare to Dream (MCA/Zebra - 1991)", "Return to Form" (Half Note - 2003), "Remember Their Innocence" (Ejano - 2005), "Sack Full of Dreams" (18th & Vine - 2007) which was a Jazz Improv Magazine pick amongst best albums of 2007 "Just Like Yesterday" (Pony Canyon - 2010) and "Bloodlife"(solo piano, Ejano - 2013)...

read more

Born in Harlem and raised in Queens, Onaje started playing piano at age 7. He graduated from Manhattan’s High School of Music and Art as well as SUNY at Fredonia.
He spent 2 years as pianist, composer, arranger in the band led by the late, great trumpeter Woody Shaw.
As a producer/arranger/pianist, Onaje has worked with other artists such as , Billy Cobham, Kevin Eubanks, Will Downing, Angela Bofill, and Cassandra Wilson.
Signature arrangements: Woody Shaw(Rosewood),Phyllis Hyman(Betcha By Golly Wow and The Answer is You) and for Stanley Jordan(The Lady in My Life).
Solo projects include "Onaje" (Steeplechase - 1976/1995), "That Special Part of Me" (MCA/Zebra - 1988), "Dare to Dream (MCA/Zebra - 1991)", "Return to Form" (Half Note - 2003), "Remember Their Innocence" (Ejano - 2005), "Sack Full of Dreams" (18th & Vine - 2007) which was a Jazz Improv Magazine pick amongst best albums of 2007 "Just Like Yesterday" (Pony Canyon - 2010) and "Bloodlife"(solo piano, Ejano - 2013)
Onaje is the featured pianist on Avery Sharpe's albums that include, "Legends and Mentors"(2008), "Autumn Moonlight"(2009),"LIVE"(2010), "Running Man" (2011) and Sojourner Truth, Ain't I A Woman" (2012).
Onaje has brought his group to Club Bonafide on Sept 24, 2016 and will bring them back on December 3, 2016. He and his group will appear at City College Aaron Davis Hall on April 28, 2017. He recently recorded an EP with vocalist Mem Nahadr to be released sometime at the beginning of next year.
Onaje is a 2006 NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Jazz Artist for his album, "Remember Their Innocence".

show less