Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 5-12-17

Feature
Florida Native Ben Tankard To Perform At Mother’s Day Jazz In The Park Music Fest
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
What do you get when you mix the smooth, rhythmic vibes of jazz with the uplift- ing, soul-piercing sounds of gospel music?
The answer is gospel jazz, a unique genre crafted and mastered by renowned key- boardist, songwriter, and pro- ducer Ben Tankard.
The Daytona Beach native and Stellar Award winner is bringing his popular style to Tampa on Sunday when he performs at the Jazz in the Park Music Fest.
He’ll share the stage with fellow Florida native and jazz artist, Tampa-born, David Sanborn.
Tankard now lives in the Nashville area, where he and his wife, Jewel, are co-pas- tors at The Destiny Church. The life partners also co-star in “Thicker Than Water,” a
reality TV show featuring their blended family that airs on Bravo.
But Tankard’s heart still holds a special
place for the Sun-
shine State,
where he visits at least three times a year.
“I love Florida,” Tankard said in a recent telephone inter- view. “My roots are in Florida.”
The chance to play along with Sanborn, however, makes this upcom- ing trip to Tampa especially exciting, he said.
“I’m looking forward to this op- portunity because David Sanborn is one of my fa- vorites,” he said.
Nicknamed the Godfather of Gospel Jazz, Tankard has built an illustrious music ca- reer since jumping on the
scene in the late 1980s. His credits include produc- ing and collaborating with gospel greats, Yolanda Adams, Take 6, and Fred Hammond, as well as churning out 21 al- bums. The latest of which, Full Tank 3: CanTANKer- ous will be released Fri-
day.
Given his background,
Tankard’s success in the music business appears pre- destined. But a career in music wasn’t his first choice. By the time he was a high school senior, Tankard had snagged scholarships to play both tuba and basketball in college. But standing 6’6” and envisioning a career in the NBA, he turned down playing in the band in
favor of running up and down a court.
“I put all my eggs in that basket,” he said. “I loved the music, but basketball felt like it was something that would pay.”
Tankard was on the path to fulfilling his dream when he was invited to join a pro team. But those dreams were dashed immediately when he injured his knee on the first day of training camp.
It was a devastating blow, but one that would put Tankard on the path to his true calling.
Feeling dejected, one day Tankard sought solace in church. A minister prayed over Tankard’s hands and invited him to play the piano.
Tankard had never played the instrument; it was foreign to him.
But when he touched the keys, the music – what he later coined gospel jazz – flowed perfectly.
Tankard said his new- found talent wowed the audi- ence and startled him.
“I began to play like George Duke,” he said. “It was like, ‘where did this come from?’”
Recognizing that it was di- vinely ordained, Tankard decided to keep improving his style.
“God gave me this gift and I didn’t have to learn it,” he said.
In 1990, two significant events happened: Tankard released his second solo album, “Keynote Speaker,” and he discovered Yolanda Adams.
At the time, Tankard was head of the Black Gospel Di- vision for Tribute Records. The match was fruitful, with Tankard producing some of Adams’s most notable work
including the albums “Through the Storm” and “More Than a Melody.”
Tankard has gone on to work with some of the best in the business, including Shirley Murdock, Gerald Albright, and the late Way- mon Tisdale.
More than 30 years after an injured knee changed his life, Tankard said he’s grate- ful for the success he’s had in his career. Especially heart- warming is witnessing how music can bring people to- gether, he said.
“I noticed that...people can sit in an audience and not like the person next to them,” he said. “But they will put all of that on a shelf to cheer for the same team or listen to the same artist.”
Tankard said attendees to his show on Sunday can ex- pect to leave with more than just a good feeling.
They’ll also get some food for their spirit, specifically, a message on keeping a “full tank” of faith.
“Make sure you stay filled up in every area of your life,” he said. “My thing with a full tank is believing God to have more than enough in every area.”
If You Go
Jazz in the Park Music Fest with David Sanborn and featuring Ben Tankard will take place from 1 p.m. to 7 p. m. on Sunday, May 14 at Curtis Hixon Park in down- town Tampa. Free to the pub- lic. VIP and preferred seating is available for purchase. Visit www.TampaBlackHeritage.or g for more information.
To learn more about Ben Tankard, visit bentankard- .org.
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017