In a world where fleeting celebrities and short-lived trends dominate, Avery Sharpe serves as an example of the enduring value of unwavering commitment and personal principles. Sharpe was born in Valdosta, Georgia. His first instrument was the piano. He started playing at age eight, and he credits his mother- a piano player at the Church of God in Christ, for teaching him and his siblings how to play. Although he is the sixth of eight children, it took some time before he got interested in playing the piano. Later, he learned to play the accordion and eventually switched to playing the electric bass in high school.
After enrolling at the University of Massachusetts, Sharpe chose to study economics while continuing to play electric bass in gospel, funk, and rock bands. While at UMass, he met Reggie Workman, a renowned jazz bassist who encouraged him to learn the acoustic bass. Sharpe quickly adapted to the larger instrument and within a few years, he began performing with notable artists such as Archie Shepp and Art Blakey. In 1980, Sharpe successfully auditioned for McCoy Tyner’s group and played with the pianist almost continuously for two decades. During this time, Sharpe played hundreds of live gigs and appeared on more than 20 records. Sharpe’s credits also include sideman stints with many other jazz greats, from Dizzy Gillespie to Pat Metheny, as well as leading his own groups. His first recording as a leader was the 1988 album Unspoken Words on Sunnyside Records.
A new recording will be released on JKNM Records by the internationally renowned bassist/composer. Titled, “I Am My Neighbors Keeper”, the album is scheduled for release in June 2024. Sharpe has composed a new work that highlights our commitment to one another. Avery initiated the project as a response to the political and racial division that has grown over the past seven years the US. In this age of greed, which Sharpe refers to as “IGM,” I Got Mine, basic human compassion has been eroded. Racial, economic, and social strides are being turned back.
“We have food insecurity, the unhoused, pandemics, school shootings, domestic violence, and an opioid problem, just to name some. There is a need to remind people that each of us is here on this planet for a very short period of time. It doesn’t matter if one has a religious approach or a secular approach, it all comes down to concern and compassion for each other. Through these compositions and recordings, Avery’s mission as an artist is to remind us that we all are interconnected and that ‘We Are Our Neighbor’s Keeper.’
The album release date is June 14th, 2024
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