80 Years Old and Going Strong– John Lamkin II Birthday Celebration
[Pictured above, L to R: Michael Hairston, Phil Thomas, John Lamkin II, Michael Graham, Bob Butta]
On Thursday, Sept. 4th, the 80th birthday of one of Baltimore’s beloved jazz elders, trumpeter Dr. John Lamkin II was celebrated at Terra Cafe. The outdoor patio at the rear of the café was opened for the occasion to accommodate the large gathering. Taking the stage to blow some tunes, Lamkin proved that he is still going strong, playing with verve and assurance.
An impressive number of Baltimore’s jazz luminaries turned up to join the musical party – including those who often play with Dr. Lamkin at Caton Castle: saxophonist Michael Hairston, bassist Mike Graham, pianist Bob Butta, drummer Jesse Moody.
Others included saxophonist Lionel Lyles and Clarence Ward III on flugelhorn; trumpeter Theljon Allen; pianists Darius Scott and Jacob Todd, who used to play with Lamkin’s band when he was at UMES; guitarist Rodney Kelley; bassists Blake Meister, Max Murray, and Ben Merliss; drummers John Lamkin III (Lamkin II’s son), Nick Costa, and Charles Wilson, and of course Phil Thomas, the host of the erst-while Thursday jam session at Terra Cafe. All were roundly and warmly applauded by the audience – but perhaps none more so than 10-year-old Kaleb Thomas, son of Phil Thomas and grandson of Dr. Lamkin, who alongside Theljon Allen, bravely played “Blue Monk” on his trumpet. When he came on stage, and when he finished playing, the crowd just exploded with joyful applause.
Dr. John Lamkin II has a long and impressive career in jazz, as bandleader, educator, and recording artist. He received the “2014 Jazz Heroes Award” from the Jazz Journalist Association for having a significant impact on jazz music in the Baltimore community, and in 2018 he received the “Giants Among Us Award” from Quincy Philips and Brian Davis for “Significant Contributions to the Music Landscape in Baltimore, MD. Also in 2018, he was selected for inclusion on the Maryland State Arts Council’s (MSAC) Performing Artists Touring Roster. Besides performing regularly at Baltimore’s Caton Castle Jazz club, Dr. Lamkin teaches trumpet privately at Bills Music in Catonsville Maryland, and at the Maryland Music Academy in Columbia Maryland, and he leads his own summer jazz camp, the B-Sharp Academy.
It was a great night for the Lamkin-Thomas family. Not only did Dr. Lamkin’s son, grandson, and son-in-law play, but Dr. Lamkin was also presented with a Governor’s Citation by his daughter Jocelyn Thomas (wife of Phil Thomas). It was a splendid evening of music, camaraderie, and celebration for a much esteemed figure in the Baltimore jazz community—part of what makes “Charm City” a great American city.
–Liz Fixsen
Liz Fixsen is a small-time jazz vocalist and keyboardist and a big-time jazz fan. She has served on the board of the Baltimore Jazz Alliance and has edited and written for the newsletter for many years. In her other life, she teaches English as a Second Language at Project Literacy in the Howard County Library.