CD review: “The Wayman Tisdale Story Soundtrack”
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Soundtrack
Wayman Tisdale “The Wayman Tisdale Story” (Rendezvous Music/Mack Avenue Records)
Basketball made him a star, but the late Wayman Tisdale considered music his first love.
Fans who only remember his All-American days at the University of Oklahoma or pro hoops career with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns will be able to hear Tisdale’s love for and skill as a bass guitarist on the soundtrack to “The Wayman Tisdale Story,” a new documentary about the multi-talented Tulsan.
The film features interviews with family members, Michael Jordan, Toby Keith and Tisdale, who died in 2009 at the age of 44 after a long battle with bone cancer. He also gets to tell his story through his music, which is appropriate since the son of a prominent Tulsa preacher started playing bass in church when he was just a youth.
The soundtrack showcases the breadth of Tisdale’s career as a contemporary jazz recording artist, featuring tracks from seven of his nine albums, along with Keith’s hit tribute to his pal, “Cryin’ for Me.”
The silky ballad “Gabrielle,” from Tisdale’s 1995 debut “Power Forward,” reveals the tough athlete’s softer side. He tunefully and fervently professes his faith with “Glory, Glory,” from his 2004 album “Hang Time,” and “It’s Alright,” from his 2003 gospel effort “Wayman Tisdale Presents 21 Days.” The previously unreleased instrumental “Slam Dunk” largely lives up to its name with its canny mix of groovy funk and smooth jazz.
But the soundtrack’s highlights are “Let’s Ride” and “The Introduction” from his 2010 posthumous album “The Fonk Record.” Featuring Tisdale performing as his brash and colorful alter-ego Tiz, the tracks are funk-tastic fun but a little sad, too, since he won’t get the chance to make a sequel.
“The Wayman Tisdale Story” will be released on CD/DVD and DVD Nov. 22, but not before a series of preview screenings, including several in his home state. The film will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Norman’s Sooner Theatre, where Tom Braxton will play a Tisdale tribute concert at 8 p.m.
The documentary also will be shown for free at 6 p.m. Sunday at Westmoore Community Church, 12609 S Western. It will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at Tulsa’s Booker T. Washington High School and at 4 p.m. Nov. 13 at Oklahoma City’s Bishop McGuinness High School.
In addition, the film will be shown and Soultry Sound, saxophonist Jermaine Mondaine and Grammy Award-winning bassist Marcus Miller will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in Muskogee. Tisdale will be inducted into the hall of fame at 7 p.m. Nov. 10.
— BAM
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