Olu Dara (born Charles Jones III in Louisville, Mississippi in 1941) is an American trumpeter, cornetist, guitarist and singer. He first became known as a jazz musician, playing alongside avant-garde musicians such as David Murray and Henry Threadgill.
With his first album under his own name, 1998's In the World: From Natchez to New York, Dara revealed another aspect of his musical personality: the leader and singer of a band immersed in African-American tradition, playing a tropical mix of blues, folk, and jazz, with tinges of funk, African popular music and reggae. Neighborhoods, with guest appearances by Dr John and Cassandra Wilson, followed in a similar vein in 2001.
Rapper Nas (Nasir Jones) is Dara's son. He encouraged his father to record the music he was playing with his band, and guested on a track on In the World. Dara played the cornet on the track "Life's A Bitch" from Nas's debut album Illmatic in 1994. In 2004, his vocals were featured on Nas's single "Bridging the Gap", from his album Street's Disciple.
He changed his name to "Olu Dara" when he converted to Islam. He has traveled throughout the middle east.
Discography
Albums
- In the World: From Natchez to New York (1998)
- Neighborhoods (2001)
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