Welcome to The B'Leisure!!!!

This project inspired by the spirit of my father Bleese A. Richardson II who had the HOTTEST SPOT IN AKRON, OHIO from the 70's to early 90's! Anyone who was BLACK in sports, entertainment or THE BLACK WHO'S WHO came through this spot! Everyone from Franco Harris, Kenny Norton to Howard Hewitt, The O'Jays, to Levert (when they weren't signed) .... and YES I HAVE THE PICS TO PROVE IT!!! (you will too once you download this project)

My dad LOVED music and always wanted to be in the entertainment business. He told me he played drums for James Brown as a sit-in. "Do you know how tight you had to be to play drums for James?"

He also loved all the jazz dudes! He loved the likes of Grover Washington Jr. and George Benson. These were the 'fusion' dudes of his day.

Although we were estranged in my early years, he finally got to see me perform by a happy chance... My good friend Ingrid had 2 tickets to see George Duke and as a last minute request, needed someone to roll with her. I had a really bad temperature of 101 but I wanted to see George Duke!!

As the concert went on, George Duke asked if there were any musicians who wanted to come up and jam with him. Ingrid said IT'S YOUR SHOT GO! Short of pushing me off the balcony she forced me to get on stage! - remember I had a temperature of 101!

Long story short, I got to shred on guitar with George Duke. But the kicker is that my dad finally saw me play live with one of the musicians he admired... and then there was another musician he admired on stage that night... ME.

That night was when we became father and son! It was magical! He's now an ancestor watching over me and I know he'd dig this project. This is "Jazz - Not Jazz" So.. this is a musical love letter to my dad! Enjoy

Eriq Troi