Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq

Lifelight Productions & Publications


The Jazz Crusaders Tribute Project and Beyond





Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq - t.sax (USA) Geoffroy De Masure - trb. (France) Reggie Moore - p./keys (USA) Charles Sammons - b. (USA) Jesus Vega - dr. (USA) The Crusaders Project is a collective ensemble of American and French musicians all living in Berlin, Germany. Comprised of band members Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq (ten sax), Reggie Moore (Piano), Geoffroy De Masure (trombone), Charles Sammons (Bass) and Jesus Vega (Drums), the ensemble was formed with the intention of preserving and honouring the music of the legendary group from the 60's and 70's, The Jazz Crusaders.

Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq has been performing professionally since 1972. After graduating from college, he did his post-graduate studies with the late great African-American pianist, Horace Tapscott and his non-profit institution named UGMAA (Union of God's Musicians and Artist Ascension) in Los Angeles, California. This led to a lifetime relationship with Tapscott's Pan-African People's Arkestra (PAPA), during which time he served as assistant conductor, arranger, composer, copyist to accompany his duties on saxophone, clarinet and flute. In 1991, Fuasi came to Berlin, where he became a name in the city’s jazz scene. For the last 23 years, Fuasi has toured Europe, Asia, Africa and Central America, he has led his own ensembles such as Fuasi & Ensemble, The Ebony Big Band Experience, The Horace Tapscott Memorial Ensemble and the Afro Cubano Latin Jazz Connection. Reggie Moore Berlin based pianist-composer-arranger-clinician Reggie Moore grew up in NYC as the son of Billy Moore, musician and arranger for the Jimmy Lunceford Orchestra. He has toured Japan, the United States and Europe, recorded two albums for Mainstream and worked with such renowned jazz greats as Anita O’Day, Johnny Hartman, Betty Carter, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Gary Bartz, Woody Shaw, Benny Golson and Kenny Burrell - to name a few. His unique art, which he himself calls “Communicable Music” and his dedicated teaching at the "Jazz Institute of Berlin" (formerly "Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik"), have been impacting the German jazz scene for the last 25 years.
Charles Sammons is an American instrumentalist, composer, and instructor world renowned for his innovative techniques and approach. Equally at home behind the double bass, electric bass, and cello, Sammons pushes the outer boundaries of the idiom and the instruments while retaining firm footing in tradition. A consummate collaborator, Sammons has been featured on dozens of recordings from jazz through electronica, rock through pop. As a performer and sideman, Sammons has played and toured with a host of the worlds most excellent artists including members Parliament Funkadelic and touring in support of the Indigo Girls. Jesus Vega is an American Drummer/Educator/Composer currently residing in Berlin, Germany. Born in King City, California, he was first introduced to Jazz by the Monterey Jazz Festival's Education Program. He holds a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Music from Sacramento State University and University of Nevada, Reno. In his short career Mr. Vega has had the privilege to study/perform with: Peter Epstein, David Ake, Vince Lateano, Joe Lovano, Ben Wendle, Ingrid Jensen, Kenny Washington, Greg Hutchinson, Geoffrey Keezer and many more.

Geoffroy De Masure started playing trombone and piano at fourteen years old. From 1985 to 1989 he studied at the Conservatoire in Avignon classical trombone with Professor Bernard Buffet and Jazz with André Jaume. He started playing professionally at 18 in rock and funk band and got his first jazz engagements with his own bands. In 1989 he toured extensively Germany for 8 months with Harald Junkhe and Georg Preuss (Mary and Gordy show). In 1990 he then moved to New York to further study and experiment jazz life there, he studied privately with trombonist Robin Eubanks. He participated in the Banff Center for The Arts Jazz program in Canada which was to be a essential influence and had profound impact in his evolution as a musician, with artistic head Steve Coleman, and faculty staff Rufus Reid, Robin and Kevin Eubanks, Marvin Smitty Smith, Kenny Wheeler, Stanley Cowell.