This week we lost a true giant— Funmi Ononaiye. He had seemingly endless layers and knowledge, and was omnipresent in the many corners of New York’s vast music scene. A master DJ, percussionist, former A&R executive, chief programmer for Jazz at Lincoln Center, a fixture on the national jazz scene (you would run into him at festivals all over the country), and forever dedicated to seeking and spreading positive vibrations, Funmi left his mark on so many.
Rarely does one come across a human being with such a forcefield of optimism and hope surrounding them. Funmi lived his life connecting people— artists, musicians, thinkers, healers, community leaders, and anyone else who wanted to participate in his world.
We became friends in my early New York City days, back in 2012. I’ve never seen anyone turn up to as many gigs as Funmi, always there to support and encourage musicians. The music truly fueled his soul, and suppose you wanted to know if a band was hitting their groove, all you had to do was watch the way Funmi moved.
Funmi cherished time spent in the recording studio. He loved to be part of that studio magic. Once, he spontaneously showed up at a Herlin Riley date and ended up playing percussion on a track! Funmi came to many record dates I was on, and oftentimes the group would hit a rut, feel stuck, or face some sort of a musical/vibrational challenge. Funmi would arrive and instantly clear the air with a wisdom-filled comment and a deep laugh. The musical path forward always seemed obvious in his presence. As abstract as it sounds, musicians just played better when he was in the room.
When the pandemic hit, we instantly became family. Underground music, culture, and camaraderie were so important to him, and he immediately solidified himself as an integral part of our “Live From Emmet’s Place” livestream series. In the early days, it would just be Russell, Kyle, Funmi and me in the apartment. The trio would play to a physical audience of one (just Funmi), but he had a way of channeling the energy of those watching online, and make us feel like we were playing to a thousand energetic fans.
He was so invested in what we were doing, and had an acute sense for just how impactful our stream would be for jazz globally. His early advice: keep it natural, funky, diverse, and full of love. Our text message thread became a constant brainstorm for discussing future livestream guests, concepts, how to pair different musicians, and other ways to improve upon what we had started. He was a huge force behind the scenes, and I’m eternally grateful for his brilliant guidance. I always told him he was a key factor in our success.
After his soft tissue sarcoma (cancer) diagnosis, it was a painful and tragic decline, marking an extremely difficult time for those closest to him. Even in sickness, he would connect his friends and family, visit jazz clubs, and look for the joys in life. I got to know his beautiful mother, his siblings and many other important people in his orbit. Funmi exhibited extreme strength and will power up until his last breath. I never heard him complain once, and no matter how bad things got, each time I would ask him how he was doing, he’d reply, “give thanks," offering a fist bump.
We will honor Funmi by remembering to give thanks and practice gratitude for all of the blessings in life, big and small. He taught us about the possibilities unlocked from unwavering positivity, as we marveled at his boundless energy and enthusiasm. He never owned a smartphone and was always fully engaged in the present moment. He made delicious sea moss smoothies daily, sharing them with almost anybody he’d come across. He’d pull out the Koshkah, his favorite West African percussion instrument, and have everyone grooving and dancing in a circle around him in a matter of seconds.
Funmi made one final trek up the five flights to the Emmet’s Place on November 20, 2023 to see Herlin Riley, and join in on our Harlem Rent Party festivities. He introduced the show with a passionate speech, and left us with this final thought: “Make sure you get up out of your seat and do the DANCE.” Funmi’s dance lights an eternal fire under all who were blessed to know him.
Some final kernels of wisdom from “The Vibe Provider” himself:
· Funmi’s favorite power foods: seamoss smoothies, African Aloe Ferox crystals, regional unfiltered honey.
· Fortify your energy. Strengthen your prana, brighten your constitution.
· Limit your news and info cycle. Get what you need to know then turn it off. Leave empty space, some room for possibility. Feel your feelings. Feelings release blockages to the life force.
· Cry. Cry together. It’s the virtual hug. Laugh together. It’s powerful medicine.
· Acknowledge death, celebrate life. Facing death is hard. Maybe the hardest. But when we acknowledge the reality of death, every day of life becomes something to celebrate.
· Learn. About the pandemic: Learn from "this thing going on." This is a crisis. A crisis is a period of renewal. A re-set button. How we learn to get through this crisis will determine how we face future challenges.
· Call your friends. Connect thru voice. Have conversations.
· Tamp down the fear. Unblock the love.
Rest in power, Michael Funmi Ononaiye.
