![]() |
Photo: Getty Images |
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Jeff Beck Guitar
Monday, January 9, 2023
17th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Poll
For those of you who do not know Francis Davis (pictured left), he is an exceptional writer, critic, and has won a slew of awards for his music journalism and even a GRAMMY. For years, he hosted the Jazz Critics Poll that appeared first in The Village Voice, moved on to several sites (including NPR) and landing several years ago at artsfuse.org, a web-based online arts magazine based in the Boston, MA area. One of that sites goals has been to pick up the slack in arts coverage due to the loss of area newspapers. Best of all, the site looks at the many and varied genres/artists that one is interested in.
Critic/writer Tom Hull has been working with Davis on the poll for years and took over the heavy lifting for 2022. Below is a series of links where you can see the results Hull collated from over 150 jazz critics and writers plus read his essay as well as one from Francis Davis and finally, the list of Jazz Notables who passed in 2022. I am honored to be one of the participants and really enjoy reading what the other contributors have chosen. Hope you do as well!
https://artsfuse.org/267017/the-17th-annual-francis-davis-jazz-poll-a-profusion-of-geniuses/
https://artsfuse.org/267051/the-17th-annual-francis-davis-jazz-poll-my-poll-without-me/
https://artsfuse.org/267044/arts-feature-jazz-notables-we-lost-in-2022/
Tom Hull has organized the four links on his web page––check it out by going to https://hullworks.net/jazzpoll/22/.
Friday, January 6, 2023
Intimate yet Playful, Big Band Brazilian
Two years ago, in the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, esperanza spalding and Fred Hersch issued a live recording with five songs they recorded in 2018 at the Village Vanguard. The digital-only album was posted on a special Bandcamp page with all proceeds from sales to the Jazz Foundation of America, an organization raising money to assist musicians affected by the international work stoppage. The album was posted for six weeks only (my review is here) and, unless you own it, disappeared from sight (and sound).
Until now, that is. "Fred Hersch & esperanza spalding: Alive at the Village Vanguard" (Palmetto Records) is available again and, great news, the program has been expanded to eight songs: the "original" five plus "My Little Suede Shoes" from Charlie Parker (first recorded in 1951), Thelonious Monk's "Evidence", and Mr. Hersch's lovely "A Wish" (that he first recorded with Norma Winstone in 2003). The new "additions" make the album even better (and the earlier version was quite delightful). Ms. spalding sticks to vocals and she's a great front-person. Her introduction to Bobby Troup's "Girl Talk" and patter throughout is hilarious but make sure to pay attention the delightful piano that plays along. "But Not for Me" opens the album and really sets the pace–listen below and just how playful both the lady and gent can be (one can just see lyricist Ira Gershwin laughing along with ms. spalding's joyous interpretation). Egberto Gismonti would be thrilled to hear the duo dance through "Loro" (the vocalist even stops her wordless jaunt to to say "bless you" to a patron who sneezed).![]() |
Photo: Facebook |
![]() |
Photo: Leo Aversa |
Special Guests:
Gabriel Gross - harmonica
Jaques Morelenbaum - cello
Egberto Gismonti - piano
Orchestra:
Maiara Moraes - reeds
Aline Gonçalves - reeds
Fernando Trocado - reeds
Rui Alvim - reeds
Gustavo D'Amico - reeds
Joana Queiroz - reeds
Henrique Band - reeds
Bruno Soares - trumpet
Diego Garbin - trumpet
Gilson Santos - trumpet
Pedro Paulo Junior - trumpet
Rafael Rocha - trombone
Everson Moraes - trombone
Jonas Hocherman - trombone
Leandro Dantas - bass trombone
Luciano Camara - guitar
Rafael Martini - piano & accordion
Mayo Pamplona - bass
Lourenço Vasconcellos - drums
Saturday, December 24, 2022
Of These I Sing (Part 2)
You should think of "OTIS Pt 2" as the other albums that could have been in "Part 1" save for the space and attention span (mine). I love this music and the genuine creativity of the musicians makes me hope for a future that is bright and welcoming for our successors.
Fergus McCreadie – "Forest Floor" (Edition Records) – This is the third album from Scottish pianist McCreadie, the third to feature his trio of bassist David Bowden and drummer Stephen Henderson. All are busy on the growing Jazz scene in Scotland (and beyond) but when they come together to play McCreadie's music, magic happens! The pianist has become even more melodic in the past several years; though he can still play with exquisite technique, the pianist and the rhythm section are concentrating on telling stories and delivering messages in their music. One can still hear the influence of Highland reels, at times, and that is a welcome delight!Andrew Cyrille, William Parker, & Enrico Rava – "2 Blues for Cecil" (TUM Records) – This release was a delightful surprise when it was issued in late January. These three masters play tribute to pianist and composer Cecil Taylor, not be imitating him or covering his music but by demonstrating how the rhythmic innovations and startling melodic explorations can be interpreted so magically. Messrs. Cyrille and Rava (both born in 1939) sound great together and Mr. Parker (13 years their junior) keeps them on their musical toes. All three contribute compositions and there are four improvised plus a sweet version of "My Funny Valentine".
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Of These I Sing (Part 1)
It's that time of year when critics and reviewers create their "Best-of" lists. I am no different but I look at this group of recordings as music that informs, changes, and enhances my life and teaching. Here is the group of albums from the past year that helped me through illnesses, sadness, joy, and much change.
Miguel Zenón - "Musica De las Américas" (Miel Music) – It's no secret how much I admire the music and work of Miguel Zenón. With his long-time ensemble, composed of Luis Perdomo (piano), drummer Henry Cole, and Hans Glawischnig (bass and truly the "glue" of the band). This new album celebrates the music of Central and South America as well as the Caribbean, showing how various elements have entered into the music of the United States (and beyond). Along with the latest album by rapper Bad Bunny ("Un Verano Sin Ti"), whose music celebrates the rhythms that inspire reggaeton, the album has deep grooves, evocative melodies, and the inventive musicianship one has come to expect from Señor Zenón and company. Percussionists Paoli Mejías, Victor Emmanueli, Daniel Díaz, and the five member Los Pleneros de La Cresta each appear on one track during the eight-song program.Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Piano Trios Separated by 58 years!
Piano trios––piano, bass, and drums––have been a constant of American music since the 1940s, catching fire in the 1950s with the work of Ahmad Jamal (see below), Oscar Peterson, Hank Jones, Bud Powell, Bill Evans, and so on. They remain popular today thanks to the artistry of Jason Moran, Matthew Shipp, Brad Mehldau, Tord Gustavsen, Fergus McCreadie, and others including the gentleman below.
Pianist and composer Laszlo Gardony first recorded with bassist John Lockwood and drummer Yoron Israel in 2003 and five times since. Their sixth recording, the appropriately-titled "Close Connection" (Sunnyside Records), accentuates the musicians' relationship on and off the bandstand. The trio reconvened in early 2022 after nearly two years of inactivity due to the COVID pandemic. Professor Gardony (he's on the faculty of Berklee College of Music and Harvard University) brought in six original pieces and the Trio created another six collectively in the studio.
![]() |
Photo: Chris Drukker |
![]() |
Photo: Ross Archives |
The first two CDs from the Seattle, Washington nightclub, are subtitled "1963-1964" and feature one session recorded in June of 1963 while the other has selections from March 28 and April 2 1964. The 1963 date features Mr. Jamal with bassist Richard Evans and drummer Chuck Lampkin; opening with the lively and truly swinging "Johnny One Note" from the 1937 Rodgers & Hart musical "Babe In Arms". One can help but notice the flexible yet solid rhythm section giving the pianist lots of space to dance. Because the bassist and drummer are not sideman but partners in the creative process. Yes, the pianist selects the material but the music is continually reshaped on the bandstand and in the studio by all three. Bassist Evans composed "Minor Adjustments", a classically-inspired work that shows how graceful both he and the pianist can play. The highlight of this first Trio set is the high-energy "Squatty Roo"––the blistering pace allows Mr. Jamal to play both minimalistic and also let loose. He throws quotes from several songs in his fiery solo.
The booklet that accompanies the package includes interviews with Mr. Jamal, with Marshall Chess (whose Argo label released a number of seminal Lps by the pianist), with Ramsey Lewis, Hiromi, and a long history of the pianist and review of the album's performances written by reviewer/critic Eugene Holley, Jr.
Here's "Tangerine" with the 1964 Trio of Mr. Jamal, bassist Jamil Nasser, and drummer Chuck Lampkin:
Monday, November 28, 2022
1 X 12 = Captivating Music
Here's one of my favorite albums of Autumn 2022.
![]() |
Photo: Dahlia Katz |
![]() |
Photo: Dahlia Katz |
-
Song for Lia
-
The Nagila Mayster
-
Beethoven’s 7th Visit to Romania
-
Steals on Steeles
-
Between Utopia and Destruction
-
Rebirth
Terry Promane - musical director
Kevin Turcotte - trumpet & flugelhorn
Jim Lewis - trumpet & flugelhorn
Allison Au - alto saxophone
Mike Murley - tenor saxophone & soprano saxophone (2,3)
Kelly Jefferson - tenor saxophone & soprano saxophone (5)
William Carn - trombone
Karl Silveira - trombone
Laura Swankey - vocals (1, 2)
Ted Quinlan - guitar
Michael Davidson - vibraphone (2, 3, 4, 6)
Justin Gray - double bass
Derek Gray - drums & percussion
Choir ("Beethoven’s 7th Visit to Romania"): Michelle De Palma, Sanja Dejanovic, Aliyah Guthrie, Yuval Jarus Hakak, Alexandra Kapogiannis, Allison Long, Dulce Martinez, Sarvi Seivani, Nitish Sharma, Marie Tossios, Jackson Welchner, Yulina Wong, Samira Yeo
All compositions & arrangements by Noam Lemish (ASCAP)