A pleasingly busy weekend of music in CT including 2 fine shows at The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme. On Friday (5/06), Jan & Ken welcome pianist Eldar Djangirov & his Trio. Eldar, born in the former Soviet Union but raised in Kansas City, Missouri, between playing professionally before he was a teenager. He signed to Sony Records in 2005, releasing his 3rd CD at the age of 18 (his self-released debut came out when he was just 14). A technically brilliant pianist, he has matured in a thoughtful musician with a great knowledge of many different genres. He has also worked with saxophonist J.D. Allen on two of the tenor player's Savant releases.
Not sure who's in the rhythm section but, rest assured, this music will be fiery yet with finesse (check out the video below). Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the music starts 60 minutes later. Go to thesidedoorjazz.com for more information.
Here's Eldar's Trio in action:
On Saturday, The Side Door opens for the David Gibson Quintet. Trombonist and composer Gibson, raised in Oklahoma, has been fairly busy since moving to New York City nearly two decades ago. He's arranged, composed, and recorded with such artists as Slide Hampton, vocalist Nancy Wilson, the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Band, Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band plus issued six albums as a leader, three on the Nagel-Heyer label and his most recent three on Posi-Tone Records.
His latest CD, "Boom", came out early in 2015 and he's bringing most of the group that recorded that fine session with him to Old Lyme. The rhythm sections consists of pianist Theo Hill, bassist Alex Claffey, and drummer Kush Abadey with trumpeter Freddie Hendrix joining Gibson in the all-brass front line. Everyone save for the trumpeter is featured on the recording (my review is here.)
The Quintet will play two sets commencing at 8:30 p.m. For reservations and more information, call 860-434-0886. To learn more about the trombonist, go to www.jazzbone.org.
Here's a tune from the latest CD to whet your appetite for Saturday night:
Firehouse 12 in New Haven presents drummer and composer Allison MillerBoom Tic Boom in concert Friday at 8:30 p.m. Ms. Miller, who has worked with a slew of artists including vocalist Natalie Merchant, pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Ben Allison, and organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, is on tour performing music from her album "Otis Was a Polar Bear" (The Royal Potato Family). Her third recording as a leader features an all-star cast including Kirk Knuffke (cornet), Ben Goldberg (clarinet), Jenny Scheinman (violin, vocals), Myra Melford (piano), and Todd Sickafoose (drums) and that's the ensemble coming to the Elm City (recent gigs have Gary Versace subbing for Ms. Melford.)
"Otis...", composed after the birth of the drummer's first child, is a splendid recording from start to finish. While her previous recordings had their strengths (especially the interaction of the pianist and bassist with the drummer), the new recording expands the sonic palette with the addition of cornet and clarinet. Plus, having a baby has allowed the more melodic side of Ms. Miller as a composer to be front-and-center. Not that the music doesn't swing - there are moments of great intensity - but the overall effect is one of playfulness.
Boom Tic Boom plays 2 sets, each with a separate admission charge. Go to firehouse12.com or call 203-785-0468 to find out more.
Here's a video about the making of the new album:
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On Friday, the Hartford Jazz Society presents the great alto and soprano saxophonist Gary Bartz in concert at 7 p.m. in the Polish National Home, 60 Charter Oak Avenue in Hartford. Bart, born in Baltimore, MD, is well-known for his work with McCoy Tyner and Miles Davis plus his works as a leader of the NTU Troop and his recordings for Fantasy Records. He had a period in the mid-to-late 1970s when he had commercial success but he's been playing his brand of post-Coltrane jazz for the past 3+ decades.
Not sure who's in his touring Quartet but, most likely, guitarist Paul Bollenback will be alongside Bartz on the bandstand. Opening the concert will be the Greater Hartford Academy of Jazz Ensemble I. For more information, go to www.hartfordjazzsociety.com or call 860-242-6688.
Canadian-born bassist and composer Rich Brown has a big, thick, electric sound that has been the foundation of bands led by pianist Andy Milne, saxophonists Steve Coleman, Steve Lehman, and Rudresh Mahanthappa. "Abeng" is his second album as a leader and first with a band since he was the leader of Rinse The Algorithm in the mid-2000s. The recording features Luis Deniz (alto saxophone), Larnell Lewis (drums), Robi Botos (piano on 4 tracks, Fender Rhodes on 1), Chris Donnelly (piano on 4 tracks), Kevin Turcotte (trumpet on 2 tracks), Kelly Jefferson (tenor saxophone on 1 track) and Rosendo Chendy Leon (all percussion on "Chant of the Exiled").
From the opening track, one can hear the influences of all the bands Brown has been part of. The tricky rhythms of "Mahishmatish" has that M-Base feel of Steve Coleman while "Promessa" would sound just fine as part of Andy Milne's Dapp Theory. Yet, not all of the tracks are that easy to pin down. "Chant of the Exiled (Abeng)" moves steadily forward on Leon's percussion while the melody is handled by the alto sax and trumpet. The track never hurries; instead, the sensuous melody line is the focus. The quiet acoustic piano melody of "This Lotus Ascension" also takes its time to develop, first unaccompanied then handed over to the bass and alto sax. The music continually builds as Deniz pushes forward toward a fiery climax and, then, a quick piano interlude before returning to a re-statement of the main theme.
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The shimmering opening of "Parity of Esteem (An Illustration of Imbalance)" illustrates not only the handsome melody but the impressive counterpoint provided by the leader. The piece turns turbulent in the middle, roiling piano phrases over the hypnotic bass and rampaging drums doesn't let up until the alto sax returns to the melody. The final cut, "Achilles & The Tortoise", is an exciting spotlight for Deniz (a Cuban native now living in Toronto, CA) and pianist Donnelly (1/3rd of Myriad3) who are constantly pushed forward by the aggressive drums and melodic bass. In fact, Brown takes a fine solo on the second half of the piece.
"Abeng" is music that comes at the listener from multiple perspectives, from the more contemporary edges of fusion to the funk experimentations of Weather Report and Yellowjackets. One can hear the melodic influences of Jaco Pastorious and Jimmy Haslip on the sound of Rich Brown but he's no copycat. This is music that's worth your attention - then go back and find his splendid 2014 solo bass album "Between Heaviness and Here."
The snow is melting, the daffodils are pushing up through the puddles alongside the house, and the Spring 2015 Concert Series at Firehouse 12, 45 Crown Street in New Haven, begins this Friday March 20. Bassist/composer Ben Wolfe brings his Quartet to the performance venue; his new Posi-Tone recording "The Whisperer" features 3 of the 4 musicians on the CD including Wolfe, saxophonist Stacy Dillard and drummer Donald Edwards. Pianist Orrin Evans, who is celebrating his 40th birthday playing in Philadelphia, can't make the show but Anthony Wonsey, an equally talented person at the keys, will join the proceedings. The music on the CD is absorbing, with Dillard's soprano sax work exhilarating at times.
The Ben Wolfe Quartet plays 2 sets - 8:30 and 10 p.m. - for ticket information, go to firehouse12.com or call 203-785-0468.
On Friday night, the Hartford Jazz Society presents the duo of Ethan Iverson (piano) and Ron Carter (bass) for an evening of standards, jazz classics and originals from the bassist. Many people know Iverson from his work with The Bad Plus and his informative blog Do The Math but he is also a student of the music he plays with such gusto. The pianist also enjoys working with musicians who have left their mark on contemporary African American as one can hear in the trio he co-leads with drummer Alfred "Tootie" Heath and bassist Ben Street plus his work with drummer Billy Hart. As for Ron Carter, he has been playing for for over 50 years, working with trumpeter Miles Davis's mid-1960s Quintet and appearing on nearly 2,500 recordings! He leads with a Trio and a Big Band and is great demand for workshops and seminars.
The concert takes place at the Polish National Home, 60 Charter Oak Avenue in Hartford. Opening the show at 7 p.m. will be the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Jazz Ensemble. Messrs. Carter and Iverson should begin at 8 p.m. For more information, go to www.hartfordjazzsociety.com/2015-iverson-carter.html.
To call Thana Alexa a singer-songwriter is to diminish her talents. She's also a vocal instrumentalist, a poet, and an arranger. Her debut recording "Ode To Heroes" (Jazz Village/Harmonia Mundi) is out now (nearly 3 years after the tracks were recorded) and she will celebrating the release this Friday (3/20) at The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme. 3 of the musicians on the recording will be supporting her, including drummer/producer Antonio Sanchez, bassist Jorge Roeder and pianist Sergio Salvatore; also appearing will be saxophonist Ben Flocks.
Ms. Alexa is a native of New York City yet was raised in Croatia. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music from the New School in New York City. She has recorded with Sanchez on his critically-acclaimed "New Life" CD and with guitarist Gene Ess on his "Fractal Attraction" album. Ms. Alexa has also worked with guitarist Julian Lage, pianist Junior Mance, and drummer Brnard "Pretty" Purdie among many others. Her new CD is a delightful blend of original pieces, recognizable instrumental tunes that Ms. Alexa had written lyrics for ("The Wanderer" uses the melody of Charles Mingus's "Goodbye Pork-Pie Hat" while "Trace Back Your Footprints" uses Wayne Shorter's "Footprints") and fine arrangement of Paul Desmond's "Take Five" with lyrics by Dave & Iola Brubeck. Several of the songs are so rhythmically exciting, led by the the drummer's super drumming. Her vocals, at times, remind this listener of the work of Gretchen Parlato. One of the best parts of this music is how Ms. Alexa interacts with the band, especially with Sanchez.
That interaction should be on display at The Side Door. The doors open at 7:30 and the first set begins at 8:30 p.m. For more information, call 860-434-0886 or go to thesidedoorjazz.com.
On Saturday, The Side Door welcomes bassist and Hartford native Dezron Douglas (pictured left - no, it's not Red Sox slugger David Ortiz) and his talented quartet. Douglas, who has appeared on numerous recordings the past several years and is a member of the Cyrus Chestnut Trio, is joined by pianist David Bryant, alto saxophonist Lummie Spann and drummer Jeremy "Bean" Clemons. One should expect this music to be swinging and fun as Mr. Douglas has a big, thick, tone, the saxophonist a lively sound and Bryant is an exciting young pianist.
As above, the first set commences at 8:30. As I have stated before, The Side Door is an intimate space and allows a great view into the creative process. And, you should take the time to meet the musicians.
photo by Eric LaCour
Saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, who spent his formative years in New Haven, returns home this Saturday night (3/21) to perform at the 9th Note, 56 Orange Street. Mr. Escoffery, who is a member of the Mingus Big Band and has been a member of trumpeter Tom Harrell's Quintet, has been celebrating his 40th birthday with a series of gigs throughout Europe. Not sure who's in the group (he usually plays with a quartet) but the music begins at 8 p.m. He's both a lyrical and muscular player plus he writes very involving music. To find out more about the 9th Note, go to www.the9thnote.com. To learn more about Wayne Escoffery, go to www.escofferymusic.com.
On Monday March 23, the Uncertainty Music Series welcomes the trio of Jack Wright (saxophone), Zachary Darrup (guitar) and Michael Evans (percussion) to Never Ending Books, 810 State Street in New Haven. Mr. Wright has been involved in improvised music for over 4 decades (with time out for a lengthy sabbatical during which he painted and wrote) while Mr. Evans leads the Swirling Lotus Blossom Bandits Band, a sextet dedicated to playing Kwela music from South Africa as well as the music of Sun Ra and Howlin' Wolf. Zack Darrup has been working with the saxophonist for several years, blending his amplified guitar sounds with the visceral playing of his mentor.
Opening the show at 8 p.m. will be a solo set featuring clarinetist Matt Ingalls. Not only is he a fine improvising musician (having worked with Anthony Braxton, Meredith Monk and a host of San Fransisco Bay Area improvisers, Mr. Ingalls is a noted software designer. To find out more about him, go to mattingalls.com.
For more information about the Uncertainty Music Series, go to uncertaintymusic.com.
Infinity Hall, 32 Front Street in Hartford, presents David Bromberg in concert Thursday Oct 23 at 8 p.m. Bromberg, who plays guitar and mandolin plus sings in a earnest style, has been playing blues, folk, country, rock - Americana is the best overall genre - since the late 1960s, working with Jerry Jeff Walker, Bob Dylan and so many more. After some time off the trail, Bromberg returned in 2011 with a great recording for the Appleseed Recordings label titled "Use Me" and now is touring in support of "Only Slightly Mad", a fine collection that opens with a raucous, rocking, version of "Nobody's Fault But Mine" - the piece features some nasty slide guitar.
Joining will be the CD producer Larry Campbell, a master of many stringed instruments plus local folk artist Eric Michael Lichter. For ticket information, go to www.infinityhall.com or call 866-666-6306.
The Hartford Jazz Society presents saxophonist J.D. Allen and his Quartet in concert Friday 10/24 at 7 p.m. in Polish National Home, 60 Asylum Avenue in Hartford. Since 2008, the Detroit native has released 6 CDs, 4 on Sunnyside Records with his fine Trio and the most recent 2 with his new Quartet (the latest, "Bloom", was issued several months ago on the Savant label.) Joining him will be pianist Victor Gould, bassist Alexander Claffy and drummer Jonathan Barber (a native of Hartford). To his credit, Allen has carved his own sound in a crowded field of saxophonists with his focus on melody and short yet rich solos.
Opening the show will be the East Catholic High School Jazz Ensemble. For ticket information, go to www.hartfordjazzsociety.com or Integrity 'N' Music in Wethersfield.
Busy weekend at The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme. On Friday, the young tenor saxophonist Chelsea Baratz comes to the club; recommended by pianist Orrin Evans, the Pittsburgh native has been gathering fans with her fine musicianship since first arriving on the scene a mere 4 years ago. Her debut CD, "In Faith", came about in 2011 and is a pleasing blend of jazz, funk and r'n'b.
Her bands includes Eric Wheeler (bass), Joe Blaxx (drums) and Warren Fields (keyboards). Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the first set commences at 8:30. Go to thesidedoorjazz.com for ticket information or call 860-434-0886.
On Saturday, Jan and Ken welcome vocalist Marianne Solivan for 2 sets of contemporary music. Ms. Solivan is certainly a citizen of the world, having lived in Venezuela, and New Jersey before sending her high school years in Massachusetts. After studying at the New England Conservatory of music in Boston, she began working with musicians like Roy Hargrove and clarinetist Daryl Harper.
Her second album as a leader, "Spark", was issued in September on HiPNOTIC Records. Self-produced, the recording is a splendid blend of standards and originals, with Ms. Solivan's handsome vocals framed by the piano of Xavier Davis, basis Matthew Parish and drummer Gregory Hutchinson.
For her Old Lyme gig, she's bringing pianist John Chin, bassist Neal Caine and drummer Montez Coleman. The first set starts at 8:30 p.m. Check the website and/or number above for ticket information.
Firehouse 12, 45 Crown Street in New Haven, continues its classy Fall 2014 Concert Series this Friday evening with The Wee Trio. Composed of Dan Loomis (bass), Jared Schonig (drums) and James Westfall (vibraphone), the ensemble came together 6 years ago in Brooklyn, playing (mostly) original music built upon one of the better rhythm sections in creative music. They released 4 CDs, the most recent being 2013's "Live at The Bistro" released on the group's Bionic Records. Loomis has worked with T.S. Monk, the David Bixler Quintet and, most notably, with drummer Ernesto Cervini's Quartet. Schonig also is a busy player, working with Tyler Blanton, Erika Von Kleist and powering the Nathan Parker Smith Large Ensemble.
Together, The Wee Trio rocks, swings and struts with the best of them. They'll play 2 sets - 8:30 and 10 p.m. - for more information, go to firehouse12.com or call 203-785-0468.
The Yale School of Music/Ellington Music Series presents the great bassist Ron Carter and his equally talented Trio at Morse Recital Hall, located in Sprague Hall at 470 College Street (corner of Wall Street), New Haven. Carter was a member of the legendary Miles Davis Quintet from 1963-69, creating many memorable rhythms alongside drummer Tony Williams. He's also played on over 2,500 recordings in a career that has spanned 50+ years. Joining him will be guitarist Russell Malone and pianist Donald Vega. Expect the music to have a deep groove, to swing with grace and to be filled with melodies. For ticket information, go to music.yale.edu or call 203-432-4158.
The monthly "Improvisations" series at Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor Street in Hartford, continues this coming Sunday (10/26) with a 3-way conversation featuring series curators Stephen Haynes (cornets, trumpets), Joe Morris (guitar, bass) and their guest, vibraphonist Bryan Carrott. Mr. Carrott has worked with Ralph Peterson, Gunther Schuller, David "Fathead" Newman, and in the Broadway production of "The Lion King." He is truly a "mallet master". It's a an early show - 3 p.m. - for more information and tickets, go to www.realartways.org/livearts.htm#Improvisations or www.facebook.com/events/767506246638548/.
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Here's a unique twist on the piano trio genre - the Parker Abbott Trio, composed on pianists Teri Parker and Simeon Abbott plus drummer Mark Seeger, has a new CD, "The Wayfinders" (self-released) that blends acoustic and electric pianos as well as synthesizers into a pleasing musical experience. The pianists have been working throughout Canada for the past several years, recording a duo CD in 2010 that experimented with different styles of music on different keyboards. Adding a drummer has focussed their attention on melodies and structure, creating a sound that veers closer to progressive rock than jazz. The blend of synths, keys and a skid backbeat propels the opening track "Nature Speaks", sounding not unlike Elton John meets Andy Partridge (XTC). The Rhodes and drums set a funky and mysterious pace on "Coral Castle" while "Companions" would not sound out of place with words or vocals by Peter Gabriel. The Wurlitzer sound on "Circus Piece" creates a spooky ambiance, heightened by the rhythm moving in and out of waltz time. The longest cut, at 7+ minutes, "With Robots We Live Forever" has moments that remind this listener of Rush (the chord changes and the driving rhythms at the beginning and near the end.
The sounds created by the Parker Abbott Trio on "The Wayfinders" probably won't attract many straight-ahead jazz fans but this is no "New-Age" musical fantasy. There are stories inside these songs, carried by the finely-crafted melodies, heightened by the interactions of the two keyboardists and booted by the contributions of drummer Seeger. Throw away your expectations and just listen - you will find much to like in this piano trio. For more information, and to listen to all the tracks go to parkerabbott.ca.
As Willie Nelson famously wrote so many years ago "Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away" - of course, the lyrics are dark and about a love that has died. However, one might react with those very words upon discovering that The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme is celebrating its 1st Anniversary this weekend (Saturday night May 10, to be exact.
On Friday, Jan and Ken welcome trombonist/composer Steve Davis, bassist Nat Reeves and the JMI All Star Band (students from the Jackie McLean Institute in Hartford. Mr. Davis (pictured) is a Hartt School of Music graduate, now a Professor and former Jackie McLean student (as is bassist Reeves); he's toured and recorded with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Chick Corea's Origin and is a founding member of One For All. His buttery tone and intelligent, swinging, solos has been a strong feature of his 15 recordings as a leader and on hundred of sideman gigs.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the first set commencing at 8:30. Go to thesidedoorjazz.com for more information and to make reservations.
The big celebration is, as I mentioned above, on Saturday and The Side Door presents the Chair of the Jackie McLean Institute and Associate Professor of Jazz at The Hartt School, Javon Jackson. Jackson, also an alumnus of the Jazz Messengers, is a fine tenor saxophonist with numerous CDs as a leader for labels such as Blue Note, Palmetto, and Smalls plus 2 on his own label. He's bringing quite a band, including guitarist Larry Coryell, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White. With such great sidemen, the music should move from straight-ahead jazz to more contemporary sounds and all stops in-between. Go to the website above for more details or call 860-434-0886. I've been assured there will be a number of surprises in store for this who attend so make your reservation sooner rather than later.
The Hartford Jazz Society presents its Spring Concert this Friday at 7 p.m. in the Polish National Home, 60 Charter Oak Avenue in Hartford. Headlining this year's event is the Louis Hayes Jazz Communicators. The 76-year old Hayes, a native of Detroit, MI, has played and recorded with a myriad of jazz greats including Horace Silver (when the drummer was just 18), John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Oscar Peterson and on. His first Lp as a leader, simply titled "Louis Hayes Quintet", was issued in 1960 on VeeJay Records and he has since issued 18 more, the latest being "Lou's Idea", released in 2010 on Jazz Showplace Records. His band features Hartt School graduate Abraham Burton (saxophones), veteran bassist Gerald Cannon, and the fine young pianist David Bryant. Opening the show will be the Greater Hartford Arts Academy Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Alex Nakhimovsky. There will also be a Student Workshop from 4:30 - 6 p.m. that is free of charge. For more information and ticket reservations, call the HJS at 860-242-6688.
Firehouse 12, 45 Crown Street in New Haven, presents pianist/composer/activist Noah Baerman and the Jazz Samaritan Alliance this Friday. The concert is part of the CD release events centered around Mr. Baerman's new self-released album,"Ripples." Joining him in the performance space is Chris Dingman (vibraphone), Jimmy Greene (saxophones), Kris Allen (saxophones), Henry Lugo (bass) and Otis Brown III (drums). Over the past year, Baerman has been involved with Resonant Motion, an organization that, to quote from its "Mission Statement", is "committed to the great potential that exists when music intersects with meaningful facets of the world outside of pitches and rhythms." Meanwhile, in the pianist's words, "The concept behind the Jazz Samaritan Alliance is to create and present socially conscious jazz." Don't expect political screes or profanity-laced rants, this music is not only meant to make you contemplate the world but also to enjoy the interactions of the musicians, the wealth of melody and rhythms plus the fine soloists. Noah Baerman et al will play 2 sets - 8:30 and 10 p.m. - tickets are still available by going to firehouse12.com or calling 203-785-0468. To find out more about about Noah Baerman and his various projects, go to www.noahjazz.com and resonantmotion.org.
Saturday night, the Uncertainty Music Series presents an exciting double bill at 8 p.m. in Never Ending Books, 810 State Street in New Haven. Opening the show will be Duo Music, an ensemble that features series curator Carl Testa (bass) and Chris Cretella (guitar), the first time these musicians who have worked together in numerous groups have played in this formation. Following them will the Chris Welcome Quartet featuring the guitarist with Shayna Dulberger (bass), Jonathan Moritz (tenor and soprano saxophones) and John McLellan (drums). Since 2007, the CWQ has issued 4 CDs filled with improvisations that run the gamut from delicate to hearty, noise to whispers. For more information, go to uncertaintymusic.com.
They may look a bit overdressed for the June temperatures here in the Northeast but Ellery Eskelin & Trio New York will be venturing to New Haven on Friday June 15. Tenor saxophonist Eskelin, organist Gary Versace and drummer Gerald Cleaver (left to right in the picture) are the final concert in the Firehouse 12 Spring 2012 Series, performance 13 of 13 in a very busy and successful schedule. TNY's self-titled CD, issued in 2011 on Eskelin's Prime Source label, is dedicated to the saxophonist's mother Bobbie Lee who played Hammond B-3 organ as a professional musician into the early 1960s. The program consists of 5 long tracks, only one under 14 minutes ("Off Minor" clocks in at 13:34) and all are standards (perhaps pieces his mother played on her gigs.) Each piece stretches out to allow the Trio to go down many musical and sonic pathways, often referring to the melody as an abstraction. The opening minutes of "Witchcraft" hint at the Cy Coleman melody while Eskelin and Versace move in and around each other. Cleaver also toys with the melody as he playfully sketches various rhythmic ideas. As the track moves forward, Versace and Cleaver take the piece over and give it a "swing" groove. Eskelin reins in his harder tenor sound throughout but no more so than on the atmospheric and emotional first half of "How Deep Is The Ocean"; even when the song falls into a easy loping groove, the saxophonist caresses his phrases. It's fun to hear Eskelin's tenor sax riffing over the active drums, strong bass foot and organ fills on "Lover, Come Back To Me" - Cleaver's swing is solid, subtle and downright classy.
Trio New York plays 2 sets, 8:30 and 10 p.m. To find out more about Eskelin and company, go to his website at home.earthlink.net/~eskelin. Firehouse 12 is located at 45 Orange Street in New Haven - for ticket information, go to firehouse12.com or call 203-785-0468. The Fall 2012 season does not start until late September and won't be posted until late August at the earliest. Nick Lloyd, Carl Testa and the rest of the staff have a lot to be proud of and fans of creative music should thank them any chance they get.
Speaking of Carl Testa, his Uncertainty Music Series goes on a short hiatus so that he can "take his show on the road." He's packing his acoustic bass and electronics as well as the Broadcloth trio (vocalist Annie Rhodes, accordionist Adam Matlock and cellist Nathan Bontrager) for an 8-shows-in-8 days jaunt that starts in Philadelphia on June 22. Then, they'll perform on successive nights in Richmond, VA, Asheville, North Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, Wilmington and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Baltimore, Maryland, and back to New Haven for a June 29th show at Intercambio, 756 Chapel Street. To find out more about the tour, the musicians and the music, go to carltesta.net and broadclothtrio.com. Road warriors, indeed!
Also on Friday June 15, the Hartford Jazz Society welcomes TheCookers for a 7 p.m. show in the Polish National Home, 60 Charter Oak Avenue in Hartford. The Cookers, organized in 2007 by trumpeter-arranger David Weiss, is a septet that takes its name from the classic 1965 Freddie Hubbard Blue Note Lp "The Night of the Cookers", a live recording that also featured trumpeter Lee Morgan, saxophonist/flautist James Spaulding and pianist Harold Mabern, Jr. Weiss's group includes 5 musicians who came to their musical maturity in the late 1960s and early 70s including Billy Harper (tenor saxophone), Eddie Henderson (trumpet), George Cables (piano), Cecil McBee (bass) and Billy Hart (drums) with 49-year old Craig Handy adding his alto saxophone to the mix. The band has issued 3 Cds in 3 years, the latest being "Believe" just released on Motema Music (see below). Don't go to see The Cookers expecting an evening of nostalgia - this music is not dated or cliched (even their ballads have power.) The interactions of the musicians is highly charged (Harper is a tenor player from the John Coltrane - he never takes a solo "off") and Hart really drives this band. Much of the band's repertoire comes from Harper, Cables and McBee which Weiss or Harper arranges for the septet.
Opening for The Cookers will be the East Catholic High School Jazz East Big Band. For ticket information, go to www.hartfordjazzsociety.com or call 860-242-6688.
As for the septet's 3rd CD, it's a winner from the first note of Billy Harper's "Believe, For It Is True." With the rhythmic feel of Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage", Harper's tune has a soulful melody with a bluesy twist and the composer builds his heart-felt yet fiery solo atop Hart's rampaging drums - all the while, Cables and McBee keep the rhythm steady. What separates The Cookers from many groups is that there are few songs on which more than 3 people solo (McBee does not even take one) and, when they play the "heads" of the songs, they create a joyous noise (sounding much larger than 7 pieces.) There are several moments where the music takes on a softer side, especially Cables' light-hearted "But He Knows." Henderson's muted trumpet spot opens to Handy's short but sweet alto solo before the composer puts his sweet "swing" on the tune. The one non-original, Wayne Shorter's "Free for All" (from the 1964 Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers), lives up to its name with fine solos from all save Weiss and McBee (Henderson truly turns it on for his spot as does Handy.)
What is so fine about "Believe" is that there are no wasted notes or empty gestures, just music that reaches out to the listener's soul and feet (hard not to move one's body when these musicians hits their stride.) This septet, so ably guided by David Weiss, knows that there are no do-overs, you have to go for it with every fiber of your being (very much in the fashion of Art Blakey, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and so many others.) If you can't get to see them in person (go to www.davidweissmusic.com for the band's itinerary), this CD will make you a believer. For more information about the CD (which is officially on sale June 12), go to motema.com/artist/the-cookers.
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