Live Music: Litchfield Jazz Fest + The Side Door

 

Bassist and composer Mario Pavone has been a presence on the Connecticut, New York and International music scene of over five decades. This weekend's Litchfield Jazz Festival (8/6-7), now celebrating 21 years, is dedicated to the Waterbury native, long-time member of the teaching faculty at the Litchfield Jazz Camp.

The Festival lineup has a definite local feel, with numerous CT natives plus graduates as well as staff members of the Jazz Camp as headliners.  The opening act at 12 noon on Saturday is the Andrew Hadro Quintet with Tony Malaby (tenor sax) and Mr. Pavone, his only scheduled performance of the weekend. Other performers with state connections include drummer Richie Barshay (W. Hartford) and his Trio with Bloomfield native Jimmy Greene (their set is at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday), vocalist/pianist Nicole Zuraitis (Waterbury) air Dave Stryker (4:45 p.m. on Saturday) and Festival closers Luques & Zaccai Curtis (bass and piano, born in Hartford) with New Orleans-native alto saxophonist Donald Harrison (Sunday 6:15 p.m.)

Other performers include pianist Emmet Cohen's Trio with saxophone legend Jimmy Heath (pictured left, 4:45 on Sunday), saxophonist Albert Rivera's "Back At It" band with guitarist Paul Bollenback (Saturday at 3:30 p.m.), bassist Daryl Johns' Trio with dad Steve on drums and pianist Orrin Evans (Saturday at 7:30), the Big Bass Blowout with bassist Avery Sharpe and drummer Matt Wilson plus four young bassists (South African native Zwe Le-Pere, Waterbury native Jonathan Michel, Hartford native Emma Adomeit, and Sean Peatland - Sunday at 12:30.) Finally, the Litchfield Jazz Orchestra, led by Don Braden (tenor sax and director) ad with am impressive cast of musicians(check it here), play a tribute to Earth, Wind, & Fire at 2:15 p.m. on Sunday.

The easiest way to get tickets is to go to litchfieldjazzfest.com and follow the links.  You can also find directions to the Festival site at the Goshen Fairgrounds and a whole lot more.

The folks at The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme are back from the 2016 Newport Jazz Festival and have an exciting weekend planned for CT jazz fans.  On Friday night (8/05), vocalist Thana Alexander returns to the venue with her quintet known as the Thana Alexander Project.  Ms. Alexander, a native of Croatia, has recorded with guitarist Gene Ess and percussionist/drummer Antonio Sanchez. She first appeared at The Side Door around the time her debut album "Ode To Heroes" (Harmonia Mundi/ Jazz Village) released (early 2014) and now she returns with her own group.  The ensemble includes Ben Flocks (saxophones), Eden Ladin (piano), Noam Wiesenberg (bass), and Peter Kronrief (drums).

The Project takes the stage at 8:30 p.m.  For more information, go to thesidedoorjazz.com.

Here's Ms. Alexa in 2015 with Flocks on sax:

On Saturday, The Door opens for the Dominick Farinacci Quintet.  The trumpeter, a graduate of the Juilliard School in New York City, was named by Wynton Marsalis first Global Ambassador of Jazz at Lincoln Center, traveling to the Middle East in association with the Cleveland Clinic.  Newly signed to Mack Avenue Records after releasing eight albums on the Japanese M + I label and on E1 Music.  The new album, "Short Stories", was produced by Tommy LaPuma and has received glowing reviews.

Joining him on the stage will be Adam Birnbaum (piano), Josh Hari (bass), Quincy Phillips (drums), and Keita Ogawa (percussion). Their sets will feature a lot of originals as well as smartly done arrangements of standards and the occasional "pop" song (Farinacci does a wonderful reading of Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love"). The door opens at 7:30 p.m. and the music starts an hour later. Call 860-434-0886 for reservations.

You should check the trumpeter's TEDMED Talk at www.tedmed.com/talks/show?id=292967 and find out more about his music at www.dominickfarinacci.com.

Here's a live version of "Doha Blues" from the new recording:

Give Me Live, Lots of Live (Music, that is)!

'Tis the weekend for the annual Litchfield Jazz Festival, this year celebrating its 20th year. Taking place on the Goshen Fairgrounds in Goshen, CT over 3 days (August 7-9), the music covers a wide swath of musical territory, small to large groups, swing to fusion and many stops in-between.

Opening night includes 2 shows, the first at 7:45 p.m. featuring the Litchfield Jazz Orchestra, a 19-piece ensemble featuring the musicians who have have been working with the students at the Festival's Jazz Camp.  This year, trumpeter Dave Ballou, along with bassist Mario Pavone and trombonist Peter McEachern, are paying tribute to the late saxophonist/composer Thomas Chapin. Both Pavone and McEachern played with the Manchester, CT native and suggested this program for the Festival. The headlining act is the Anat Cohen Quartet who hit the stage at 9:15.  The Israeli-born clarinetist/saxophonist continues to impress audiences around the world with her emotionally rich playing and knowledge of blues, jazz and Brazilian choro.

photo by L Sumulong/JALC

Saturday is quite a full day.  Highlights include "Sharpe Meets Tharpe" (12 noon) with bassist Avery Sharpe's Gospel Choir saluting the music of guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Following that raucous opening will be harmonica virtuoso Gregoire Maret and his Quartet (1:45), Matt Wilson's Topsy-Turvy (3:30), Wycliffe Gordon & Friends (6 p.m.) and the evening's headline, guitarist Mike Stern's Band.

Drummer Wilson (pictured above) is a Festival favorite (this is his 20th appearance on stage!) and this ensemble is an expansion of his great Quartet.  Joining Jeff Lederer (saxophones, clarinet), Kirk Knuffke (cornet) and Chris Lightcap (bass) will be pianist Helen Sung, alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw and the mighty trombonist Ray Anderson. This "little big band" plays music from the 1940s and 50s plus 1 or 2 surprises that the drummer always seems to have in his kit bag.

 Sunday's schedule begins with "A Salute to the Great Drummer Charli Persip."  The fine musician (pictured left), who turned 86 two weeks ago, has had quite the career, working with artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstine, Cannonball Adderley and so many more plus leading the Supersound big band.  The 12noon set features drummers Wilson, George Schuller, Robin Batyas, and Cory Cox and a horn section led by trumpeter Ballou.  Following that set (1:45 p.m.) will be Les Paul's Trio featuring bassist/vocalist Nicki Parrott and legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli.  At 3:45 p.m., trumpeter Sean Jones makes his Festival debut leading a quartet that features the fine pianist Orrin Evans, bassist Luques Curtis, and drummer Mark Whitfield, Jr.

At 5:30, the trio pictured at the top of the post - bassist Christian McBride, pianist and New Haven native Christian Sands and drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. - bring the Festival to a rousing finish. The bassist, who can and does play just about anything, loves this ensemble for its youthful vitality and willingness to stretch.

The Festival will also include the premiere showing (at least, the premiere of the short version) of "Night Bird Song - The Thomas Chapin Story", a documentary of the life and music of Chapin (1957-1998) that has been the project of documentarian Stephanie Castillo (Chapin's sister-in-law).  The screening takes place on Saturday but the Festival website does not give a time.  You can still donate to the project - scheduled to be released in early 2016 - by going to thomaschapin.com.

To find out more about the weekend's events and to be part of the fun, go to litchfieldjazzfest.com.

If you'd rather be inside a wonderful club setting, The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme has 2 fine shows this weekend.  On Friday, Jan and Ken present vocalist Laurin Talese with her quartet composed of drummer Jonathan Michele, bassist Marcus Myers, guitarist Tim Schilling, and pianist Luke Carlos O'Reilly. Ms. Talese, a native of Cleveland, OH, now lives and works in Philadelphia.  Judging from her post on SOUNDCLOUD, she's has a wonderfully facile voice and really understands how to deliver a lyric to make it sound "true."  She and the band take the stage at 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday night at 8:30, NEA Jazz Master Dave Liebman performs at The Side Door with his Quartet.  Liebman, who plays both tenor and soprano saxophones, has been a contributor to the music scene since the early 1970s, playing and/or leading numerous groups as well as a being a leading educator.  He has worked alongside fellow saxophonists Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, and Ravi Coltrane and co-leads QUEST with pianist Richie Bierach (who's worked with him since the early days), bassist Ron McClure and drummer Billy Hart.

The group he's bringing to Old Lyme includes Billy Test (piano), Evan Gregor (bass) and Willy Rodriguez (drums). Should be a splendid evening for such modern music.

For more information, go to thesidedoorjazz.com or call 860-434-0886.

The Monday Night Jazz in Bushnell Park/Hartford comes to a close on August 10 with the Mimi Jones Quartet.  Bassist/composer/vocalist Jones (pictured left) is a very busy person, leading the HotTone Music label, working in groups led by drummer Rudy Royston, pianist (and husband) Luis Perdomo, and saxophonist Tia Fuller. Her Quartet features Mark Shim (saxophones), Miki Hayama (piano) and Hartford native Jonathan Barber (drums).

Opening the show at 6 p.m. will be drummer Jocelyn Pleasant & Medusa.  For more information, go to hartfordmondaynightjazz.com.

If you can't get to the Park, the concert will aired on WWUH-93.1 FM in Hartford (streaming live at www.wwuh.org.)

Monday in the Park with Will + Festivals in CT This August (Part 1)

The penultimate concert in the Bushnell Park Monday Night Jazz series (sponsored by the Hartford Jazz Society) takes place this Monday - August 5 - and features the Will Calhoun Trio.  Drummer Calhoun, a native of Brooklyn, New York, is best known for the quarter-century he has manned the percussion chair in the powerful jazz-rock/hip hop/metal experience known as Living Colour (the quartet disbanded in 1995 and re-connected in 2000).  To call him a muscular player does not tell the whole; Calhoun studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and has worked with artists as varied as B.B. King, Dr. John, Herb Alpert, Jaco Pastorious and Pharoah Sanders.

This year, Motema Records released Calhoun's first CD as a leader since 2005;  titled "Life in This World", a majority of the 12 tracks find him in the company of the rhythm section he's bringing to the Park in Hartford, pianist Marc Cary and bassist Charnett Moffett.   Both record for the same label and both have issued new CDs in the past few months - in the case of Moffett, he's released 2 new recordings, one an impressive solo acoustic bass project, the other featuring members of his family (including his wife and son).

The Monday night gig starts at 6 p.m. with an appearance by the Orice Jenkins Septet.  Joining the talented young pianist/composer will be vocalists Shenel Johns and Erica Bryan plus Alden Hellmuth (alto sax), Nathan Davis (trombone), Tom Sullivan (bass) and Eric Hallenbeck (drums).  The Will Calhoun Trio hits the stage at 7:30.  If you cannot attend, WWUH-91.3 FM is broadcasting the series - go to wwuh.org and listen online.  In case of rain, the concert moves indoors to the Asylum Hill Congregational Church. For more about the concerts, go to hartfordjazzsociety.com.

The smiling face to your left belongs to pianist/composer Eddie Palmieri, one of the performers headlining this weekend's Litchfield Jazz Festival.  The LJS, inaugurated in 1996, takes place Friday - Sunday (August 9-11) on the Goshen Fairgrounds in Goshen, CT.

The Festival starts Friday with a "Friends Opening Night Gala" followed by the Emmet Cohen Trio (7:45) and "Strings Attached" - Christine Ebersole & the Aaron Weinstein Trio (9:15).

Mr. Palmieri and his Latin Jazz Orchestra is the closing act on Saturday, taking the stage at 7:45 p.m.  The day actually starts at 12 noon with the Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble followed at 1:45 by bassist Avery Sharpe Gospel Explosion & Sacred Songs. At 3:30 p.m., Gary Smulyan's Baritone Summit will perform - the front line includes the baritone saxophones of Lauren Sevian, Clare Daly, Andrew Hadro and Mr. Smulyan supported by the rhythm section of Helen Sung (piano), Jon Michel (bass) and the irrepressible Matt Wilson on drums.  
Vocalist Gregory Porter, who has been showered with critical acclaim since his debut 3 years ago, takes the stage with his group at 6 p.m.

Sunday's festivities begin at 12 noon with the Orrin Evans Trio (the pianist is pictured left) followed by a "Tribute to Chet Baker" featuring vocalist June Bisantz at 1:45.  The Don Braden Quartet featuring pianist Geri Allen will be onstage at 3:45 to followed  at 5:30 by the Vincent Herring/Eric Alexander Quintet with the wonderful pianist Harold Mabern. Closing the day and the Festival will be more Latin jazz, this time Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirate Troubadors.  They will rock the tent at 7:15 p.m.

For tickets and more information, go to litchfieldjazzfest.com or call 860-361-6285.

The week-long New Haven Jazz Festival, with events happening in venues all around the Elm City, takes place from August 12 - 18.  More on that great event, including an outdoor concert featuring saxophonist Wayne Escoffery with Jeremy Pelt, later this week.

Live Music This Week and This Fall (Firehouse 12!)

August is already upon us but the Festival season has not slacked off.  This coming weekend (8/10-12), the Litchfield Jazz Festival returns to the Goshen Fairgrounds (yes, in Goshen CT) with a lineup that is sure to please fans of many different styles of jazz.

The festivities open on Friday night with The Four Freshmen (7:30) followed by a live "Auction" at 8:30.  The headlining act is Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks and they take the stage at 9:30 p.m. 

Saturday's full day of music begins at 12 noon with the Helen Sung Trio featuring the indispensable bassist Reuben Rogers and the fine young drummer Obed Calvaire. At 1:45, the Sojourner Truth Project, a tribute to the 19th Century free African American women created by bassist Avery Sharpe, brings a most accomplished group to the stage including pianist Onaje Alan Gumbs and saxophonist Craig Handy. Following them at 3:30 p.m. is the brilliant young trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire (pictured above) .  and his Quintet featuring saxophonist Walter Smith III. Saxophonists Gary Smulyan (the baritone player is this year's Artist-in-Residence) and Eric Alexander will be joined by fellow saxophonists Jeff Lederer, Kris Allen and long-time Festival Music Camp director Don Braden in a "Salute to George Coleman" at 5:15.  The rhythm section boasts of bassist Marcus McLaurine, drummer Matt Wilson and, in a quick turnaround, pianist Gumbs.  Mr. Smulyan gets right back up on stage at 7 p.m. as part of pianist Benny Green's Quartet (supported by the superb rhythm section of bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington.) The evening closes on a high note (most assuredly a whole slew of high notes as well as many well-placed low notes) in the form of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.  The New Orleans-based septet hits the stage at 8:45 p.m.

 The fine sounds do not let up on Sunday.  Harmonica virtuoso Gregoire Maret opens the afternoon of music at 12 noon with a Quartet featuring the excellent rhythm section of drummer Clarence Penn and bassist James Genus as well as the young pianist Federico Pena.  Saxophonist Donny McCaslin makes his Litchfield Festival debut with his "electric" Quartet, showcasing drummer Mark Giuliana, bassist Tim Lefebvre and the fine keybaord work of Jason Lindner.  They do their "thing" at 1:30 to be followed at 3:30 by the classic sounds of flutist extraordinare Hubert Laws and his Quintet.  At 5:15, the Miguel Zenón Quartet takes over the stage - the fine composer and alto saxophonist (pictured above) is joined by his longtime crew of Luis Perdomo (piano), Hans Glawischnig (bass) and the splendid young drummer, Henry Cole. The Festival comes to a rousing finale with Kevin Mahogany & Dave Stryker's "Kansas City Swing." The vocalist and guitarist lead a band that features organist Jared Gold, drummer McLenty Hunter and Connecticut native Mike DiRubbo on alto saxophone. The last set starts at 7 p.m.

Great lineup - for more information, go to litchfieldjazzfest.com or call 860-361-6285.

On Saturday (August 11), JazzHaven presents the New Haven Jazz Festival on the New Haven Green from 4:30 - 9 p.m.  The event, free and open to the public, features Co-Op and High School Jazz Band of New Haven, young alto saxophonist Godwin Louis & his Quartet, percussionist Annette Aguilar's Latin Jazz Sextet and is headlined by the T.S. Monk Sextet. The son of the great iconic pianist/composer, T.S. Monk (pictured left) has worked very hard keeping his father's legacy alive as well as creating his own music from behind the drum kit.  He's played jazz and blues, soul music and r'n'b and brings a fine sense of rhythmic excitement to the stage.  For more information about the concert, go to jazzhaven.org where you will find the listings for many events in the Elm City area - you can also choose to support the ongoing efforts of the jazzhaven folks.

Firehouse 12 in New Haven has just announced its Fall 2012 Jazz Series and, as expected, there are 13 fine concerts planned for the recording studio/performance space. Over the course of 13 Fridays (starting September 14 and running through December 14, with a week off for Thanksgiving), Nick Lloyd has brought back some favorites such as the Taylor Ho Bynum Sextet (December 7) and cellist Daniel Levin's Quartet (December 14) as well as fine young musicians such as pianist Dan Tepfer (his Trio will be in town on October 12), vibraphonist Tyler Blanton with saxophonist Joel Frahm (October 5) and drummer E.J. Strickland, who opens the Series. Among the surprises are the Fred Hersch Trio on October 26 (undoubtedly celebrating the release of their splendid new 2-CD set, "Live at The Village Vanguard" coming in September from Palmetto Records) and, on September 28, pianist Jamie Saft with his New Zion Trio (the Connecticut native has played twice in the past as a member of saxophonist Jeff Lederer's ensembles) will play a unique blend of reggae, jazz, trance music and Jewish mysticism.

There's more, so you should go to firehouse12.com and look at the rest of the offerings (for instance, Donny McCaslin comes back to CT on November 16.)  The consistency of this series and the wide variety of artists from across the creative music spectrum that comes to New Haven continues to impress audiences that come from across the state and its borders.  Just seeing the lineup gives me hope of getting through the continuing election madness and the incessant craziness in the world.