A Musically Memorable Memorial Day Weekend

Ah, to be in Connecticut this coming weekend. A profusion of wonderful music can be heard (not to forget the marching bands on Memorial Day Monday) in the clubs and concert spaces.

Firehouse 12, 45 Crown Street in New Haven, continues its Spring Concert Series on Friday night with flutist, composer, and arranger Jamie Baum and her Septet+.  It's the first night of three consecutive CD Release concerts - Saturday, the ensemble plays at The Cell Theater in New York City while Sunday, Ms, Baum returns to her home town to perform at The Fairfield Theatre Company, Stage One. They are celebrating the release of "Bridges", the group's new album (reviewed here). On Friday evening, there will be two sets, the first at 8:30 p.m., the second at 10 p.m. Best of all, the musicians on the recording - Jamie Baum (flutes, singing bowl), Amir ElSaffar (trumpet, vocals), Sam Sadigursky (alto sax, bass clarinet), Chris Komer (French horn), Brad Shepik (guitar), John Escreet (piano), Zack Lober (bass, singing bowl), and Jeff Hirshfield (drums) - will crowd into the Firehouse performance space and present the wonderful music on the album plus more.

For ticket information, go to firehouse12.com or call 203-785-0468.

Here's a taste:

If you have ever considered spending a weekend along the Connecticut shoreline, say in Old Lyme, this is the weekend to book a room at the Old Lyme Inn. Not only for the fine food and furnishings, but also for the fact that The Side Door Jazz Club is attached to the Inn and owner Ken Kitchings and his music manager, Rich Martin, have a three-night music extravaganza planned. On Friday night, pianist and composer Renee Rosnes (pictured left) celebrates her new Smoke Sessions Records release, "Beloved of the Sky" with an all-star quartet that features Steve Nelson (vibraphone), Peter Washington (bass), and Carl Allen (drums).  Ms. Rosnes, who is married to pianist Bill Charlap, has not only released 16 albums as a leader but also has worked with the late Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, and the SFJazz Collective.

For more information, go to reneerosnes.com.

Here's a track from the new album which features Mr. Nelson and Mr. Washington as well as saxophonist Chris Potter and drummer Lenny White:

On Saturday night, trumpeter Wallace Roney brings his Quintet to Old Lyme, an ensemble that features a veteran rhythm section - bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Ronnie Burrage - and two fine young musicians - 18-year old saxophonist Emilio Modeste and pianist Oscar Williams.  Mr. Roney, a native of Philadelphia, PA,  has been active on the jazz scene for nearly three decades. He cites three great trumpeters - Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis - as his mentors.  Over the last decade, Roney has become a mentor for numerous musicians, taking them on the road and into the studio to create music that ranges from mainstream jazz to more electronic adventures, always with a melodic flair and powerful solos.

For more information, go to www.wallaceroney.com.

Here's the Quintet live from Paris, France, from 2017:

Photo: John Abbott

Stay that extra night because, on Sunday, The Side Door presents composer and vocalist René Marie.  One of the most engaging singers and performers on the contemporary scene, Ms. Marie started performing at a young age and turned professional in her mid-teens.  She got married at the age of 18 and became a stay-at-home mother.  It was her son who convinced her to get back into singing. Getting back to music caused a rift in her marriage and she soon was divorced.  Ms. Marie moved to Washington D.C., made her name on the club scene, signed to the MaxJazz label (now Mack Avenue) and released her debut album at the age of 45!  Slowly and steadily, she has developed her musical persona and stage presence that is so appealing.

Joining her will be her touring and recording Trio including long-time members Elias Bailey (bass) and Quentin Baxter (drums) plus newest member (3 years and counting) pianist John Chin. For more information, go to renemarie.com.

Here's the title track of her 2016 Motema album, "Sound of Red":




The Side Door opens its door at 7:30 p.m. and the first set commences one hour later. For more information and reservations, go to thesidedoorjazz.com or call 860-434-2600.

Hopefully, you'll be able get to one or more of these shows.

René Marie in Red

René Marie has a voice, an approach, an artistry, a fearlessness, that is so appealing - no cookie-cutter she.  A latecomer to the music industry (her debut album was issued in 1999 when she was 44), René Marie has more than made up for lost time.  "Sound of Red" is her 11th CD (her fourth for Motema Music), her first album of original songs since 2011's self-released "Black Lace Freudian Slip" (10 of 13 originals), and a continuation of her approach to telling honest stories.

This is certainly music that has been "lived in", played by her regular trio constituting of bassist Elias Bailey, drummer/co-producer Quentin E. Baxter, and her "new" pianist John Chin.  If you listen to the splendid interactions throughout, one can tell many of these songs were "worked out" on stage. "Lost" is the longest track (10:36) but moves organically from vocal to solos to "trading 4s" and has such a vitality you forget that the lyrics tell of woman tired of being used but cannot change. Each member of the group is important to the story, from the sparkling drums to the piano's rippling phrases to the bass solo that brings everyone does to earth and back to the blues.  Yet the music can't help but pick up and go back into a romp.

John Abbott photo

"Sweet songs" intermingle with pointed messages.  There's the delightful sway of "Colorado River Song" (replete with a handsome solo whistled by the vocalist) followed by "This is (Not) A Protest Song", a story about the "invisible" people in out society.  From the homeless artist to the aggressive woman with dementia to a battered woman with two children, René Marie sings that these people could be us "but for a couple twists of fate." In the background is a chorus of "gospel" voices, all supplied by Shayna Steele, and the quiet acoustic strumming of guitarist Thad DeBrock.  One of the prettier ballads is "Go Home", the story of a woman who tells her "lover" to get out of her bed and return to the person who loves him, the mother of his children - it's not that she wants him to leave but he needs to go.  With just Chin's expressive piano supporting her heartfelt vocal, this song touches one's heart.

westworld.com

Etienne Charles adds his trumpet and arranges the small horn section of trombonist Michael Dease and tenor saxophonist Diego Rivera to the sultry and spunky "If You Were Mine" (which one might view as the precursor to "Go Home"). Mr. Charles and company are also featured on the romping "Joy of Jazz" which tells the story how jazz developed in South Africa, a real dancing track, Chin's piano scampering atop the hot rhythm section with the horns adding support.  Romero Lubambo's acoustic guitar leads the way into "Certaldo", a love story set in Tuscany but with a Brazilian influence.  The title song features the soulful alto saxophone of Sherman Irby, digging into the funky sway of the rhythm section and making sure you understand the "Sound of Red" is rooted in the blues.

René Marie closes this recording, arguably her finest, with "Blessings", a musical benediction for the world, filled with joyous wishes for a peaceful life.  Baxter's martial drumming is reminiscent of John Robinson's snare work on Steve Winwood's "Back In the High Life Again" in the way the drums support and color the narrative, making sure we pay attention to the singer's message.  Do pay attention to "Sound of Red" because your life will be richer and brighter for the experience.

For more information, go to renemarie.com.

Here's René Marie with the band plus Sherman Irby on the title track: