Noah P Records Live & Firehouse Season Concludes + Dave Douglas News

Tenor saxophonist and CT native Noah Preminger returns to The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme on Thursday December 10 to record a new album with his "Pivot" quartet. Pivot - Preminger, trumpeter Jason Palmer, bassist Kim Cass and drummer Ian Froman - released its debut CD in September and, to the surprise of many long-time listeners, it was a raucous tribute to the music of blues artist Bukka White.  And, it was quite a "blowing" session with just 2 tracks spread out over the 60-minute program.

Preminger is planning to record the band's next CD at this gig with new songs based on the music of Muddy Waters, Lightnin' Hopkins, Skip James, John Lee Hooker and others.  One should expect the music to be powerful, punchy, pungent with the memories of smoky roadhouses and musicians who pushed the borders of their sounds every night.  The band will play 2 sets with the first starting at 8 p.m.  For more information, go to thesidedoorjazz.com or call 860-434-0886.

On Friday, The Side Door welcomes drummer Rodney Green and his Quartet while on Saturday, the venue presents vocalist Kevin Mahogany (pictured left) in a special trio setting.  Mr. Mahogany, one of the most versatile vocalists of the past 25 years, is performing alongside pianist Helen Sung and bassist Mario Panascia.  This is a great venue for the vocalist, intimate. with a good piano played by an excellent accompanist.

Both these nights, the doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the first set at 8:30.  Call the number above for more information.

On Friday December 11, the final concert in the Fall 2015 Firehouse 12 Concert Series takes place and features saxophonist Ned Rothenberg & Inner Diaspora. It's quite a band assembled for this gig including Jerome Harris (bass guitar), Satoshi Takeishi (percussion), Erik Friedlander (cello) and Mark Feldman (violin).  The leader is immersed in the Radical Jewish Culture of the 21st Century, records for John Zorn's Tzadik label, and makes music that challenges one's expectations.  Plus, this is a group of great improvisers so the concert should be great fun.

The first set starts at 8:30 pm with a second set - separate admission - at 10 p.m.

In actuality, Firehouse 12 opens its doors on Saturday for the annual concert from the New Haven Improvisers Collective.  This is the 11th year that the NHIC has presented its members in concert at the venue and each time, the music is fresh and multi-directional.  On this night, there will be 2 separate sets with the first at 8:30 featuring Elm Fiction, a quartet that features NHIC founder Bob Gorry (guitar), Jeff Cedrone (guitar, keyboards, electronics), Adam Matlock (accordion) and Tom Hogan (drums, vibes).  The 10 p.m. set belongs to Fuchsprellen, a trio with Pete Brunelli (bass, electronics), Peter Riccio (drums) and John Venter (saxophone). Expect a number of guests to come by and participate.  For more information about the Collective, go to www.nhic-music.org.

For tickets to either or both shows, go to firehouse12.com or call 203-785-0468.

Dave Douglas (trumpet, compositions) has always been a busy artist, literally hopping from one project to another, one studio or concert venue seemingly every week.  The weekend before the most recent Thanksgiving, Douglas and his Brazen Heart quintet - Jon Irabagon (tenor saxophone), Matt Mitchell (piano), Linda Oh (bass), and Rudy Royston (drums, and then some) played 4 nights, 8 sets, at the Jazz Standard in New York City, recording each note and releasing the results through his Greenleaf Music website.  Having seen and heard the band a week prior to the NYC gig, I knew what to expect yet the music is so explosive and exciting, melodic and heartfelt, it always sounds so fresh. Go to www.greenleafmusic.com to find out more (and listen to some of the program.)

When you get to the front page of the Greenleaf website, you'll see Mr. Douglas has another new album.  This one was recorded last year when the trumpeter wrote new music for the Monash Art Ensemble, a group located at Monash University in Victoria, Australia working under the watchful eyes and attentive ears of pianist Paul Grabowsky. The recording, titled "Fabliaux", has just been issued -  the music is based on the work of the 14th century French Ars Nova, with composers, in particular Guillaume De Machaut (1300 -1377) who specialized in both secular and sacred polyphony.  Yet, what I have heard of this music, performed by an ensemble consisting of 15 musicians plus Mr. Douglas, it sounds fresh, full of lively improvisations and impressive interactions.

We listeners certainly are fortunate that Dave Douglas continues to follow his muse. Give a listen and then go the website to find out more.

This Week: Lots of Live Music

Pianist Noah Baerman convenes a Trio - bassist Henry Lugo and drummer Zane West - and adds the muscular, musical, saxophones of Jimmy Greene to play an evening of the music of John Coltrane and Miles Davis this Thursday (11/29) in The Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main Street in Middletown. Mr. Greene, a native of Bloomfield, CT, is a graduate of the Hartt School of Music and just returned to the area after teaching for 3 years in Western Canada - he's now on the faculty of Western Connecticut State University (from where bassist Lugo graduated and drummer West now attends.)

The evening starts at 6:30 p.m. with a lecture/demonstration plus question-and-answer period featuring the musicians speaking the music and musicians they are about to interpret.  The concert begins at 7:30.  For more information and to make a reservation, go to www.buttonwood.org or call 860-347-4957.

Saxophonist-flautist-composer Jason Robinson is on the faculty of Amherst College in Massachusetts; he,also, leads the Janus Ensemble, a vehicle for his compositions and arrangements that are steeped in the traditions of contemporary creative music and improvisation.  His latest Cuneiform CD, "Tiressian Symmetry", features music influenced by Charles Mingus and Henry Threadgill (especially HT's Sextett) played by a nonet that includes, among others,  fellow saxophonist Marty Ehrlich, guitarist Liberty Ellman and drummer George Schuller. Those 3 fine players plus bassist James Ilgenfritz join Mr. Robinson this Friday evening (11/30) in the performance space of Firehouse 12, 45 Crown Street in New Haven. They'll play music from the new CD as well as selections from the Janus Ensemble's previous Cuneiform release, 2010's "The Two Faces of Janus."

You should expect, at times, that the room will shake with the fire created by this excellent band. They'll play 2 sets - 8:30 and 10 p.m. - and, for more information, go to firehouse12.org or call 203-785-0468.

The following evening (12/01), Firehouse 12 opens its doors to The New Haven Improvisers Collective for an 8:30 p.m. show celebrating its new self-released CD "Electric NHIC: Ground Waves."  Founded by guitarist/electrical engineer Bob Gorry, NHIC came together to fill the void creative musicians from the Elm City felt - these like-minded players wanted the freedom to explore the music and sounds outside the mainstream.  Since 2008, the Collective has issued 7 CDs, with the newest being a blend of electric Miles Davis, Captain Beefheart, James "Blood" Ulmer, Ornette Coleman and more.

For the Firehouse gig (your single admission charge gives your entree to 2 sets), the ensemble will include 3 guitarists (Mr. Gorry, Chris Cretella, and Jeff Cedrone) plus Brett Bottomley (Chapman Stick), Nick DiMaria (trumpet), Paul McGuire (alto and soprano saxophones), Pete Brunelli (electric bass) and Pete Riccio (drums).  Free-wheeling music that keeps your interest is not always the case with "free-improv" but NHIC is an exciting and ever-shifting entity.  The first set features features Guitar Trio E (the 3 gentlemen listed above) while set 2 brings out the rest of the group. Go to the venue's website above for more information - to learn more about The New Haven Improvisers Collective, go to www.nhic-music.org.

Also on Saturday, guitarist-vocalist-composer Howard Fishman brings his Biting Fish Brass Band to Old Saybrook and the Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center (The Kate) for an 8 p.m. show. Fishman, who had studied for a career in theater, found himself in New Orleans in the mid-1990s and was seduced (not surprising) by the amazing music he heard throughout the Crescent City.   It took a while to figure how to blend his acoustic guitar with the Brass Band sound that so excited him and it was not until 2010's "Better Get Right" (Monkey Farm Records) that he got the sounds on record.  The blend of gospel, funk, pop (there's an excellent version of Wall of Voodoo's "Mexican Radio"), and soul music is wonderfully infectious and also emotionally satisfying.  There is something about a tuba blasting out the bottom over the slippery drum beats that are the trademark of New Orleans music and Mr. Fishman does "get it right." For more information about the live date, go to www.thekate.org. To learn more about Howard Fishman and his music, go to www.howardfishman.com.

Live Music for Early December + Duo Picks (on CD)

Drummer-composer Ralph Peterson is a big man with a giant sound.  For over 25 years, he's been powering ensembles big and small, mentoring young musicians and producing music that celebrates both the past and future of jazz - in other words, he does not sit still. Peterson is a dazzling player, who drive a band relentlessly yet turn on a dime to caress a ballad.

While making his recording debut with Blue Note Records and the group Out of the Blue (a sextet that also introduced saxophonists Ralph Bowen and Kenny Garrett as well as bassist Robert Hurst), he also began making CDs under his own name with his trio and the Fo'Tet. He moved on to record for Evidence Records and Criss Cross. His latest ensemble, Ralph Peterson's Unity Project, released its debut CD last year on Onyx Music. Titled "Outer Reaches", the music pays tribute to both trumpeter Woody Shaw and organist Larry Young.  The recording features Connecticut natives Josh Evans (trumpet, Hartford) and Jovan Alexandre (tenor saxophone, Wallingford) along with organist Pat Bianchi. 

Peterson, Evans and Bianchi are coming to Firehouse 12 in New Haven this Friday (Dec. 2) to play 2 sets of this high-energy music.  Saxophonist Craig Handy joins this group for this show, bringing his own magic to an evening that should rock the performance space.  The Unity Project will play at 8:30 and 10 p.m. - for ticket information, call 203-785-0468 or go to firehouse12.com.  To learr more about the drummer and his music, go to ralphpetersonmusic.com. 

Firehouse 12 will also open its doors on Saturday night this week (12/03) to celebrate the new CD by the New Haven Improvisers Collective.  Titled "NHIC: Atlas", the program features the organization's founder Bob Gorry (guitar), Steve Asetta (saxophones), Nathan Bontrager (cello), Jaime Paul Lamb (bass), Adam Matlack (clarinet) and Stephen Zieminski (drums, percussion) - the music is informed by electric Miles Davis, world music, 20th Century classical music, progressive rock, the experimental side of the AACM and more. 

For the CD Release party, Gorry, Asetta and Matlack will join forces with Pete Brunelli ( acoustic bass guitar), Gabriel Kastelle (viola) and Mike Paolucci (drums, percussion) in the first set (8:30 p.m.)  At 10 p.m., Gorry and Brunelli will take the stage alongside Paul McGuire (saxophones), Jeff Cedrone (electric guitar), and Pete Riccio (drums) for Electric NHIC, an exciting set of improvised music.  For more information, go to www.nhic-music.org.  To buy tickets (one charge for both sets), contact Firehouse 12 at the numbers and web address above.

Trumpeter-composer Dave Douglas is coming to the Jazz Standard, 116 East 27th Street in New York City, for 4 nights of new music from December 8 - 11.  On Thursday (12/08), Douglas plays 2 sets (7:30 and 9:30 p.m.) with Key Motion, a quintet featuring Donny McCaslin (saxophones), Adam Benjamin (Rhodes), Tim Lefebvre (bass) and Mark Guiliana (drums).   On Friday (12/09), the trumpeter shares the stage with So Percussion to play music from their new digital release "Bad Mango" (Greenleaf Music).  The 5 musicians will play 3 sets (7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 p.m.) so the music will move beyond the recorded program.  3 sets the following night (12/10) when Douglas brings the Orange Afternoons Quintet to the performance venue - composed of Vijay Iyer (piano), Linda Oh (bass), Ravi Coltrane (saxophones) and E.J. Strickland (drums), the OAQ creates expansive melodies with solos that soar.  Sunday December 11 brings the weekend to a close with Brass Ecstasy, the unit formed to celebrate the life and music of Lester Bowie; the quintet features Vincent Chancey (french horn), Luis Bonilla (trombone), Marcus Rojas (tuba) and Rudy Royston (drums). They'll play 2 sets - 7:30 and 9:30 - and you find out more by going to www.greenleafmusic.com.  Any one of these shows would be worth the trek to the Big Apple - give yourself an early Holiday present and go for all 4.  

Bassist Christian McBride is known for his awesome technique, his swaggering "swing" and his melodic chops.  He's also the host of "Conversations with Christian", a podcast that he produced for iTunes in 2009.  Mack Avenue Records has just a CD with the same title that features strictly musical selections from 13 of the podcasts with artists ranging from the sublime (Hank Jones, Eddie Palmieri) to the laughable (Gina Gershon playing the blues on jew's harp) to downright joyful (Dee Dee Bridgewater getting down on "It's Your Thing").  McBride's bass also converses with Sting, Regina Carter, Roy Hargrove, Angelique Kidjo, Dr. Billy Taylor, George Duke, Chick Corea, Russell Malone and saxophonist Ron Blake. It's a delightful recording that is so entertaining - even the Gershon/McBride blues is great fun.  There is no information up yet on either www.mackavenue.com or www.christianmcbride.com.  

Here's the track with George Duke, courtesy of Mack Avenue and IODA Promonet:
McDukey Blues (mp3)

This should not count as a "duo" recording because both pianos are played by the same person.  Alan Pasqua is a big fan of pianist Bill Evans (he calls him "my greatest influence") and "Twin Bill" (BFM Jazz) is his tribute to that great yet tragic figure of the keyboard.  It's Pasqua's "Conversations with Myself" with different material than the Evans' Lp of that name and with more than a small nod to the game of baseball.  

With the exception of Pasqua's lovely ballad "Grace" that closes the program, all the pieces are connected to Evans.  There are 6 originals plus one each by Miles Davis ("Nardis") and Scott La Faro ("Gloria's Step") as well as "Vindarna Sucka Uti Skogarna" (a piece Evans recorded with Swedish vocalist Monica Zetterlund) and a rousing version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" (a piece not recorded by Evans but played in his swinging and exploratory style.)  This is a delightful program from the first pitch to the final (fade)out.  Sweetly musical, highly melodic and a wonderful tribute, "Twin Bill" is a big hit. Puns aside, this CD will please lovers of jazz piano, fans of Bill Evans, and listeners who love good music.  To find out more, go to www.alanpasqua.com.   

The duo of Eddie Daniels (clarinet, top) and Roger Kellaway (piano, bottom) have a new CD just out on IPO Records.  "Live at The Library of Congress" is the follow-up to the duo's wonderful "A Duet of One/Live at The Bakery" (I wholeheartedly recommended that release is 2009 - click here) and this one is just as fine.  The material ranges from the playful "Strike Up The Band" to the sweet reading of "America The Beautiful" (with traces of blues, gospel, and New Orleans) to the lovely pairing of Daniels' "Etude of a Woman" with Stephen Sondheim's "Pretty Women."  Both musicians shine throughout the program, displaying their virtuosity without flaunting their technique.  Kellaway is one of those pianists who can play anything and not sound like someone else (Jaki Byard could play in many different styles and always sounded like himself) - he's not afraid to be impressionistic (like he is at the onset of "Just Friends") or display his "stride" roots ("50 State Rambler") and his work on Leonard Bernstein's "Somewhere" is achingly beautiful, ever-so-graceful and filled with emotion. Daniels matches his partner's melodic intensity and creativity at every turn - listen to them playing around on "Rhythm-a-ning" and I'm sure that even Thelonious Monk would say their inventive romp perfectly illustrates the song's title. 

"Live at the Library of Congress" is not scheduled for release until early 2012 but is already garnering great reviews.  Well, I couldn't wait either because this CD, to me, is what creative music is supposed to be - emotionally rich, wonderfully melodic and, at times, rhythmical to the max!