CT Live Music: Side Door & New Haven Jazz Fest edition

The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme celebrates the last week of Summer (some of us have to back to work) with yet another two nights of strong music.  Friday (8/26), the venue welcomes pianist and vocalist Champian Fulton for an evening filled with standards, jazz classics, and fine originals.  Earlier this year, Ms. Fulton released "After Dark", an album dedicated to the music of Dinah Washington, played by an impressive ensemble including bassist David Williams, drummer Lewis Nash, and, on four tracks,  trumpeter Steven Fulton. The music is filled with classic tracks and it's quite a delight.

(Update) - Champian has a new rhythm section, with bassist Adi Myerson and drummer Ben Zweig.  Trumpeter/flugelhorn player Fulton joins the band as well. You can find out more about these folks and their bandleader by going to www.champian.net/news/2016/8/11/backstage-pass-meet-the-band.  Ms. Fulton is an impressive musician so be prepared for a fun evening.  Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for an 8:30 show.  Call 860-434-0886 for more information and reservations.

Give a listen:

thesidedoorjazz.com

On Saturday night, Jan and Ken welcome the Jeremy Baum Organ Trio for an evening of funk and blues.  Joining the Woodstock, NY, native will be guitarist Chris Vitarello and drummer Eric Perez.  The Trio plays a mix of originals and classics by people such as James Brown, Beck, Prince, and others - it's the perfect music for a warm summer night as it makes you want to dance. One can hear the influence of the Smiths on Baum's style, that is Jimmy, Johnny, and Dr. Lonnie Liston but also Charles Earland.

The music starts at 8:30 p.m.  For more information and reservations, go to thesidedoorjazz.com.

Here's the JB3 playing a tune by another JB:

The New Haven Jazz Festival takes place on Saturday August 26 on the New Haven Green.  The music starts at 6 p.m. with the Neighborhood Music School Premier Jazz Ensemble, a group from the school just a few blocks from the Green.

At 6:45, the Mitch Frohman Quartet takes the stage. Frohman, who plays saxophone and flute, had a long association with music legends Mongo Santamaria and Tito Puente.  His latest album, "To Daddy With Love", was issued in 2013 on Truth Revolution Records and features pianist Zaccai Curtis, his brother Luques on bass and drummer Joel Mateo - the CD features songs to dedicated to his employers. For the New Haven gig, both Zaccai and Mateo will play with Frohman and they will be joined by bassist Alex "Apolo" Ayala.

Here's Frohman's Latin-Jazz Quartet in action:

Headlining the evening is New Haven native and alumnus of the Neighborhood Music School, pianist Christian Sands.  Sands, who has toured and recorded with the likes of Christian McBride, Dianne Reeves, Bobby Sanabria, James Moody, Wynton Marsalis, and a slew of other great names, is a powerful and melodic player who is only in his mid-20s!  He recorded and released several albums before he was 16 years old while his latest recording, a double album titled "Take One: Live at Jazzhaus Montmartre Copenhagen", was issued in 2015 in Denmark (it's available in the States at www.amazon.com and at www.emusic.com)  - the 2014 Trio date features the fine bassist Thomas Fonnesbæk and the veteran drummer, 76-year old Alex Riel.  Mostly standards and fascinating jazz compositions, the album finds the young pianist in full stride with a great rhythm section.

Not sure who will be beside him for the Christian Sands Quartet gig at 8 p.m. in New Haven but young Mr. Sands just completed his debut recording for Mack Avenue Jazz - he might bring along some of the fine people from those sessions.  

To find out about the excellent young pianist, go to www.christiansandsjazz.com.  For more information about the New Haven Jazz Festival - make sure to check out all the different shows in New Haven restaurants and bars between August 26 and September 3 - go to http://jazzhaven.org/2016-new-haven-jazz-festival/.  

Here's the Mr. Sands and the Danish rhythm section in action:

These Ladies are Live (and More)!

The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme presents vocalist and composer Marianne Solivan in concert this Friday (8/21) at 8:30 p.m.  Ms. Solivan, born in Queens, NY, but raised in Venezuela, New Jersey and Massachusetts, studied at the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music.  She moved back to New York City in 2007 and, slowly but steadily, has been working and garnering critical attention.  She's worked with trumpeters Jeremy Pelt and Roy Hargrove plus recorded with clarinetist Darryl Harper, releasing her first solo CD, "Prisoner of Love" in 2012 and her second, "Spark", in 2014, both on HipNOTIC Records.  What you will hear is a singer well-versed in blues and jazz, one who inhabits her songs with great spirit, never "phoning it in."

Her Quartet includes Hartford-natives Dezron Douglas (bass) and Sharp Radway (piano) plus Darrell Green (drums). Doors open at 7:30 p.m.  For tickets and more, call 860-434-0886.  To find out more about this fine vocalist, go to www.mariannesolivanmusic.net.

Here's some music to whet your appetite:

On Saturday, percussionist Steve Kroon returns to the Old Lyme venue with his fine Sextet. Born in Harlem and raised in Queens, NYC, Kroon grew up in a household filled with Latin music. Along the way to his career, he studied with percussionist Dom Um Romao (Weather Report).  He toured and recorded with vocalist Luther Vandross for 2 decades plus spent time in bands led by bassist Ron Carter and Diana Krall.  He's recorded 5 CDs as a leader, the latest being 2014's "On the #1".

He's bringing his fine Sextet, an ensemble that features Craig Rivers (saxophone, flute), Igor Atalita (piano, keyboards), Waldo Chavez (bass), Diego Lopez (drums) and the fine vibraphonist Bryan Carrott (Ralph Peterson's Fo'Tet, Don Byron's Quartet). They'll take the stage at 8:30 p.m. and I expect your feet will be tapping a few seconds into the first song.  To find out more about Mr. Kroon and his music, go to www.stevekroon.com.

For tickets and more information about The Side Door, go to thesidedoorjazz.com.

The 2015 New Haven Jazz Festival takes place this Saturday from 6 - 9 p.m. on the New Haven Green.  Organized by Jazz Haven (click the name to find out more), this year's Fest is titled "Celebrating Women in Jazz" and features 2 fine performers.

After a short opening set by the Jazz Haven All Star Youth Band (they are well worth getting to the Green by 6 p.m. to hear), vocalist, composer, and pianist (not to forget she has a degree in Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering) Isabella Mendes takes the stage at 6:45.  Ms. Mendes, born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, moved with her family to the United States when she was 15, settling in New Haven. She attended the Educational Center for the Arts (ECA) in the Elm City before heading off to college.

Returning to New Haven after college, she started both her engineering and musical career (reality is that you have to have a "day job" to be a musician). Ms. Mendes came to critical and popular notice as a member of Sambaleza and that's the excellent band performing with her in New Haven. The ensemble includes Joe Carter (guitar), Jeff Fuller (bass), Adriano Santos (drums, percussion) and the excellent reed player Paul Lieberman (saxophones, flute, percussion) plus special guest vocalist George Lesiw. Chances are quite good they'll play music from her fine new CD (released just last month) "Blame Destiny."

To find out more and hear tracks from the new album, go to isabellamendes.com.

At 8 p.m., vocalist and pianist Karrin Allyson takes the stage with her Quartet (see below) and she, too, is celebrating the release of a new recording.  Ms. Allyson, who has spent the past 2 decades plus on the Concord Jazz label moves to Motema Music for her next project, "Many A New Day - Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein". Recorded with pianist Kenny Barron and bassist John Pattituci, the album (scheduled for release on 9/18) features 14 songs from one of the greatest teams to write for Broadway.

Still, the vocalist has a large repertoire to choose from and an excellent Quartet to support her endeavors, Joining her onstage will be Ted Firth (piano), Sean Smith (bass), Mark McLean (drums) and Randy Napoleon (guitar).  Don't be surprised if she plays plenty of music from Brazil and the Caribbean as well as a number of jazz standards.

To fond out more about Ms. Allyson, go to www.karrin.com.

And, to find out more about this free Festival and the upcoming New Haven Jazz Week, go to jazzhaven.org/festival-schedule/.

Here's the title track of the new CD:

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One of my all-time favorite guitar trios is Gateway, the convergence of John Abercrombie, Jack DeJohnette and David Holland.  They recorded 2 Lps in the 1970s and 2 CDs in the 1990s, all of which are worth (to my mind) poring over for hours on end. I was reminded - and pleasantly, at that - of Gateway while listening to the trio of Marc-Andre Drouin (bass), Wayne Eagles (guitar) and Ian Froman (drums) who have released their debut recording, "trio\DEF" on the TetraArtist label.  Drouin, a Montreal, Quebec resident first met Eagles in 2013 at a workshop at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, where the guitarist has been on the faculty since 1992. Eagles was eager to play with the bassist and drummer Lee Fish and they hooked up after the conference. When offered a slot at the 2014 Ottawa Jazz Festival, Fish was not available and Eagles contacted his friend Froman, an Ottawa native now living in New York City.  They worked together ever since.

Ottawa Jazz Fest

The trio's music blends jazz, blues and rock influences in a seamless and playful manner.  "OmniMouse" opens the proceedings in a quiet manner, the band feeling its way into the song. When the drums and bass lock into the groove, the guitarist flirts with a melody before playing the central theme.  His solo flit and darts over the easy rhythms, Froman's cymbals decorating the proceedings as Drouin creates a mysterious yet sweet bass line. The sweeping brushwork creates an intimate setting on the ballad "NEME" and the "clucking" single-note runs intermingle  with chordal sections on Eagles' fine solo. Drouin's melodic electric bass work brings Steve Swallow on this tracks and throughout the album, especially on the solos. The other ballad on the program, "JDJ" opens with chords and the bass tone reminiscent of that other Canadian guitar-bass-drums trio, Rush.  Eagles' handsome melody  takes its time to unfold but it's one of the best on the CD.  The band brings the heat on "At Most" and on the final track.  The former builds to 2 climaxes, first after the blazing bass solo and the second during Froman's solo near the close of the track. The latter cut (and the last on the album), "Or Not", is a treat, complete with snaky guitar lines, rumbling and walking bass lines plus fiery drumming.

trio\DEF, while reminding this listener of Gateway (especially their 90's albums), is successful in its own right. Still, like Abercrombie, Holland and DeJohnette, this music is definitely interactive, pulling you in and keeping you listening.  It's a relatively short program (7 tracks in under 41 minutes) but, overall, is quite satisfying.

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

Here's the trio in action:

Something Old, Something New, Something Live + Selected Shorts

As I write this, the 2013 New Haven Jazz Festival (8/12-8/18) is in full flight with, at least, 4 events every night through Saturday (and one on Sunday.)  The schedule is listed here - jazzhaven.org - but here is one modification to the schedule.  On Thursday August 15, the Carl Testa Trio show at Project Storefronts has now become the Carl Testa & Mike McGinnis Duo at 7 p.m. in the same venue, located at 756 Chapel Street.  The bassist (pictured above) has organized a set list that features compositions from his 2008 CD, "Uncertainty", plus new compositions.  Clarinetist McGinnis, who will have 2 new CDs out in October, is a busy musician working with the four bags, OK|OK, and various other ensembles.  The event is free and open to the public.  Click on the link above for more information.

Firehouse 12, 45 Crown Street in New Haven (and Mr. Testa's place of employment), announced its Fall 2013 Concert Series this week and, no surprise, it's a doozy. Opening on Friday September 13 (the evening of Kol Nidre leading into Yom Kippur - now, some of us will have another reason to atone) with Gerald Cleaver & Black Host, the series also includes, among others, the David Binney Group (9/20), Claudia Quintet (10/04), Tim Berne's Snakeoil (10/11), Stephan Crump's Rosetta Trio (11/1), Jamie Baum's Sextet (11/15), Chris Dingman's The Subliminal and The Sublime (11/22), Ralph Peterson Fo'Tet Augmented (12/06) and closing with bassist Mark Dresser's Quintet featuring saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa. 14 concerts on 14 consecutive Fridays makes for an excellent season.  And, ticket prices have not gone up! To find out more, go to firehouse12.com/performance_space_calendar.asp.
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By the time pianist Paul Bley recorded "Closer" (ESP-Disk, remastered in 2013) with bassist Steve Swallow (playing acoustic bass in 1965) and drummer Barry Altschul, he was well into the second decade of his now 60+year career.  Recorded 2 months after "Barrage" (his debut in ESP) and the now-famous "October Revolution in Jazz" 4-day festival organized by Bill Dixon in New York City, "Paul Bley Trio: Closer" is an intimate recording, 10 songs in less than 29 minutes, 7 composed by ex-wife Carla Bley and one each by Annette Peacock (whom he married the following year), Ornette Coleman and, a rarity, one by the pianist himself.

Despite (or, perhaps, because of) the brevity of the pieces, this music is quite impressive. Opening with Ms. Bley's "Ida Lupino" and its handsome melody, one can hear this recording as a 3-way conversation.  The pianist and Swallow work well together while Altschul often is the driving force. He and Bley connect on "Starter", imbuing the music with a nervous energy that is also evident on Coleman's "Crossroads".  The funky-yet-"free" "Cartoon" has the feel of a Tom & Jerry animated short, a chase around the studio with the Trio pursuing each other with glee.

This re-mastered edition comes just 5 years after the recording's previous reissue but one will notice how good the sound is, especially the depth of Steve Swallow's acoustic bass.  Paul Bley, who turns 81 in November, has made many recordings over the decades but few more appealing than "Closer." For more information, go to www.espdisk.com.

Gary Burton celebrated his 70th birthday in January of this year but shows no sign of slowing down. He's been an active musician since 1960 (his first session as a leader was released in 1961) and also spent 33 years on the faculty and administration of the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, retiring in 2003.  Since then, he has busy touring as a leader as well as in duos with Chick Corea and Makoto Ozone. In 2011, the vibraphonist created The New Gary Burton Quartet, featuring guitarist Julian Lage (who first recorded with Burton as a 16-year old), bassist Scott Colley and drummer Antonio Sanchez. That year, the ensemble released its debut CD, "Common Ground" on Mack Avenue and, now in 2013, they return with their second release for the Michigan-based label, "Guided Tour."

Each member contributes, at least, 1 original to the 10-song program.  They also do a rousing version of Fred Hersch's "Jackalope" and a lovely take on the ballad "Once Upon A Summertime" (composed by Johnny Mercer, Michel Legrand and Eddie Barclay).  Burton, who has always had a knack for finding great young musicians, has found a gem with Lage.  The guitarist, who turns 26 on Christmas Day, is not only a smart and melodic soloist but also an intelligent accompanist.  His acoustic work is striking, with phrases that blend blues, jazz and folk styles, often within the same solo.  And he spurs Burton on to really let loose.  The drive the Quartet displays on tracks such as Sanchez's "Caminos" and "Monk Fish", Lage's "The Lookout" and "Sunday's Uncle" and the Hersch track, is irresistible, hearkening back to the leader's recordings on ECM with Mick Goodrick, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow and Bob Moses.  Burton contributes 2 originals, the emotionally and musically rich tribute to Astor Piazzola, "Remembering Tano" and the finely constructed "Jane Fonda Rides Again." The rhythm section of Colley and Sanchez shines throughout, the melodic work of the bassist and poly-rhythmical approach of the drummer equal in importance to the success of this music.  Colley's original offering, "Legacy", is a lovely ballad, with the bassist's low notes reverberating beneath the solos and the shimmering cymbals.

"Guided Tour" is quite the trip and one well-worth taking. The New Gary Burton Quartet is impressive without being "showy" (although Sanchez's drum solo on "Helena" is very high-energy)
and this new CD a welcome addition to the leader's impressive discography.  For more information, go to www.garyburton.com.  The NGBQ starts a 4-week tour on September 12 in Washington, D.C., a venture that will take them to a 6-night gig at the Blue Note in New York City, the Universities of Connecticut and Rhode Island, and ending with a date at the University of Pennsylvania on October 6. Check the website for more venues.
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SELECTED SHORT(S)

In keeping with what looks to be a theme in this series of reviews (older musicians with new recordings or a re-issue), 82-year old Kenny Burrell has a new CD (recorded when he was a spry 81-year old) - "Special Requests (and Other Favorites): Live at Catalina's" (HighNote) is the document of one impressive evening of music at the Hollywood, California, club.  Joining the guitarist is Justo Almario (tenor saxophone, flute), Tom Ranier (piano), Tony Dumas (acoustic bass) and Clayton Cameron (drums) for a genial and musical journey through the Burrell "playbook." Opening with a medium-tempo stroll through Benny Golson's funky "Killer Joe" and featuring 3 pieces by Edward Kennedy Ellington (including Duke's "The Feeling of Jazz" with the guitarist taking the lead vocal), the recording is easy to listen to but not "easy listening". Burrell can still "swing" with the best of them, as he displays on such pieces as "Bye Bye Blackbird" and "Generation" (composed by Llew Matthews) and his ballad is quite strong, especially on the fine readings of "The Summer Knows" (where he plays acoustic guitar) and Duke's "In a Sentimental Mood."  Closing the program is the bluesy Burrell original "Chitlins Con Carne" that includes a wonderful unaccompanied guitar solo that displays that Kenny Burrell still can "stand and deliver."

The work of Almario and Ranier is impressive throughout while the rhythm section is solid and swinging (bassist Dumas has a resume a mile long and is his usual strong presence) - when you put Kenny Burrell in the front of this group, "Special Requests" is a special event.  For more information about the guitarist's CDs for HighNote Records, go to www.jazzdepot.com/k_burrell/k_burrell.html.

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.