More Firehouse News + Good Reading

The Uncertainty Music Series presents the 2nd of 2 concerts in conjunction with SOUND HALL on Saturday March 30 at 8:30 p.m. in Firehouse 12, 45 Crown Street in New Haven.  Clarinetist/composer Jeremiah Cymerman presents "Book of Dead", a solo concert for clarinet and electronics; the work is part of a new project Cymerman is developing that moves his music into a more meditative state.  Inspired by Chögyam Trungpa's "Tibetan Book of the Dead" (translated by Francesca Freemantle), the music focusses on the sound of the performer's clarinet and the silence between the notes.  

Cymerman has issued several CDs on the Tzadik label as well for Porter Records;  just last year, he started his own label, 5049.   To find out more, go to www.jeremiahcymerman.com. The concert begins at 8:30 p.m.  There is a free "Pre-concert Talk" at 7 p.m.  - for ticket information, go to firehouse12.com or call 203-785-0468.  To find out more about the Uncertainty Music Series, go to uncertaintymusic.com. 

On the eve of the release of "Functional Arrhythmias", the brilliant new recording by Steve Coleman And Five Elements (Pi Recordings), bassist/composer/
blogger Ronan Guilfoyle has published part 1 of a long interview with the saxophonist/composer/ conceptualist on his blog, "Mostly Music." You can and should find their conversation titled "Steve Coleman on Rhythm" by going to ronanguil.blogspot.com.  Coleman literally speaks volumes about his rhythmic concepts, especially (in Part 1) how he developed his ideas.  You may be surprised by the people he cites.  Nevertheless, it's engrossing reading.  My review of the new CD should be posted next week. In the meantime, listen to the words!

Brass Bonanza (Part 3) - Words on Music

2 of my favorite people in the world are Taylor Ho Bynum and Stephen Haynes. I have seen Taylor perform numerous times (especially during his years at Wesleyan University) and enjoy talking/socializing with him and his wife, the fine teacher/choreographer/dancer Rachel Bernsen.  While I have seen and heard Stephen play on a number of occasions over the years, we have yet to spend much time talking - he does not live that far away so I really have no excuses.

Both are brass players, with Bynum specializing on cornet and Haynes on trumpet.  Both play "new", "creative", improvised music and do so with a sense of discovery, intensity and joy.  Yes, their music can be "noisy" and challenging at times for the listener but is presented in ways that offer an intimate look into the creative process.

Both men can also write (very well) about what they do and how they got to be the musician/person that they are today.  If you take the time to visit taylorhobynum.com, you can download music by Bynum's various ensembles, you can read about his involvement with Professor Anthony Braxton's Tri-Centric Foundation, his "acoustic bicycle tour" (from whence the picture on the left came from), his work with FONT (Festival of New Trumpet Music) and so much more. The Internet gives musicians/composers a forum for their views and helps listeners/audiences connect and learn, all of which is very important if this music is to grow.

As for Stephen Haynes (pictured left), go to stephenhaynes.blogspot.com where he has begun to write (again) about his 3+ decades in creative music.  Both he and Bynum studied with trumpeter/conceptualist Bill Dixon (1925-2010) and Haynes writes eloquently about his time spent learning and playing alongside him.  The blog also looks at what Haynes is doing today and I, for one, look forward to reading more about his many and varied "gigs."  Scroll down through the offerings from 2010 and read about the Real Art Ways "hit" with Bynum and the fine young percussionist/person Tyshawn Sorey as well as his Trio with Joe Morris and Warren Smith, an ensemble known as Parrhesia. 

Give a look at both of these musicians and follow their lead to learn more about the worlds they travel through.  You may never understand or really enjoy the music they create but you'll get quite an education on their creative lives.

The Drummer's Debut + The Father of the Drummer + The Pianist as Blogger

Drummer Adam Cruz, who has worked with many of the finest contemporary jazz artists (from Tom Harrell to Chris Potter to Charlie Hunter to his long stint with pianist Danilo Perez), is now 40 years old and just got around to issuing his first CD as a leader.  "Milestone" (Sunnyside Records) has been worth waiting for. With an all-star cast, including the afore-mentioned Potter (tenor sax), Edward Simon (piano, Fender Rhodes), Ben Street (bass), Steve Cardenas (electric guitar) as well as occasional appearances from Miguel Zenon ((alto saxophone on 4 tracks) and Steve Wilson (soprano saxophone), Cruz created 8 pieces that reflect his influences yet actually display his maturity as a player, arranger and composer.  It's a long program (just under 76 minutes) with 3 tracks over 10 minutes long and none under 6:55.  That writ, there is so much to enjoy in this music. The blend of Simon's keyboards with Cardenas' guitar, the active drumming which, at times, takes on a melodic feel, the fire of Chris Potter juxtaposed with the playfulness of Miguel Zenon (however, on the ballad "Resonance", both saxophonists are subdued and supportive), the solid support of Street and the classy contributions of Wilson (the way he winds his sound around Potter's on "Crepuscular" is mighty attractive), all adds up to great listening. Steve Cardenas takes several solos, flying high on "Outer Reaches" with Wilson's soprano adding handsome colors - then, Wilson's soaring solo over the active stick and snare drum work of Cruz takes the piece in a new direction. Cruz, like Eric Harland
 and Brian Blade, rarely play how you expect them to - that does not mean they are showing off but illustrating the music, pushing the music forward in exciting and, often, unique ways.
Highlights include the rhythmically exciting "Emjé" with fine solos from Simon (such great articulated lines) and Potter as well as the funky "The Gadfly" with long, exciting, solos from Cardenas and Wilson with Potter (very Wayne Shorter-like attack from the former).

"Milestone" is definitely worth your time, awash with intelligent melodies and fine solos.  The arrangements allow for longer solos so there are tracks where not everyone has his turn yet still contributes harmonies.  The work of the rhythm section is exemplary (you'd expect that from a drummer-led session) and very entertaining.  However, it's the creativity of the musicians and the confidence of Adam Cruz that shines throughout this program.  For more information, go to www.facebook.com/people/Adam-Cruz/100000201142156.

Every time I play "Free For All" (Tapestry Records), the new CD by saxophonist Jim Stranahan, a smile breaks out across my face.  Not because the Colorado resident and father of drummer Colin (my review of his new CD is here) is doing anything particularly "new" - no, it's because the music created by the little "big" band  exudes so much joy.  Besides the father and son, one hears the contributions of Pete Olstad (lead trumpet on 7 tracks, jazz trumpet on 1), Brian Chaley (jazz trumpet), Lucas Pino (tenor saxophone), Wade Sander (trombone), Glenn Zaleski (piano, electric piano) and Chris Smith (bass) with Mike Abbott (electric guitar on 2 tracks.)  The cuts range from thr Latin-flavored "Loco" that opens the CD to the be-bop fire of "I've Got No Rhythm in My Feet" to the smooth jazz/funk of "Habib's Groove." Then, there's the Crescent City jump blues of "Big Easy Bump"; Colin's drums make one want to get up and "strut" while Dad's soprano saxophone gaily dances atop the rhythm.  Zaleski's piano solo starts way down on the low notes than dances its way up leading to the funky trumpet spot.

While the playing is top-notch, a sameness creeps into the melody lines.  "Leaves Must Fall", a boppish tune based on "Autumn Leaves", has a similar melodic approach as  "I've Got No Rhythm.." and "Upside Down and All Around." The arrangements, uncredited, are smart and it certainly sounds like the band is having a great time.  Melodic issues aside, "Free For All" sounds really nice blasting out of the sound system.  For more information, go to www.caprirecords.com. 

Try out a cut from the CD by clicking on the link below (courtesy of Tapestry Records/Capri and IODA Promonet):
Loco (mp3)

 Pianist/composer George Colligan (pictured left) recently began to blog (August 2010) and, like fellow keyboard man Ethan Iverson (dothemath.typepad.com, has illustrated his talent as an in-depth interviewer. His most recent interview is with bassist Dwayne Burno and should be required reading for anyone wanting to be a jazz musician.  He also does a fine job at parsing solos and explaining how they work.  Colligan recently finished a European tour with Jack DeJohnette and he wrote several posts talking about what it means to be a touring creative musician (he also posted some fine photos.) Check out his writing at jazztruth.blogspot.com. 

Interviews, Musicians and Writers

May I recommend for your edification over the Holiday weekend an Internet journey to several websites.

If you have never perused the offerings at dothemath.typepad.com, the home of pianist/journalist Ethan Iverson (pictured left), do so now. There's a 4-part interview and discussion with and about Henry Threadgill that is worth spending the time to read. No one composes and orchestrates like Threadgill and he's been at it over 4 decades. The conversation between he and Iverson has lots of insights into the music, into the history of American music (you might call it jazz but Threadgill would not) and into the influences that shaped Threadgill.  Just follow this link and get cracking - dothemath.typepad.com/dtm/interview-with-henry-threadgill-1-.html.

And, for a taste of The Bad Plus (the trio with Iverson, bassist Reid Anderson and drummer Dave King) in concert with the HR Big Band, with arrangements by Jim McNeely, go to www.hr-online.de/website/rubriken/kultur/index.jsp?rubrik=2023.  The music is quite impressive, sound and picture quality very good, and well worth another chunk of your time.

The jovial drummer/composer/arranger John Hollenbeck is the subject of the cover interview at NewMusicBox, the web magazine of The American Music Center. He chats about the Claudia Quintet (with videos), about his Large Ensemble and about how he approaches composing and playing.  It's not as long as the Threadgill piece but very informative.  Here's the link - www.newmusicbox.org/article.nmbx?id=6906. 

If you want investigate more about creative music, go to - A Blog Supreme at www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/ - now that "The Treme" is into season 2, ABS author Patrick Jarenwattananon and Josh Jackson (he of The Checkout on WBGO-FM) are breaking down each episode. 


Also, for a viewpoint across the Northern border, Peter Hum of The Ottawa Citizen continues to be one of the more readable writers about the contemporary music scene.  Not only does write about jazzers from the United States but he also does a wonderful job of giving exposure to many Canadian artists.  For example, his column about pianist/composer David Braid led me to download his 2 CDs from emusic.com - click on the name to find out more.  To check out Mr. Hum, go to communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/jazzblog/default.aspx and dig in. 

Links to Good Reading & Listening

Owen McNally wrote an excellent piece on guitarist/composer fine new CD, "Old Tea", for this Sunday's Hartford Courant - read it here.

Following up on my trip to Chicago and seeing the Heath Brothers in concert, I am pleased to see "Destination OUT!" give its space over to pianist/blogger Ethan Iverson for a post celebrating Albert "Tootie" Heath (there's a link to Iverson's fine interview with the 75-year old master drummer.)  The post also includes 2 tracks from Heath's 1969 "Kawaida" Lp and 2 more from his 2010 trio gig at Small's with Iverson and bassist Ben Street.  "Kawaida" features Don Cherry, Herbie Hancock, Ed Blackwell, Buster Williams (who played magnificently this past weekend with Bennie Maupin at Wesleyan), Heath's nephew Mtume and brother Jimmy - some lineup!  It's well worth the time to check this out.  Do that here.

NewMusicBox published an print & video interview with pianist/composer Vijay Iyer in March of this year and I'm still attempting to absorb all the information.  Besides being a fine player, Iyer really is a student of creative music and talks easily about how music is always evolving.  See it and hear it here.

Got a bunch of reviews coming up later this week as well as a preview of the Dan Weiss Trio at Firehouse 12 this Friday (5/07.) 

Drive Time and Yard Work Listening

I seem to spend a lot more time in the car lately and, more and more, there's not music playing on my iPod.  If it's my wife and I on a longer trip, we laugh at "Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me" or get serious with an audio track from "Bill Moyers' Journal."

When it's just me, I find the interviews on Jason Crane's "Jazz Session" to be quite satisfying listening. Over the past several years, Crane (pictured left) has chatted with jazz greats such as Sonny Rollins, Chico Hamilton, Sam Rivers and Marian McPartland and introduced audiences to The Respect Sextet, arranger/composer Dave Rivello and saxophonist Darius Jones (among many other young and lesser-known players.) A musician himself, Crane is rarely in awe of his subject (at least, he does not fawn all over them) and asks quite probing and relevant questions.  One can download the shows for free by going to www.thejazzsession.com or through iTunes.  It's worth your time.

I have written in the past about Josh Jackson and WBGO-FM's "The Checkout."  The show gets stronger all the time - for example, Thanksgiving week's segment included interviews with Maria Schneider, John Hollenbeck and David Berger, composers all and leaders of large ensembles.  As with Crane's program, one meets all kinds of musicians and hears many examples of modern jazz.  It, too, is available on iTunes and you can listen online at www.wbgo.org/thecheckout/. WBGO streams its jazz programming online and there's lots to choose from - go to www.wbgo.org where you can eyeball the offerings.

New Orleans is well-known as the birthplace of jazz and one hears great examples all the time through the efforts of Wynton Marsalis, pianists Tom McDermott, Dr. John, Marcus Roberts, Allen Toussaint, and clarinetist Dr. Michael White.  The Crescent City has an active improvisational music scene and you can check out live mp3s by going to openearsmusic.org/.  Trombonist/composer Jeff Albert (picture courtesy of Zach Smith) founded the weekly improvised and creative music concerts known as the Open Ears Music Series, and now co-curates the series along with Justin Peake and Dan Oestreicher. If you're in New Orleans, you can find the music on Tuesday nights in the upstairs room of the Blue Nile on Frenchmen St. Yes, the music does not conform to what you might expect from that part of the music world but it's often quite involving and frequently exciting.  This site is all music and I often listen to it working in the yard or around the house.

Enjoy the holidays!  Thanks for reading!

Here's some fine new music from the Rob Garcia 4 "Perennial" CD, released on the BJU Records label and featuring West Hartford native Noah Preminger on tenor saxophone and the impressive young pianist Dan Tepfer. Garcia is the drummer and composer with Chris Lightcap on acoustic bass.

Joe-Pye Weed (mp3)