Unless you are a dyed-in-the-wool curmudgeon, your reaction to
"Laughing at Life (Anzic Records), the second album from Duchess should be one of sheer joy. The trio of vocalists - Amy Cervini, Hilary Gardner, and Melissa Stylianou - takes its cues from The Boswell Sisters, who recorded and toured from 1925-1936. Equally fine singers and musicians, The Boswells, born and raised in New Orleans, first came to fame on the radio and then toured with bands led by the Dorsey Brothers (Jimmy and Tommy) as well as Bunny Berigan. When each sister married and subsequently started a family, the decision was to split but their influence can be heard in various "girl groups" of the 1940s including the Andrew Sisters.
Duchess, with its top-notch band including pianist Michael Cabe, bassist Matt Aronoff, drummer Jared Schonig, plus guitarist Jesse Lewis (on 9 of the 14 tracks), takes to heart the influence of its predecessors and that is to have fun. They do a pair of songs associated with The Boswells; "Everybody Loves My Baby" features the double-time middle of the original tune and the original "Dawn" (composed by Vet Bosewell) closes the album in soft tones. "...Baby" features the playful clarinet work of Anat Cohen who also supplies the sweet, woody, sounds on "We'll Meet Again." Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon adds his "growl" to "Creole Love Call" (his arrangement as well) and gives a sweeter touch to the lovely "Stars Fell on Alabama." Then there's Johnny Mercer's "Strip Polka" which hails from 1942 and was a hit for him as well as for The Andrew Sisters. The addition of Jeff Lederer's boozy tenor saxophone gives the song its initial boost and the tight 3-part harmony is a delight. Lederer also adds his powerful sound to "Here's To The Losers" with a solo that raises the temperature on the "cool" vocals (dig the "kicking" final verse).
The trio goes for a more "contemporary" sound (okay, the 1950s and 60s) with such additions as the sweet bluesy sounds of Ray Charles "Hallelujah I Love Her (Him) So" (strong vocal lead from Ms. Gardner) and the easy swing of "Where Would You Be Without Me" from the Anthony Newley - Leslie Bricusse classic "The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd".
"Laughing at Life" can be such healthy advice but not always easy to do. However, this fine album from Duchess is certainly a step - actually a shower of steps - in the right direction. With fine arrangements from producer Oded Lev-Ari, a crackerjack band, plus fine contributions from the guests, this is music that makes one feel good and there is nothing wrong with that at all.
Over the course of the past 10 years, Champian Fulton has proven herself to be a strong vocalist and excellent pianist. She loves to swing, her ballad work is emotionally rich, and is becoming an excellent music educator. "Speechless" her 8th album and first for Posi-Tone Records, is also her first purely instrumental recording. Featuring the rhythm section of Adi Myerson (bass) and Ben Zweig (drums), Ms. Fulton has a created a 10-song program that is just the right combination of emotion and technique, steeped in the blues and with a healthy dollop of "swing." The more I listen, the more I hear the influence of Earl "Fatha" Hines on several tracks. Listen to the gentle two-handed attack on the album's first cut, "Day's End", as well as the smart accompaniment of the rhythm section. There is also a Hines flavor on the recording's only non-original, "Somebody Stole My Gal" (composed by Leo Wood in 1918). After an introspective opening, the song takes off as if the band members were trying to keep up with Usain Bolt.
Image by Laurent Leduc
There is so much to enjoy here. The rousing "Lullaby for Art", with its hint of Bobby Timmons in the opening melody, builds off the relentless drive of the rhythm section and Ms. Fulton's dancing solo. The first notes of "Dark Blue" may lead one to believe the song is actually Michel LeGrand's "What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life" but it's really a slow blues - the piano solo is a wonderful mix of short phrases and long, rippling, lines that dance atop the elemental bass tines and brush work. She follows that with the uptempo waltz "Tea and Tangerines", a delightful and jaunty romp. The pianist is close friends with alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson; she composed "Later Gator" with his funky blues stylings in mind. It's a "down home" treat and the rollicking piano solo drips with sound of gospel-inflected soul.
By the time you arrive at the final track, "Carondeleto's", Ms. Fulton's tribute to her friend Clark Terry's home town of Carondelet, Missouri, the music has gone through a number of moods and style. The cut swings with a vengeance and is a pleasing close to a splendid album. Champian Fulton's previous album, "After Dark", was a tribute to vocalist Dinah Washington and a good one at that. "Speechless" may not have vocals but is a treat from beginning to end with nary a weak cut and a slew of strong solos. Just let the sounds seep into your brain; I guarantee you will feel better.
Here's a live version of one of the tracks from "Speechless":
Pianist Gene Harris organized The Three Sounds in 1956 along with bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Bill Dowdy. Over the next 17 years, the trio (always with Harris but various drummers and bassists) recorded for many different labels including Blue Note, Verve, and Mercury, backed numerous musicians (including Lester Young, Lou Donaldson, vocalist Anita O'Day and others) and toured incessantly. The appropriately-titled "Groovin' Hard: Live at The Penthouse 1964-68" (Resonance Records) is a collection of tracks recorded in a club located in Seattle, Washington. Drummer Dowdy appears on the 1964 sessions while Kalil Madi takes over in 1966 and Carl Burnett in 1968.
As to be expected from the folks at Resonance, the sound quality is exceptional. Harris's gospel/blues piano work is in full bloom and you can understand why he had such a fine career. Yes, he could "get down" but also really loved melody. At the time of these recordings, trios led by Ramsey Lewis and Ahmad Jamal were very popular, especially with more mature audiences (although Lewis did have hits on the Top 50); the role of these groups were to mostly play clubs where they would entertain people after a long day at work, help the listeners relax and shed the inhibitions caused by the daily grind. Harris was quite happy to entertain. Pieces such as "Blue Genes" with its infectious boogie-woogie rhythms, the brisk 3/4 stroll of Toots Theilemans's "Bluesette", and the rollicking "Theme from Ceasar and Cleopatra" (note the Afro-Cuban rhythms of Dowdy) would make people sit up and take notice.
With the exception of Franz Lehar's "Yours is My Heart Alone" at 7:50, the performances clock in at under 7 minutes. But there's plenty of time on each track for Harris (1933-2000) to play excellent solos. He gets your attention on every track, a bit "showy" at times, but never at the expense of melody or the "groove". Simpkins (1932-1999) is not only quite supportive but his counterpoint work is impressive.
"Groovin' Hard" is a delightful musical snack from Gene Harris & The Three Sounds. The accompanying booklet as well as the video on the Resonance Records website are quite informative; it makes one wish that there was more like this waiting for release (hint hint!)
After a fairly mild February (in the madness that now passes for winter in southern New England), March has definitely come in like a lion. Actually, more like a marauding polar bear but the calendar reminds us that the Vernal Equinox is almost upon us and, even more important (especially for fans of creative music in CT), the Firehouse 12 Spring Concert series is set to commence.
The opening show of this year, the venue's 10th Anniversary season, belongs to bassist and composer Stephan Crump's Rhombal. The quartet's debut album came out last summer and made it to numerous "Best-of" lists. Featuring a front line of Ellery Eskelin (tenor saxophone) and Adam O'Farrill (trumpet), the music is powered by the exciting rhythm section of Crump and drummer Tyshawn Sorey. The album was recorded fairly early in the band's career and they have been gigging a lot since then so they should be in great form on March 17th.
Here's music to accompany your reading:
Filling out the month will be the Joe Fielder Quintet (3/24) and Trio M (3/31). Trombonist and composer Fielder has formed a new ensemble, one that features the amazing (and madcap) Jeff Lederer (saxophones, clarinet), Pete McCann (guitars), Rob Jost (bass, french horn), and Michael Sarin (drums). The band's new album comes out later this month and is filled with exciting performances of Fielder's fine compositions. Trio M takes its name from its three members, pianist Myra Melford, bassist Mark Dresser, and drummer Matt Wilson. Each member also contributes music and their interactions make for an impressive performance.
The first weekend in April will be quite exciting. Friday the 7th, it's saxophonist Anna Webber with her "Binary" Trio featuring pianist Matt Mitchell and drummer John Hollenbeck. "Binary" is the name given to the Trio's second album on SKIRL Records which was released on October of 2016. Wadada Leo Smith's picture is there because on Saturday (4/08) and Sunday (4/09) because he has curated a fascinating event. Dubbed the CREATE Festival, there will be workshops, seminars, and numerous performances, many of which feature Wadada's music. Among Saturday's performances are the debuts of his String Quartets Number 9 and 10 as well as his Golden Quintet playing excerpts (on Sunday too) from 2016's "America's National Parks" recording. More debuts will come on Sunday but many people (including me) are excited about the reunion of New Delta Ahkri, a trio that Wadada assembled in the 1970s with vibraphonist Bobby Naughton and multi-reed master Dwight Andrew. You can see the whole lineup by clicking here.
April's offerings also include drummer Ralph Peterson's Triangular III Trio on the 14th; The ensemble (pictured left) features Hartford natives Zaccai and Luques Curtis (piano and bass respectively). Peterson is such a powerful drummer and a strong composer with a great love for the history of jazz. On the 21st, the Michaël Attias Quartet comes to the venue. Attias is a fine alto saxophonist and composer; this quartet - pianist Aruan Ortiz, bassist John Hébert, and drummer Nasheet Waits - just released its first recording on Clean Feed, filled with impressive interactions and musical conversations. For this gig, pianist Kris Davis sits in the piano chair. The last Friday of the month belongs to the Anthony Braxton Septet. Mr. Braxton, who retired from his teaching position at Wesleyan several years (Tyshawn Sorey takes his place this coming Fall semester), has been touring the world with his many ensembles, performing his operas and other new compositions. Featured in this group are Adam Matlock (accordion), Dan Peck (tuba), Tomeka Reid (cello) Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet, and the twin harps of Jacqueline Kerrod and Shelley Burgon (Mr Braxton will play clarinet and electronics). Mr. Bynum, Ms. Melford, and Mr. Hébert return on Saturday to play a concert with a group dubbed the Firehouse 12 Records All Stars. The ensemble also includes guitarist Mary Halvorson, drummer Tomas Fujiwara, trumpeter Nate Wooley, and pianist Carl Maguire.
Dig the sounds of Mr. Peterson and the brothers Curtis:
May starts out with a visit (on the 5th) from the Matthew Shipp Trio. The talented, opinionated, and forceful pianist Shipp released what he says his final album in January. If it truly is his denouement as a recording artist (he still plans to perform live as a leader and band member), "Piano Song" (Thirsty Ear) is one of his best. Joining him will be bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Newman Taylor Baker who also are on the album. On May 12th, Harriet Tubman, the trio of Brandon Ross (banjo, guitar, vocal), J.T. Lewis (drums), and Melvin Gibbs (bass). Their new Sunnyside album, "Araminta", also features Wadada Leo Smith, and the collaboration is quite fascinating (hear a track below). The following week (5/19), the volume might be lower but the music should be just an engaging when the Pete Malinverni Trio takes the stage. The pianist and composer has not only worked with jazz masters such as Mel Lewis and Joe Lovano but has also served as a church musician in an African American Baptist Church in Brooklyn. May closes out on the 26th with Joe Morris "House of Refreshment" that finds the guitarist in the company of bassist Kim Cass (who in a member of Noah Preminger's Quartet), also saxophonist Jim Hobbs, and drummer Gerald Cleaver.
Here's a healthy slice of music from Harriet Tubman:
The season closes with 2 shows in June but both will be fascinating. On June 2, guitarist Brandon Seabrook will celebrate the release of "Die Trommel Fatale", his new album and group. Not sure yet who'll be sharing the stage but the one song I have heard features a sextet with bassist Eyvind Opsvik and cellist Marika Hughes plus a vocalist and two drummers! The music is a wild blend of Captain Beefheart, "scream-o", "trance", and more. On June 9, come help celebrate the 40th anniversary of BassDrumBone, the magical trio of bassist Mark Helias, drummer and percussionist Gerry Hemingway, and trombonist Ray Anderson. They, too, are celebrating a new album, aptly title "The Long Road", a 2-disk set they self-released late in 2016. Pianist Jason Moran and saxophonist Joe Lovano join them on three tracks each; the music sparkles with musical invention, deep thought, sly humor, and splendid playing.
A new track from BassDrumBone for your enjoyment:
All the concerts, save for Mr. Smith's CREATE Festival, include two sets. with the first at 8:30 p.m. and the second at 10. To order a season's pass or individual tickets, go to firehouse12.com or call them at 203-785-0468.
When times are busy, uncertain, even a bit scary, music serves as both an antidote to depression and and a kick in the butt. Here are three new recordings that make me smile and give me hope.
Miguel Zenón, in my opinion (humble or not), is one of the finest alto saxophonists in the world. He is a technically dazzling musician who has been able to synthesize the music of his native Puerto Rico with African American creative music in a seamless fashion. Over the past decade, each recording he has released (either for Marsalis Music or his own MIEL Music label), Zenón has displayed this delightful ability to make art out of dance music and vice versa. Yes, his music swings but what it truly does is flow, sometimes rapidly, sometime gently, but the performances make one want to move his or her feet.
For the past 15 years, he has toured and recorded with pianist Luis Perdomo, bassist Hans Glawischnig, and drummer Henry Cole. This group's latest album, "Típico" (MIEL Music), is its first in a decade that just features the quartet. The music is great to get lost in. The fiery "Academia" opens the album and illustrates just how the band has gelled, the rhythm section beneath the leader pushing, listening, prodding, responding to each other, propelling the song on the joy they bring to the performance. The title track bounces on the two-handed piano figure that not only introduces the piece but shows up throughout - listen to the seamless tempo changes, how Cole's cymbal work echoes Zenón's flights of fancy, and Glawischnig not only keeps the pulse but builds the foundation for the band to build off of.
For those who think Zenon's music does not have enough "soul", listen to the lovely ballad "Cantor." Dedicated to composer, vocalist, and pianist Guillermo Klein, Zenon's handsome melody has hints of tango while Perdomo's piano lines beneath seem classically inspired. The quartet does not rush the piece, the melody stretches out until the pianist rises up and takes a solo that is melodically rich. "Sangre De Mi Sangre" (translates to "Blood of my Blood") is dedicated to Zenon's daughter and has a story quality in both its melody lines and the leader's passionate solo. There are moments when the music picks up pace, becomes a dazzling dance before slowing down as a reminder not to be carried away.
The keening alto saxophone leads the way on "Corteza", a delightful adventure in how melody can influence rhythm. Again, the musicians do not rush into the solos but give the listener a fine melody before stepping into the spotlight. The rapid-fire rhythms of "Entre Las Raíces" ("Among Roots") give Zenón the impetus to create an amazing solo, especially when he rides the percussive storm of Cole's drums. The melody line may remind listeners of Rudresh Mahanthappa's melody for his "Bird Calls" ensemble and he updates the speedy riffs Charlie Parker with the influences of his Indian heritage. Zenón and company makes sure one hears the Afro Caribbean roots in their music, molding the melodies from the impassioned rhythms.
"Típico" is a splendid recording and reminds us of how great music can be created when ensembles are familiar with each other and love to challenge themselves to keep growing, keep moving forward. Kudos to Miguel Zenón and his Quartet for creating such delightful music.
Tenor saxophonist and composer Kirk MacDonald is a prolific musician living in Toronto, Canada. He leads a quartet, has guested in numerous bands, and now has issued his third recording with the 19-member Kirk MacDonald Jazz Orchestra. "Common Ground" (Addo Records) features all original works arranged by trumpeter Joe Sullivan (who also has a big band which in based in Montreal). The KMJO has been in existence since 2004, has a fairly large book of Macdonald originals, and boasts two arrangers (trombonist Terry Promane is the other).
The new album, two CDs and 90 minutes long, has a "swing" feel from the get-go, with allusions to the big band recordings of John Coltrane and Thad Jones, at times even Duke Ellington and Count Basie. The title track at 8:33 is the shortest cut on the album, meaning each musician gets time to develop his or her solo. But even on the shorter tracks, the arrangements still give the players enough time to really dig in.
That gives the listener a lot to dig. The rhythm section - Nancy Walker (piano), Lorne Lofsky (guitar), Neil Swainson (bass), and Barry Romberg (drums) - do a great job setting the table throughout the program. When the band is flying, as they do on "You See But You Don't Hear", "Kirk's Blues", and "The Power of Four", you won't be able to stop tapping your feet. Romberg and Swainson, both veterans, know how to drive an ensemble, never getting in the way but continually stoking the fires.
There are also pieces that take their time to get going, plenty of time for the melody to be played fully and the various sections to harmonize. The leader's daughter, Virginia Frigault-MacDonald (20 years old at the time of this June 2015 recording), creates a lovely clarinet spotlight on "Vanda Justina" (listen to the flurry of sounds from the brass as her solo hits its stride); she yields the floor to her father who paints a lovely tenor saxophone portrait over the second half of the 12-minute track. One hear the Thad Jones influence in the melody and arrangement of "You See But..." as well as how the brass and reed sections frame the solos of Luis Deniz (alto sax) and Pat LaBarbera (soprano sax). Listen for the light sound of the flutes (supported by the low notes of Peter Hysen's tuba) carrying the melody of "Shadows" right before Ms. Walker's delightful solo. Her rhythmic inventions are matched by Romberg's playful drumming.
What I like most about "Common Ground" is how each song takes on its own personality after you listen three or four times. There is nothing generic about this music. It's born out of the joy of playing, out of the love of creating as a team, of an ensemble utilizing the musical visions of a fine composer and an intelligent arranger. The music of the Kirk MacDonald Jazz Orchestra should resonate with fans of big band jazz or, for that matter, anyone who likes music.
Complete personnel: Kirk MacDonald, P.J. Perry, Luis Deniz, Pat LaBarbera, Perry White - saxophones, flutes, clarinets Virginia Frigault-MacDonald - clarinet on three tracks Jason Logue, Brian O'Kane, Rob Smith, Kevin Turcotte, Joe Sullivan - trumpet, flugelhorn Alastair Kay, Terry Promane, Kelsley Grant - trombone Peter Hysen - bass trombone, tuba Lorne Lofsky - guitar Nancy Walker - piano Neil Swainson - bass Barry Romberg - drums
Here's a good taste of KMJO:
I've been listening to guitarist Ross Hammond's music, both electric and acoustic, since 2014's "Humanity Suite." His electric excursions are often loud, filled with sonic explosions but also brilliant interactions and challenging directions for both musicians and listeners.
Yet, it's his fascinating acoustic work that really captures my imagination. 2015's solo "Flight" remains one of my favorite albums of the last five years; the different textures and locations make the program sound alive. His 2016 releases, duo albums with tabla masterSameer Gupta and multi-reed genius Vinny Golia, featured improvisations shaped out of common musical ideas and shared languages.
"Follow Your Heart" (Big Weezus Music) is a return to the acoustic solo format. Recorded live in St Paul's Church in Sacramento, CA, Hammond used his 12-string and resonator guitars to create a 9-song program that blends folk and blues elements. Instead of looking for influences, just listen. Close your eyes. There's a timeless quality to pieces such as "Blues for Bob Feathers", one that hearkens back to Woody Guthrie, to Lead Belly; perhaps it's in the simplicity of a single guitar or the trance-like sound of the bass string as it resonates. Notice how the guitarist uses dynamics on "Lake Tahoe Waltz", how the ringing slide notes decay as if being carried away by a gentle breeze, and how the melody has a bittersweet, Country & Western feel. The 12-string sounds as much like an ocean as an orchestra on "Whirlpool", the sounds swirling, swelling, holding our attention, drawing us in, hypnotizing us as much as it heals.
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The album's final track is "I Ain't Scared of Your Jail" which, despite its defiant title as well as its powerful single-note lines, aches more with resignation. Listen to the notes quiver, the shivering sound of the slide on the strings, the darkness of the lower notes - then, go back, listen again, maybe you will hear the mood shift from darkness to, at least, an appreciation of the light, wherever it may come from.
Perhaps it's the frazzled emotional damage caused by the changes one feels in daily life these days as much as the heartfelt music Ross Hammond has created that makes "Follow Your Heart" so powerful. A single voice (in the form of a guitar) echoing through a church is a powerful salve, a form of salvation in hard times. This music, like the blues and folk sounds that inspired it, is human music. Even without words to guide us, these guitar sounds often feel like the "gospel truth."
For those of us who came off musical age in the 1960s and believed that John Coltrane and Miles Davis were the twin giants of jazz, the people involved with the AACM (Association for Advancement of Creative Musicians) did not come to our attention until the next decade. But the Chicago-based AACM came to life when pianist and composer Muhal Richard Abrams formed his Experimental Band in 1962, an ensemble that included saxophonists Fred Anderson, Roscoe Mitchell, and Joseph Jarman plus drummers Steve McCall and Jack DeJohnette. Abrams, who was mostly self-taught, composed a good amount of the material but everyone mentioned above as well as others started to bring in material to rehearse and then perform.
In 1965, Abrams, fellow pianist Jodie Christian, Kelan Phil Cohran, and several other people signed the letter of incorporation and the AACM began to be a center of learning and performance in Chicago and is still in existence today there as well as in New York City (where many of the musicians moved to in the 1970s and 80s). From those early sessions, groups such as the Art Ensemble of Chicago and Trio Air came into existence as did musical visionaries such as Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, George Lewis, Douglas Ewart, Oliver Lake, Amina Claudine Myers, Nicole Mitchell, Malachi Thompson, and Famadou Don Moye.
On Friday February 24, Muhal Richard Abrams will bring his Quintet to Crowell Concert Hall at Wesleyan University. Joining him will be the fine young trumpeter (and protege of saxophonist Steve Coleman) Jonathan Finlayson, vibraphonist Bryan Carrott, drummer Reggie Nicholson, and bassist John Hébert. The music they will play will have its roots in jazz, there will be many moments of improvisation, there will certainly be swathes of tunes that "swing", yet cliches will be absent and it will often seem as if the musicians are conversing with each other in a language based on their own instrumental voices. It's a language the musicians are familiar with even though it changes each time they play and with every song.
Might not make sense to many of us but Muhal Richard Abrams has been navigating these waters for over 6 decades. The NEA Jazz Master, who turned 86 the past September, challenges himself, his fellow musicians, and his audiences whenever he sits down at the piano.
In this heightened time of insecurity about immigration in the United States, we often forget why people risk their lives to come here. Whether their reasons include escaping harsh treatment or to follow dreams, mothers, fathers, son and daughters still cross numerous borders to build new existences.
In the instance of Žan Tetičkovič, his is a story of following his dreams from his native Slovenia to study music in New York City. The drummer and composer who goes by the name Jean John has self-released his debut American album. Titled "The Port of Life", he started creating the 15 track-75 minute program on his arrival in the New World in 2011 to study at The New School. The handsome booklet includes "The New Colossus" by poet Emma Lazarus which features the lines emblazoned on our minds "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." Jean John returned home to record the album with a septet that includes Alba Nacinovich (vocals), Lenart Crečič (tenor saxophone), Tomaž Gajšt (trumpet, flugelhorn), Jani Moder (guitar), Marko Črnčec (piano - he has an album for Whirlwind Recordings), and Myles Sloniker (acoustic bass) plus the Janus Atelier String Quartet (violinists Matija Crečič and Nejc Avbelj, violist Barbara Grahor, and cellist Zoran Bičanin).
The music tells of the composer's arrival in New York with the first two tracks including the instrumental "The Port of Life, Dusk" followed by "The Narrows Gateway" which is a sonic adventure of landing at Customs. The first track features the entire ensemble on an uptempo piece that musically tells the story of the immigrant standing on the deck looking at his destination. With the wordless vocal and uplifting melody, the music has the sound of the Pat Metheny Group as the rhythm section really pulls the band forward with the guitar and voice leading the way while the trumpet, saxophone, and string quartet color the melody.
The next 11 tracks comprise the "Acculturation Suite", a song cycle that blends sounds, voices, short tracks, longer cuts and powerful musicianship. Opening with "Prelude", an introspective work played by the String Quartet, the Suite follows the drummer through his "Farewell" to the "Euphoria" of following his dream to "Collapse", the realization of how hard it is for someone to uproot himself and how alone he feels. The Strings return for "Intermezzo", a musical real to reflect on the journey and resettlement. The second half of the Suite includes "Alienation" (perhaps a pun) as the composer continues his search. The music is not as dark as "Collapse", there seems to be light at the end of this tunnel. Sloniker's powerful and melodic bass introduces "Adjustment"; joined by John's funky drums, the song moves forward on a slinky melody line with the saxophone and guitar leading the way. The leader introduces the last piece in the Suite, "A New Beginning", with a staggering drum solo that slows down and softens for the main melody. The strings rise in on an circular line played by guitar and piano. When the rest of the group enters, the music takes off on a celebration of the new "home", the composer nows has his feet on solid ground and his joy rises to the heavens. Once the festivities come to a close, the ensemble returns for the final track, "The Port of Life, Dawn". The voice and piano open as if praying and so does the String Quartet; the music is a reverie that, after five minutes, allows the rhythm section and guitarist to enter. As the music rises to its climax, all the instruments reenter in a triumphant "shout."
Jean John layers certain tracks with sounds and effects plus one particularly strong statement about immigration ("...our origin story") from President Obama, all the more powerful since his presidency ended. On of the ironies of "The Port of Life" is the composer went back to Slovenia to record the album but the distance from his adopted home makes the music even more powerful. The ensemble not only interprets the music but imbues much of it with their own desires and their appreciation for John's accomplishments.
Perhaps part of my enjoyment of this album comes from the numerous times I, a second generation American, have attended the Naturalization Ceremony in my home town, a day when immigrants become citizens. It's touching, life-affirming, and it's a bit humbling. "The Port of Life" is an impressive story of determination, of talent, of desire, and of fortitude. Give it a listen.
Vocalist, composer, and arranger Jihye Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea, and came to the United States to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. And study she has done, learning from Ayn Inserto, private lessons from Maria Schneider and Terence Blanchard, and workshops with John Clayton and Robin Eubanks. Since graduation from Berklee, Ms. Lee is completing graduate work at the Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Jim McNeely.
With the help of Berklee Professor and trumpeter Greg Hopkins, she assembled a 19-piece orchestra (students and teachers) to record "April" (self-released), her first American album. Much of the music Ms. Lee created for this project came in response to the sinking of the Korean ferry Sewol which took the lives of over 300 of the 476 passengers and crew; the majority of those who perished were teenage students. Yet, the songs, while they have elegiac moments, are not filled with anger or long stretches of sadness. The album takes its title from the lovely opening track which is also the month of the tragic event that spurred the composer into action. But the music, unlike the month T.S. Eliot described in "The Wasteland", as "the cruelest month" is filled with promise, with new life springing out of the earth, days are longer and beginning to be warmer; one hears joy in the dance created by Shannon LeClaire (alto sax) and Allan Chase (soprano sax) and no inkling of the tragedy to follow.
photo: Keith Davis
As this music tells its story, one person's reactions to events happening a world away in her native land, most of the tracks are not centered around solos, save for the longest on the program. "Sewol Ho" (12:52) moves away from its opening theme, building to a dissonant climax; then, five "voices" step up to tell their "stories" ranging from the duet of co-producer Hopkins (trumpet) and Jeff Galindo (trombone) to the conversation of Ben Whiting (bass clarinet) with Ms. LeClaire (clarinet) and, finally, Rick DiMuzio (soprano sax) takes the song out. Various instrumental voices move in and out of the melody on "Deep Blue Sea" and, in several instances, it's the sections that carry the melody. DiMuzio solos, this time on tenor sax, and he moves easily over the rhythm section and around the colors provided by the brass and reeds. He returns to solo on tenor on the following track, "Whirlwind", a piece that is more uptempo and nervous, almost hyper. But he and pianist Alain Mallet are, at turns, calm in this storm as they convey how one can create an emotional oasis in times of heightened tension.
Sean Jones (pictured left) joins the ensemble for the final track, the lovely ballad "You Are Here (Every Time I Think of You)", how flugelhorn carrying both the melody and as the only solo voice. The song opens with the reeds sans rhythm section playing the initial theme, the flutes frame Jones's melody, dropping away as he moves through the verse into his solo. The reeds and brass take over for a chorus and Jones returns, this time taking flight as the sections move in and out behind him. Stick around for the lovely coda - first, Jones goes it alone and then the ensemble, led by the reeds and brass return to take the piece out with Jones moving over the sound in a flurry of notes.
"April" is an impressive introduction to Jihye Lee, a composer and arranger (she studied vocal performance at Berklee and adds wordless vocals to several tracks here) who channeled her emotions to create this music that celebrates life, rarely pausing to mourn. How does one deal with loss of this proportion, a tragedy taking the lives of so many young people? It's an unanswerable question yet the music serves as a balm.
Thelonious Sphere Monk, pianist, composer, and leader, died in 1982 at the age of 64 after a long career that began near the birth of bebop and ended as jazz had splintered into many genres. His influence is as strong today, if not stronger, as it was in his prime (approximately 1950 - 1970). Musicians around the world continue to explore his music, digging into the veins of blues and swing that permeated his small yet seemingly infinite repertoire (less than 60 songs).
"Monk Dreams, Hallucinations and Nightmares" (Red Piano Records) is the first full album recorded by the 18-member Frank Carlberg Ensemble (an earlier version of the ensemble recorded two songs for the Fresh Sound New Talent 2003 album "The Sound of the New York Underground"). After listening to the recording on and off for the past several months, I truly believe you will not hear a better big band album this year (maybe its equal but none better). Why? Well, the band is loaded with first-class musicians (listed below) and Carlberg's pieces (the only Monk work is "Round Midnight") are so intelligent, filled with twists, turns, references to and quotes from the master's work that the music sounds contemporary. The rhythm section - Carlberg (piano, Rhodes), Johannes Weidenmuller (bass), and Michael Sarin (drums) - often stirs the pot but also play in ways that cause the music to move in fascinating directions. So much happens in this music. There's the rambunctious "Dry Bean Stew" that opens the program on a truly playful (listen to how the rhythms shift from march time to swing to post bop to blues and elsewhere). "Rhymes", which, after the opening bass solo, features the voice of Paul Lichter reading the poem "Rhymes with Monk" by Clark Coolidge. Jeremy Udden (alto saxophone) and David Smith (trumpet) add atmospheric counterpoint. "A Darker Shade of Light Blue" pits snippets of Monk's melody with several instruments flitting around, not as counterpoint but like birds outside the window curious at the sound. All but the bass and drums drop out as Brian Landrus solos on bass clarinet until the ensemble returns and the piece takes off with the trumpet of John Carlson rising out over the powerful rhythm section.
Vocalist Christine Correa joins the band on "You Dig!", a piece that takes its inspiration and lyrics from the Monk quote "You've got to dig it to dig, you dig?" Powered by Sarin's rambunctious drums and Weidenmueller's rollicking bass line, the performance an explosive alto sax solo from John O'Gallagher. Ms. Correa is also featured on "Always Night", it too inspired by a Monk quote, "It's always night or we wouldn't need light". As the vocalist sings, trumpeter Carlson dances around her as the band moans and Carlberg's Rhodes pours notes down like rain.
The program closes with Monk's "Round Midnight"; this impressive arrangement could be subtitled "Concerto for Knuffke" as Kirk Knuffke's expressive cornet is the main voice throughout the 11 minutes. Listen to how the leader arranges the "voices" in the different sections, looking for lightness from the reeds and depth from the trombones, to how Sarin dances about beneath the rhythm, which is suggested by the piano and bass. And the solo is just fascinating. Conversational, angry, playful, emotional, sad, all that and powerful as well. There are moments when the piece sounds like Miles Davis working with an arrangement by Gil Evans in that genre disappears and it's really pure music (to these ears).
"Monk Dreams, Hallucinations and Nightmares", despite its title, is an uplifting set of music, a 70-minute program that keeps on giving each time you listen. Frank Carlberg channels the spirit of Thelonious Monk but does not imitate or rearrange his melodies. This is "inspired" music of the highest order and the Frank Carlberg Large Ensemble fires on all cylinders. Wow!
The personnel: Kirk Knuffke, John Carlson, Dave Smith, Jonathan Powell (trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet) Alan Ferber, Brian Drye, Chris Washburne, Max Seigal (trombone, bass trombone) John O'Gallagher, Jeremy Udden, Sam Sadigursky, Adam Kolker, Brian Landrus (saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet) Christine Correa (voice) Frank Carlberg (piano, Rhodes) Johannes Weidenmueller (bass) JC Sanford (conductor)
+ Paul Lichter (spoken word)
Here's an introduction to the album:
Drummer and composer Vinnie Sperrazza has a new album; "Juxtaposition" is his ninth as a leader or co-leader and first for Posi-Tone Records. While known for his powerful playing, Sperrazza also has a gentle, melodic, side and is not afraid to sublimate his power for the sake of melody. His quartet on this album includes the fine bassist Peter Brendler, the wonderful pianist Bruce Barth, and tenor saxophonist Chris Speed. While Barth is, perhaps, best known for his impressive "swing" as a leader as well as in bands led by Terence Blanchard, Tom Harrell and Luciana Souza and Speed has played in "modern" settings such as the Claudia Quintet, Jim Black's Axis No Axis, and Michael Formanek's Ensemble Kolossus, here they come together to make a cohesive ensemble dedicated to playing material that challenges as much as soothes the listener.
The 12-song program consists of nine originals and one piece each by James Williams, Tony Williams (no relation), and Leonard Bernstein. "This Night, This Song" comes from the Tony Williams Lifetime "Turn It Over"; no vocal here as on the original but Speed's tenor leads the way, caressing the melody while the leader gently drives the piece. Pianist William's "Alter Ego" has a sweet blues-soul feel, nobody's in a hurry, and the solos sing, especially Barth's rolling piano lines. "Somewhere", the beautiful Bernstein melody from "West Side Story", is an emotionally rich ballad with a vulnerable solo from Speed, spare but supportive bass notes and lines, Barth's sparkling piano, and Sperrazza's splendid brush work.
As for the originals, the fun starts with the mid-tempo opener, "Chimes", with its "Big Ben" like opening - it's a good introduction to the sound of this band, with Speed's deliberate sax lines blending well with Barth's chordal playing, sometimes elaborate, sometimes spare (his solo on this tracks is delightfully colored by the blues). Brendler and Sperrazza offer the perfect support, pushing or prodding the soloists and just digging into the groove. "St. Jerome" is a bouncy song, with the piano gleefully riding atop the bouncy bass and dancing drums. Barth and Sperrazza lock in on "One Hour" - their interactions during the piano solo are fiery. The drummer really flies beneath Speed's powerful solo. The drums lead in "Warm Winter", a bop-ish piece with a melody that feels like a Charlie Parker riff. Brander's delightful solo leads into an expansive solo from Barth, one with phrases that swirl like leaves around the driveway.
The ballads Sperrazza created for the project include the country-ish "House on Hoxie Road" (sweet melody and fine brush work) and the impressionistic title track which opens with just Barth and Speed - when the rhythm section enters, the piece moves forward at a slow pace, Brendler acting as counterpoint while Sperrazza skitters around the band. There's an "open" quality to the sound of "Hellenized", no clutter but a gentle swing and smart interaction plus a heartfelt tenor solo. The gentle touch of the brushes guides Speed through the melody of "Solitary Consumer"; the bassist takes the first solo and once again displays his melodic chops. Barth's solo is short and delightfully conversational as it leads into Speed's more melancholy statement.
This album is a treat from start to finish, which is the best way to listen. There are moments when the music feels like a John Coltrane date from the late 1950s and a bit like Thelonious Monk in the deliberate way in which the melody is played on several tracks. The mix of Vinnie Sperrazza, Peter Brendler, Chris Speed, and Bruce Barth works well together, each plays to his strength while also being attentive to the others. Delightful music that calls for repeated listens, that is the joy of "Juxtaposition."
It was 49 weeks ago (give-or-take) that saxophonist Mike Casey (alto and tenor) brought his Trio to The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme to record his debut album. Joining him onstage was bassist Matt Dwonszyk and drummer Corey Garcia, his "regular unit' for the past three years. The two sets included originals from the saxophonist and drummer plus pieces by "classic" saxophonists Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, and Jackie McLean (who founded the Institute at the Hartt School of the University of Hartford where Casey studied with Abraham Burton, Rene McLean and Steve Davis, among others).
The album, "The Sound of Surprise: Live at The Side Door" (self-released) comes out on February 7 and the Trio celebrates its release this Friday (2/03) at the very venue where they recorded. The recording is quite "hot" with the bass and drums on equal sonic footing as the saxophone. It's obvious this is a working band as one can tell these musicians are conversing, challenging, and supporting each other throughout the performance. Dwonszyk stands out as quite a melodic player when he solos as well as laying down a solid bottom for his cohorts to build upon. Garcia is impressive as well; the African rhythms he sets up on the opening track, "Hydraulics" (which the drummer composed), brings to mind Art Blakey's powerful work with his Jazz Messengers. The leader shines as well, with solos that not only push against the sounds produced by the bass and drums but also ride on their flow. Casey's alto solo on McLean's "Little Melonae" is a gem; at one point, his interaction with Dwonszyk features a smart bit of counterpoint amidst the "walking" bass lines. Another highlight is the original "Dagobah", with the tenor suggesting Coltrane as the rhythm section roils below.
Casey has been busy over the last year, not only working on producing the album (crowd-funded) but teaching, playing with the Trio and working with other ensembles. I like the fact that his debut is a live album, the Trio did not try for perfection in the studio, opting instead to illustrate how a "live" show gives a truer representation of a working group.
The Mike Casey Trio hits the stage at 8:30 p.m. For tickets to the show and more, go to thesidedoorjazz.com. To learn more about Mr. Casey and get links to purchase the album, go to www.mikecaseyjazz.com.
Give a listen to "Hydraulics":
photo by Erika Nj Allen
I would be tempted to stay overnight at The Old Lyme Inn (which houses The Side Door) because on Saturday, tenor saxophonist and composer J.D. Allen will perform with his Trio. Although neither the venue's website or Mr. Allen's site lists the personnel, he usually plays with bassist Gregg August and drummer Rudy Royston. Their latest album together, "Americana: Musings on Jazz and Blues" (Savant Records), was issued in May of last year to great critical acclaim, the latest in a series of recordings that posit Allen as one of the finer contemporary composers and musicians. His pieces, rooted in the blues, are quite melodic, have flowing rhythms, his sound hearkening back to the approaches of John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins without imitating either player (or anyone else, for that fact).
The J.D. Allen Trio will play two sets, the first commencing at 8:30 p.m. For reservations to the show, go to the website above or call 860-434-2600.
Here's a taste of the Trio's latest recording to get you in the spirit:
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