December 2016
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Where To Go & Who To See Since 1982 December 2016 www.hothousejazz.com Jane Ira Bloom Page 10 Cornelia Street Café Craig Harris Page 21 Mt Olivet Baptist Church Page 10 Smalls Page 17 Birdland Ingrid and Christine Jensen Stacey Kent The only jazz magazine in NY in print, online and on apps! THE LATIN SIDE OF HOT HOUSE P32 2016 Holiday Gift Guide page 30
Transcript of December 2016
Where To Go & Who To See Since 1982
December 2016 www.hothousejazz.com
Jane Ira BloomPage 10Cornelia Street Cafe
Craig HarrisPage 21Mt Olivet Baptist Church
Page 10SmallsPage 17Birdland
Ingrid and Christine JensenStacey Kent
The only jazz magazine in NY in print, online
and on apps!
THE LATIN SIDEOF HOT HOUSE P32
2016 Holiday Gift Guide page 30
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By George Kanzler
10 Bloom cover photo by Fran Kaufman, Harris by Ernest Gregory, Kent by Diane Sagnier.
WINNING SPINSSOPRANO, AND ALTO, SAXOPHO-
nes as well as trumpet and electroniceffects appear on this month's pair ofWinning Spins, but what most character-izes both albums is the leadership ofwomen. Soprano saxophonist Jane IraBloom, a distinctive jazz voice for well overthree decades, helms one, while theyounger Canadian sisters, Christine andIngrid Jensen, co-lead the other.
Early Americans, Jane Ira Bloom(Outline), is a departure for the sopranosaxophonist, whose past format has usual-ly been with a quartet featuring piano.Here she jettisons the chordal instrument,leading a freer trio with Mark Helias onbass and Bobby Previte, drums. She alsoavoids most of the live electronics she isknown for employing, although there issome stereo panning, notably on"Dangerous Times," and EFX-like echoesand looping used very discreetly and spar-ingly.
The result is a looser, freer ensemblefeel, the trio interacting with an unpre-dictable spontaneity akin to, but not, freejazz. Known for her pure, burnished tone,Jane does not disappoint here, applying itwhile exalting in the added freedom of notbeing constrained by a chording piano.Adding to that feel is Bobby's idiosyncraticrhythmic flexibility and Mark's deft use ofcounterpoint eschewing most root chords,as well as his penchant for tossing in arcopassages or comments.
A dozen of the 13 tracks are Jane's orig-inals, tunes she imbues with more distinc-tion and memorability, even sometimeshum-ability, than most jazz musicians.The sequence is well planned, with temposand thematic approaches contrasting fromtrack to track. The opener, "Song Patrol,"uses syncopation and a bluesy line todevelop a folk song vibe, Bobby contribut-ing a patter-suggestive solo when Janedrops out.
"Dangerous Times" and "Nearly (forKenny Wheeler)" follow. The former con-jures the album's title with Bobby's tribal-ly inflected martial beats and Jane's sopra-no wafting between registers atop Mark'sarco backgrounds. The latter is an a cap-pella soprano tone poem evoking the suavi-ty of the late trumpeter, with slight echoEFX.
The succeeding three tracks range froman opening mid-tempo piece with unisonlines, "Hips and Sticks" to an up-temporomp, "Singing the Triangle," suggestingearly Ornette Coleman in its fluent inter-changes; concluding with "Other Eyes," aslow, lyrical sax and bass duo. "Rhyme or
Rhythm" is a catchy tune with aLatin/Middle Eastern rhythmic flavor,Jane employing looping EFX to double hersoprano lines.
Bobby's toms and a swooping sopranoinform "Mind Gray River" and the album'smost strikingly original track is "SayMore," a ruminative piece with a barelypronounced pulse, full of hesitations, andsome of Jane's and Mark's most outré pas-sages. "Big Bill," the penultimate cut,begins with Jane and Bobby dueting, thenswings into a rolling beat under an extend-ed form melody and bright solos. LeonardBernstein's "Somewhere," the signatureballad from West Side Story, finds Janeclosing the album a cappella, on an elegiacnote.
Infinitude, Christine & IngridJensen (Whirlwind), features the co-leader Jensen sisters on, respectively, altoand soprano saxophones and trumpet. Thequintet's electronic landscape sound islargely thanks to Ben Monder's EFX-ladenguitar and Ingrid's occasional use of loop-ing and other EFX. Rounding out thegroup are acoustic bassist Fraser Hollandand drummer Jon Wikan.
The ethereal aspects of the sound arereinforced by the communal strategy ofmost of the tracks. One of them,"Swirlaround," aptly describes the group'sapproach. Improvised solos over rhythmsection are largely eschewed for tandemsoloing and fluid three-part exchangesamong Christine, Ingrid and Ben. Eight ofthe ten tracks are originals by the co-lead-ers, with one each from Ben and the latetrumpeter Kenny Wheeler.
"Old Time," Wheeler's tune, starts slow-ly with muted trumpet and guitar, thenmorphs into a rocking, tom-toms accentu-ated swing for interactive solos fromChristine's alto sax and Ingrid's trumpet,joined by Ben's guitar before brief tradingtakes it out. Of Christine's five contribu-tions, the most fetching is "Octofolk," ajazzy waltz showcasing her alto sax solo inthe forefront and in exchanges with Ben'sguitar culminating in tandem soloing.
Many of the tracks highlight the orches-tral ensemble sound of the band, like Ben's"Echolalia" and the arresting closer,Ingrid's "Dots and Braids," featuringlooped trumpet lines, high-stepping oddrhythms. Two intimate pieces round-outthe variety: "Duo Space" pairs Ingrid withBen, whose guitar rises from ethereal tothunderous; and "Trio: Garden Hour,"Christine's lyrical triptych for the co-lead-ers and Ben.
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PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR:Gwen Kelley (formerly Calvier)[email protected] EDITOR: Yvonne [email protected] & ART DIRECTOR:Karen Pica [email protected] WRITERS:Ken Dryden, Yvonne Ervin, Ken Franckling,Seton Hawkins, Eugene Holley Jr.,Stephanie Jones, Nathan Kamal, George Kanzler, Elzy Kolb, Ralph A. Miriello, Michael G. Nastos, Emilie Pons, Cary Tone, Gary Walker, Eric WendellPROOF READER: Robert AbelCONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Fran Kaufman
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CLUBS & HALLS
For comprehensive daily updated listings with sort-by options—by artist, location, day or time—go to www.hothousejazz.com.
UPPER MANHATTAN
(Above 70th Street)92Y: 1395 Lexington Av at 92nd St. 212-415-
5500. www.92y.org. Dec 15: 7:30pm $35 admEddie Palmieri.
CAFÉ CARLYLE: At Carlyle Hotel. 35E 76th Stat Madison. www.thecarlyle.com. 212-744-1600. 8:45pm. Mon except 12/19&26: WoodyAllen & Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band.Dec 1: John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey.
CAVATAPPO: 1712 1st Av (bet 88th & 89thSts). www.cavatappo.com. 212-987-9260.Sets: Mon 7-10pm free adm, Tues 8-10pm &Thurs 9-11pm $10 adm. Mon: Roger Lent. Dec1: Peter Maness & The Master Keys; 6: VinnyRaniolo & Frank Vignola; 8: King SolomonHicks Trio; 13: Konrad Paszkudzki Trio; 15:Dennis Joseph Trio; 20: Francesca TandoiQrt; 22: Jon-Erik Kellso; 27: Gabrielle StravelliTrio; 29: Jason Prower Trio.
CHÉRI: 231 Lenox Av (bet 121st & 122nd Sts).www.cheriharlem.com. 212-662-4374. Sets:Sun 12-3pm, Fri-Sat 7-10pm. Sun: Brunchw/Lady Leah; Fri: Lady Leah Jazz Trio; Sat:Debora Watts Band.
CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE: 2485 Bway (bet92nd & 93rd Sts). www.cleopatrasneedleny.com. 212-769-6969. Sets: Early (E), Late (L);Sun E 4-8pm, L 9pm-1am; Mon-Tues E 8-9pm, L 10pm-1am; Wed-Thurs E 7-11pm, L11:30pm-2:30am; Fri-Sat E 8pm-12am, L12:30-3am. Free adm/$10 min. Trios exceptMon&Thurs Duets. L Jam. Residencies: SunE Open mic w/Keith Ingham, L Kelly GreenDuet; Mon Jon Weiss; Tues Marc Devine;Wed E Open mic w/Les Kurtz, L NathanBrown; Thurs L Kazu; Sat L T. Kash. Dec 1:Dan Furman; 2: Masami Ishikawa; 3: KayoHiraki; 8: Kuni Mikami Trio; 9: Libby Richman;10: Jusin Lees; 15: Ken Simon; 16: DentonDarien; 17: Bob Albanese; 22: Joel Forrester;23: Fukushi & Chihiro; 24: tba; 29: MattBaker; 30: Sarah Slonim; 31: tba.
GINNY’S SUPPER CLUB: At Red Rooster.310 Lenox Av (bet 125th & 126th Sts).www.ginnyssupperclub.com. 212-792-9001.Sets: 7:30&9:30pm $15 adm unless other-wise noted. Sun: Keyed Up series featQuintets. Dec 2: Gregorio Uribe Big Band;5&12: Patience Higgins.
HARLEM STAGE: At Aaron Davis Hall. 150Convent Av at W135th St. 212-281-9240.www.harlemstage.org. Dec 19: 7:30pm $35adm Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith.
MINTON’S: 206W 118th St (bet St. Nicholas Av& Adam Clayton Powell Blvd). 212-243-2222.www.mintonsharlem.com. Sets: 7&9:30pm,Sun 7:30&9pm. Sat: 11pm Jam. Dec 3:Willerm Delisfort; 4: Wayne Tucker; 9: EmilyBraden; 11: C. Anthony Bryant; 16: KingSolomon Hicks; 17: Queen Esther.
MIST HARLEM: 46W 116th St (bet Lenox &5th Av). www.mistharlem.com. 212-828-MIST.www.vtyjazz.com/917-882-9539. 5-8pm: $25adm Sunday Serenade series. Dec 4: BenitoGonzalez Trio w/Santi Debriani & FranciscoMela; 18: Sonny Fortune Qrt.
MOUNT OLIVET BAPTIST CHURCH: 201Malcolm X Blvd at 120th St. 212-864-1155.
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13For comprehensive daily updated listings with sort-by options—by artist, location, day or time—go to www.hothousejazz.com.
www.mountolivetbaptistchurch.org. Dec 228pm & 23 9:30pm: $40 adm Craig Harris.
NATIONAL JAZZ MUSEUM IN HARLEM:58W 129th St at Malcolm X Blvd. 212-348-8300. www.jmih.org. 7-8:30pm $10 don. Dec1: Harlem Speaks w/Terri Lyne Carrington; 3:Saturday Jam; 6: Discussion of Nina Simone;8: The Year in Jazz - A Critics Roundtablehosted by Nate Chinen; 13: Discussion ofKendrick Lamar, hosted by Raydar Ellis.
PARIS BLUES: 2021 Adam Clayton Powell Jr.Blvd at 121st St. www.parisbluesharlem.com.212-222-9878. Sets: Early (E) 5-9pm, Jam9pm-1am. Free adm. Sun: E Double G & thePossee, 9pm The Ramirez Gp; Mon: JohnCooksey & Spontaneous Combustion; Tues:The Sultans of Soul; Wed: Les Goodson & theIntergalatic Soul Jazz Band; Thurs: TyroneGovan & Top Secret; Fri: tba; Sat: alternateThe 69th Street Band/The Antoine DowdellGp.
RENDALL MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN:59W 137th St, #61 (bet Malcom X Blvd & 5thAv). www.harlemjazzboxx.com. 212-283-2928. $15 adm. Tues: 12-2pm HarlemAfternoon Jazz series w/Craig Harris featguest. Fri: 7-9pm 16: Firey String Sistas!
SHRINE: 2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd(bet 133rd & 134th Sts). 212-690-7807.www.shrinenyc.com. Sets unless otherwisenoted: Early (E) 6-7pm, Late (L) 7-8pm.Residency (R): Sun 5-8pm except 12/25 Jamw/Lu Reid. Dec 1: L Tahira Clayton; 2: EKevin Sun; 3: E Jon Sheckler Trio; 4: R, 8-11pm The Shrine Big Band; 9: E ClaireNatirbov Trio; 11: R; 13: E Milton RodriguezCisneros; 14: E-L LehCats; 17: E OddFellow;18: R; 19: E Clemens Grassmann; 22: E TheTom Blatt Project; 24: E Shun Ino; 29: EChuso Martelo.
SILVANA: 300W 116th St at FrederickDouglass Blvd. www.silvana-nyc.com. 646-692-4935. Sets unless: Early (E) 6-7pm, Late(L) 7-8pm. Dec 1: E-L Glenn Makos; 2: EMichelle Marie; 4: E Shoko Igarashi; 5: EKevin Sun, L Cole Davis Sxt; 6: E Elise WoodDuo; 7: E Ravi Campbell Qrt; 8: E-L MattMcDonald; 9: E Joe Pino Qnt; 11: E CherylLynne Skinner; 12: E Clemens Grassmann;14: E Alfredo Colon Qrt; 15: E-L Luis Bonilla;16: E-L Rodrigo Bonelli Spt; 19: E JonSheckler Trio; 22: E-L Vitaly Golovnev; 29: E-L Danny Kirkham; 30: E Chuso Martelo.
SMOKE JAZZ & SUPPER CLUB: 2751Bway (bet 105th & 106th Sts). 212-864-6662.www.smokejazz.com. Sets: Early (E), Late(L), Brunch (B); Sun B 11:30am,1&2:30pm, E 7,9&10:30pm, L 11:30pm; Mon E 7&9pm, L10:30pm; Tues-Thurs E 7,9&10:30pm, L 11:30pm; Fri-Sat E 7,9&10:30pm, L11:45pm&12:45am; Adm/min vary. Resid-encies: Sun B Annette St. John Trio, LWillerm Delisfort Qrt; Wed L Nathan Peck &The Funky Electrical Unit; Thurs L Nickel &Dime OPS; Fri L 12/2&16 Patience Higgins &Sugar Hill Qrt, 12/9,23&30 John FarnsworthQrt; Dec 1: E Emmet Cohen Trio; 2-4: E SteveWilson & Wilsoonian’s Grain; 5: E OrrinEvans, L Jam; 6: E Mike LeDonne & GrooverQrt, L Emmet Cohen Organ Trio & guests; 7:E Chris Turner; 8: E Amina Figarova Sxt; 9-11: E Bobby Watson Qrt; 12: E Orrin Evans, LJam; 16-19: E (12/19 +10:30pm set) GaryBartz Qrt; 20-21: E Mike Ledonne Qrt featAbraham Burton; 22-31: E Eric Alexander/Harold Mabern Qrt w/spec guest (except12/26) 12/22-23 Jimmy Cobb, 12/24-25 LouisHayes, 12/26 (+10:30pm set), 12/27-28 EddieHenderson, 12/29-30 12/29-30 Steve Turre.
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SUGAR BAR: 254W 72nd St (bet Bway & WestEnd Av). 212-579-0222. www.sugarbarnyc.com. Sets: 9pm/$10 adm unless otherwisenoted. Residencies: Wed except 12/7 8pmElectrikana; Thurs Open Mic w/Sugar Bar AllStar Band. Dec 2: 8pm Yoann Freejay; 3: IriniRes & the Jazz Mix; 16: 8:30pm Abe OvadiaTrio; 23: Rob Silverman Duo.
SYMPHONY SPACE: 2537 Bway at 95th St.212-864-5400. www.symphonyspace.org. BarThalia (BT). Dec 4&11: 7&8:30pm BT $5Mostly Marcus w/Marcus Goldhaber; 8: 9pmBT Alexis Parsons; 16: 9pm BT MikeMoreno/Rale Micic Duo; 17: 9pm BT VickiBurns; 18: 7pm BT Jay Rattman & The NewYork Jazzharmonic Trio w/spec guests JimSaporito & Harrison Hollingsworth; 22: 9pmBT Jamie Baum Duo.
BIRDLAND: 315W 44th St (bet 8th & 9th Avs).212-581-3080. www.birdlandjazz.com. Sets:8:30&11pm, except Mon 7&9:30pm, Sun6,9&11pm. Adm varies. Residencies: Sun (R)9pm Arturo O’Farrill Afro-Latin Jazz Orch;Mon 9:30pm Jim Caruso Cast Party; Wed5:30-7pm David Ostwald & Louis ArmstrongEternity Band; Fri 5:15-7pm Birdland BigBand by Tommy Igoe. Dec 1-3: Dave Holland,Kevin Eubanks, Chris Potter & ObedCalvaire; 3: 6pm Barbara Carroll; 4: 9pm R;6-10: Stacey Kent; 10: 6pm Barbara Carroll;11: 9pm R; 13-17: Karrin Allyson; 15: 6pmMonika Herzig; 18: 9pm R; 20-24: FreddyCole; 20-22: 6pm Eric Comstock + BarbaraFasano; 25: R; 27-31: The Birdland Big Band.
BROADWAY THAI RESTAURANT: 241W51st St (bet 8th Av & Bway). 212-226-4565.Sun 6:30-10:30pm & Sat 7-11pm: Rick BogartTrio.
CHRIST & ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH:120W 69th St (bet Bway & Columbus Av).www.csschurch.org. 212-787-2755. Dec 6:8pm $20 adm Dave Chamberlain Band ofBones feat Mercedes Ellington w/spec guestAntoinette Montague; 18: 5:30pm $50-25Jazz Nativity dir by Anne Phillips, hosted byCharles Osgood w/Wycliffe Gordon, IngridJensen, Royal Bopsters Gp.
CLUB BONAFIDE: 212E 52nd St (bet 2nd &3rd Avs). 3rd Fl. www.clubbonafide.com.646-918-6189. Sets: Early (E), Late (L),Late Night (N); Tues-Sun E 7:30pm, L9:30pm, N 11pm. Dec 1: E Cookin’ Hooksw/Billy Ruegger, L Irka Mateo y LaTirindanga; 2: E Devin Bing & the SecretService, L SUM, N Zouk Sensations; 3: EMarianne Solivan Big Band, L Onaje AllanGumbs, N Tropical Turbulence; 4: 12pm NYJazz Workshop Recital, 7pm Giuseppe DeGregorio & the NYC Gospel Jazz Syndicate,N Sofia Ribeiro Gp; 6: E Christian Finger &IN Trio; 7: E DODO Orch, L Adderesound; 8:E Omar Hakim & Rachel Z., L KathleenPotton; 9: E-L Sammy Figueroa, N DaviVieira; 10: E Karl Latham, L Maz; 11: E LaraBello/Luis Perdomo Duo, L Ty Stephens &the SoulJaazz; 13: E Gonçalo Leonardo Qrt,L Moth To Flame Jazz; 14: L Patrick AndyBand; 15: E Andrew Van Tassel Band, LSivan Arbel Spt; 16: E-L Richard Bona &Mandekan Cubano, N Zouk Sensations; 17:L Karl Latham & Don Braden Big Fun(k), NGerry Eastman Qrt feat Tendayi Kuumba;18: E Chloe Perrier, L Arthur Sadowsky Trio;20: E Michael Sarian & The Big Chabones,
MID-TOWN MANHATTAN(Between 35th & 69th Street)
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1515For comprehensive daily updated listings with sort-by options—by artist, location, day or time—go to www.hothousejazz.com.
L Mareike Wiening Band; 21: E Omar Hakim& Rachel Z., L Latin American Folk Exper-iment; 22: E Samuel Torres Gp, L ChetDoxas/Matt Clohesy/Clarence Penn; 23: ESumie Kaneko, L Pilc/Bona/Calvaire, N DaviVieira; 24: N Josh Levinson Spt; 28: E RachelTherrien Latin Jazz Qrt, L Ryan Carraher Gp;29: E-L Brian Pareschi & The BP Express; 30:1pm New York Jazz Academy, L Cookin’Hooks w/Billy Ruegger, N Zouk Sensations.
DIMENNA CENTER FOR CLASSICALMUSIC: 450W 37th St (bet 9th & 10th Av).www.dimennacenter.org. 212-594-6100. Dec3: 8-10pm $20 adm Ben Cassara; 10: 6-9:15pm $25 International Women In JazzHoliday Jam w/Antoinette Montague.
DIZZY’S CLUB COCA-COLA: At Jazz @Lincoln Center. 10 Columbus Cr at 60th St.5th Fl. www.jalc.org. 212-258-9800. Sets/adm unless otherwise noted: 7:30&9:30pm,11:30pm Late Night Sessions; Sun-Wed $35,Thurs-Fri $40, Sat $45; $10 min. Dec 1:Swing Collective feat Melissa Aldana, EtienneCharles, Elio Villafranca, Yasushi Nakamura& Ulysses Owens, Jr.; 2-4: Randy Weston &African Rhythms Qnt; 5: Bobby Sanabria &MSM Afro-Cuban Jazz Orch; 6: MauriceHines w/DIVA Jazz Orch; 7: Jorge LuisPacheco Campos Trio; 8: Bria Skonberg; 9-11: Home for the Holidays feat KennyWashington; 12: Juilliard Jazz Orch; 13: $30New York Youth Symphony; 14: TedRosenthal Trio; 15-18: Duduka da Fonseca &Helio Alves feat Maucha Adnet; 19-20: DickHyman Solo; 21-24: 12/24 7pm Sherman Irby;25: closed; 26-Jan 1: 12/26-27 $55, 12/28-29$65, 12/30 $75, 12/31 7:30pm $250 incl threecourse dinner, 11pm $375 incl three coursedinner & midnight champagne toast, 01/1 $45Cécile McLorin Salvant & Aaron Diehl Trio.Late Night w/Dec 1-3: Jovan Alexandre; 6-10:Immanuel Wilkins; 13-17: Bruce Harris; 20-23: Joe Saylor; 27-30: Tivon Pennicott.
IGUANA RESTAURANT: 240W 54th St atBway. www.iguananyc.com. 212-765-5454.Mon-Tues: 8-11pm Vince Giordano & TheNighthawks.
IRIDIUM: 1650 Bway at 51st St. 212-582-2121.www.theiridium.com. Sets: unless otherwisenoted 8:30pm. Dec 4-5: $35 adm TimReynolds; 6: $30 Sharón Clark; 8: $25/35Brandon Niederauer; 13: $25/50 GabrielleStravelli; 14: $25/35 Jaimoe Jasssz Band; 19:$25 Solomon Hicks; 20-23: 8:30&10:30pmMike Stern; 29 8:30pm, 30 8:30&10:30pm:$65/95 Macy Gray.
JAZZ AT KITANO: 66 Park Av at 38th St. 212-885-7119. www.kitano.com. Sets/adm: Sun12-2:30pm, Mon-Tues 8-11pm, Wed-Sat 8-9:15&10-11:15pm; Sun $40 buffet, Mon-Tuesfree/$15 min, Wed-Thurs $17/$20 min, Fri-Sat $32/$20 min. Residencies (R): Sun JazzBrunch w/Tony Middleton; Mon Jam w/IrisOrnig; Tues Takaaki Otomo Solo. Dec 1:Leslie Pintchik Trio; 2: Mike DiRubbo Qrt; 3:Tony Middleton Qrt; 4-6: R; 7: Sinne Eeg Duo;8: Frank Kimbrough Trio; 9-10: SaraSerpa/Ran Blake Duo; 11-13: R; 14: LynetteWashington & Dennis Bell Jazz N.Y.; 15: CarlBartlett, Jr. Qrt; 16-17: Michael CarvinExperience; 18-20: R; 21: David HazeltineTrio; 22: Judimarie Canterino Qrt w/specguest; 23: Ronny Whyte Qrt; 24: John DiMartino Trio; 25-27: R; 28: Brandon WrightQrt; 29: Marlene VerPlanck Trio; 30: JaniceFriedman Trio; 31: 9pm-1am $145/40 min inclparty favors & midnight champagne toastRoni Ben-Hur & New York Samba-Jazz AllStar Ens.
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER: 10 ColumbusCr at 60th St. 5th Fl. www.jalc.org. 212-258-
9800. Appel Room (AR), Rose Theater (RT).Dec 9-10: 7&9:30pm AR Rosa Passos Qrtw/spec guest Kenny Barron; 9-10: 8pm RTSteve Miller & Jimmie Vaughan; 14-17 8pm,18 2pm: RT Big Band Holidays feat Jazz atLincoln Center Orch w/Wynton Marsalis &spec guest Catherine Russell.
JOHN JAY COLLEGE: 899 10th Ave #623 (bet58th & 59th Sts). Dec 1: 8:30-10pm $20/10adm Myrna Bain Scholarship Fund Benefitconcert “It's a Jazzapalooza!”.
MICHIKO STUDIOS: 149W 46th St (bet 6th &7th Avs). 3rd Fl. 212-302-4011. www.live.michikostudios.com. Dec 10: 4pm $20adm Hudson Jazzworks Benefit Concert featArmen Donelian & Marc Mommaas w/HJWAlumni.
SAINT PETER’S CHURCH: 619 LexingtonAv at 54th St. (Citicorp Bld). www.saintpeters.org. 212-935-2200. 1st Mon: 7:30pm$5 adm International Women in Jazz Jam;Wed: 1pm $10 don Midtown Jazz at Midday;Sun: 5pm free adm Jazz Vespers. Dec 4:Carol Morgan Qrt; 7: Saundra Silliman Trio;11: JP Jofre Qnt; 13: 7:30pm Duke EllingtonSociety www.thedukeellingtonsociety.org featHoliday concert/party w/Harlem Blues & JazzBand; 14: Yuletide celeb feat Ben Cassara,Marlene VerPlanck, Matt Baker, JoyceBreach, Carol Fredette, Ronny Whyte; 18:Gene Bertoncini & Strings; 21: Yuletide celebfeat Saundra Silliman, Roz Corral, AlexLeonard, Daryl Sherman, Ronny Whyte; 24:5pm Balint Karosi & Ike Sturm; 28: JayLeonhart & Tomoko Ohno.
SWING 46: Jazz & Supper Club. 349W 46th St(bet 8 & 9th Avs). www.swing46.com. 212-262-9554. Sets: Sun-Thurs 8:30-11:30pm,Fri-Sat 9:30pm. Residencies (R): MonSwingadelic; Tues George Gee Swing Orch;Wed Stan Rubin Orch w/Joe Politi; Thursexcept 12/1: David Berger & The Sultans ofSwing. Dec 1-2: George Gee Orch; 3:Maulers; 4: Vanessa Trouble & Red HotSwing; 5-8: R; 9: George Gee Orch; 10:Swingadelic; 11: Felix & The Cats; 12-15: R;16: Ron Sunshine Swing Orch; 17:Swingadelic; 18: Vanessa Trouble Red HotSwing; 19-22: R; 23: George Gee Orch; 24-25: closed; 26-29: R; 30: Swingadelic; 31:Maulers.
The TOWN HALL: 123W 43rd St (bet 6&7thAvs). www.thetownhall.org. 212-840-2824.www.the-townhall-nyc.org. Dec 6: 7:30pm$45/85 adm Dave Koz.
55 BAR: 55 Christopher St (bet 6th & 7th Avs).212-929-9883. www.55bar.com. Sets: Early(E) 7-9pm except Sun&Fri-Sat 6-9pm, Late(L) 10pm. 1st Mon: E Sean Wayland; 1stThurs: E Amy Cervini; 1st Sat: E Ayana lowe;2nd Thurs: E Nicole Zuraitis; 2nd Fri: E TessaSouter; last Fri: E Kendra Shank. Dec 18: LQuinsin Nachoff; 29: E Fay Victor Trio.
BAR NEXT DOOR: 129 McDougal St. 212-529-5945. www.lalanternacaffe.com. Sets:Sun 8&10pm, Mon-Thurs Early (E) 6:30-7:45pm, Late (L) 8:30&10:30pm, Fri-Sat7:30,9:30& 11:30pm. Adm: $12 all night + 1drink min/set except Fri-Sat $12/set + 1 drinkmin/set, E free. Trios unless otherwise noted.Mon-Thurs: E Emerging Artists series; Mon: LVocal Mondays series. Residencies (R): SunPeter Mazza, Wed L Jonathan Kreisberg. Dec1: E Bobby Katz, L Howard Alden/WarrenVaché; 2: Pete McCann; 3: Paul Robson; 4:R; 5: E Paul Jubong Lee, L Dorian Devins; 6:
LOWER MANHATTAN(Below 34th Street)
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16 For comprehensive daily updated listings with sort-by options—by artist, location, day or time—go to www.hothousejazz.com.
The EAR INN: 326 Spring St (bet Greenwich &Washington Sts). www.earinn.com. 212-431-9750. Sun except 12/18&25: 8-11pmEarRegulars feat Jon-Erik Kellso & friends.
FAT CAT: 75 Christopher St at 7th Av. 212-675-6056. www.fatcatmusic.org. $3 adm/no min.Sets unless otherwise noted: Early (E), Late(L), Night (N); E 7pm except Sun-Mon & Fri6pm; L 9pm except Thurs&Sat 10pm, Fri add10:30pm; N 1:30am except Sun 1am, Mon-Wed 12:30am. Residencies (R): Sun E TerryWaldo & Gotham City Band, N Brandon Lewis& Renee Cruz; Mon N Billy Kaye; Tues E SaulRubin Zebtet; Wed E Raphael D'Lugoff Trio +1, N Ned Goold; Fri L The Supreme Queens;Sat N Greg Glassman. Dec 1: E JenniferVincent, L Saul Rubin Zebtet, N PaulNowinski; 2: E Grant Stewart Qnt, L R + JaredGold/Dave Gibson, N Ken Fowser; 3: ERoberto Quintero Latin Jazz Qnt, L RaphaelD'lugoff Qnt, N R; 4: E R, 8:30pm JadeSynstelien & FCBB, N R; 5: E AbhikMukerjee, L Simona Premazzi, N R; 6: E R, LWillie Martinez y la Familia; 7: E R, L GrooverTrio, N R; 8: E Diego Ramirez & SULA, LGreg Glassman Qnt; 9: E Rodney Green Qrt,L R + NY Cats; 10: E Greg Murphy Qnt, LCorcoran Holt Qnt, N R; 11: E R, L Jon DavisTrio, N R; 12: L Ned Goold Qrt, N R; 13: E R,L Peter Brainin & the Latin Jazz Workshop;14: E R, L Harold Mabern Trio, N R; 16: L R;17: N R; 18: E R, L Os Gatos Finos, N R; 19:L George Braith, N R; 20: E R; 21: E R, L DonHahn/Mike Camacho Band, N R; 22: L P.O.D.;23: L R; 24: N R; 25: E&N R; 26: N R; 27: ER, L Itai Kriss & Gato Gordo, N John Benitez& Latin Bop; 28: E&N R; 30: L R + DavidWeiss & Point of departure; 31: N R.
GOOD SHEPHERD EPISCOPAL CHURCH:236E 31st St (bet 2nd & 3rd Avs). 212-689-1595. www.goodshepherdepiscopalnyc.org.Dec 3: 5pm Christmas Jazz Vespers featmusic from The Jazz Nativity dir by AnnePhillips w/Greg Ruvolo, Jon Gordon, ArtBaron.
GREENWICH HOUSE MUSIC SCHOOL: 46Barrow St (bet 7th Av S & W 4th St). 212-242-4770. www.greenwichhouse.org. 8pm:Sound It Out series feat 12/2 $15/12 admDave Scott Qnt, 12/15 $18/15 MaraRosenbloom Trio + Sean Conly &Re:Action+1.
JAZZ GALLERY: 1160 Bway at 27th St. 5th Fl.www.jazzgallery.org. 646-494-3625. Sets:7:30&9:30pm $15/10 adm, $22/12 Fri-Sat.Dec 1: Tomas Fujiwara Double Trio; 2-3:Johnathan Blake; 7: Tim Berne Trio; 8: PhilipDizack Qnt; 9-10: Lage Lund 4; 14: Tim BerneTrio; 15: Mentoring series feat DaynaStephens w/Partick Bartley; 16-17: Kris Davisw/Stephan Crump Trio; 21: James CarneySxt.
JAZZ STANDARD: 116E 27th St (bet Park &Lexington Avs). www.jazzstandard.net. 212-576-2232. Sets/adm unless otherwise noted:7:30&9:30pm; $30 except Mon-Wed $25.Residencies: Sun 1:30-3pm Jazz for Kids;Mon (R) Mingus Monday feat Mingus BigBand. Dec 1-4: The Power Qnt; 5: R; 6-7: $30Gerald Clayton Trio w/Miguel Zenón; 8-11:Peter Bernstein Qrt; 12: R; 13: ChristianSands Qrt; 14: Jazz House Collective; 15-18:$35 The O'Rourkestra Plays Sinatra dir byDavid O'Rourke; 19: R; 20-21: $30 MattWilson & Christmas Tree–O w/spec guests;22-23: Holiday Swing feat Michael Mwenso,Jamison Ross, Charenee Wade, VuyoSotashe & Brianna Thomas; 26: R; 27:Maurice “Mobetta” Brown & friends; 28-Jan 1:$35 except 12/31 7:30pm $135 incl three
E Kyle Moffatt, L Mike Bono; 7: E AndrewShillito, L R; 8: E Flavio Silva, L Perry Smith;9: Nir Felder; 10: Paul Carlon; 11: R; 12: EMark Phillips, L Les Grant; 13: E David Kuhn,L Caroline Davis; 14: E Alicyn Yaffee, L R; 15:E Peter Amos, L Brandon Coleman; 16:Adriano Dos Santos; 17: JosteinGulbrandsen; 18: R; 19: E Sagi Kaufman, LLinda Ciofalo; 20: E Sam Zerna, L EdenBareket; 21: E tba, L R; 22: E TommasoGambini, L Alex Wintz; 23: Assaf Kehati; 24:Ben Eunson; 25: closed; 26: E NanJo Lee, LDana Reedy; 27: E Jeff Miles, L Daniel Weiss;28: E Prawit Siriwat, L R; 29: E tba, L YotamSilberstein; 30: Dario Chiazzolino; 31: tba.
BLUE NOTE JAZZ CLUB: 131W 3rd St at 6thAv. 212-475-8592. www.bluenotejazz.com.Sets: 8&10:30pm + Fri-Sat 12:30am LateNight Groove series, Sun 11:30am&1:30pmSunday Brunch. Adm varies. Dec 1-4: Corea,Coltrane, Laws, Cohen & White; 5-6: McCoyTyner Qrt; 7: Chick Corea & John McLaughlinDuet; 8-11 Corea, McLaughlin, Wooten &White; 12-31: Chris Botti. Late Night Groovew/Dec 3: Phony Ppl; 9-10: The Nth Power; 16:Skyzoo; 17: Phony Ppl. Sunday Brunchw/Dec 4: Combo Nuvo; 11: Claudio Roditi Qrt;18: Joe Alterman Trio; 25: Geoffrey KeezerTrio w/spec guest Gillian Margot.
The CAVE: At St. George’s. 209E 16th St atRutherford Pl. www.olmstedsalon.com. 2ndFri: 7:30&9:30pm $15 adm. Dec 16: JazzConceptions Orch feat Calvary-St. George’sChoir & Maria Bowler.
The CELL: A Twenty First Century Salon. 338W23rd St (bet 8th & 9th Avs). 646-861-2253.www.thecelltheatre.org. Dec 20: 8-9pm SLMEns feat Jane Ira Bloom, Yoon Sun Choi,Julie Ferrara, Joe McPhee, Zafer Tawil, DaveTaylor, Min Xiao-Fen & Sarah Weaver.
CORNELIA STREET CAFÉ: 29 Cornelia St.212-989-9319. www.corneliastreetcafe.com.Sets unless otherwise noted: Sun-Thurs8&9:30pm, Fri-Sat 9&10:30pm. Adm varies.Dec 1: Dan Weiss Trio; 2-3: PetrosKlampanis; 4: Olli Soikkeli; 5: David Amram& Co; 6: Alexis Cole, 9:30pm RenatoDiz/Maria Quintanilla; 8: James Shipp &Choro Fubar, 9:30pm Jon Singer & friends; 9:Paul Jones Sxt, 10:30pm Alex LoRe; 10: TomChang Qrt; 11: 6pm Joe Carter w/PeterCherches, 8:30pm Jane Ira Bloom; 13:Caroline Davis; 14: Uri Gurvich Qrt, 9:30pmFrancesco Geminiani Qrt; 15: Emi MakabeQrt; 16: John Hebert Qrt; 17: 6pm AlbertMarques Trio, 9pm Matt Pavolka Band; 20:JB4, 9:30pm Oskar Stenmark NYC Qrt; 21:Michael Blanco Qrt; 22: The Stream Trio; 23:Marta Sanchez Qnt; 27: Eri Yamamoto Trio;28: Michel Reis Trio; 29: 6pm YanivTaubenhouse, 8pm Test Subjects, 9:30pmCNQ; 30: Tom Rainey Trio; 31:8:30 &10:30pm Sheila Jordan/CameronBrown.
The CUTTING ROOM: 44E 32nd St (betMadison & Park Av). 212-691-1900. www.thecuttingroomnyc.com. Dec 1: 7:30pm $20/25adm Lionel Hampton Big Band feat JasonMarsalis; 11: 6:30pm $30/35 James Langton& The New York All-Star Big Band.
DOWNTOWN MUSIC GALLERY: 13 MonroeSt (bet Market & Catherine Sts). 212-473-0043. www.downtownmusicgallery.com. Sun:6pm In-Store shows. Dec 4: Louise D.E.Jensen/Adam Caine, 7pm Louise D.E.Jensen Sax Trio; 18: Viv Corringham/MiaZabelka, 7pm Jeff Platz/Dmitry Ishenko/Dalius Naujokaistis.
DROM: 85 Ave A (bet 5th & 6th Sts). 212-777-1157. www.dromnyc.com. Dec 6: 7:30pmSilver Arrow Band; 9: 8pm UndergroundHorns & Yotoco. continued on page 20
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17Kent and Menescal photo by Curtis Schwartz.
OVER THE COURSE OF HERcareer, vocalist Stacey Kent has
recorded an album entirely in French,sung Portuguese bossa lyrics withBrazilian musicians, won awards for herwork in Britain and France, and been nom-inated for a Grammy in the U.S. Stacey,who originally comes from suburban NewJersey, can today truly be described as aninternational jazz chanteuse.
Next year will mark the 20th anniver-sary of her first album, Close Your Eyes(Candid). She's currently at work inEurope on her 12th: her first recordingwith a large orchestra, more than 50 musi-cians, which is due to be released nextSeptember.
After graduating from New York'sSarah Lawrence College, Stacey moved toLondon to study at the Guildhall School ofMusic and Drama. By the early 1990s, shewas singing at clubs in London's Soho, gigsthat led to that first album in 1997. Staceyhad always worked with her band: apianist, bassist, drummer and tenor saxo-phonist-flutist (her husband and producer,Jim Tomlinson). But her current CD,Tenderley (Okeh/Sony), showcases her in anew setting.
"This album is a departure for me,"Stacey says over Skype from France,where she was on a fall European tour. "Ilove Brazilian music; and RobertoMenescal, one of the founders of bossanova, became our friend and contributed acouple of bossas on one of my earlieralbums. He asked me to make an albumwith him, and I thought we'd be doingBrazilian songs. But he wanted to do some-thing completely different, an album ofstandards from the Great AmericanSongbook. He was totally influenced by1950s jazz but, as a big bossa star, he couldonly play it in his house, for himself."
A big fan of Barney Kessel since hisyouth, the guitarist looked to the duetsBarney recorded with singer Julie Londonas a model. "He wanted to have that inti-mate dialogue we would have done withbossas, but with standards," Stacey says."I told him those are songs I live in, so hecould choose what we'd record. I only chose'If I'm Lucky.' He was so excited about therepertoire, he was like a kid in a candystore and he's such a romantic guy that allhis picks were a total delight to do."
Stacey and Roberto recorded Tenderleywith bassist Jeremy Brown accompanyingthem on most tracks and Jim providingdiscrete solos on six. In this intimate set-ting, Stacey conveys emotions as award-
winning novelist Kazuo Ishiguro once saidof an earlier project, "never in primary col-ors, but always subtly shaded."
"I'm very influenced by Brazilianmusic," Stacey says. "The reason I love itso much is because I'm involved in lyricsand storytelling, I'm a word-oriented per-son. I don't like to sing very fast becauseyou lose the story, but I want the pace to befairly fast, almost like double-time beneathme. That's where Brazilian grooves aregreat, like riding the waves. Jao Gilbertocan sing the most melancholic words butthe propulsion going on behind him is, lit-erally and metaphorically, pushing youforward when you listen."
Very early in her career, Stacey heardKazuo pick one of her songs on the BBC"Desert Island Discs" radio show and got incontact with the writer. She and Jimbecame friends with Kazuo and his wifeand Stacey suggested that the writer andher husband compose some songs together.Stacey expressed certain frustrations withthe very structured music of the GreatAmerican Songbook, saying she would liketo break out of the formula and tell a com-plete story, not just return to reprise thesame words after an instrumental solo.
"I feel very much like a folksinger in asense," she says, "and want to borrow thepace of a Joni Mitchell in terms of narra-tive. I wanted to tell complete stories insongs."
Kazuo and Jim wrote a different kind ofsong for her, over a dozen now in a decade,a through-composed song that did not fol-low the repeating formula of classic stan-dards. "Kazuo completely got it," Staceysays. "He wrote me stories that were tailor-made to my sensibilities, but moving for-ward in a sense of optimism" highlightedby Jim's use of such samba beats as thepartido alto. Stacey says the songs Jimwrites with Kazuo and other writers andpoets are different in form but living in thesame universe of emotions found in theGreat American Songbook, a universe shehas always inhabited.
Stacey Kent brings her band toBirdland Dec. 6 to Dec. 10.
Stacey Kent with Roberto Menescal
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By Ken Dryden, Ken Franckling, Seton Hawkins, Stephanie Barron photo by Philippe Levy-Stab, da Fonseca by Steven A. Cerra, Hazeltine by Andrea Canter, Nachoff by Bo Huang, Sm
S P O T L
QUINSIN NACHOFF55 BAR / DECEMBER 18Canadian saxophonist Quinsin Nachoff embraces chamber, contemporary and modernmusic. As evidenced on his new CD, Flux, he's going beyond individualistic, inspiredor even challenging jazz with inventive music all his own. His prior CD, FoMo, wasdescribed as funky, passionate and intellectually probing. The co-op comboMusictronic featured Quinsin with pianist John Taylor and cellist Ernst Reijseger. Hehas collaborated with the Penderecki and Cecilia string quartets, was nominated for aGrammy in Hilario Duran's big band, has played alongside Jim Black, Mark Helias,Kenny Werner, Howard Johnson, Tim Hagans and Kenny Wheeler. His band is a hotquintet with Dave Binney, sax; Matt Mitchell, piano; and Kenny Wollesen, drums. MGN
DUDUKA DA FONSECADIZZY'S CLUB COCA-COLA / DECEMBER 15-18A sensitive and versatile drummer whose nimble, rhythmically creative percussionstyle seamlessly incorporates samba and jazz, Duduka da Fonseca is one of Brazil'sstandard bearers on the instrument. Primarily recognized in the United States for hiswork in the all-star group Trio da Paz, Duduka is a jaw-dropping revelation. In otherprojects, particularly his jazz trio, Duduka can stretch his musical worlds and tradi-tions far beyond listeners' expectations, playing with rhythmic and harmonic struc-tures and creating gorgeous and surprising musical fusions. At his show at Dizzy's,Duduka is joined by like-minded genre-benders—pianist Helio Alves and vocalistMaucha Adnet—as they explore the samba musical traditions and, especially, therepertoire of the incomparable Antonio Carlos Jobim. SH
KENNY BARRONVILLAGE VANGUARD / DECEMBER 13-18, 20-25NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron stands at the pinnacle of jazz pianists today, a con-summate stylist whose elegant, effortlessly fluent, lyrical and logical playing producesa seamless creative flow. Over his more than half-century career, Kenny has consis-tently renewed himself by appearing in myriad contexts, from his own trios and quin-tets, to notable extended sideman gigs with Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Getz. With thelatter, he made the most famous of his many duo recordings, People Time. Other duosfeatured various pianists and bassists, as well as singular ones with violinist ReginaCarter and percussionist Minu Cinelu. During the first week of this engagement,Kenny fronts the trio on his latest Impulse! CD, Book of Intuition, with bassistKiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Jonathan Blake. Vibist Steve Nelson and tenor sax-ophonist Dayna Stevens make it a quintet the second week. GK
STEVE WILSONMASSRY CENTER FOR THE ARTS / DECEMBER 9Over the course of a career that spans decades, shedding old skin with each new moon,saxophonist Steve Wilson's playing remains focused entirely on the dialogue of themusic. Engaged as much with time and phrasing as he is with melodic conceptsthrough harmonic expression, the saxophone player, multi-instrumentalist and com-poser has worked with a cross-section of conversational luminaries from his ambitiousproject Wilsonian's Grain that features Bill Stewart, Ugonna Okegwo and OrrinEvans to ongoing artistic associations with Maria Schneider, Chick Corea, DaveHolland and the late Mulgrew Miller. A lyrical player fueled by the tightness of eachresonating rhythm section, Steve is equally expressive leading his quartet as he isplaying alongside Dianne Reeves. His trio includes Ira Coleman and George Cables.You can also hear him with his Wilsonian’s Grain band at Smoke Dec. 2-4. SJ
BOBBY WATSON SMOKE / DECEMBER 9-11Alto saxophonist Bobby Watson, blessed with a lyrical, modern sound and high ener-gy, has a lot planned for this multi-faceted run. The Jazz Messenger alumnus and fer-vent music educator will revisit classic originals, like "In Case You Missed It" and"Wheel Within a Wheel," as well as things from his 2013 CD, Check Cashing Day,which honored the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream"speech, and 2010's The Gates BBQ Suite. With pianist Stephen Scott, bassist CurtisLundy and drummer Lewis Nash, Bobby also will be "test driving" material for a CDthey will record two days later. Those new compositions honor lesser-known blackheroes including world-champion bicyclist Major Taylor, Tuskegee Airman WendellPruitt and educator, orator and presidential advisor Booker T. Washington. KF
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nie Jones, George Kanzler, Michael G Nastos & Eric Wendell ng, Smith by Benedict Smith, Watson by Lafiya Watson, Wilson by John Abbott.
L I G H T
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DAVID HAZELTINEJAZZ AT KITANO / DECEMBER 21David Hazeltine has blended many jazz piano influences into a unique style thatdemonstrates his forward thinking and appreciation for his predecessors. David builthis reputation in Milwaukee, where he served as house pianist in a club, accompanyingvisiting greats like Sonny Stitt, Charles McPherson, Eddie Harris and Chet Baker.Arriving in New York City in 1992, David soon became an in-demand sideman and afounding member of the collective One For All, with which he has recorded many CDs.In his two dozen albums as a leader, David has proven himself as a prolific composerwho creates infectious melodies that stimulate creative improvising. He also is a capa-ble arranger, whether exploring standards, jazz classics or overlooked gems. For thisevening David is joined by Neal Minor on bass and Joe Strasser on drums. KD
MIKE STERNIRIDIUM / DECEMBER 20-23Over the course of a 40-year career, guitarist Mike Stern has developed a sound thatblends the soulful flavors of the blues, the complex harmony of jazz and the raucousenergy of rock. With a résumé boasting stints with a Who's Who of popular musicincluding Blood, Sweat & Tears and Miles Davis, Mike's sonorous style helped to keephim in demand throughout the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Mike struck out on hisown with 1985's Neesh and has released a total of 16 albums and received six Grammynominations. The jazz community has taken notice of his talents with Guitar Playernaming him "Jazz Guitarist of the Year" in 1993 and Downbeat calling him one of the"75 Great Guitarists of All Time" in 2009. For his concerts drummer Dennis Chambers,saxophonist Bob Franceschini and bassist Tom Kennedy join him. EW
JON-ERIK KELLSOCAVATAPPO / DECEMBER 22Trumpeter Jon-Erik Kellso has been in the trenches of vintage swing since leaving hisnative Detroit nearly 30 years ago, originally working with James Dapogny, TomSaunders and the big band of J.C. Heard. In NYC since 1989, he joined and still playswith Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, while adding Wynton Marsalis, Ken Peplowski,Catherine Russell and mentor/bandmate Ruby Braff to his list of admirers. He andWynton paid recent tribute to Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives and Sevens and he has ledthe EarRegulars since 2007. He's on 100 CDs, five of his own for the Arbors label. Thelatest, Blue Roof Blues, is in tribute to New Orleans victims of Hurricane Katrina. Jon-Erik joins Evan Arntzen, reeds; Rossano Sportiello, piano; Frank Tate, bass. MGN
DR. LONNIE SMITHJAZZ STANDARD / DECEMBER 28-JANUARY 1Playing with as much soul as dizzying facility, Hammond organ player and composerDr. Lonnie Smith has been blasting the roof off the club scene since the late 1950s inBuffalo. After having recorded for Columbia with leader George Benson in 1966, hejoined the illustrious lineage of artists in the Blue Note stable. Since then, Lonnie hasrecorded for a range of labels, unbound by the confines of an illusion of genre distinc-tions. Sustaining a whetted appetite for exploration for more than half a century, heexhausts every creative outlet from organ trio to big band to "The Tonight Show withJimmy Fallon." His octet features Andy Gravish, John Ellis, Andrae Murchison, JasonMarshall, Dave Stryker, Johnathan Blake and Khalil Kwame Bell. SJ
MICHAEL BLANCOCORNELIA STREET CAFÉ / DECEMBER 21Sporting a rich, dark sound on the bass, Michael Blanco has been a highly sought-aftertalent since arriving in New York in 2000. A gifted bassist whose muscular lines arematched by lyrical upper register work on his solos, Michael particularly shines as acomposer. Drawing on diverse musical sources within and outside of the jazz traditions,Michael achieves a gorgeous group dynamic in his music—at times darkly groovy, atothers quietly contemplative, but always beautifully and intelligently executed, Hereminds listeners of Brad Mehldau's efforts or of the ECM label's stronger offerings. Hismost recent release, this year's Spirit Forward, continues his exemplary work, and atthe Cornelia Street Café he performs with the album's musicians: saxophonist JohnEllis, pianist Kevin Hays and drummer Clarence Penn. SH
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20 For comprehensive daily updated listings with sort-by options—by artist, location, day or time—go to www.hothousejazz.com.
course meal, 9:30pm $195 incl three coursemeal/midnight champagne toast Dr. LonnieSmith Oct.
LE POISSON ROUGE: 158 Bleecker St atThompson St. www.lepoissonrouge.com.212-796-0741. Adm varies. Dec 12: 8pm PinkMartini; 14: 8pm Shobaleader One.
METROPOLITAN ROOM: 34W 22nd St (bet.5th & 6th Avs). www.metropolitanroom.com.212-206-0440. Sets unless otherwise noted:Early (E) 7pm, Late (L) 9:30pm. Residency(R): Tues L Annie Ross. Dec 6: L R; 9: L JoanBelgrave; 10: 4pm&E Kathy Troccoli; 10: LSteven Chera; 11: E Cole Davis; 13: L R; 14:L Vivian Reed; 17: 1pm Jami Templeton; 18:1:45pm Margi Gianquinto; 20: L R; 22: E LizLomax w/John Colianni Band; 27: L R.
MEZZROW: 163W 10th St (bet 7th Av &Waverly Pl). www.mezzrow.com. 646-476-4346. Sets/adm: Early (E) 8-10:30pm, Late(L) 11pm-close; adm varies. Residencies:Sun L except 12/25 John Merrill & friends;Mon L 12/5&19 Pasquale Grasso, 12/12&26Ari Roland; Tues L Miki Yamanaka & AdiMeyerson; Wed L Tony Hewitt & friends;Thurs L Spike Wilner w/spec guest; Fri Lexcept 12/16 Johnny O'Neal. Dec 1: E UriCaine/Mark Helias; 2-3: E Rossano Sportiel-lo Trio, L Anthony Wonsey; 4: E MyronWalden w/Strings; 5: E Amos Hoffman/BenStreet; 6: E Maucha Adnet Trio; 7-8: E DannyGrissett Trio; 9-10: E Dezron Douglas Trio, L12/10 Ehud Asherie; 11: 5pm Masterclass + EGretchen Parlato/Shai Maestro; 12: E GregMurphy; 13: E Mike Lipskin; 14: E Mark Elf;15: E Ben Allison/Michael Wolff; 16-17: EBuster Williams/Rene Rosnes, L 12/16 BenPaterson, 12/17 Jon Davis; 18: E JD Walter;19: E Mark Soskin/Jay Anderson; 20: E JudyNiemack Trio; 21: E Sam Yahel; 22: E SimonaPremazzi; 23-24: E Luis Perdomo; 25: closed;26: E Peter Bernstein; 27: E Darryl Sherman/Houston Person; 28: E Larry Fuller Trio; 29: ERick Germanson; 31: 9pm-12am JanisSeigel.
MILANO’S BAR: 51E Houston St (bet Mott &Mulberry Sts). 212-226-8844. Thurs: 2-5pmCarol & Company w/guest.
NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH: 269 BleeckerSt (bet Jones & Cornelia Sts). 212-691-1770.1st Fri: 8&9:30pm free adm All Things Projectwww.allthingsproject.com. Dec 2: RotemSivan Trio.
NEW YORK CITY BAHA’Í CENTER: 53E11th St (bet Bway & University). 212-222-5159. www.bahainyc.org. Dec 6: 8&9:30pm$10/15 adm Frank Sinatra tribute feat JaniceFriedman.
NORTH SQUARE: At Washington SquareHotel. 103 Waverly Pl at McDougal.www.northsquareny.com/about-jazz. 212-254-1200. Sun: 12:30&2:15pm free adm JazzBrunch Trios. Dec 4: Roz Corral w/DaveStryker & Paul Gill; 11: Paul Jost; 18: RozCorral w/Jim Ridl & Dan Loomis; 25: closed.
NUYORICAN POETS CAFÉ: 236E 3rd St(bet Avs B & C). www.nuyorican.org. 212-780-9386/212-505-8183. Sets: 9:30pm. Tues:$10 adm Latin Jazz feat 1st Tues ChemboCorniel, 2nd Tues Bronx Conxión, 4th TuesWillie Martinez & La Familia Sxt; 1st Wed:$13 All That - Hip Hop Poetry & Jazz; 1st Sat:$15 Banana Puddin’ Jazz series feat RomeNeal + Jam.
ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL: 196 Allen St at EHouston St. www.rockwoodmusichall.com.212-477-4155. Dec 10: 10pm Humankin-dition; 11: 5pm Gabriela Martina, 8pm Elsa
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Nilsson/Jon Cowherd Duo; 19: 10pm RoseEllis; 20&27: 7pm Rebecca Martin.
SMALLS JAZZ CLUB: 183W 10th St at 7th Av.212-252-5091. www.smallslive.com. Sets:Afternoon (PM), Early (E), Late (L), Night (N);PM 4:30-7pm Sun, 4-7pm Fri-Sat; E 7:30-10pm; L 10:30pm-1am; N 1-4am; jam followingN; adm varies. Residencies (R): Sun 1pmVocal masterclass by Marion Cowings, PMexcept 12/18 Ai Murakami Trio feat SachaPerry, N Hillel Salem; Mon L except 12/5&26Ari Hoenig, N 11/5&19 Jonathan Barber,12/12&26 Jonathan Michel; Tues N 12/6&20Jon Beshay, 12/13&27 Jovan Alexander; WedN except 12/14 Sanah Kadoura; Thurs N12/1,15&29 Sarah Slonim, 12/8&22 Joel Ross;Fri N Jam except 12/2 w/Joe Farnsworth; SatPM Jam 12/3&17 w/Robert Edwards,12/10&24 w/Jonathan Thomas Trio, N12/3,17&31 Philip Harper, 12/10&24 BrooklynCircle. Dec 1: E Will Vinson Qnt, L Ned GooldTrio, N R; 2: E Jamale Davis Qrt, L IngridJensen Qnt, N Jam w/Eric Wyatt; 3: PM R, EFabio Morgera, L Ingrid Jensen Qnt, N R; 4:1pm-PM R, E Michela Lerman, L AmosHoofman, N R; 5: E Francesco Ciniglio Trio, LTivon Pennicott, N R; 6: E Peter Zak Trio, LLucas Pino No Net Nnt, N R; 7: E John Chin, LRob Garcia, N R; 8: E Ulysses Owens Jr. &friends, L Carlos Abadie Qnt, N R; 9: E TardoHammer, L Eric McPherson, N R; 10: PM R, EDavid Schnitter Qrt, L Eric McPherson, N R;11: 1pm-E R, L Joe Magnarelli Qrt, N R; 12: ENoam Weisenberg, L-N R; 13: E Spike WilnerTrio, L Steve Nilson, N R; 14: E Melissa AldanaQnt, L Ryan Keberle & Catharsis, N AaronSeeber; 15: E Melissa Aldana Qnt, L RichieVitale Qnt, N R; 16: E Lamy Istrefi Jr. Trio, LEliot Zigmund Gp, N R; 17: PM R, E SeanSmith, L Eliot Zigmund Qrt, N R; 18: 1pm-PMR, E Johnny O'Neal Trio, L Bruce Harris Gp, NR; 19: E David Ambrosio/Russ Meissner Sxt,L-N R; 20: E Spike Wilner Trio, L tba, N R; 21:E Pete Zimmer Gp, L Rob Bargard, N R; 22: Etba, L Rob Bargard, N R; 23: E Ralph Lalama,L Alex Sipiagin Gp, N R; 24: PM R, E JoeyCavaseno Qrt, L Alex Sipiagin Gp, N R; 25:1pm-PM R, E Johnny O'Neal Trio, L tba, N R;26: E Avi Rothbard Trio, L Dave Kikoski Qrt, NR; 27: E Ehud Asherie Trio, L Steve Nelson, NR; 28: E John Bailey, L David Berkman, N R;29: E John Bailey, L Nick Hempton Band, N R;30: E Behn Gilece Gp, L John Marshall Qnt, NR; 31: E tba, L John Marshall Qnt, N R.
SPECTRUM NYC: 121 Ludlow St 2nd Fl (betDelancey & Rivington Sts). 212-533-5470.www.spectrumnyc.com. Dec 2: 8:30-10pmOle Mathisen Floating Points; 8: 7-8:30pmJoel Forrester; 12: 7-9pm Will Mason Qrt.
The STONE: 2nd St at Av C. www.thestonenyc.com. Adm varies. Tues-Sun: 8&10pmweekly residencies. Dec 1-4: Marc Ribo; 6-11:Fred Frith; 13-18: 8pm IMA, 10pm MichaelNicolas; 21-23: Matt Hollenberg; 24-26:closed; 28-30: no 10pm set John Zorn; 31:11pm tba.
SUBROSA: 63 Gansevoort St (bet Washington& Greenwich Sts). www.subrosanyc.com. 212-997-4555. $20 adm. Residency (R): Sat 12am Habana Nights w/12/3&17 LosHacheros, 12/10&24 Gerardo Contino Y Los Habaneros. Dec 1: 8pm Consoul & Saniye; 2: 8&10pm Yuniel Jimenez; 3: 9pm Tributo A Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, 12am R; 6: 10pm Lower East Salsa; 7: 6pm Chop & Quench, Larry Corban Electric, TheChocolate Cuckoo Clocks, Undercover & the Trading Band; 8: 8pm Von Newman; 9 7:30&9:30pm
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FOLLOWING A TUMULTUOUS EL-ection week, the trombonist, composer,
bandleader and producer Craig Harrisoffered his thoughts on preparing for thefuture. "I keep coming back to musicbecause it's one of the few things that stillmakes sense and that brings peopletogether," he explains. "I think ofEllington, because he showed us some-thing: it'd be boring to have three trom-bone players who all sound alike in yourband. Instead, you want the differentsounds and voices in the music, which iswhat Ellington showed us. We need to gettogether across styles, across age andacross genres. We're all we've got and weneed to have a decent conversation withand respect for one another."
For Craig, music has never existed in avacuum; it engages with listeners, buildscommunities, reflects and addresses thechanging times, and serves as a vehicle ofsocial mutation. Take, for example, hisproject Breathe Beyond Bigotry, premieredin October and which will be reprised in aperformance at the Winter Jazzfest inJanuary, featuring 50 musicians perform-ing together.
"I think of Eric Garner and his murder,"Craig explains. "It hit us all so hard and Iwanted to do something. But we don't needor want knee-jerk responses. We needresponses that are thorough and thoughtout; and I think Breathe was a good event.It inspired people to think and considertheir actions and it helped unite a widerange of musicians from different genera-tions and styles. We need to do more ofthat."
The depth and breadth of thought thatCraig applies to projects is a welcomechange of pace from the all-too-frequentpickup band gigs we see in jazz today. Forhim, it is simply a continuation of the com-munal spirit that inhabited the music andmusicians he grew up hearing.
"We had the AACM in Chicago, BAG inSt. Louis and CBA and Strata East here inNew York," he explains. "They created con-certs and record companies through collec-
tive organization. That's the music I grewup with.
Indeed, as one looks through Craig'sperformance résumé, one notes a continualcuratorial role cropping up, notably inbuilding and nurturing jazz performanceopportunities in Harlem, as evidencedthrough his work on the series, the HarlemJazz Boxx. Craig's efforts rarely focus on asingle gig, but rather on building sustain-able possibilities and groups.
This month offers a particularly excit-ing example, as Craig will prepare a largeensemble of longtime collaborators to per-form his masterwork God's Trombones.Fusing Craig’s singular talent at writingextended forms with Pentecostal musicaltraditions and the poetry of James WeldonJohnson, God's Trombones deserves a placeat the table as a perennial holiday main-stay alongside other holiday chestnuts.
The diverse elements of the pieceassemble seamlessly, Craig explains."There's a group in Harlem called theUnited House of Prayer and I used to workwith a tenor saxophonist named HaroldVick, who brought me there for lunch oneday," Craig explains. "So while I'm there, Ihear these trombones playing, and that'show I first heard the McCollough Sons ofThunder! So, I started to research thePentecostal traditions more and went totheir main church in Washington D.C. Isaw them in full effect and it reallyinspired me. Now, James WeldonJohnson's book comprises seven sermonsthat he put into poetry form, drawing onthese fire-and-brimstone sermons thattravelling preachers would give and Ithought this music would be a perfectmatch for Johnson's text."
Bringing together longtime collabora-tors like Joseph Daley, Art Baron and oth-ers, Craig has orchestrated a low brass-focused ensemble augmented by vocalists."I wanted to set Johnson's lyrics almostlike an opera and so we have four principalvoices who sing the text, rather than reciteit," he explains. Indeed, as one hears thepiece, large-scale oratorios certainly cometo mind, as do genre-crossing masters likeDuke Ellington and Charles Mingus,whose own extended form works providedample inspiration to Craig.
The return of God's Trombones marksan exciting moment for Craig; while hisensemble has remained busy and engaged,the piece itself received its last perform-ance roughly a decade ago. "I think themusic and text of this work can reallyaffect people in an incredible way," Craignotes. "I'm looking forward to bringing thisback."
Trombonist Craig Harris presents alarge ensemble of longtime collabora-tors on his masterwork God'sTrombones at the Mount OlivetBaptist Church on Dec. 22 and 23.
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22 For comprehensive daily updated listings with sort-by options—by artist, location, day or time—go to www.hothousejazz.com.
Diamantes; 10: 12am R; 12: 8&10pm TheInternational Ens; 13: 10pm JohnnyRodriguez All Stars; 16: 8pm Lee Burgo; 17:9pm Mariachi Flor De Toloache w/specguests, 12am R; 18: 9pm Juan Samuel; 19:8&10pm Mari Koga; 20: 10pm The SpanishHarlem Sxt; 24: 12am R; 27: 10pm LosHermanos De Leon; 29: 8&10pm Daby Touré;31: tba.
VILLAGE VANGUARD: 178 7th Av S at 11thSt. 212-255-4037. www.villagevanguard.com.Sets: 8:30&10:30pm. Adm: $30/1 drink min.Residency (R): Mon Vanguard Jazz Orch.Dec 1-4: Donny McCaslin Gp; 5: R; 6-11:Barry Harris Trio; 11: 3pm John Zorn fundrais-ing for The Stone; 12: R; 13-18: Kenny BarronTrio; 19: R; 20-25: Kenny Barron Qnt; 26: R;27-Jan 1: The Bad Plus.
ZINC BAR: 82W 3rd St (bet Thompson &Sullivan). 212-477-8337. www.zincbar.com.Sets: Early (E) 7pm except Sat 8pm +9,11pm&12:30am except Fri 8pm, Mon +2am. Adm varies. Residencies: Sun 9pm-12am Tango w/Jaurena/Solla/Aslan Band;Mon 10pm-2am Ron Affif Trio; Tues 11pm $10Evolution Jam by Revive Music; Thurs:11pm&12am $15 Roman Diaz MidnightRumba; Sat: 10,11:30pm&1am MonikaOliveira & The Brasilians. Dec 1: 8-9&9:30-10:30pm Greg Diamond & Amalgama; 5: 7-9pm Andrea Wolper Trio, 9pm-1amVandoJam w/Vandoren Holiday Sax section;15: 8&10pm $20 Brazzamerica.
AN BEAL BOCHT CAFÉ: 445W 238th St.718- 884-7127. www.lindasjazznights.com.1st Wed: 8&9:30pm $15/set, $25/two sets,$10 students adm Linda's Jazz Nights. Dec 7:Eric Alexander & Vincent Herring.
65FEN: 65 Fenimore St. www.65fenmusicseries.tumblr.com. Mon: 9&10pm $10 don65Fen Music series. Dec 5: Patrick Breiner,Caroline Davis, Adam Hopkins, Anaïs Maviel& Jake Henry + spec guests; 12: Sanchez/Noriega/Yang, 10pm The Breathers.
440 GALLERY: 440 Sixth Av. 718-499-3844.www.440gallery.com. 1st Sun: 4:40pm $5 donMe, Myself and Eye. Dec 4: Tim Keiper/Avram Fefer.
BARBÈS: 376 9th St at 6th Av. Park Slope.www.barbesbrooklyn.com. 718-965-9177.Residencies: Sun 9pm Stephane Wrembel;Mon 7pm Brain Cloud; Tues 9pm Slavic SoulParty; Wed 10pm Mandingo Ambassadors.Dec 2: 10pm Big Lazy; 3: 8pm Stefan Zeniuk& Gato Loco; 7: 8pm Andy Statman; 8: 8pmSouren Baronian; 9: 8pm Pedro GiraudoTango Qrt, 10pm Big Lazy; 13: 7pm GregSquared & Great Circles.
BROOKLYN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC:58 7th Av. www.bqcm.org. 718-622-3300. 1stFri: 7pm $5 adm Open Stage. Dec 4: 8pm $15Adam Rudolph & Go: Organic Orch; 10: 8pm$10 adm Connection Works presentsBrooklyn Jazz Wide Open series feat SheilaJordan & Cameron Brown.
The DRAWING ROOM: 56 Willoughby St #3.www.drawingroommusic.com. Dec 3: 7pm$20 adm Ted Brown & Brad Linde Qnt; 18:7:30pm $20 Gene Bertoncini.
HAPPYLUCKY NO 1: 734 Nostrand Av. 347-
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295-0961. www.appyluckyno1.com. Dec 1:7pm Igor Lumpert & Forma Viva, 9pm JessicaPavone; 2: 6pm Jamie Saft, Joe Morris &Charles Downs Trio, 8pm Reut Regev &R*time, 10pm Causing a Tiger; 17: 3-4pmDRUMBRIDGE feat Andrew Drury.
I-BEAM: 168 7th St. www.ibeambrooklyn.com.Sets: 8:30pm $15 don. Dec 1: KyokoKitamura & Tidepool Fauna, 9:30pm JeremyUdden; 9 12am & 10 8:30pm: Jacob Sacks/Orlando Hernandez; 17: Bee Line.
JAZZ 966: 966 Fulton St. 917-593-9776.www.jazz966.com. Fri: 8:15&10:15pm $15don. Dec 2: Steve Cromity Qrt feat EddieAllen.
KORZO RESTAURANT & BAR: 667 5th Av(bet 19th & 20th Sts). 718-499-1199.www.facebook.com/konceptions. Tues:9&10:30pm $10 don/$10 min KonceptionsMusic series by James Carney. Dec 6: JoshDeutsch & Pannonia, 10:30pm Kevin Harris;13: Alan Bjorklund & Smirk, 10:30pm HashemAssadullahi; 20: Matt Mitchell Qrt, 10:30pmMichaël Attias; 27: no show.
NATIONAL SAWDUST: 80N 6th St. 646-779-8455. www.nationalsawdust.org. Dec 10:11am-1pm Jazz for Kids feat workshopw/Oran Etkin & Timbalooloo Duo; 20: 7-8pmVijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith.
ROULETTE: 509 Atlantic Av at 3rd Av.www.roulette.org. 917-267-0363. Dec 4: 8pmSteve Swell; 15: 8pm Ingrid Laubrock Spt.
SHAPESHIFTER LAB: 18 Whitwell Pl.www.shapeshifterlab.com. 646-820-9452.Sets/adm unless otherwise noted: Early (E)7pm, Late (L) 8:15pm, Night (N) 9:30pm; $10adm. Dec 1: E $12 Valentina Marino Trio, L-NThe Black Lodge; 2: 8:30pm Sound of aFlower Suite #1 feat Majid Khaliq & GelanLambert w/the Sfumato Symphony Orch, NJentsch Gp No Net; 4: 8pm Sharik HasanTrio; 5: E Peter Knoll Trio; 6: $8 8pm TaulantMehmeti, 9:30pm Ayman Boujlida; 7: E-L $8Matt Malanowski Stories Project; 8: E $8Mute the Commercials, L Stephanos ChytirisQrt; 9: 8:30pm $12/15 Coal Again/TheTribecastan Holiday Show; 11: $15 7:30pmEyal Maoz & Yaron Stavi, 8:30pm Beledo &spec guests, 9:45pm Gilad Atzmon & theOrient House Ens feat Yaron Staavi w/specguest Amina Figarova; 12: E Elsa Nilsson Qrt,L Matédors; 13: E Haruna Fukazawa Qntw/guest Steve Wilson, L Shu Odamura Trio;14: E $20 Kaoru Watanabe feat YutaSumiyoshi; 15: E Eskimo Wave, L $10/8Dubovoy/Warpeha, N Tony Glausi Qnt; 16: LSara Serpa & City Fragments, N MarkoDjordjevic & Sveti; 20: E Alfredo Colon Qrt, LDaryl & Trifecta; 30: L Bruce Gertz.
SIR D’S LOUNGE: 837 Union St. 718-623-9065. www.facebook.com/Sirdslounge. Mon:8pm Monday Night Big Band Jazz. Dec 5:Scott Reeves Jazz Orch feat Steve Wilson.
SISTAS’ PLACE: 456 Nostrand Av at JeffersonAv. www.sistasplace.org. 718-398-1766. Sat:9&10:30pm $30/25 adm. Dec 3: TC III; 10:Sharp Radway; 16-17: Jay Hoggard; 31:Kenny Gates & The Real Deal.
WILLIAMSBURG MUSIC CENTER: 367Bedford Av. www.wmcjazz.org. 718-384-1654. Fri: 10pm-2am free adm/2 drink minGerry Eastman Qnt w/spec guests + Jam.Dec 1: 9pm Kalia Vanderer, 10:15pm AdamO’Farrill; 3: 10pm Arturo O’Farrill Solo; 4:9pm Bria Monet, 11:15pm Fuck Squad; 8:9pm Criscuolo/Purrone Project; 11: 9pmRon Wilkins Qrt, 10:15pm Ron Wilkins &Becca Patterson Big Band; 15: 8&9:30pmThe Liberté Big Band; 17: 10pm HaileyNiswanger & Mae-Sun; 18: 9pm Sleeples,
BRONX
BROOKLYN
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NEW JERSEY JAZZGary Walker, “Morning Jazz Host”, WBGO, 88.3 FM/wbgo.org
Jones photo by Danny Clinch, Longo by Angelo Sandy, Villafranca by Rosalie O'Connor.
ELIO VILLAFRANCASOPAC / DECEMBER 3Chick Corea says of pianist Elio Villafranca, "his music is a passionate brand newapplication of ancient ways." For Elio, those ways come from his homeland of WesternCuba, and the Congo, Haiti, Puerto Rico and Jamaica. Elio's sense memory is steepedin a classical respect for Monk, Miles and Coltrane executed with what JazzTimescalls a "loaded, technically superior, sharp and romantic pianism." Elio's CaribbeanTinge CD (Motéma) documents an expression that can be heard on a club date, withsymphony orchestra or as inspiration for a dance troupe. At the WBGO Kids' JazzConcert Elio presents "Letters to Mother Africa," with two saxes, piano, bass, drumsand percussion. In addition to original compositions, music of Randy Weston, MaxRoach, Duke Ellington and Art Blakey will find new avenues of expression.
MIKE LONGOTRUMPETS / DECEMBER 16Pianist Mike Longo grew up in Cincinnati surrounded by music from his bass playingfather and church organist mother. Mike would turn this early exposure into a careeronstage or in studio with Cannonball Adderley, Coleman Hawkins, Nancy Wilson,Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe Williams and 11 years as pianist and musical director forlegendary trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. The ease of Mike's excellence has been capturedon many recordings on his own Consolidated Artists Productions label: with his triocelebrating Dizzy and Miles and with his New York State of the Art Jazz Ensemble.Funk is the focus in Montclair with Mike on keyboards, Daniel Walsh, tenor andsoprano sax; Bryan Davis, trumpet; Sam Burtis, trombone; Christian Fabian, bass;and Mike Campenni, drums.
EDDIE ALLENBETHANY BAPTIST CHURST / DECEMBER 3 and GATEWAY 2 / DECEMBER 7 Trumpeter Eddie Allen's musical imagination is limitless. With pedigrees from theUniversity of Wisconsin and William Paterson University in New Jersey, Eddie hasplayed with Art Blakey, Randy Weston, Billy Harper, Joe Henderson and Steve Turre.Eddie's own recordings show comfort in the styles of bebop, R&B and music of Africa,New Orleans and Latin America. His superb technique is captured on recordings byCharlie Persip, Chico Freeman, Etta Jones, Houston Person, Lester Bowie's BrassFantasy and Mongo Santamaria. Eddie's CD, Jazzy Brass for the Holidays (CD baby)comes alive in these concerts with Eddie joining fellow trumpeter Cecil Bridgewater,Marshall Sealy on French horn, trombonist Clark Gayton, pianist James Weidman,bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Carl Allen for a jazzy listen to seasonal favorites.Bring your own mistletoe.
NORAH JONESCOUNT BASIE THEATRE / DECEMBER 6In 2002, pianist, singer and songwriter Norah Jones released her debut recording,Come Away with Me (Blue Note), a fusing of jazz, country and pop. It sold 26 millioncopies, collecting numerous awards along the way. Norah grew up in Texas, exposedto the music of Billie Holiday, Bill Evans, Ray Charles and Patsy Cline, musical atti-tudes that would accompany Norah's career of wistful expression, sometimes dark,sometimes funny, but always centered in a concept of never having to shout for atten-tion. Norah's new album, Day Breaks (Blue Note), has her returning to her piano rootson a collection of originals alongside her interpretations of the music of Neil Young,Horace Silver and Duke Ellington. Norah presents her new release live with elegance,wit and a surprise or two to come away with.
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24 For comprehensive daily updated listings with sort-by options—by artist, location, day or time—go to www.hothousejazz.com.
continued from page 22 744-2600. www.trumpetsjazz.com. Sets:unless otherwise noted 7:30&9pm, Fri-Sat8&10pm, closed Mon-Tues. Adm varies. Dec2: Julie Lyon Qrt; 3: Bob Baldwin; 9: GarryDial Trio; 10: Houston Person Qrt; 14: OneMore Once Big Band; 15: John Ehlis New Qrt;16: Mike Longo Funk Band; 26: Dave Stryker;31: 8pm-1:30am Ty Stephens & Souljaazz.
HUDSONNEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY: 2039
Kennedy Blvd. Jersey City. www.njcu.edu.201-200-2000. Dec 5: 7:30pm $15/5 admNJCU Jazz Ens feat Alex Norris.
MERCER1867 SANCTUARY AT EWING: 101 Scotch
Rd. Ewing. www.1867sanctuary.org/seriesjazz. 609-392-6409. $20-5 adm. Dec 3: 7pmDarla Rich Jazz Qrt; 11: 3pm Eric Mintel Qrt;17: 8pm The Grand Slam Trio.
CANDLELIGHT LOUNGE: 24 Passaic St.Trenton. www.candlelightevents.way.to. 609-695-9612. Sat: 3:30-7:30pm free adm/$10min. www.jazztrenton.com. Dec 3: MonnetteSudler; 10: Jullian Pressley; 17: CarrieJackson.
MCCARTER THEATRE: 91 University Pl.Princeton. 609-258-2787. www.mccarter.org.Dec 17: 8pm John Pizzarelli w/JessicaMolaskey.
MIDDLESEXGARDEN STATE ALE HOUSE: 378 George
St. New Brunswick. www.gsalehouse.com.732-543-2408. Tues: 8pm + 9:30pm Jam freeadm The New Brunswick Jazz Project/www.nbjp.org feat Emerging Artists. Dec 6:John Kirschner Band; 13: William GormanBand; 20: Justin Jones Band.
HYATT HOTEL: 2 Albany St. New Brunswick.www.newbrunswick.hyatt.com. 732-873-1234. Thurs: 8-11pm free adm The NewBrunswick Jazz Project/www.nbjp.org. Dec 1:Franklin Allison Qrt; 8: Arnetta JohnsonTrumpet Qrt; 15: Byron Landham & LandhamBrothers Qrt; 22: Winard Harper Gp.
INC RESTAURANT: 302 George St. NewBrunswick. www.increstaurant.com. 732-640-0553. Wed: 8-11pm free adm The NewBrunswick Jazz Project/www.nbjp.org. Dec 7:Mariel Bildsten Trombone Trio; 14: SherylBailey Guitar/Organ Trio; 21: Dave StrykerTrio.
MONMOUTHCOUNT BASIE THEATRE: 99 Monmouth St.
Red Bank. www.countbasietheatre.org. 732-842-9000. Dec 4: 4pm $25-100 adm SinatraB-day bash feat Deana Martin w/Red BankJazz Orch; 6: 8pm $42-69 Norah Jones.
MORRISBICKFORD THEATRE: 6 Normandy Heights
Rd. Morristown. www.njjs.org. 973-971-3706.Dec 7: 7pm $5/7 adm Vince Giordano's"There's a Future in the Past".
DELBARTON SCHOOL: 230 Mendham Rd.Morristown. www.delbarton.org. 973-538-3231. Dec 6: 8-9:30pm Ann HamptonCallaway/Ted Rosenthal Duo.
SHANGHAI JAZZ: 24 Main St. Madison. 973-822-2899. www.shanghaijazz.com. Free adm.Sets: Sun 6-8:30pm, Tues 6:30-9pm, Wed-Thurs 7-9:30pm, Fri 6:30&8:30pm, Sat6:30&8:45pm. Closed Mon. Dec 2: KarlLatham Trio; 3: John Korba Trio; 4: 2-5:30pm
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10:15pm Three Body Problem; 22: 9pmCorey Wallace Dub Trio; 29: 9pm Ali Bello &the Sweet Wire Band; 31: tba.
The 9th NOTE JAZZ & SUPPER CLUB: 15Bank St. Stamford. www.the9thnote.com.203-504-8828.
FIREHOUSE 12: 47 Crown St. New Haven.203-785-0468. www.firehouse12.com. Fri:8:30pm $20 adm, 10pm $15. Dec 2: TomasFujiwara Double Trio; 9: John Hebert Qrt.
The SIDE DOOR JAZZ CLUB: At Old LymeInn. 85 Lyme St. Old Lyme. 860-434-0886.www.thesidedoorjazz.com. Sets: 8:30pm.Dec 2: Brian Charette Trio; 3: Ted ChubbBand; 9: John Abercrombe/Rob Scheps Qrt;10: Nick Finzer Sxt; 16: Rudy Royston OrionTrio; 17: Marquis Hill Qrt; 23: Curtis LundyBags ‘n’ Trane Qrt; 24: closed; 30: JohnnyO’Neal Trio.
The JAZZ LOFT: 275 Christian Av. StonyBrook. 631-751-1895. www.thejazzloft.org.Sets/adm: 7pm $20-10. Wed: 7-8pm $10,9pm $5 Jam w/FM Band. Dec 1 7pm, 27:30pm, 8 7pm, 9 7:30pm: $25-15 The JazzLoft Big Band; 15: Rich Iacona & The BadLittle Big Band; 22: Interplay Jazz Orch; 30:Bill Rignola Qrt; 31: 8:30pm $150 The JazzLoft Big Band & spec guests.
TRATTORIA GRASSO: 134 Main St. ColdSpring Harbor. www.trattoriagrasso.com. 631-367-6060.
BERGENHAWTHORNE PUBLIC LIBRARY: 345
Lafayette Ave. Hawthorne. 973-427-5745.www.hawthorne.bccls.org. Dec 17: 2-3pmJoshua Breakstone Trio.
PUFFIN CULTURAL FORUM: 20 Puffin Way.Teaneck. www.puffinculturalforum.org. 201-836-8923. Dec 17: 8pm Marlene VerPlanck.
ESSEXBETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH: 275W
Market St. Newark. www.bethany-newark.org. 973-623-8161. Dec 3: 6-7:30pmJazz Vespers feat Eddie Allen’s Jazzy BrassHoliday Program.
GATEWAY CENTER 2: 2 Gateway Center.283-299 Market St. Newark. 973-624-8880.Dec 7: 12-1pm Eddie Allen.
LUNA STAGE: 555 Valley Rd. West Orange.973-395-5551. www.lunastage.org. Dec 11:7pm Vanessa Perea.
MEMORIAL WEST UNITED PRESBYTE-RIAN CHURCH: 286S 7th St at SouthOrange Av. Newark. 973-242-1015. Dec 10:6pm Flatted Fifth Jazz Vespers feat CliftonAnderson.
NEWARK MUSEUM: 49 Washington St.Newark. www.newarkmuseum.org. 973-596-6550. Dec 4: 2-4pm Cecilia Coleman BigBand w/Antoinette Montague.
SOPAC: 1 SOPAC Way. South Orange. 973-313-2787. www.sopacnow.org. Dec 3:1:30pm WBGO Kids feat Elio Villafranca; 4:7:30pm John Pizzarelli Qrt.
TRUMPETS: 6 Depot Square. Montclair. 973-
CONNECTICUT
LONG ISLAND
NEW JERSEY
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ANOTHER REASON TO CELEBRATEBy Elzy Kolb
Flying highRandy Weston knows how to wrap up
the year on a high note. Besides a three-night stand at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, thepianist, composer and educator is lookingforward to the release of his new doublealbum, The African Nubian Suite (AfricanRhythms), in January. He also landed theInstitute of the Black World 21st Century’sLegacy Award this fall, recognizing hislifetime of connecting jazz and blues withAfrican rhythms and bringing togetherpeople around the globe through his music.Plus, Randy’s basking in the glow of beinghonored by Harvard University at an eventcelebrating the acquisition of his archives,including photos, scores, recordings, andcorrespondence with the likes of LangstonHughes and Alvin Ailey.
“I’m so amazed,” the NEA Jazz Mastersays. “They took 80 boxes of things I col-lected. I’m so excited.” Randy credits hisachievements to the lifelong influence ofhis parents. "They were giving, powerful,spiritual people who told me to be proud ofmyself, to be involved in the arts. They hadno money, just love," he says. "They madesure we had dance lessons, music lessons,that we were in the black church everySunday. They taught us, 'Respect yourself,know who you are, respect other cultures.'That's taken me all over the world."
The lessons learned at home instilledRandy with an ongoing passion for Africanhistory and culture and its impact onmusic in the Western hemisphere, fromblues to jazz to bossa to hip-hop. "TheAfrican pulse is a spiritual pulse. There'san ancestral memory, though we don'trealize it. We think we're doing somethingnew, but the motherland will take you toschool," he says. "If I had a time capsule,I'd go back to when the first African saw atrombone and what they did with it, andwhat they did with other European instru-ments. To see the transition would beamazing."
The African Nubian Suite was inspiredby the discovery of Ardi, a 4.5 million-year-old fossil, in Ethiopia. The album featuresa large ensemble including musicians fromGhana, China and Cuba, plus vocals andspoken word in several languages, andarrangements by Melba Liston and T.K.Blue.
"It's an educational piece; don't call itjazz," Randy advises. "The sister found inthe Ethiopian desert, our oldest sister,shows how little we know about the placeof creation, about ourselves. I never metmy grandparents or great-grandparents,but they had so much to give the planet."
At Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola Dec. 2-4,Randy is likely to preview some of thematerial from The African Nubian Suite,and advance copies of the CD will be avail-able. Joining the nonagenarian onstagewill be his African Rhythms Band includ-ing saxophonists Billy Harper and T.K.Blue, bassist Alex Blake and percussionistNeil Clarke.
"We're family," Randy declares. "Whenwe play, the focus is always Africa and ourancestors, whether it's Louis Armstrong orDuke Ellington or going back 10,000years."
The pianist celebrated his 90th birth-day in April and laughs heartily at the sug-gestion that he doesn't seem to change. "Ididn't run the marathon this year," hesays. "But my hands still work, my headstill works. I love life and I'm proud to be amusician."
Light fantastic"Groupie" and "nativity" are a couple of
words that are unlikely to pop up togetherin conversation, unless you're talking toAnne Phillips. Each year the singer, com-poser and arranger assembles an all-starcast to tell the story of the first Christmasin song, narration, music and tap dancingin the jazz opera Bending Towards theLight. Anne has produced the holiday showannually for three decades—she's a littlevague as to whether 1985 or 1986 was thefirst year. She's amazingly successful inrecruiting talented people. An impressiveroster of jazz greats has taken part overthe years, including Dave and IolaBrubeck, who wrote some of the music andlyrics, plus saxophonists Phil Woods, LewTabackin and Jerry Weldon; trombonistsAl Grey and Benny Powell, vibes mavenLionel Hampton and dancer HaroldNicholas, to name just a few.
"By now, everyone knows about the jazz
Randy Weston, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola
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ANOTHER REASON...continued from page 25
nativity. I'm a groupie for a handful of peo-ple, I go to a lot of the things they do, andI seek out those people for the production;sometimes they call me to say, "Any timeyou want me…'"
This year's cast will comprise clarinetistPaquito D’Rivera, trombonist WycliffeGordon and tap dancer Maurice Chestnutas the three kings. Trumpeter IngridJensen, vocalist Brenda Feliciano, saxo-phonist Scott Robinson and percussionistCandido Camero, who has done the showfor more than a quarter century, are alsoamong the cast members, as are the RoyalBopsters vocal group.
One familiar figure will be missing thisyear: the late Bob Kindred. "Bob was inevery production from the start, the open-ing is never going to sound quite thesame," Anne says. "The year I met Bob,John Gensel suggested me as the writer forBending Towards the Light. It was Bob'ssound I had in mind for the opening num-ber."
Besides playing tenor saxophone, Bobalso wrote some of the music. In the earlydays, Anne was unhappy with a bossa ver-sion of "The First Noel" she had arrangedfor Phil Woods. When she mentioned herconcerns to Bob, "He sat down next to meon the piano bench and dictated a wholenew arrangement," she recalls.
This year's performance is collaborativeproduction by Chelsea Opera and KindredSpirits, "With its jazz influence it's verydifferent for the opera singers who takepart, and they love it," Anne says. Theshow takes its name from the ending linesof the prologue written by Charles Kuralt,which Charles Osgood will deliver thisyear, pointing out that light is a symbol oftruth, love and hope for many religions andphilosophies.
"Hope that even in a dark season, wemay begin to see the world bendingtowards the light," Anne quotes. "Everyyear I wonder how much darker it can get,and now this year… But every year I thinkof how fortunate I am to hear this, to behere, to know all these people and havethese experiences."
Besides its New York City production atChrist and Saint Stephen's Church onDec. 18, Bending Towards the Light willbe produced in a half-dozen other cities
this year, from Utica to Colorado Springsto Greensboro. "They do it with all localpeople, there are great jazz communities inevery city," Anne says. "Though the mate-rial is the same, it's different every night -it's jazz! Some people see it every time tomake sure they don't miss anything."
For the recordRebecca Martin has an unusual
résumé, even for the famously multi-tal-ented jazz community. The Kingston, NewYork-based guitarist, singer, composer andcommunity organizer's accomplishmentsinclude putting the brakes on a plan to sella large portion of the town's water supplyto a bottling company, and getting rid of ashooting range located 600 feet from aschool. "We went up against the NRA andwon," she says matter-of-factly.
Oh, and earlier this year Rebecca, alongwith vocalists Becca Stevens and GretchenParlato, put out an enthusiasticallyreviewed CD, Tillery (Larecca Music), plusshe has a couple of other recordingsplanned for 2017 release.
The musician clearly thrives on her fullschedule. She's excited about Upstate, anupcoming CD with pianist and composerGuillermo Klein, bassist Larry Grenadierand drummer Jeff Ballard, for which shewrote lyrics to melodies by Guillermo,Brad Mehldau and others. "I carved outwords around ones Guillermo was singingin Spanish that have different meaningsand made it sound like a cohesive thing,"Rebecca explains.
There's also an album of original songsin the works: She, with guitarist LageLund, Larry Grenadier and drummer DanRieser. The foursome will play the materi-al at Rockwood Music Hall on Dec. 20,Dec. 27 and Jan. 2, prior to recording.
"I've been writing third-person refer-ences in my songs; it just happened thatway. I thought it was interesting anddecided to give She a little light, pull herout. This is a perfect time to focus on thefeminine," Rebecca muses.
Creating an album with a theme is newfor the singer. "When I'm writing, I'malways piecing lots of things together. It'snot always linear, though in the end itsounds like it is. It's stream of conscious-ness, then I shape the songs and edit them.
Anne Phillips, Christ and Saint Stephen’s Church
Rebecca Martin, Rockwood Music Hall
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By Seton Hawkins
HOT FLASHES
Drury photo by Reuben Radding Studio.
Our Musical Heroes: Andrew DruryTalks Julian Priester
Best-known for his work in free improv-isation settings, Andrew Drury hasproven himself an astonishingly versatilepercussionist. Capable of drawing out astaggering range of tonal colors from hisinstruments, Drury has developed a highlyunique textural approach to percussionplaying that has graced a variety ofalbums and efforts of musical luminaries,in addition to several highly acclaimed soloprojects and records of his own.
When asked to share a musical herothat either helped him to define his ownmusic, or who inspired him to find anddevelop his artistic path, Andrew chosetrombonist Julian Priester. He is certainly
an inspired choice and, to be sure, themusical encounter between Julian and ayoung Andrew proved pivotal for the per-cussionist.
Andrew recalls that remarkable day: asa teenager in 1980, he saw Julian performin an ensemble at the Cornish College ofthe Arts, where Julian taught. "I grew upon an island off of Seattle, so it was a bigdeal for me to go with my buddy, get on theferry, go to Seattle, figure out whereCornish College was, and see a live show,"Andrew explains. "We were very nervousabout being late, and so we showed up two-and-a-half hours early! But luckily, theylet us in and allowed us to watch the bandrehearse."
As a young and aspiring musician,Andrew found Julian's music—at the timea texturally driven, open-form approachreminiscent of his work in HerbieHancock's Mwandishi Sextet—to be a com-plete revelation, albeit a particularly chal-lenging one. "The music I heard that nightwas very creative," he recalls. "At the time,I didn't really know what they weredoing—it was over my head—and I satthere thinking 'Wow, I didn't know musiccould sound like this!' I could tell they weretapped into something heavier than any-thing I had encountered. But I was reallycurious and had to find out more."
That encounter with Julian and hismusic proved a tremendous spark forAndrew, who would soon go on to studyand work with luminaries like EdBlackwell. Indeed, one can hear echoes ofJulian's musical spirit in Andrew's ownworks, notably in the 2015 solo percussionalbum The Drum, in which Andrewengages in a tour-de-force tonal explo-ration of a floor tom.
This type of gutsy, but also successful,experiment certainly calls up comparisonsto Julian Priester's own timbral and tex-tural efforts, though Andrew notes it was-n't specifically intended as such. "I hadn'tconsciously set out to create music the wayJulian did," he notes. "But to me, he setloose, just by his embodying curiosity andexcellence of craft and texture, and thenplanted the seeds that 25 years later pokedtheir heads above the ground in mymusic."
Julian's inspiration can also be felt inAndrew's own efforts as a highly engagedand active educator, which will in turngive rise to a particularly exciting perform-ance on Dec. 17. Bringing together his per-formative and educational worlds, Andrewwill present DRUM/BRIDGE at HappyLucky No. 1 in Brooklyn. Featuring thedebut of his 10-piece ensemble, the eventalso showcases students from the twoschools at which Andrew teaches, culmi-nating in a large group multi-generationaljam session and marking a particularlyexciting moment in his career.
"It's the first time I've composed forlarge ensemble and it's the first time I'vebeen able to bring my percussion studentsinto performance opportunities with pro-fessional musicians," Andrew says. "I'mvery excited about that; in 25 years ofteaching, this hasn't happened for me and
Andrew Drury
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By Nick Dunston
FRESH TAKES
Eeg photo by Stephen Freihei.
HOT FLASHES...continued from page 27
ping at the record store and heard SassySwings the Tivoli and it changed my life."
Sinne Eeg sings with pianist JacobChristoffersen at Jazz at Kitano onDec. 7.
AWARD-WINNING DANISH VOCAL-ist and composer Sinne Eeg, who has
earned much critical acclaim in New YorkCity and around the world, hits at Jazz atKitano this month. Born and raised inDenmark, Sinne's fluency in English, jazzand the Great American Songbook is trulyremarkable.
"Although there's nothing like singing inyour mother tongue, the phrasing of jazzsongs is not as natural in Danish,” shesays. "I learned these songs in English. Atfirst I found it difficult to translate toDanish, but now, I am very comfortableand quite fond of singing in both lan-guages." This comes across clearly in allher albums.
Currently, Sinne is preparing for theSarah Vaughan International Jazz VocalCompetition. "I've been listening to Sarahfor as long as I can remember," she says."When you're a little kid, too much infor-mation in music can be a bit frustrating.Sarah Vaughan's voice was so beautifuland soothing to me. Years later I was shop-
Festivals and BenefitsJohn Jay College kicks off the month
with a jazz benefit concert on Dec. 1 in sup-port of its Myrna Bain ScholarshipFund, presenting live music from a range
of vocalists and a raffle drawing for Giantstickets. Visit https://jjaycuny.thankyou4caring.org/events/BainConcert to learnmore.
Vandoren reeds hosts a holiday jam atZinc Bar on Dec. 5, featuring theVandoren Holiday Sax Section. Visitwww.zincbar.com for more information.
On Dec. 6, Ralph Pucci Internationalproposes a conversation and concert head-lined by John Pizzarelli and ChristianMcBride and showcasing the Jazz HouseKids Messengers. All proceeds support themission of Jazz House Kids; for moredetails or to make a reservation, visitwww.ralphpucci.net.
Esteemed vocalist AntoinetteMontague hosts a Holiday JamFundraiser at the DiMenna Center in sup-port of International Women in Jazz onDec. 10. For tickets, visit www.internationalwomeninjazz.org.
The Hudson Jazz Workshop offers abenefit concert at Michiko Studios, also onDec. 10, to raise scholarship funds for its2017 summer intensive program, withappearances by Armen Donelian, MarcMommaas, Billy Test and others. Visithttp://www.hudsonjazzworks.org/ to learnmore.
Armen Donelian/Marc Mommaas
I'm looking forward to bringing theseartists together."
For more information on Andrew Drury,his music and his upcoming performances,visit www.andrewdrury.com.
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B A C K S TA G E PA S S
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ANOTHER REASON...continued from page 26
continued on page 31
It's a little like a puzzle."Rebecca finds freedom in wearing a vari-
ety of hats. "Both aspects of my life are sim-ilar but use different parts of the brain,"she explains. "I can put together unusualprojects, move around in the community. Alot of my fun is in my work—it's where Isocialize. I work with diverse people fromdifferent backgrounds and I learn so muchthat way. A lot of what I do is trial by fire—just throw me into a situation, I'll soak upwhat I learn and use it. Challenges producebenefits."
NJJS Annual Meeting and Monthly JazzSocial feat Daryl Sherman; 6: John KorbaTrio; 9: Brynn Stanley Qrt; 13: John KorbaTrio; 17: Eric Mintel Trio; 20: John Korba Trio;23: Dave Stryker Trio; 24: 6&8:15pm KeithIngham Gp; 31: King Solomon Hicks Qrt.
OCEANOCEAN COUNTY COLLEGE: College Dr.
Toms River. 732-255-0500. www.ocean.edu.www.njjs.org. Dec 7: 8-9:30pm $18/22 admMolly Ryan w/Dan Levinson.
PASSAICWILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY: 300
Pompton Rd. Wayne. www.wpunj.edu. 973-720-2371. Dec 4: 4pm Justin Kauflin Trio.
SOMERSETWATCHUNG ARTS CENTER: 18 Stirling Rd.
Watchung. www.watchungarts.org. 908-753-0190. Dec 10: 8pm Marty Eigen & Amani Qrtfeat Stephen Fuller.
UNIONUNION COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS
CENTER: 1601 Irving St. Rahway. 732-499-8226. www.ucpac.org. Dec 18: 7pm HolidayOpen House & Jazz Fest.
Jane Ira Bloom spotlights musicfrom Early Americans with the CD’strio at Cornelia Street Café, Dec. 11.The Jensens have a CD release partyfor Infinitude Dec 2-3 at Smalls. Ingridalso joins the cast performing BendingTowards the Light at Christ &Stephen’s Church Dec. 18.
WINNING SPINS...continued from page 10
JAZZ ANECDOTE BY BILL CROWBill Crow's books "Jazz Anecdotes" and "From Birdland to Broadway" can be
found at your favorite bookstore, and at www.billcrowbass.com along with many interesting photos and links.
In 1980 I was playing in Joe Grimm's band at the Coachlight Theater in Nanuet NY fora dinner theater production of South Pacific. Julius LaRosa was the star. One afternoonbefore the show, I told a shaggy joke to some of the musicians and actors. Julius loved thestory and insisted on telling it to the audience before the show began. Here's the story: A guyfollowing a religious calling joined a very strict monastery on a mountain top in Colorado.Talking was prohibited, except each morning at dawn, when all the acolytes gathered togeth-er, faced the east and chanted "Morning." The new member went along with this for severalmonths, but one day he felt a little rebellious, and as the others were chanting "Morning," hesoftly chanted, "Evening." The head monk held up his hands for silence, surveyed the groupseverely, and intoned, "Someone chanted Evening!"
Julius told the story with flair, but when he got to the punch line he said, "Somebodychanted Evening," leaving his audience puzzled, and me groaning in the dark behind him.
Jon-Erik Kellso checks the arrange-ments backstage at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola with the beautiful autumn NewYork skyline outside prior to his gigwith the big band playing with vocalistCatherine Russell on Sept. 29. That'sDan Block getting ready on his left.
NEW YORK STATE
For comprehensive daily updated listings with sort-by options—by artist, location, day or time—go to www.hothousejazz.com.
LISTINGS...continued from page 24
A Moment You Missed by Fran Kaufman Hot House
Contributing Photographer
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THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHENrecord companies either scan their
vaults to come up with new holiday seasoncompilations, or produce new Christmasalbums with their bankable stars. That'sone way to go when looking to gift the jazzfans in your life, but there are others too.Some significant reissues and new looks atolder recordings came out during the year,as well as compilations that make formerlyhard-to-find music more readily available.And this is also a good year for visual jazzin two fine photography books.
YULETIDE SOUNDSTwo popular men in the jazz tradition
have notable new Christmas albums thisyear. Tony DeSare, a crooner who is also amore than competent jazz pianist, brings usTony DeSare's Christmas Home (AJDEntertainment), which is mostly familiarholiday fare, but includes a memorable newcontribution to the canon: "Christmas forYou and Me."
The Beautiful Day: Kurt Elling SingsChristmas (Okeh) features the hot, multi-ple poll-winning singer with typically hiptakes on holiday fare that takes it way pasttraditional. Additional lyrics and over-dubbed multiple voices enliven such hoaryold standards as "Little Drummer Boy" and"We Three Kings."
Many past Christmas jazz albums arebeing marketed again this year, includingDiana Krall's Christmas Songs (Verve);the CD is beginning its second decade andis joined by a vinyl option for the first time.The same label has also culled its catalogueto come up with two CDs: Joyful Jazz!Christmas with Verve!, one featuring vocal-ists, the other all instrumental.
The vocal album combines classic oldiessuch as Mel Tormé's "The Christmas Song,"and tracks by Ella Fitzgerald, BillieHoliday and Peggy Lee, with those featur-ing current stars like Norah Jones doingher own "Peace," and "Baby, It's ColdOutside”—as a duet with Willie Nelson—Diana, Patti Austen and Diane Schurr.And don't miss Louis Armstrong's zany"Zat You, Santa Claus?"
The instrumental CD ranges across thebreadth of the Verve years, with an empha-sis on guitarists (Kenny Burrell, MarkWhitfield, Kevin Eubanks, Stanley Jordan)and pianists (Ramsey Lewis, OscarPeterson, Bill Evans, Eliane Elias).Organist Jimmy Smith's infectious "GodRest Ye Merry Gentleman" and JohnColtrane's indelible "Greensleeves" are
among the other notable offerings.
MINING TREASURES FROM THE VAULTS
The Miles Davis catalogue has been agoldmine for Columbia, now Sony, fordecades. But Volume 5 of The BootlegSeries: Freedom Jazz Dance, Miles DavisQuintet, is special, presenting a new per-spective in the form of both multiple takesand studio chatter. Tunes that ended up onthe albums Miles Smiles, Nefertiti andWater Babies by the famous later 1960squintet of Miles, saxophonist WayneShorter, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassistRon Carter and drummer Tony Williams,are heard as the group developed them inthe studio, complete with Miles' often pro-fane comments. Most illuminating is the23-minute session reel of Eddie Harris'"Freedom Jazz Dance" which tries on anddiscards a host of rhythmic and ensembleguises, including woodblocks and cowbells.
One of the most prolific and consistentlycreative musicians in jazz history celebrat-ed his 100th birthday this year and theStoryville label is feting him with a box setsurveying his career on five CDs and a DVDcovering over seven decades: TheIncomparable Fiddler: Svend Asmussen -100 Years. Violinist and vocalist Svend, aCopenhagen native, is heard first with hisearly Swing Era bands, which emulatedpopular American bands of the 1930s. He'salso featured with his own small groupsfrom the post-WWII years, as well as in vio-lin summit recordings with Stuff Smith andStephane Grappelli. A real find, both for hisplaying and for an extended look at ex-patpianist Kenny Drew, is a live DVD of a 1986set at Copenhagen's Jazzhus Montmartrealso featuring Danish bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen and ex-patdrummer Ed Thigpen.
BIG BAND GEMS FROM THE 1960sTwo live recordings of seminal big bands
from the 1960s have surfaced for the firsttime. Anyone who saw Duke Ellington'sOrchestra in the late 1960s or early 1970swill cherish Rotterdam 1969, DukeEllington & His Orchestra (Storyville). It isnot only one of a very few examples ofHammond B3 organist Wild Bill Daviswhen he toured and was featured with theband, it also chronicles some of the lastappearances of alto saxophonist JohnnyHodges and trombonist Lawrence Brownwith Duke. As was Duke's wont, the pro-
continued on page 31
Illustration by Karen Pica.
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31For comprehensive daily updated listings with sort-by options—by artist, location, day or time—go to www.hothousejazz.com.
continued from page 29 snacks/beverage feat Ed Jackson Qrt. JAMAICA CENTER OF ARTS & LEARN-
ING: 161-04 Jamaica Av. Jamaica.www.jcal.org. 718-658-7400. Dec 8: 8pmKanoa Mendenhall Trio.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG HOUSE MUSEUM:34-56 107th St. Corona. 718-478-8274.www.louisarmstronghouse.org. Sun&Sat 12-5pm, Tues-Fri 10am-5pm: $10 adm GuidedTours of Louis Armstrong House.
BEANRUNNER CAFÉ: 201 S Division &Esther St. Peekskill. 914-737-1701.www.beanrunnercafe.com. Fri-Sat: 8-10:30pm $10 adm. Dec 3: Doug Munro; 9:Alexis Cole Ens; 10: Steven Gluzband & HotHouse Latin Jazz Ens; 17: Todd LondaginBand; 18: Ray Blue & Step Up for JazzProject; 23: Valerie not Val & friends.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: 199NColumbus Av at E Lincoln Av. Mount Vernon.www.pjsjazz.org. 914-636-4977. 2nd Sun:5:15-9pm $25 adm Second Sunday Jazzseries. Dec 11: Allan Harris.
TARRYTOWN MUSIC HALL: 13 Main St.Tar-rytown. www.tarrytownmusichall.org. 914-631-1000. Dec 3: 8pm John Pizzarelli Qrt.
76 HOUSE: 110 Main St. Tappan. 845-359-5476. www.76house.com. Wed: 8-11pm freeadm Quintets w/Mark Hagan & feat artists +Jam. Dec 7: Bob Dorough; 14: Tony Speranza& Darryl Yokley; 21: Matt Haviland & DanBlock; 28: Danny Walsh.
FALCON ARTS: 1348 Rte 9 West. Marlboro.www.liveatthefalcon.com. 845-236-7970. $20don suggested. Sets: 7pm, Sun 10am-2pmBrunch (B). Residency (R): Joe Louis Walker& friends. Dec 1: Bucky Pizzarelli & Ed LaubTrio; 2: Lindsey Webster; 4: B Big Joe Fitz &The Lo-Fis; 5: R w/"King" Solomon Hicks; 8:Jeremy Baum & JB3 Trio; 9: Joe Lovano; 10:Rhythm Rising; 12: R w/Johnny Feds; 14:Jazz Sessions at The Falcon Undergroundw/Doug Weiss; 15: Connor Kennedy &Minstrel + bigBANG; 17: Ed Palermo BigBand; 18: Erik Lawrence & Hipmotism; 19: Rw/Joe Nott; 26: R w/Vanessa Collier; 29: LatinJazz Express; 31: 9pm Chris Bergson Bandfeat Ellis Hooks.
MASSRY CENTER FOR THE ARTS: 1002Madison Av. Albany. 518-337-4871. Dec 9:7:30pm Steve Wilson Trio.
MAUREEN’S JAZZ CELLAR: 2 N Bdwy.Nyack. www.maureensjazzcellar.com. 845-535-3143. Sets: unless otherwise noted8&9:30pm $15 adm. Dec 2: 7&8:30pm JohnMalino Qrt; 4: 6pm $25 Bucky Pizzarelli; 9:Alan Broadbent Duo; 10: Plucky Strum featSheryl Bailey & Harvie S; 16: Manuel ValeraTrio; 17: The Wolff & Clark Expedition; 30: BillO’Connell Trio.
QUINN’S: 330 Main St. Beacon. www.quinnsbeacon.com. Mon: 8pm free adm MondayNight Jazz Sessions. Dec 5: Joe Fiedler Qnt;8: 8pm Secret Keeper feat Mary Halvorson &Stephan Crump; 10: 8pm Brian Charette &Mighty Grinders; 12: Bad Touch; 19: JoelFrahm Trio; 26: Ray Blue Trio.
TURNING POINT CAFÉ: 468 Piermont Av.Piermont. www.turningpointcafe.com. 845-359-1089. Mon: 8-11:30pm $5 adm MondayJam by John Richmond.
UNION ARTS CENTER: 2 Union Av. Sparkill.845-359-0258. www.uacny.com. Dec 16: 8pmRichard Sussman Qnt.
DEER HEAD INN: 5 Main St. Delaware WaterGap, PA. www.deerheadinn.com. 570-424-2000. Sets: Sun 5-8pm, Thurs 8-11pm, Fri-Sat 7-11pm. Adm varies. Residency (R):Thurs Jam w/Bill Washer & friends. Dec 1: R;2: Jay Leonhart Trio; 3: Nancy Reed Trio; 4:Bovine Social Club Jingle, Jingle HolidayShow; 8: R; 9: Vicki Doney Trio; 10: EricMintel Qrt; 11: Bob Dorough Trio; 15: R; 16:Philip Catherine, Martin Wind & Bill Goodwin;17: Su Terry; 18: Bob Leive & the WoosterStreet Trolley Band; 22: R; 23: Vinny BianchiGp; 24-25: closed; 26: 7:30-10:30pmDelaware Water Gap Orch; 29: R; 30: MitchellCheng; 31: $89 adm incl music, dinner &champagne toast feat Bill Goodwin & theResolutions.
FLUSHING TOWN HALL: 137-35 NorthernBlvd. Flushing. www.flushingtownhall.org.718-463-7700. 1st Wed: 7pm Jam w/CarolSudhalter.
JACKSON ROOM: 192-07 Linden Blvd. StAlbans. www.jacksonroom.com. 718-525-2387. Last Sat: 8&10pm $15 adm incl
PENNSYLVANIA
WESTCHESTER
gram is heavy on older pieces and light onthe new ones he was producing at a prodi-gious clip at the time (see the Ellingtondiscography).
The year 1966 began auspiciously withthe debut, on a Monday night at the VillageVanguard, of what would become a bigband institution: The Thad Jones/MelLewis Orchestra, continuing today as theVanguard Jazz Orchestra. Less than amonth after that launching, the sessions onThe Debut 1966 Recordings at The VillageVanguard (Resonance, 2 CDs) were record-ed. Most of the tunes, apart from a couple ofstandards, are Thad's, as are all thearrangements some of which are still in theband's book. The personnel at the time wasa Who's Who of Big Apple jazz musicians,including Thad's older brother Hank onpiano, saxophonists Joe Farrell and EddieDaniels, trumpeters Snooky Young andJimmy Owens and trombonist BobBrookmeyer.
VIEWING JAZZTwo photographers who were important
in chronicling the second half of the 20thcentury in jazz are recognized (posthu-mously) in sumptuous coffee table-sizedbooks featuring some of their most iconicjazz pictures as well as ones emerging forthe first time from vast troves of negatives.
Jazz Festival: Jim Marshall (Reel ArtsPress) features the work Jim did at the pio-neering Monterey and Newport jazz festi-vals, while Jazz: The Iconic Images of TedWilliams (ACC Editions) concentrates onthis versatile and prolific lensman's jazzwork, especially his covers for Downbeat.
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE...continued from page 30
QUEENS
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By Cary Tone
B R I D G E C R O S S I N G S
Pacheco photo by Linh Pham, Crump by Nathan James Leatherman.
" I DREAM OF BECOMING COMPLE-tely universal," Cuban pianist Jorge Luis
Pacheco says. That thought is possible today, but it
wasn't 50 years ago. Cuban artists havemore opportunities than before "now thatwe have a better relation," Jorge Luisexplains. He adds that Cubans have a lotof influence on the music being played inthe U.S. and on the arts in general. But itgoes both ways: "Now the doors are moreopen for American musicians who travel toCuba to perform," he says.
This opening of the frontiers betweenCuba and the U.S. has allowed the 32-year-old Cuban luminary to cultivatediversity in his music and limitlessness inhis thinking. He is dreaming of a worldwhere everybody knows and listens to hismusic. Jorge Luis would love to win aGrammy—but not only one, he immediate-ly adds, "maybe two, three, five, four."
The pianist's ambition may equal hisversatility. While he plays the piano with
an unusual energy, he can also sing and heapproaches many genres: "I am a musi-cian," the Cuba native explains. "I am asinger; I am a rapper; I am a pianist, per-cussionist, a composer."
In the 2013 Negrita Mia music video,Jorge Luis is seen playing the piano in anelevator while different people—some
APREMIER BASS PLAYER, COM-poser and adventurous musical concep-
tualist, Stephan Crump's ten criticallyacclaimed recordings and his live perform-ances globally display a musician of mag-netic pull, a powerful creative force and aleading light of his generation.
A- Wow, so much has changed, but it allseems like a continuum for me. I like toengage in many different modes of music-making, but I'd say it's certainly focused abit over the last few years.
I'm so thankful to be making music thatI love with so many beautiful, inspiredspirits. It's a constantly-shifting, challeng-ing but very rich life.
I'm also very blessed with my family,my wife Jen Chapin and our two boys, ages11 and 7, with whom I'm very close.
So, I'm trying to balance it all, keepchallenging myself artistically, keep grow-ing as a human and musician, keep acareer afloat in the shifting sands of themusic industry, and be a good husbandand father.
For the complete interview, visit our website:www.hothousejazz.com/blog/Stephan-Crump
Stephan Crump brings SecretKeeper, his duo project with MaryHalvorson, to Quinn's on Dec. 8, andperforms at Jazz Gallery Dec. 16-17with Kris Davis on piano and EricMcpherson on drums.
Q- You moved to NYC in 1994. How hasthe jazz life here changed for you sincethen?
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musicians, some dancers—enter and startperforming with him. His passion, vibran-cy and talent clearly come through in thevideo.
The son of an opera singer and a choirleader, Jorge Luis grew up listening toclassical composers like Chopin,Beethoven, Mozart and singers such asPavarotti. "It gave me a lot of ideas," JorgeLuis says. That knowledge can be heard inthe pianist's composing process...
... Jorge Luis has already recorded twoalbums with the Jorge Luis PachecoQuartet which features David Fye on bass,Renier Mendoza on drums and EdgarMartinez on percussion. And he did a liveDVD with his sister, Marialy Pacheco, whois also a pianist. At Dizzy's, he performswith his trio. Since he loves improvising,he may not know what he will play exact-ly—but it will surely have universalappeal.
For the complete interview, visit our website:www.hothousejazz.com/blog/Jorge-Luis-Pacheco
Jorge Luis Pacheco performs withhis trio on Dec. 7 at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola.
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