Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Where To Go & Who To See Since 1982
September 2019 www.hothousejazz.com
Howard JohnsonPage 17Merkin Hall
Larry FullerPage 10Birdland Theater
BirdlandPage 21(Le) Poisson Rouge
Eliane EliasJazzmeia Horn
The only jazz magazine in NY in print, online
and on apps!
Page 10
THE LATIN SIDEOF HOT HOUSE P31
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:47 PM Page 1
10
By George Kanzler
Fuller cover photo by Marzena Manganaro, Horn by Emmanuel Afolabi.
WINNING SPINSLARRY FULLER AND ELIANE
Elias are both consummate jazzpianists, but their new albums addressvery different aspects of their artistry.Larry digs into the robust heart of pianotrio and solo expressiveness, while Elianelargely sidelines her instrument in favor ofher voice, with a lush orchestral settingand an overarching theme.
Larry Fuller's new release, Overjoyed(Capri), has a perfectly descriptive title forhis often jubilant, swinging and infectiousplaying. Bassist Hassan Shakur anddrummer Lewis Nash join Larry as heromps through nine of the album's dozentunes with gusto and soulful swing. WesMontgomery's bright, funky "Fried Pies,"introduced by stop-time piano riffs, kicksthings off, with Larry launching a boister-ous, swiftly paced solo before ceding spaceto bass and drum solos. One of Larry'snotable employers was the late bassist RayBrown, and Larry features his own bassist,Hassan, in the melody lead on Ray's "Linedwith a Groove." Hassan also shines on "GotMy Mojo Workin'," excavating the groovealong with Lewis’ boogaloo beats, and trad-ing fours with the drummer after Larry'sblues-drenched solo. And Hassan con-tributes a high trilling ostinato tag toLarry's choruses on Oscar Peterson's"Bossa Beguine."
Larry is a pianist who avoids abstrac-tion, his playing rarely cerebral, even atslow tempos. So a light, joyous spirit ani-mates his exploration of Stevie Wonder's"Overjoyed." It begins with a lyrical prel-ude, largely rubato, ruminating on themelody before tempo kicks in and Larryetches the familiar, insistent theme over aLatin-tinged beat, creating a resonant solothat rarely strays far from the outlines ofWonder's melody. Larry articulates singlenotes with a crystalline, bell-like clarity,especially on slower ballads, as in his ring-ing, single-notes limning of the Nat KingCole chestnut, "Mona Lisa." His pearlytouch also brings distinction to his origi-nal, "Jane's Theme," a tune that practical-ly dances out of the speakers.
Two tracks are solo piano explorationsexposing Larry's romantic tendencies. TheGershwins' "How Long Has This BeenGoing On" begins as a rubato fantasia onthe melody, then settles into a light strideimprovisation. "Never Let Me Go" takes off
as a rhapsodic solo that glides into a gentletempo, never straying far from the coremelody. The content of this recording isrewardingly diverse, but all of it exudesthe joyous, personal piano voice of LarryFuller.
Eliane Elias's Love Stories (Concord)is an orchestral project as well as a the-matic one. It seems more than a coinci-dence that three of the nine songs havebeen closely associated with FrankSinatra, for like Frank, Eliane is present-ing an album as a unified mood with a sin-gular theme, in this case the "many facetsand forms of love." Eliane's voice is pres-ent, and the focus, on all of the tunes here,including three originals. Because sheshares a limited range and soft tone, oftendevoid of vocal drama, with her Braziliancountrywoman Astrud Gilberto, Eliane issometimes underrated as a singer. Hervoice can be swallowed into the orchestralsetting, especially when bossa nova is therhythm, as on the opener, "A Man and aWoman." But she can also be hypnoticallyenthralling, her voice insinuating itselfinto the subconscious, as in her languorousintoning of "Don't be afraid to fall in lovewith me," on Antonio Carlos Jobim's"Bonita," one of those compositions record-ed by Frank. On her own "Silence" and"The View" Eliane's delivery becomes morepersonal, intimate and convincing. Notcoincidentally, neither selection is a bossa,both are ballads propelled by strings anddiscreet piano.
However, there are some sparklingpiano moments on this CD, moments thatenforce Eliane's conviction that "the pianois an extension of my body and the deepestexpression of my soul." Her more lyricalside emerges in piano solos on "AngelEyes" and "The View," while "Little Boat,"a bossa and the only track with somePortuguese lyrics, finds her in her liltingcomfort zone on the keys. The most forcefulpiano comes on a big, rocking version of"Come Fly With Me," which also has hermost suave and sultry vocal. It is theswinging center of an album that exploresthe shifting moods of love.
Larry Fuller's trio plays BirdlandTheater Sept. 12-14. Eliane Eliasheadlines at Birdland Sept. 17-21.
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 10
11
Sign-up for our E-ALERT at www.hothousejazz.com and be the 1st to knowwhen the latest Hot House is available on line
PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR:Gwen Kelley (formerly Calvier)[email protected] EDITOR: Elzy [email protected] & ART DIRECTOR:Karen Pica [email protected] WRITERS:Ken Dryden, Ken Franckling, Raul da Gama, Seton Hawkins, Eugene Holley Jr., Stephanie Jones, George Kanzler, Elzy Kolb, Michael G. Nastos, Don Jay Smith, Addie Vogt, Eric WendellCONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Fran Kaufman
For advertising requests and listing information contact Gwen Kelley
203-434-4646/[email protected] House Jazz Magazine is published monthly and allcopyrights are the property of Gwen Kelley. All rights
reserved. No material may be reproduced without writtenpermission of the President. Domestic subscriptions
areavailable for $37 annually (sent first class). For Canada$39 and international $50.
PUBLISHER EMERITUS: Dave N DittmannCO-FOUNDERS: Gene Kalbacher,
Lynn Taterka & Jeff LevensonCOPY EDITOR: Yvonne Ervin 2012-2019
For press releases and CD revues send a copy toGwen Kelley: PO Box 20212 - New York, NY 10025
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 6:11 PM Page 11
12
CLUBS & HALLS
UPPER MANHATTAN(Above 70th Street)
449 LA: 449 Lenox Av (bet 132nd & 133rd Sts).212-234-3298. Sun: 1-3:30&4-7pm Patio Jazz;Thurs: 1-3:30pm Jazz & Dessert; Fri-Sat:8:30pm.
AMERICAN LEGION POST: 248W 132nd St(bet 7th & 8th Avs). 212-283-9701. Sun, atler-native Wed & Thurs: 6:30-10:30pm Jam.
BILL’S PLACE: 148W 133rd St (bet Lenox & 7thAvs). www.billsplaceharlem.com. 212-281-0777. Fri-Sat: 8&10pm $20 don Bill SaxtonBebop Band.
CAFÉ CARLYLE: At Carlyle Hotel. 35E 76th Stat Madison. www.thecarlyle.com. 212-744-1600. Sets: 8:45pm, Sat + 10:45pm. Monexcept 09/2&9: Woody Allen & Eddy DavisNew Orleans Jazz Band. Sep 24-29: JonBatiste.
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 unless otherwise noted. LJam. Residencies: Sun E Open mic w/KeithIngham, L Benno Marmur; Mon Mark Hagan;Tues Marc Devine; Wed E Open mic w/LesKurtz, L Nathan Brown; Thurs L NathanBrown; Fri L Robbie Lee; Sat L T. Kash. Sep5: Noriko Kamo; 6: Kuni Mikami; 7: SchamoMannan Qrt; 12: Frank Russo Band; 13:Libby Richman; 14: Roland Temple; 19: Theequilibriam Band; 20: Paul Special; 21: Fuku& Chihiro; 26: Roland Temple; 27: Jon Weiss;28: Phil Briggs Band.
GINNY’S SUPPER CLUB: At Red Rooster.310 Lenox Av (bet 125th & 126th Sts).www.ginnyssupperclub.com. 212-792-9001.Sets: 8pm. Sep 7: The Gotham Kings; 12:Pedrito Martinez; 13: Russell Hall & TheRainbow Kids; 14: Natu Camara; 21: EvanSherman Big Band; 26: Pedrito Martinez; 27:Parlor Social w/Dessy Di Lauro x Ric'keyPageot; 28: Allan Harris.
GREATER CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH:55W 124th St (bet Malcolm X Blvd & 5th Av).212-348-6132. www.harlemjazzboxx.com.Tues 12pm $15 adm & Fri 7pm $20: HarlemJazz series.
LENOX SAPHIRE: 341 Lenox Av at 127th St.www.lenoxsaphireharlem.com. 212-866-9700. Thurs: 8-11pm Keyed Up series w/PhilYoung Oct.
MINTON’S: 206W 118th St (bet St. Nicholas Av& Adam Clayton Powell Blvd). 212-243-2222.www.mintonsharlem.com. Thurs: 7:30&9:30pm Jazzmobile’s Residency. Sep 5: AllanHarris; 12: Ray Mantilla; 19: The MarcCary/Ben Williams Project, 9:30pm MarcCary & The Harlem Sessions; 26: CynthiaScott.
MIST HARLEM: 46W 116th St (bet Lenox & 5thAv). www.mistharlem.com. 646-738-3043. Fri:10pm-2am $10 adm Harlem Late Night Jazz.
NATIONAL JAZZ MUSEUM IN HARLEM:58W 129th St at Malcolm X Blvd. 212-348-
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 12
13
8300. www.jmih.org. Sep 7: 2pm Jam; 8: 2pmIntergenerational Jazz Jam; 11: 7pmScreening of Éthiopiques-Revolt of the Soul;17: 7pm Jazz Gallery Mentor series featHarish Raghavan & Savannah Harris.
NEW AMSTERDAM MUSIC ASSOCIATION:107W 130th St (bet Lenox & Adam ClaytonPowel Blvds). 347-712-8568. www.namaharlem.org. Mon: 7-11pm $5/15 adm Jam.
PARIS BLUES: 2021 Adam Clayton Powell Jr.Blvd at 121st St. 917-257-7831. www.parisbluesharlem.webs.com. Sets/adm: Early (E)5-9pm, Jam 9pm-1am/free. Sun: E Double G& the Possee, 9pm 1st&3rd La BandaRamirez; Mon: Keyed Up feat John CookseySpontaneous Combustion; Tues: tba; Wed:Les Goodson & the Intergalatic Soul JazzBand; Thurs-Fri: tba; Sat: 69th Street Band.
ROOM 623: At B Squared Harlem. 271W 119thSt (bet Frederick Douglass & Adam ClaytonPowell Jr. Blvds). www.b2harlem.com/room623. 212-280-2248. Sets/adm: Thurs7:30pm, Fri 9pm, $10/15. Residency: ThursTyrone Govan. Sep 6: Darrell Green Trio; 20:Nat Janoff Trio; 27: Brad Whiteley.
SHOWMANS: 375W 125th St at Morningside.212-864-8941.
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.Residencies (R): Sun E-L Jam w/AndrewKushnir; 1st Sun 8-10pm The Shrine BigBand. Sep 1: R; 12: L Joe Pino Qnt; 13: LFurmi Gomez Qrt, 8-9pm Julio Botti & theSouth American Jazz Project; 15: R; 20: EJun Miyake Trio; 22: R; 24: E-L BruceGregori; 26: E-L The Way Things Go; 27: LPammi Zacharia; 29: R.
SILVANA: 300W 116th St at FrederickDouglass Blvd. www.silvana-nyc.com. 646-692-4935. Sets: Early (E) 6-7pm, Late (L) 7-8pm. Sep 2: E Jan Sturiale Trio; 5: E-L KennyBerger; 6: E-L Michael Sarian Acoustic Qrt;12: E-L Brian Pareschi; 13: E Kin Organ Trio;19: E-L Ed Neumeister; 20: E Furmi Gomez;26: E-L Mike Fahn; 27: E Joe Pino Qnt.
SMOKE JAZZ & SUPPER CLUB: 2751 Bway(bet 105th & 106th Sts). 212-864-6662.www.smokejazz.com. Sets: Early (E), Late(L); Sun-Mon E 7&9pm, L 10:30pm; Tues 7,9&10:30pm; Wed-Thurs E 7,9&10:30pm, L11:30pm; Fri-Sat E 7,9&10:30pm, L 11:30pm&12:45am; adm/min vary. Residencies: SunL Roxy Coss Trio; Mon (R) E Vincent HerringQrt, L The New Jam Session; Tues (R) except09/3 Mike LeDonne & Groover Qrt; Wed LEmmet Cohen B3 Trio; Thurs L Marc Cary &The Harlem Sessions; Fri L Lezlie Harrison;Sat L Johnny O’Neal Trio. Sep 1: CelebCharlie Parker feat Vincent Herring, GaryBartz, Bobby Watson; 2: R; 3-4: E SammyFigueroa; 5-8: Jimmy Cobb Qrt; 9-10: R; 11:Michelle Walker; 12-15: Joe Farnsworth Triofeat ELEW; 16-17: R; 18: Mark Soskin Trio;19-22: Renee Rosnes Qrt; 23-24: R; 25: ChrisWashburne & SYOTOS; 26-29: KarrinAllyson.
SUGAR BAR: 254W 72nd St (bet Bway & WestEnd Av). 212-579-0222. www.sugarbarnyc.com.Sets/adm: 8pm/$10 unless otherwise noted.Residencies: Wed Electrikana; Thurs 9pmOpen Mic w/Sugar Bar All Star Band. Sep 7:9pm Irini Res & the Jazz Mix; 14: RobSilverman Qrt; 20: 8&9:30pm $15 JoeBonacci Mosaic Trio; 21: 8&9:30pm $15Charles Duke Trio.
SYMPHONY SPACE: 2537 Bway at 95th St.212-864-5400. www.symphonyspace.org.Bar Thalia (BT). Sep 21: 7pm $140-425 admNajee.
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/23/19 4:35 PM Page 13
14
22: 8pm Violette; 26: 6pm Emilie Surtees,8pm Verena McBee Sxt; 27: 8pm BarbaraMartinez; 28: 10pm La Banda Ramirez Qnt;29: 8pm Violette.
COPINETTE: 891 1st Av (bet 50th & 52st Sts).212-903-4001. www.copinettenyc.com. Sun:6-9pm Trio.
DAVID RUBENSTEIN ATRIUM: At LincolnCenter. Bway at 62nd St. www.lincolncenter.org/atrium. 212-875-5350. Thurs: 7:30pm.Sep 5: Aaron Whitby; 26: Jazztopad Festivalfeat Amir ElSaffar.
DIZZY’S CLUB: At Jazz @ Lincoln Center. 10Columbus Cr at 60th St. 5th Fl. www.jalc.org.212-258-9800. Sets/adm unless otherwisenoted: 7:30&9:30pm, 11:30pm Late NightSessions; Sun-Wed $35, Thurs-Fri $40, Sat$45; $10 min. Sep 1: Trio da Paz & friendsw/Maucha Adnet, Harry Allen & ClaudioRoditi; 2: Ruben Fox; 3: $40 Ted Nash Trio; 4:Frank Lacy’s Trombo-niverse; 5: $45 SheilaJordan/Steve Kuhn Duo; 6: Victor Lewisw/Josh Evans Qrt; 7: Etienne Charles BigBand; 9: Miggy Augmented Orch; 10-11:Festival of New Trumpet Music www.fontmusic.org feat Josh Lawrence & Fresh CutOrch; 12: Corcoran Holt Qnt; 13-14: HiltonSchilder & Bokani Dyer; 15: Emmet CohenTrio w/spec guest George Coleman; 16: $40Oliver Lake Big Band; 17: $30 RickGermanson Trio; 17: $30 Citizens of theBlues; 18: Pasquale Grasso Trio; 19-22: 09/20$45 René Marie; 23: Theo Croker Big BrotherBig Band w/spec guest Jazzmeia Horn; 24:Sean Mason Trio, 9:30pm Immanuel Wilkins;25: $30 Jazztopad Festival feat Aga DerlakQnt; 26-28: Buster Williams & SomethingMore; 29: Clarice Assad; 30: Juan AndresOspina Big Band. Late Night Sessions w/Sep17-21: Julian Lee; 24-28: Abdias Armenteros.
DON’T TELL MAMA: 343W 46th St atRestaurant Row. 212-757-0788. www.donttellmamanyc.com. Sep 16: 7pm $20 adm/2drink min Sue Matsuki.
EDISON BALLROOM: 240W 47th St (bet Bway& 8th Avs). www.edisonballroom.com. 212-201-7650. Sep 20: 7:30pm-12:30am $100/150adm Joe Battaglia New York Big Band.
FEINSTEIN’S/54 BELOW: 254W 54th St,Cellar (bet Bway & 8th Av). 646-476-3551.www.54below.com. Sep 20: 9:30pm JohnMinnock & Dave Liebman.
GUANTANAMERA: 939 8th Av. 212-262-5354.www.guantanamerany.com. Sets: Sun-Thurs8:30pm-12am, Fri-Sat 8:30pm-1am. Tues-Wed: Ariacne Trujillo Trio.
IGUANA RESTAURANT: 240W 54th St atBway. www.iguananyc.com. 212-765-5454.Mon-Tues: 8-11pm Vince Giordano & TheNighthawks.
The IRIDIUM: 1650 Bway at 51st St. 212-582-2121. www.theiridium.com. Sep 6-7: 8&10pmFrank Gambale Band feat Dennis Chambers;8&15: 8pm Ed Fast & Congabop; 19-21:8:30&10pm Jane Monheit; 27-28: 8&10pmBilal.
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 $45 buffet, Mon-Tuesfree/$15 min, Wed-Thurs $18/$20 min, Fri-Sat $34/$20 min. Residencies: Sun (R) JazzBrunch w/Tony Middleton; Mon (R) Jam byIris Ornig; Tues Emerging Artists series. Sep1-2: R; 3: Dallas Vietty Qrt; 4: HarveyDiamond Trio; 5: Ryan Keberle's Collectiv doBasil; 6: Jonny King Trio; 7: Douyé Duo; 8-9:R; 10: Oskar Stenmark; 11: Kathleen LandisDuo; 12: Leonisa Ardizzone Qrt; 13: MichaelMorreale Qrt; 14: Judy Niemack/Jay Clayton;15-16: R; 17: Cecilia Coleman Band 18:
The TRIAD THEATER: 158W 72nd St (betBway & Columbus). www.triadnyc.com. 212-362-2590. $25 adm 2 drink/min. Sep 24:9:30pm Canary in Combat Boots w/AlexisCole; 28: 7pm Antoinetta Silicato.
AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM: 2 LincolnSq on Columbus Av (bet 65th & 66th Sts).www.folkartmuseum.org. 212-595-9533.Wed: 2-3pm free adm Bill Wurtzel Trio.
BIRDLAND: 315W 44th St (bet 8th & 9th Avs).212-581-3080. www.birdlandjazz.com. Sets:8:30&11pm; Early (E) 5:30pm except Mon7pm. Residencies: Sun (R) Arturo O’Farrill &The Afro Latin Jazz Orch; Wed E DavidOstwald & Louis Armstrong Eternity Band;Fri E The Birdland Big Band; Sat E EricComstock w/Sean Smith & spec guestBarbara Fasano. Sep 1: E Duke EllingtonCenter Big Band + R; 3-7: The Liebman,Copland, Alessi Qnt; 5: E Erena Terakubo &Nana Qnt; 8: E Brian Newman & The NewAlchemy Jazz Orch + R; 10-14: The MikeStern/Bill Evans Band; 12: E Charles BlenzigQrt; 15: E The Swingaroos + R; 17-21: ElianeElias; 19: E Emi Takada; 22: E Deb Bowman +R; 23: E Natalie Douglas; 24-28: ColtraneRevisited w/Jeremy Pelt, Jimmy Greene,Billy Drummond; 26: E Native Soul; 29: EGeorge Gee Orch + R.
BIRDLAND THEATER: 315W 44th St (bet 8th& 9th Avs). www.birdlandjazz.com. 212-581-3080. Sets: 9:45pm except Mon 8:30pm;Early (E) 7pm. Sep 1: E Natasha: A Tribute toWomen Who Rock; 2: Vitaly Golovnev; 3: ECharlie Romo; 4: Augie Haas; 5-7: TroyRoberts w/spec guest Alex Pope Norris 09/6-7; 8: E Senri Oe Trio; 9: Ted Rosenthal Trio;10: E America's Sweet-hearts; 11: ManuelValera Qrt; 12-14: Larry Fuller Trio; 16:Charles Turner; 17: E Nicolas King; 18: ESharon Clark, L Birdography celeb ArtBlakey w/David DeJesus & Chris Smith; 19:Brandon Goldberg Trio; 20-21: E CarolSloane; 22: E Peter Eldridge; 23: E NatalieDouglas; 25: Slim Gambill; 26: FrankVignola; 27-28: Our Sinatra; 29: E J. MarkMcVey; 30: The Block Brothers Qnt.
BRYANT PARK: 6th Av (bet 41st & 42nd Sts).www.bryantpark.org. 212-768-4242. Mon-Fri:12:30-2:30pm Piano in the Park. Sep 2-6: SueMaskaleris; 9-13: Kuni Mikami; 16-20: YukaAikawa; 23-27: Roy Eaton; 30-Oct 4: CharlieJudkins.
CARNEGIE CLUB: 156W 56th St. 212-957-9676. www.hospitalityholdings.com. Sat:8:30&10:30pm $40/2 drink min Sinatra trib-ute feat Steve Maglio & Stan Rubin Orch.
CARNEGIE HALL: 57th St & 7th Av. 212-247-7800. www.carnegiehall.org. Sep 19: 8pmLela Kaplowitz.
CENTER BAR: 10 Columbus Cr, 4th Fl. 212-823-9482. www.centerbarnyc.com. Tues-Sat:6-10pm Janice Friedman Solo.
CLUB BONAFIDE: 212E 52nd St (bet 2nd &3rd Avs). 3rd Fl. www.clubbonafide.com.646-918-6189. Sep 1: 4:30pm Chloé; 6 8pm, 76pm, 8 6&8pm: Julie Eigenberg/MannieMoreira; 12: 6pm Emilie Surtees, 8pm LouCaputo & the Not So Big Band; 13: 8pm MattSavage Qrt, 10pm La Banda Ramirez Qnt; 14:8pm Michael Anne; 15: 8pm DaveChamberlain’s Band of Bones feat MercedesEllington & Antoinette Montague; 19: 6pmEmilie Surtees; 20: 10pm Lior Tzemach Gp;
MID-TOWN MANHATTAN(Between 35th & 69th Street)
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 14
15
Ayako Shirasaki Trio; 19: Mamiko WatanabeTrio; 20: Judy Wexler Qrt; 21: Martin WindTrio; 22-23: R; 24: Ethan Pine Qrt; 25: SariKessler Qrt; 26: Ted Rosenthal Trio; 27-28:Mike Di Rubbo Qnt; 29-30: R.
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER: 10 ColumbusCr at 60th St. 5th Fl. www.jalc.org. 212-258-9800. Sep 12-14: 8pm (Rose Theater) Jazz atLincoln Center Orch w/Wynton Marsalis &spec guests Nonhlanhla Kheswa, MelanieScholtz, Vuyo Sotashe, Feya Faku, McCoyMrubata, Nduduzo Makhathini, Thandi Ntuli,Tlokwe Sehume; 27-28: 8pm (Rose Theater)Cécile McLorin Salvant.
LE RIVAGE: 340W 46th St (bet 8th & 9th Avs).www.lerivagenyc.com. 212-765-7374. Mon:6:30pm & Thurs 7pm Jam w/Kyle Colina Trio.
LOCAL 802: Associated Musicians of GreaterNew York Club Room. 322W 48th St (bet 8th& 9th Sts). www.jazzfoundation.org. 212-245-4802. Sep 9&23: 7-9:30pm Jazz Foundationof America Jam.
MERKIN CONCERT HALL: At KaufmanCenter. 129W 67th St (bet Bway &Amsterdam). www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org. 212-501-3330. Sep 18: 7:30pm Tribute toHoward Johnson feat Taj Mahal & Gravity,Lavon Helm Horns w/Steve Bernstein, BearTones w/Erik Lawrence, InterSchoolOrchestras Symphony, Student StringMembers of the ISO Symphony; 28: 8pmconversion & performance feat TerranceMcKnight w/Ron Carter Ens.
MICHIKO STUDIOS: 149W 46th St (bet 6th &7th Avs). 3rd Fl. 212-302-4011. www.michikostudios.com. 2nd Wed: 8-10:30pm$20/15 adm Lew Tabackin Trio. Sep 15: 7-9pmTakaaki Otomo.
MORGAN LIBRARY: 225 Madison Av at 36thSt. www.themorgan.org. 212-685-0008. Fri:6:30-8:30pm BeBimBop Ens.
NOLAN PARK: Governors Island. Sep 7:1&3pm free adm Rite of Summer MusicFestival www.riteofsummer.com feat SiriusQrt.
PARNELL’S: 350E 53rd St at 1st Av. 212-753-1761. www.parnellsnyc.com. Sep 20: 7-10pmfree adm/$25 min Scot Albertson & DanFurman.
The PIERRE: 2E 61st St at 5th Av. 212-838-8000. www.thepierreny.com. Thurs-Sat: 6:30-9:30pm Antonio Ciacca.
PULSE CLUB: At Marriott Vacation. 33W 37thSt (bet 5th & 6th Avs). 212-448-1024. Sets:Tues-Thurs 5-8pm. Tues: Charlie Apicella &Iron City; Wed: Latin Sounds; Thurs: PeterManes & The Keys.
RESIDENCE INN TIMES SQUARE: 1033 6thAv at 39th St. 212-768-0007. Tues: 7:30-10:30pm free adm Daniel Bennett Gp.
The RUM HOUSE: At Hotel Edison. 228W 47thSt (bet Bway & 8th Av). 646-490-6924.www.edisonrumhouse.com. Sep 16&30:10pm-2am Lou Caputo & Company.
RUSSIAN SAMOVAR: 256W 52nd St (betBway & 8th Av). www.russiansamovar.com.212-757-0168. Sun: 3-7pm. Sep 8: DeborahDavis & A Few Good Men; 15: John SatchmoMannan Trio; 22: Nabuko Kiryu/ James ZollarQrt; 29: Hilliard Greene Trio.
SCANDINAVIA HOUSE: 58 Park Av (bet 37th& 38th Sts). www.scandinaviahouse.org.212-879-9779. Sep 17: 7:30-9pm Mads Tolling& Jacob Fischer.
SAINT PETER’S CHURCH: 619 Lexington Av at54th St. (Citicorp Bld). 212-935-2200.www.saintpeters.org. Sun: 6pm free admJazz Vespers; Wed: 1pm $10 don MiddayJazz Midtown; 1st Mon: 7:30pm $5 admInternational Women in Jazz Jam. Sep 1:
Uwe Steinmetz/Brenda Earle; 4: SandyStewart & Bill Charlap; 8: Terell Stafford; 11:Valerie Capers Trio; 15: Heart Qrt feat DonnyMcCaslin; 18: John Eckert Nine; 22: JoelFrahm; 25: Dave Stryker/Jared Gold; 29:Donny McCaslin.
SONY HALL: 235W 46th St (bet 7th & 8th Avs).www.sonyhall.com. 212-997-5123. Sep 10-12:8pm Pat Metheny Side-Eye; 21: 7pm KermitRuffins & The BBQ Swingers.
SWING 46: Jazz & Supper Club. 349W 46th St(bet 8 & 9th Avs). www.swing46.com. 212-262-9554. Sets/adm: Sun-Thurs 8:30-11:30pm/$15; Fri-Sat 9:30pm-1am/$20.Residencies (R): Mon Swingadelic; TuesGeorge Gee Swing Dance Band; Wed StanRubin Orch w/Joe Politi. Sep 1: StephenSantoro Orch feat Michelle Collier; 2-4: R; 5:Stephen Santoro Orch feat Michelle Collier;6: Swingadelic; 7: Stephen Santoro Orch featMichelle Collier; 8: Kevin Blancq Big Band; 9-11: R; 13: George Gee Swing Dance Band;14: Crescent City Maulers; 15: VanessaTrouble & Red Hot Swing; 16-18: R; 19:Stephen Santoro Orch feat Michelle Collier;20: Ron Sunshine Swingin’ Dance Band; 21:Swingadelic; 22: Vanessa Trouble & Red HotSwing; 23-25: R; 26: From Russia WithSwing!; 27: George Gee Swing Dance Band;28: Stephen Santoro Orch feat MichelleCollier; 29: George Gee Orch; 30: R.
TOMI JAZZ: 239E 53rd St (Bet 2nd & 3rd Avs).Lower level. www.tomijazz.com. 646-497-1254. Sep 1: 7-8:30pm free/$5 min BillStevens; 8 7-8:30pm free/$5 min & 19 7-9:30pm $10/10 min: Linda Presgrave Qrt.
11TH STREET BAR: 510E 11th St (bet Av A &B). www.11thstbar.com. 212-982-3929. Mon:8pm Keyed Up feat Jam w/Murray Wall.
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, Late10pm. 1st Mon: E Sean Wayland; 1st Thurs: EAmy Cervini; 1st Sat: E Ayana lowe; 2ndThurs: E Nicole Zuraitis; 2nd Fri: E TessaSouter; 3rd Sun: E Ray Anderson & PocketBrass Band; last Wed: E Paul Jost; last Fri: EKendra Shank.
75 CLUB: At the Bogardus Mansion. 75 MurraySt (bet W Bway & Greenwich St). 212-268-1746. www.the75clubnyc.com. Sep 6-7:8&10pm $25 adm/$20 min Celeb SonnyRollins feat Clifton Anderson Qnt w/EricWyatt 09/6 George Coleman 09/7; 27: 8pmTaeko.
ARTHUR’S TAVERN: 57 Grove St. 212-675-6879. www.arthurstavernnyc.com. Sets: 7-10pm. Sun: Creole Cooking; Mon: GroveStreet Stompers feat Joe Licari; Tues: YuichiHirakawa; Wed: Eve Silber; Thurs-Sat: EriYamamoto Trio.
B FLAT: Basement 277 Church St (bet Franklin& White Sts). www.bflat.info. 212-219-2970.Sets: Mon 8-11pm, Wed 8:30-11:30pm, Sat10pm-12am. Mon&Wed except 09/2: JordanYoung Trio. Sep 7: Charlie Apicella & IronCity.
BAHA’Í CENTER: 53E 11th St (bet Bway &University). www.bahainyc.org. 212-222-5159. Tues: 8&9:30pm $10/15 adm. Sep 10:Lou Volpe Gp; 17: Art Lillard Heavenly BigBand; 24: Rosemary George & friends.
BAR NEXT DOOR: 129 McDougal St. 212-529-5945. www.lalanternacaffe.com. Sets: Sun
LOWER MANHATTAN(Below 34th Street)
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 15
16
continued on page 20
8&10pm, Mon-Thurs Early (E) 6:30-7:45pm,Late (L) 8:30&10:30pm, Fri-Sat 7:30,9:30&11:30pm. Adm: $12 all night + 1 drink min/setexcept Fri-Sat $12/set + 1 drink min/set, Efree. Trios. Mon-Thurs: E Emerging Artistsseries; Mon: L Vocal Mondays series.Residencies (R): Sun Peter Mazza; Wed LJonathan Kreisberg. Sep 1: R; 2: E LisaHoppe, L Naama Gheber; 3: E AdamCordero, L Carol Morgan; 4: E AndrewCheng, L R; 5: E Erich Jonhnson, L YuvalAmihai; 6: Akira Ishiguro; 7: Nelson Riveros;8: R; 9: E Nick Marziani, L Verena McBee; 10:E Alec Aldred, L Tal Yahalom; 11: E JuanMunguia, L R; 12: E Yuma Uesaka, L JonIrabagon; 13: Tomas Janzon; 14: GustavoAssis-Brasil; 15: R; 16: E Lisa Hoppe, LAimée Allen; 17: E Adam Cordero, L SagiKaufman; 18: E Artur Akhmetov, L R; 19: EOlin Clark, L Nick Biello; 20: Tom Dempsey;21: Steve Bloom; 22: R; 23: E Jake Richter, LTammy Scheffer; 24: E Alec Aldred, L AlexGoodman; 25: E Vid Jamnik, L R; 26: E YumaUesaka, L Tommy Holladay; 27: JohnLumpkin; 28: Barry Greene; 29: R; 30: E NickMarziani, L tba.
The BLACK DOOR: 127W 26th St (bet 6th &7th Avs). www.blackdoornyc.com. 212-645-0215. Mon: 11pm-2am Terry Waldo & GothamCity Band.
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. Sep 1: TAKE 6;2: Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience; 3-8:Monty Alexander; 9: Odean Pope Sax Choir;10-15: Billy Cobham; 16: Jon Regen; 17-22: AChristian McBride Situation; 23-25: KeyonHarrold; 26-29: Eric Krasno’s E3 Organ Trio;30: tba. Sunday Brunch w/Sep 1: AlexSipiagin & His NYU Jazz Ens; 8: Nanny Assis& friends; 15: Daniela Soledade w/Nate NajarTrio; 22: Stephane Wrembel & friends; 29:Sony Holland.
The CELL: 338W 23rd St (bet 8th & 9th Avs).646-861-2253. www.thecelltheatre.org.
The CUTTING ROOM: 44E 32nd St (betMadison & Park Av). 212-691-1900. www.thecuttingroomnyc.com. Sep 20: 7pm $20 admJeff Buckley & Gary Lucas; 30: 7pm $20Jessie Gordon.
The DJANGO: At Roxy Hotel. 2 Av of theAmericas at Walker St. www.roxyhotelnyc.com. 212-519-6600.
DOWNTOWN MUSIC GALLERY: 13 MonroeSt (bet Market & Catherine Sts). 212-473-0043. www.downtownmusicgallery.com.Sun: 6pm In-Store shows.
DROM: 85 Ave A (bet 5th & 6th Sts). 212-777-1157. www.dromnyc.com. Sep 3: 7:30pm freeadm Silver Arrow Band; 11: 7pm $10Amanda Monaco; 17: 7:30pm free SilverArrow Band; 29: 8pm $20 HarutyunChkolyan.
The EAR INN: 326 Spring St (bet Greenwich &Washington Sts). www.earinn.com. 212-431-9750. Sun: 8-11pm EarRegulars feat Jon-ErikKellso & 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); Sun E 6pm, L 9pm, N 1am; MonE 6pm, L 9pm, N 12:30am; Tues-Wed E 7pm,L 9pm, N 12:30am; Thurs 7pm, L 10pm, N1:30am; Fri 6pm, L 9pm + 10:30pm, N1:30am; Sat E 7pm, L 10pm, N 1:30am.Residencies (R): Sun E except 09/8&22 TerryWaldo & Gotham City Band, N The Program;Mon N Billy Kaye; Tues E except 09/3 SaulRubin Zebtet; Wed E except 09/4 Raphael
D'Lugoff Trio + 1, N Ned Goold; Fri L TheSupreme Queens; Sat N Greg Glassman.Sep 1: E R, 8:30pm Jade Synstelien's FCBB,N R; 2: E Camila Celin, L Marcos Valera, N R;3: E Behn Gillece, L Kumbakin, N AlexiDavid; 4: E Ryan Berg, L Luke CarlosO’Reilly, N R; 5: E Tomas Janzon, L SaulRubin Zebtet, N Paul Nowinski; 6: E SteveAsh Trio, L R + Jared Gold/Dave Gibson, NCraig Wuepper; 7: E Vanderlei Pereira &Brazilian Jazz Qrt, L Raphael D'Lugoff Qnt, NR; 8: E Tad Shull Qrt, L Willie Applewhite Qnt,N R; 9: E Johnny O'Neal, L Ned Goold Qrt, NR; 10: E R, L Peter Brainin & the Latin JazzWorkshop; 11: E R, L Harold Mabern Trio, NR; 12: L Greg Glassman Qnt; 13: E GrooverTrio, L R, N Nick Hempton; 14: E Steve BlumTrio, N R; 15: 4pm Stride, E&N R; 16: E BenPatterson Duo, L George Braith, N R; 17: E R;18: E R, L The Don Hahn/Mike CamachoBand, N R; 20: L R; 21: L POD, N R; 22: N R;23: N R; 24: E R, L Itai Kriss & Gato, N JohnBenitez's Latin Bop; 25: E&N R; 27: L R +David Weiss & Point of Departure; 28: N R;29: E&N R; 30: N R.
GREENWICH HOUSE: 46 Barrow St (bet 7thAv S & W 4th St). www.greenwichhouse. org.212-242-4770. Sound It Out series: 7:30pm$15/$12 adm. Sep 14: Nick Millevoi’sDesertion Trio + Ava Mendoza Solo; 20:Harvey Valdes Solo + Cameron Mizell &Charlie Rauh.
JAMES COHAN GALLERY: 48 Walker St.www.jamescohan.com. 212-714-9500. Sep14: 2pm Sun Ra Arkestra; 18: 6:30pm SusanAlcorn; 25: 6:30pm Makoto Kawashima; 28:2pm Nicole Mitchell.
JAZZ GALLERY: 1160 Bway at 27th St. 5th Fl.www.jazzgallery.org. 646-494-3625. Sets:7:30&9:30pm. Sep 5: Anna Webber Spt; 6-7:Lage Lund; 9: $15 adm Festival of NewTrumpet Music www.fontmusic.org feat7:30pm Samantha Boshnack’ Seismic Belt,9:30pm John Raymond’s Real Feels; 11:Harish Raghavan & Savannah Harris; 12:Desmond White; 13: Julius Rodriguez; 14:Nick Dunston’s Atlantic Extraction; 18:Jariem Jaminila Qrt; 19: Roopa Mahadevan;20: Paul Cornish Gp; 21: Tony MalabyEuropean Trio; 23: Ingrid Laubrock Sxt; 25:David Virelles; 26: Chet Doxas Trio; 27-28:Coltrane Raga Tribute.
JAZZ STANDARD: 116E 27th St (bet Park &Lexington Avs). www.jazzstandard.net. 212-576-2232. Sets/adm unless otherwise noted:7:30-8:30&9:30-10:30pm/$30; Residency: (R)Mon Mingus Monday feat Mingus Big Bandexcept 09/9 Mingus Och. Sep 1: Orrin EvansTrio w/spec guest Kevin Eubanks; 2: closed;3-8: Newvelle Records feat 09/3 Rufus ReidTrio w/Sirius Qrt, 09/4 Festival of NewTrumpet Music www.fontmusic.org w/DaveDouglas & Charles Tolliver, 09/5 NoahPreminger, 09/6 Billy Lester, 09/7 FrankKimbrough & the Newvelle AnniversaryBand w/spec guest Becca Stevens, 09/8 $35Gregory Tardy w/Bill Frisell; 9: R; 10:Michelle Coltrane; 11: Allison Miller's BoomTic Boom; 12-15: Miguel Zenón; 16: R; 17-18:Jane Bunnett & Maqueque; 19-22: HoustonPerson Qrt; 23: R; 24-25: Steve Lehman Triow/spec guest Craig Taborn; 26-29: $35 09/27-28 Joey DeFrancesco Trio; 30: R.
JOE’S PUB: At Public Theater. 425 Lafayette St& Astor Pl. www.joespub.com. 212-967-7555.Sep 8: 7pm $20 adm Sharon Katz & ThePeace Train, 9:30pm $25/30 DayramirGonzalez & Habana enTRANCé; 18: 7pm$15/20 Yuri Juárez & Jhair Sala; 21: 7pm $20Svetlana.
JUKE BAR: 196 2nd Av (bet 12th & 13th Sts)
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 16
17Johnson photo by Scott Friedlander.
THE TUBA HAS BEEN AROUNDfor close to 200 years. But for many
modern players, the instrument's historyis divided into two major eras: pre-Howard Johnson and the present. Theveteran musician's six-plus octave rangeand expressive soloing changed percep-tions of what the instrument could do,decisively moving the big horn fromrhythm-section anchor to featured role.
The horn's musical Cinderella act canbe traced directly to Howard, according tomulti-instrumentalist and composerJoseph Daley, a long-time friend, collabo-rator and band mate of the legendary brassmaster. "He's a visionary," Joe declares."Going back to the 1960s, Howard saw thetuba in a whole different light."
When Johnson arrived on the New Yorkjazz scene, not much was expected fromtuba players. "They had to play fairly well,in tune, play the part," Joe explains. "Noone thought of a tuba player having a rolelike Dizzy Gillespie, and molding themusic so it has your personality and sound.But Howard is on the level of Dizzy, LouisArmstrong, John Coltrane or PharoahSanders. When these people play, theinstrument is secondary and the sound,the unique approach, is primary."
According to Howard, who also playsbaritone sax, electric bass, bass clarinet,flugelhorn, penny whistle and more, "Atuba can be thunderous, it can be a rough-
and-tumble instrument. People don't thinkof it as anything delicate. I never thoughtthere was anything the tuba couldn't do,and I've been pretty satisfied with what Ican do with a tuba."
Countless appearances alongside thelikes of George Russell, Gary Burton,Charlie Haden, Hank Crawford, GeraldWilson, Pharoah Sanders and scores ofothers boosted Howard's reputation andvisibility. Recognized masters such asCharles Mingus, Carla Bley, GeorgeGruntz and Gil Evans took to writing partsspecifically for him, further enhancing hisstatus.
His ability to perform any kind of musicis well-documented on hundreds ofalbums. Howard baffled critics and evensome listeners by being equally at home inbands headed up by stylists as diverse asBuddy Rich, Archie Shepp, George Benson,Cecil Taylor, Slide Hampton and AnthonyBraxton. However, he is also known forbringing something extra and unique toevery gig: his vision. "For most profession-als, the part is the part, what I'm paid todo, sort of like the New York Philharmonic.For Howard, it's just the starting point,"Joe Daley explains.
Gil Evans, with whom Howard playedfor more than two decades, was amongthose who valued his willingness to departfrom the beaten path. "We played with Gilat the same time, and I'd be sitting next toHoward as he reshaped his part night afternight," Joe recalls. "Eventually, Gilrewrote the part based on what Howardwas playing, adding his nuances."
For his newly reissued album, TheSeven Heavenly Virtues and the SevenDeadly Sins, Joe composed parts specifical-ly for Howard, but allowing plenty of lee-way. "Howard always adds; that's what weexpect, me and everyone else who hireshim. We write a basic part, then he buildson it and makes it Howard. He's a uniqueperson in that regard."
Howard notes, "Some bandleadersappreciate that. Some have told me, 'If Iknew what you did was possible, I wouldhave written it myself.'"
With a scant handful of albums as aleader, Howard's writing and arrangingare perhaps under sung, but not underrat-ed by those who have heard it. In fact, hisinput in shaping composers' charts oftencast him in the role of de facto arranger.He is particularly noted for his arrangingfor his multi-tuba band, Gravity, whichmade its recording debut on singer TajMahal's 1971 album The Real Thing."What I know about texture comes fromhaving bands and being in bands," Howardsays. "I look at every possibility in arrang-ing, the textures for the horns can all bedifferent. I never talked to anybody abouttextures, you just have to hear it."
continued on page 29
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 17
18
By Ken Dryden, Stephanie Jones, George Kanzler Brubeck Brothers photo by Jill Rosell, Cowboys Frenchmen by Adrien H Tillmann, Ellis by Emra Islek, Fedchock by Chris D
S P O T L
BRUBECK BROTHERSJAZZ FORUM / SEPTEMBER 13-14Immersed in jazz from infancy in the home of Dave and Iola Brubeck, Chris and DanBrubeck were destined for jazz careers. Since playing in their father's quartet withbrother Darius, they have each led their own bands, and also co-led a quartet. Chrisis one of the most talented fretless bassists on the scene and has chops to burn on basstrombone, in addition to being a wide-ranging composer and orchestrator. Dan, a gift-ed composer, excels in playing demanding polyrhythms, which serve as a virtual mas-ter class for young percussionists. For the Jazz Forum gig, the quartet includes long-time collaborators Mike DeMicco on guitar and pianist Chuck Lamb. The music is like-ly to comprise enticing originals by the band, gems by Dave Brubeck and a few sur-prises as always. KD
JOE FARNSWORTHSMOKE JAZZ & SUPPER CLUB / SEPTEMBER 12-15The artistry of drummer Joe Farnsworth showcases a fluid and forward-thinkingvoice. Whether backing George Coleman or Benny Green, Joe provides a solid foun-dation for instrumentalists to soar to new heights. From a musical family—his fatherwas a music teacher and his brothers were musicians—Joe continued his formal edu-cation at William Paterson College where he studied with Arthur Taylor and HaroldMabern. Upon graduating, Joe built his résumé by performing with everyone fromJunior Cook to Diana Krall. Joe stretched out with 1999's Beautiful Friendship, hisdebut as a leader; an All About Jazz review of the album stated: "The man has devel-oped a drum sound that is uniquely his own, a task not often easily accomplished." Forhis concerts at Smoke, Joe rounds out a trio with the talents of bassist Gerald Cannonand pianist Eric Lewis. EW
DOUYÉ JAZZ AT KITANO / SEPTEMBER 7Sporting a lovely voice, perfect enunciation and a taste for global popular songs, Douyéburst onto the scene shortly after leaving her Lagos, Nigeria, home. She got her startsinging in church choirs in Lagos, spent summertimes in England and currently livesin Los Angeles. Though she has not delved into Afro-Pop or music apparently inspiredby her homeland so far, it's not out of the question. Douyé has demonstrated her ver-satility, performing more than her share of pop tunes and R&B and over the course offive previous CDs, settling into the American popular song idiom. Her latest record-ing, Quatro Bossa Nova Deluxe (Groove Note), teams her with Brazilian mastersRomero Lubambo, Duduka da Fonseca and Nanny Assis among others. The excep-tional pianist John di Martino joins Douyé for this night of duets. MGN
JOAN BELGRAVE MEZZROW / SEPTEMBER 6-7 Joan Belgrave's unmistakable voice resonates with authority and empathy. She skill-fully employs these qualities to convey a tune's meaning in depth. Joan's highly per-sonal approach adds subtext and nuance to even the most familiar lyrics, keeping eachstory fresh. This daughter of Detroit shows her familiarity, ease and deft take on justabout every genre and style from ballads to blues to swing. Joan is quick to credit herlate husband, renowned trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, with having an ongoing influ-ence on her art. However, she had already established a reputation beyond the MotorCity by the time he introduced himself after one of her gigs. Joan is in very good com-pany at Mezzrow, backed by pianist Sullivan Fortner and bassist Santi Debriano. EK
BILLY LESTER JAZZ STANDARD / SEPTEMBER 6 Veteran pianist Billy Lester is among the jazz world's best-kept secrets. A student ofSal Mosca—a Lenny Tristano protégé—Billy brings a wonderful element of surpriseto his interpretations of standards and his own compositions. At home at the keyboardsince age 4, the life-long Westchester County resident delights the ear with his deli-cacy and restraint as he incorporates subtly adventurous side journeys into well-known tunes and originals. Rhythm mavens Rufus Reid, on bass, and Matt Wilson, ondrums, join Billy on the bandstand to celebrate his new release, From Scratch, on thespecialty-vinyl Newvelle label. A short film, Listening In, directed by Ben Chase, kicksoff the evening, sharing insights to Billy's life, sound and approach to music. EK
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 18
19
nzler, Elzy Kolb, Michael G Nastos & Eric Wendell Chris Drukker, Hamilton by Gerhard Richter, Parks by Bart Babinski.
L I G H T
AARON PARKSVILLAGE VANGUARD / SEPTEMBER 24-29Some people are the poet; some, the poem. Pianist and composer Aaron Parks is both.The Seattle-born artist chases inquiry in his own expression. Creating a meditativeinterlude on an original composition or playing brilliant colors on familiar changes,Aaron always seems ready to lead an expedition into hidden territories of sound andsense. He has collaborated with richly diverse artists, including an early apprentice-ship with Terence Blanchard and more recent association with Emma Frank. In 2017,Aaron released his acclaimed trio recording Find the Way (ECM), with bass player andcomposer Ben Street and celebrated drummer and mentor Billy Hart, both of whomjoin him for his Vanguard performance. Aaron also plays the Side Door Sept. 21. SJ
JOHN ELLISSHEPARD PARK / SEPTEMBER 15John Ellis fits snugly into every situation and makes them all feel nice and loose. Asvirtuosic as he is lyrical, the saxophonist, composer and soundscaper approaches themusic with an admittedly layered expression, having spent stretches of formativeyears in both New York and New Orleans, as well as among his minister father's live-ly congregation in North Carolina. John's projects tend toward exploring rhythm andconceptions of time, and often reflect a variety of instrumental textures through whichhe experiments with orchestration. His performance features the long-running outfitDouble Wide, named mostly for the mobile home, but partly for the bass dyad of sousa-phone played by Matt Perrine and Hammond B-3 played by Gary Versace. DoubleWide also includes trombonist Alan Ferber and drummer Jason Marsalis. SJ
JOHN FEDCHOCKSMALLS JAZZ CLUB / SEPTEMBER 13-14Trombonist John Fedchock is one of the living masters of his instrument, in additionto being a renowned composer, arranger and bandleader. Since making his mark withWoody Herman, John has led his own groups, both small and large, while writingcharts that inspire his musicians to the top of their game. An articulate, creative andversatile soloist, John's distinctive sound stands out in any setting. The trombonist isskilled at arranging new approaches to oft-played standards, in addition to writing hisown challenging originals, which draw from earlier generations while incorporatinghis own innovations. His powerful New York Jazz Sextet includes two long-time col-laborators, trumpeter Scott Wendholt and pianist Allen Farnham, along with tenorsaxophonist Troy Roberts, bassist Dave Finck and drummer Eric Halvorson. KD
COWBOYS & FRENCHMENSUBCULTURE / SEPTEMBER 29A band playing neither music from West of the Pecos nor quadrilles, Cowboys &Frenchmen (which takes its name from a David Lynch movie) is a very hip contempo-rary and modern jazz ensemble. The players incorporate some Middle Eastern sounds,quirky unison melodies and forward-thinking beats into an all-original repertoire.Featuring a dynamic rhythm section and the saxophones of Ethan Helm and leaderOwen Broder, the band's beyond-jazz stance is perfectly clear on its debut CD, Rodeo,and the follow-up, Bluer Than You Think, for the apropos Outside In label. Cowboys& Frenchmen will record the Subculture set for a live album. Pianist Addison Frei,bassist Ethan O'Reilly and drummer Matt Honor extend the vision of this NYC band,which is quite comparable to Mostly Other People Do the Killing or Turboprop. MGN
SCOTT HAMILTONTHE SIDE DOOR / SEPTEMBER 27Bebop was easing into hard bop and soul jazz when Scott Hamilton was born in 1954,but he grew up in thrall to an earlier jazz era, swing. Scott exemplifies a time whenmusicians learned on the bandstand. He picked up the tenor sax in his teens, andnever formally studied the instrument, gaining mastery by performing, often withswing-era legends such as trumpeters Roy Eldridge and Ruby Braff. Scott not onlyrecalls the great tenor saxes of an earlier era in his playing, he also emulated some ofthem in his career. He's been a knight errant of jazz who, like swing giants BenWebster and Don Byas, has become an expatriate in Europe, living in England andItaly since the 1990s. With his big sound and burly tone, as well as a lyrical penchantfor weaving narratives on ballads, Scott has been missed on the local scene. Besidesthe Side Door gig, with organist Dave Lamina and drummer Chuck Riggs, Scott joinssinger Carol Sloane at Birdland Theater, Sept. 20-21. GK
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 4:46 PM Page 19
20
continued on page 22
Downstairs. www.jukebarnyc.com. 212-228-7464. Sun: 6:30-10:30pm free adm Jam byAlbert Ahlf.
KNICKERBOCKER BAR & GRILL: 33University Pl at 9th St. 212-228-8490.www.knickerbockerbarandgrill.com. Fri-Sat:9pm-1am. Sep 27-28: Russ Kassoff & JayAnderson.
(LE) POISSON ROUGE: 158 Bleecker St atThompson St. www.lepoissonrouge.com.212-796-0741. Adm varies. Sep 8: 8pm $12adm Anna Wise; 9: 8pm $25/20 JazzmeiaHorn; 12: 7:30pm $40-25 Girma Bèyènè &Akalé Wubé; 19: 8pm $45-20 Grace Kelly.
MEZZROW: 163W 10th St (bet 7th Av &Waverly Pl). www.mezzrow.com. 646-476-4346. Sets/adm: 8-10:30pm, Late (L) 11pm-1am except Fri-Sat 11pm-2am; adm varies.Residencies (R): Mon L Pasquale Grasso;Thurs L Spike Wilner & Pasquale Grasso.Sep 1: Behn Gillece Trio; 2: Rale Micic &Steve LaSpina, L R; 3: Geoffrey Keezer & JoeLocke, L Vanisha Gould; 4: Geoffrey Keezer& Ben Williams; 5: Geoffrey Keezer & GillianMargot, L R; 6: Joan Belgrave Trio, L BenZweig; 7: Joan Belgrave Trio, L AnthonyWonsey; 8: Will Sellenraad Trio; 9: BennettPaster Trio, L R; 10: Michelle Lordi Qrt, LNaama Gheber; 11: Tyler Blanton Trio, LTadataka Unno; 12: David Liebman & RichieBeirach, L R; 13: Rick Germanson & GeraldCannon, L Dan Aran; 14: Rick Germanson &Gerald Cannon; 15: Yaala Ballin Qrt; 16: Jon-Erik Kellso Trio, L R; 17: Emilio Solla Trio; 18:Shawn McGloin, L Tuomo Uusitalo; 19: DarylSherman Trio, L R; 20: Ken Peplowski Trio, LMarc Devine; 21: Ken Peplowski Trio, LAnthony Wonsey; 22: Sherrie Maricle Trio;23: Angela Roberts Trio, L R; 24: LaurenKinhan, L Vanessa Perea; 25: EvanChristopher & David Torkanowsky, L TuomoUusitalo; 26: Helio Alves & Chico Pinheiro, LR; 27: David Bryant & Chris Tordini, L SteveAsh; 28: David Bryant & Thomas Morgan, LJon Davis; 29: Greg Skaff Trio; 30: YuvalAmihai Trio, L R.
NATIONAL ARTS CLUB: 15 Gramercy ParkSouth. www.nationalartsclub.org. 212-475-3424. Sep 23: 9-10pm Aaron Diehl.
NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH: 269 Bleecker St(bet Jones & Cornelia Sts). 212-691-1770. 1stFri: 8&9:30pm free adm All Things Projectwww.allthingsproject.org. Sep 6: QuentinAngus Gp.
The NEW SCHOOL JAZZ PERFORMANCESPACE: 55W 13th St, 5th Fl. 212-229-5488.www.newschool.edu/jazz. Tues-Sat: 8:30-9:30pm The Stone at the New School. Sep 3-7: Du Yun; 6-8: Festival of New Trumpet Musicwww.fontmusic.org feat 09/6 7pm $15 work-shop & concert w/Hugh Ragin Creative Orch,09/7 7pm $15 Sarah Belle Reid w/spec guestNate Wooley, 09/8 3pm $20 Jimmy Owens,5pm workshop & concert w/Dave Douglas &Alex Sipiagin; 10-14: Zeena Parkins; 17-21:Matt Mitchell; 24-28: Fred Frith.
NORTH SQUARE: At Washington SquareHotel. 103 Waverly Pl at McDougal.www.northsquareny.com/about-jazz. 212-254-1200. Sun: 12:30&2pm free adm JazzBrunch Trios. Sep 1: Elizabeth Tamboulian;8: Ed Laub; 15: Marianne Solivan; 22: RozCorral w/Eddie Monteiro & Yotam Silberstein;29: Roz Corral w/Dave Stryker & Paul Gill.
NUBLU 151: 151 Avenue C (bet 9th & 10thSts). www.nublu.net. Sep 5: 8pm $15 admFestival of New Trumpet Music www.fontmusic.org feat Luminous Tubes.
NUYORICAN POETS CAFÉ: 236E 3rd St (betAvs B & C). www.nuyorican.org. 212-780-9386/212-505-8183. Sets: 9:30pm. Tues: $10adm Latin Jazz feat 09/3 Latinx Artists inBeatnik Tradition, 09/10 Latin Jazz Big Band,09/17 Willie Martinez & La Familia Sxt; 1stWed: $13 All That - Hip Hop Poetry & Jazz;1st Sat: $15 Banana Puddin’ Jazz series featRome Neal + Jam. Sep 11: 7pm Hola Pops!feat Vincent Hsu & Soy la Ley; 22: 6:30-10:30pm $10 The Karma of Andrea Carrollw/Carol Randazzo & Luiz Simas.
PANGEA: 178 2nd Av (bet 11th & 12th Sts). 212-995-0900. www.pangeanyc.com. Sep 13&20:7-8:30pm $20/25 adm $20 min Ben Cassara.
PUBLIC HOTEL NEW YORK: 215 Chrystie St.www.publichotels.com. 212-735-6000. Wed:7:30-10:30pm Trio.
ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL: 196 Allen St at EHouston St. www.rockwoodmusichall.com.212-477-4155. Thurs: 9pm-12am EthanEubanks & Detroit Grease.
RUE B: 188 Ave B (bet 11th & 12th Sts). 212-358-1700. www.rueb-nyc.com.
RUSS & DAUGHTERS CAFE: 127 Orchard St(bet Delancey & Rivington Sts). 212-475-4880. www.russanddaughterscafe.com. LastThurs: 8pm free adm The Stone at Russ &Daughters Cafe. Sep 26: Marty Ehrlich.
SMALLS JAZZ CLUB: 183W 10th St at 7th Av.212-252-5091. www.smallslive.com. Sets:Early (E) 7:30-10pm, Late (L) 10:30pm-1am,Night (N) 1-4am; jam following N; adm varies.Residencies: Sun-Wed N After-hours jam; FriN After-hours 09/6,13&27 w/Corey WallaceDUBtet, 09/20 w/Mimi Jones & The LabSession; Sat N 09/7&21 Brooklyn Circle,09/14 After-hours w/Eric Wyatt, 09/28 PhilipHarper Qnt. Sep 1: E Richie Vitale Qnt, L JCStylles Qnt feat Steve Nelson, N w/DavidGibson; 2: E Ferenc Nemeth Trio, L RodneyGreen Qrt; 3: E Justin Robinson Qrt, LAbraham Burton Qrt; 4: E Pablo Menares Gp,L Matt Chertkoff Qnt, N w/Charles Blenzig; 5:E David Gilmore Gp, L Michael Blake Trio, NMimi Jones & The Lab Session; 6-7: E RoxyCoss Qnt, L Alex Sipiagin Qnt feat ChrisPotter; 8: E Alex Hoffman Qnt, L Bruce HarrisQnt; 9: E Ari Hoenig Trio, L Joe FarnsworthQrt; 10: E Steve Nelson Qrt, L Frank LacyBand; 11: E Ben Winkelman Trio, L FlavioSilva Qrt; 12: E Pureum Jin Qrt, L ScottNeumann & Tom Christensen, N After-hoursw/Malick Koly; 13-14: E Rachel Z. Hakim, LJohn Fedchock NY Sxt; 15: E Ray Gallon Qrt,L Nick Hempton Qnt; 16: E Ari Hoenig Trio, Ltba; 17: E Theo Hill Qrt, L JD Allen Qrt; 18: EDavid Smith Qnt, L Harold Mabern Trio, NAfter-hours w/Charles Blenzig; 19: E HelenSung & the (re)Conception Project, L WillyRodriguez Qnt, N tba; 20-21: E BrianCharette Qrt, L Jeremy Dutton Gp; 22: EClaire Daly Qrt, L David Gibson Qnt; 23: EAndrew DiAngelo Gp, L Joe Farnsworth Qrt;24: E Steve Nelson Qrt, L Abraham BurtonQrt; 25: E Rafal Sarnecki Sxt, L Mike Karn Qrtfeat Harry Allen; 26: E Tim Hegarty Band, LValery Ponomarev Qnt, N After-hoursw/Malick Koly; 27-28: E John Chin Trio, LAlex Norris Qnt; 29: E Lucine YeghiazaryanGp, L Charles Ruggiero Qrt; 30: E UlyssesOwens Jr. & Generation Y Band, L JoelFrahm Trio.
SUBCULTURE: 45 Bleecker St at Lafayette St.www.subculturenewyork.com. 212-533-5470.Sep 29: 2pm $20/25 adm Cowboys &Frenchman.
LISTINGS...continued from page 16
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 4:47 PM Page 20
21Horn photo by Emmanuel Afolabi.
HER STORY IS THE STUFF JAZZdreams are made of: A Dallas girl born
in 1991 with the name Jazzmeia Horngrows up singing gospel and R&B and getsturned on to jazz. She graduates fromBooker T. Washington High School for thePerforming Arts, the same high school thatcounts Roy Hargrove and Erykah Badu asalumni. She comes to New York, enrolls atthe New School, gigs, wins first place inboth the Sarah Vaughan and TheloniousMonk International Vocal competitions.Her 2017 debut CD, A Social Call—featur-ing selections by Carter and Vaughan—isa mega-hit, followed by a successful worldtour, capped by a standing ovation at the2018 Grammy Awards for her show-stop-ping rendition of Bobby Timmons'"Moanin'." Jazzmeia's amazing amalgamof Vaughan's fluency, Carter's bebopphrasing, and Abbey Lincoln's auralactivism, along with her striking features,African-inspired wardrobe, and her engag-ing, wise-beyond-her-years demeanor,make her one of the most talked-aboutsingers to come on the scene in years.
What does she do for an encore?Jazzmeia comes to (Le) Poisson Rouge insupport of her new sophomore CD, Love &Liberation, a 12-track recording featuringpianists Victor Gould and SullivanFortner, bassist Ben Williams, trumpeterJosh Evans, tenor saxophonist StacyDillard and drummer/vocalist JamisonRoss. For Jazzmeia, the CD represents anevolutionary giant step in her developmentas an artist.
"Love & Liberation is a call to action,whereas A Social Call is a call to aware-ness,” she says. "I have almost the sameband on A Social Call as I do for the Love& Liberation album, with the exception ofa few musicians."
The album includes her sumptuous ver-sion of the Jimmy Van Heusen/JohnnyMercer standard, "I Thought About You,"and a rousing rendition of flutist HubertLaws' "No More," with lyrics by JonHendricks. She also shares her after-hourstake on Badu's "Green Eyes," and herimpassioned and impressionistic interpre-tation of “Reflections of My Heart," byGeorge Duke and vocalist Rachelle Ferrell,which features Ross' pleasing spoken wordand vocals. The remaining selections arecomposed by Jazzmeia. The opener, "FreeYour Mind," swings with the Poincianapulse of Ahmad Jamal's classic trio. "WhenI Say" moves with the same kind of stop-
and-start cadence as Carter's standard"Tight." Other similarly syncopated 4/4tracks include "Searchin'" and "Out theWindow." "Time" and "Only You" are shortinterludes. "Legs and Arms," is a balladhighlighting Jazzmeia's operatic flights,contrasted by "Still Tryin'," a bluesy tale ofa sad suitor who unsuccessfully tries to getsome action in a club. On those tracks, herlyrics focus on the inventions, dimensionsand the infinite varieties of love, and therevolutionary possibilities of that emotion."This album is guided by the notion that tolove oneself is an act of liberation, and toliberate oneself is an act of love," Jazzmeiasays.
While it is obvious that the vocalist hasgrown exponentially as an artist, in hermeteoric rise her most meaningful devel-opment has been as a mother thrust intothe limelight, with the weight of being seenas the next jazz vocal superstar hangingover her.
"I will say that when I first came on thescene, I didn't have much experience tour-ing and no experience being a mother," shesays. "And when I recorded A Social Call,my second child was developing in mywomb and I owe her for the power that shegave me while recording that album."
Jazzmeia sees a parallel between beinga mother and leading a band. "What I havenoticed is the interconnectedness betweenparenting and band leading," she says. "Asa parent, it is my responsibility to makesure that while my children are in my pos-session, I do everything in my power toeducate them, to provide for them, and tonourish them. This is very similar to beinga bandleader: I have to feed my band, edu-cate the band on how to play my music,and compensate them for their work. Myorganizational skills have also trans-formed because the organizational skillsthat one has to have as a parent arebeyond any organizational effort in theworld."
With those newfound organizationalskills, Jazzmeia Horn will no doubt goforth, fulfilling the promise of her musical
continued on page 29
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 21
22
continued on page 24
TURNMILL: 119E 27th St (bet Park &Lexington Avs). www.turnmillnyc.com. 646-524-6060. Wed: 11pm-2am Keyed Up seriesfeat Rob Duguay & Low Key Trio + specguests.
VILLAGE VANGUARD: 178 7th Av S at 11thSt. 212-255-4037. www.villagevanguard.com.Sets: 8:30&10:30pm. Adm: $35/1 drink min.Residency (R): Mon Vanguard Jazz Orch. Sep1: Chris Potter’s Underground; 2: R; 3-8: BillCharlap Trio; 9: R; 10-15: Bill Charlap Trio; 16:R; 17-22: Ravi Coltrane Qrt; 23: R; 24-29:Aaron Parks Trio; 30: R.
WALKER’S: 16N Moore St at Varick. 212-941-0142. www.walkerstribeca.com. Sun: 8-11pmDuos.
WESTBETH COMMUNITY ROOM: 155 BankSt. Sep 20: 8pm $10 don Michael MossAccidental Orch.
ZINC BAR: 82W 3rd St (bet Thompson &Sullivan). 212-477-8337. www.zincbar.com.Sets: unless otherwise noted 7:30&9pm. Sep4: 9pm-1am free VandoJam feat LakeciaBenjamin; 9: Jack Wilkins Qrt; 11: AudreySilver; 12: Fleurine & Boys from Brazil; 15: 4-6:45pm $25/30 Another Sunday Serenade917-882-9539/www.vtyjazz.com Remember-ing Kenny Kirkland feat Luis Perdomow/Jaleel Shaw; 16: Gil Parris Trio w/specguest Jessie Lambiase; 20: Geoffrey KeezerTrio; 23: Kevin Clark Trio; 28: Rachel Z Trio;30: Fabrizio Sotti Trio.
BRONX PARK: Bronx Park E at Lydig Av. Sep5: 6pm Peter Brainin & the Latin JazzWorkshop feat Paul Bollenback.
BURNS PLAYGROUND: 2507A Lodovick Av.Sep 13: 6pm Mary Ann McSweeney Qnt featSyndee Winters.
LEHMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMINGARTS: At Lehman College. 250 BedfordPark Blvd W. 718-960-8833. www.lehmancenter.org. Sep 21: 8pm Eddie Palmieri & AfroCaribbean Orch feat Herman Oliveros +Michel Camilo Trio.
440 GALLERY: 440 Sixth Av. 718-499-3844.www.440gallery.com. Sep 15: 4:40pm $10don Me, Myself and Eye feat Briggan Krauss.
BAR BAYEUX: 1066 Nostrand Av. 347-533-7845. ww.barbayeux.com. Wed: 8-11pm freeadm Keyed Up series. Sep 4: JohnathanBlake Trio; 11: Jerome Sabbagh/Mark TurnerQrt; 18: Ethan Silverman Qrt feat PeterBernstein; 25: Rodney Green “JacksonMiller”.
BAR LUNÀTICO: 486 Halsey St. 718-513-0339.www.barlunatico.com. Sun: 2-5pm Keyed Upfeat Gospel Brunch.
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;Fri 5pm The Crooked Trio.
BLUEBIRD BROOKLYN: 504 Flatbush Av.718-484-9494. www.bluebirdbrooklyn.com.
Wed: 9pm-12am Keyed Up feat NoahGaribedian + Jam.
BROOKLYN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC:58 7th Av. www.bkcm.org. 718-622-3300. Sep12: 8pm $15 adm Festival of New TrumpetMusic www.fontmusic.org feat GilenoSantana Trio + Linda Briceño Gp; 13: 7-10pm$20 www.connectionworks.org Rent Partyfeat Sheila Jordan, Dan Tepfer, MarkFeldman, Michael Sarin, Min Xiao-Fen, AdamKolker, Chris Tordini, Nate Radley, RonHorton, Billy Mintz, Kenny Wessel, HilliardGreene, Gary Wang, Owen Howard, AvramFefer, Andre Matos, Rosi Hertlein, MarcoCapelli, Kaoru Watanabi, Charlie Burnham,Brian Drye, Sarah Bernstein, Michel Gentile,Daniel Kelly, Rob Garcia.
The COPPER POT: 347 Van Brunt St. 929-276-3330. www.copperpotbk.com. Wed: 7:30-10:30pm Keyed Up series.
COUNTING ROOM: 44 Berry St. 718-599-1860.www.countingroom.com. Sun: 4-7pm KeyedUp feat The Cafe Society.
HALYARDS: 406 3rd Av. 718-532-8787.www.barhalyards.com. Tues: 8-10pm, Late(L) 10:30-11:30pm, $10 adm/1 drink min. Sep3: Bennett Paster, L Jerome Sabbagh Trio;10: Spin Cycle, L Joris Teepe Trio; 17: JimmyMcBride Qrt, L Ben Monder Trio; 24: New OldTimers, L Adam Kolker & Diego Voglino.
IBEAM: 168 7th St. www.ibeambrooklyn.com.Sets: 8:30pm $15 don. Sep 6: CatherineSikora; 8: 7:30pm Lena Bloch & Featheryw/Russ Lossing; 14: Mike McGinnis; 21:Emptying the Self + Andrew Drury Gp; 27:Noah Becker.
IL PORTO: 37 Washington Av. 718-624-0954.www.ilportobrooklyn.com. Thurs-Sat: 7-10pm Keyed Up feat Charlie Apicella & IronCity.
JAZZ 966: 966 Fulton St. 917-593-9776.www.fortgreenecouncil.org/jazz966. Fri: 8&9:45pm $15 don.
KNITTING FACTORY BROOKLYN: 361 Me-tropolitan Av. www.bk.knittingfactory.com.347-529-6696. Sep 6: 7:30pm $15 adm EmmaFrank.
NATIONAL SAWDUST: 80N 6th St. 646-779-8455. www.nationalsawdust.org. Sep 25:7pm $25 adm Gloyd Qnt feat WendyEisenberg.
The OWL MUSIC PARLOR: 497 Rogers Av.www.theowl.nyc. 718-774-0042. Sep 22: JazzGallery Mentor series feat Harish Raghavan& Savannah Harris; 26: 8pm SylvieCourvoisier & Mary Halvorson Duo.
ROULETTE: 509 Atlantic Av at 3rd Av.www.roulette.org. 917-267-0363. Sep 20: 8pm$18 adm Tomas Fujiwara’s 7 Poets Trio Ens.
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/$10.Residency (R): Fri E Take Off Collective. Sep1: E Israel Varela feat The Labyrinth Projectw/Ben Wendel; 4: E $15 Eric Person Qrt; 5: E$12 Kam Ryn, 8pm Elena Goddard; 6: E R; 8:Renee Catrine; 10: L-N Matt Dwonszyk +Julieta Eugenio; 11: E-L $12 Nicholas BrustQrt + Katya Dreyer-Oren Qrt; 12: E $15Voyage West, L $15 Open Source, N MH; 13:E R; 18: L $15 Aaron Rimbui Qrt; 19: E $12Dongfeng Liu Latin Jazz Band; 20: E R; 22: EEarthtones, L Eugene Pugachov Qrt; 26: EAdi Meyerson, 8pm Thinkin’ Big, 9:15&10:30pm Bright Dog Red + Tim Lefevre Gpw/Jason Lindler & Zach Danziger; 27: E R.
LISTINGS...continued from page 20
BRONX
BROOKLYN
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 22
23
NEW JERSEY JAZZBy Don Jay Smith
WYNTON MARSALISJ. OWEN GRUNDY PIER / SEPTEMBER 6The 7th annual NJCU Alumni Jazz Big Band Concert pays tribute to the centennialbirth anniversaries of Nat King Cole and Art Blakey. Blakey's iconic Jazz Messengersfostered the talents of many superb players and in 1980, a young Wynton Marsalisjoined the group. It was from Art Blakey that Wynton learned how to be a great band-leader; a year later, the trumpeter assembled his own band. Since then, he has goneon to become one of the best known jazz musicians in the world, winning nine GrammyAwards (in both jazz and classical music), the Pulitzer Prize, and scores of otherawards and honors. He joins conductor Dick Lowenthal, singers Allan Harris andAntoinette Montague, plus an all-star big band for a free concert in Jersey City.
KATE CURRANDUE MARI / SEPTEMBER 27Vocalist Kate Curran grew up in Brooklyn listening to a wide variety of music fromBillie Holiday to Cyndi Lauper, and counts Sarah Vaughan and Nancy Wilson as herbiggest influences. She draws on the Great American Songbook but also dips intoswing and trad that takes her audiences back to a classic era in music. Her set listoften includes renditions of "The Very Thought of You," "Lover Come Back to Me," and"It's All Right with Me." Kate often heads trios and quartets, but at Due Mari she's ina duo setting with pianist Brandon McCue. When not performing with her own groups,Kate sings with Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses, recreating many Louis Prima clas-sics including the popular "I Want You to Be My Baby."
THE JAZZ LOBSTERSThe JAY & LINDA GRUNIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS / SEPTEMBER 15Led by keyboardist and arranger James "King Salmon" Lafferty, the Jazz LobstersBig Band features the music of Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman andQuincy Jones. With new arrangements of familiar songs from the swing era, the bigband sports five saxes, four trumpets, four trombones and a rock-solid rhythm section.James, a popular Monmouth County musician, leads a top-notch ensemble thatincludes Audrey Welber-Lafferty on alto and clarinet, Matt Janisewski on tenor,James Stewart on baritone sax and flute, Adam Machaskee on trombone, SteveVarner on bass, and three vocalists: Carrie Jackson, Michael Andrews and TonyCorrao. The Jazz Lobsters kick off the Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon Series.
JOHN LEECENTRAL JERSEY JAZZ FESTIVAL ON GEORGE ST. / SEPTEMBER 14Bassist, composer, educator and producer John Lee has kept the legacy of DizzyGillespie alive for years with good reason. John became the trumpet legend's bassistin 1984, touring and recording with the quintet, the big band, the United NationsOrchestra, and the Back to the Future Band that Dizzy co-led with Miriam Makebauntil his 1993 death. In addition to leading the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience,which appears in New Brunswick as part of the 7th annual Central Jersey JazzFestival, John is the director and bassist for the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars. Hehas toured with Sonny Rollins, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Pharoah Sanders, HankJones, Claudio Roditi, Roy Hargrove, Roberta Gambarini and a host of others; he alsocofounded the recording label JLP in 2009.
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 23
24
NEW YORK STATE
continued on page 26
(LBS), Public Library (PL), Roc and Olive(R&O), Seasons Asian Pan (SAP). Sep 19-22:Long Beach Jazz Festival www.longbeachjazzfest.com feat 09/19 6:45pm LBS DianeHoffman, 7pm PL Michael Wolff Trio, 8:15pmPL Yotam Silberstein Gp, 09/20 7pm PLBakithi Kumalo, 8:30pm PL Dean BrownBand, 9pm CB Guardavidas, JLBNY J.Brittany & The Rock Bottom Blues Band,09/21 12pm PL Olli Soikkeli Duo, 1:30pm PLSteve Adelson Stick-Tet Power Ens, 3pm PLStrings Attached, 4:30pm PL Rachel Z & TheNew Unicorns, 7pm SAP Steve AdelsonStick-tet, 9pm HMC Kerry Kearney Band, JRFStudio Noir Jazztet, R&O Lloyd Haber Trio,9:30pm JLBNY Dean Brown Band, 09/2212pm PL Lepley/Cammack/Bellucci,12:45pm PL Michael Manring, 2pm PL AlexBlake Gp, 3:30pm PL Frank Vignola/VinnieRaniola, 5pm PL Oz Noy Boogaloo Band featWill Lee, 7pm R&O Jam w/Lepley/Cammack/Bellucci/Adelson.
TREME: 553 Main St. Islip. 631-277-2008.www.tremeislip.com. Sets: Sun&Wed 7-11pm; Thurs-Sat 8pm-12am. Sep 5: Sabori; 7:Gil Parris; 8: Jam by Bob Lepley & FrankBellucci; 15: Jim Cammack feat MelanieMarod; 29: Jam by Bob Lepley & FrankBellucci.
UNION CANTINA: 40 Bowden Sq.Southampton. www.unioncantina.net. 621-377-3500. www.thejamsession.org. Thurs: 7-9pm Keyed Up series.
BERGENHACKENSACK PERFORMING ARTS CEN-
TER: 102 State St. Hackensack. 201-820-3007. www.hacpac.org. Sep 29: 3-6pm $60adm Autumn Leaves Jazz Sunday AfternoonFriendraiser.
ESSEXCLEMENT’S PLACE: At Rutgers University. 15
Washington St. Newark. Sets: 7:30pm.www.facebook.com/ jazz973. 3rd Thurs: 5:30-7pm Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens, 7:30-9:30pmJam by James Austin, Jr.
GATEWAY CENTER PLAZA 4: 100 MulberrySt. Newark. 973-624-8880. Sep 4: 12-1pmAlexis Morrast.
NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CEN-TER: 1 Center St. Newark. 888-466-5722.www.njpac.org. Sep 28: 8:30pm $50 admCeleb Ray Charles feat Yolanda Adams,Davell Crawford, Dianne Reeves.
PRIORY JAZZ CLUB: 233W Market St.Newark. 973-242-8012. Sep 6: 7-11pmStephen Fuller & friends.
SOPAC: 1 SOPAC Way. South Orange. 973-313-2787. www.sopacnow.org. Sep 21: 8pm $30-50 adm Ann Hampton Callaway & SusanWerner.
SOUTH ORANGE GAZEBO: 17 Sloan St.South Orange. Sep 1: 6-9pm Jazz on Sloanfeat Carrie Jackson Jam/Open Mic.
SPIOTTA PARK: 20-32 Village Plaza. SouthOrange. Sep 7: 12pm 24 Hours Of Music.
SUZYQUE’S BBQ & BAR: 34 S Valley Rd.West Orange. www.suzyques.com. 973-736-7899. Free adm. Sun: 2-5pm Brunchw/Curtis Lundy Ens; Mon: 8pm-12am JohnLee & friends. Sep 2,16&30: 8-10pm GlennFranke's BigBand.
TRUMPETS: 6 Depot Square. Montclair. 973-744-2600. www.trumpetsjazz.com.
LISTINGS...continued from page 22
SISTAS’ PLACE: 456 Nostrand Av at JeffersonAv. www.sistasplace.org. 718-398-1766. Sat:9&10:30pm $30/25 adm. Sep 21: CharlesTolliver Allstars.
SPECTRUM NYC: 70 Flushing Av. www.spectrumnyc.com. Sep 15: 7-8:30pm $10 admSarah Bernstein VEER Qrt.
THREES BREWING: 333 Douglass St. 718-522-2110. www.threesbrewing.com. Sep 3:$10 adm Festival of New Trumpet Musicwww.fontmusic.org feat 8pm Zen DemonSnaps, 9pm Chloe Rowlands.
VELVET LOUNGE: 174 Bway. 718-302-4427.www.velvetbrooklyn.com. Tues: 9pm-12amKey Up series feat 1st Tues Sivan Arbel; lastTues Rob Duguay & Low Key Trio.
WILLIAMSBURG MUSIC CENTER: 367Bedford Av. www.wmcjazz.org. 718-384-1654. $10 adm. Residency: Sat 10pm Jamw/Gerry Eastman & friends. Sep 13: 8:30-9:30pm Gene Ess; 20: 8:30-9:30pm The PJFossum Qnt; 21: 10pm-12am Alden Hellmuth& Minlena; 26: 9-10pm Rob Deutsch; 28:10pm-12am Mercer Shavelson.
BUTTONWOOD TREE: 605 Main St.Middletown. www.buttonwood.org. 860-347-4957. Sat: 8-10pm. Sep 7: BadSlax Jazz; 21:Brett Bottomley Trio.
INFINITY MUSIC HALL & BISTRO: 20Greenwoods Road, Norfolk. 860-542-5531.www.infinityhall.com. Sep 7: 8pm JaneMonheit.
PALACE THEATER: 100 East Main St.Waterbury. www.palacetheaterct.org. 203-346-2000. Sep 20: 7&9pm Dave Keller.
RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE: 80 East Ridge.Ridgefield. www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org.203-438-5795. Sep 6: 8pm $35 adm JaneMonheit.
The SIDE DOOR JAZZ CLUB: At Old LymeInn. 85 Lyme St. Old Lyme. 860-434-0886.www.thesidedoorjazz.com. Sets: 8:30-11pm.Sep 6: Ken Peplowski & Diego Figueiredo; 7:Michelle Coltrane; 13: Lisa Marien; 14:Brandon Goldberg; 20: Harold Mabern; 21:Aaron Parks; 27: Scott Hamilton; 28: NatReeves.
The GIG SHACK: 782 Main St. Montauk. 631-668-2727. www.668thegigshack.com. Wed: 7-9:30pm.
GRASSO’S: 134 Main St. Cold Spring Harbor.www.grassosrestaurant.com. 631-367-6060.
The JAZZ LOFT: 275 Christian Av. StonyBrook. 631-751-1895. www.thejazzloft.org.Sets: 7-9:30pm. Wed: Jam. Sep 5: Jazz LoftBig Band; 19: The Bad Little Big Band; 25-29: Harbor Jazz festival feat 09/26 InterplayJazz Orch w/spec guest Dave LaLama, 09/27Terrell Stafford Qnt, 09/28 1pm Frank Vignola& Houston Person Duo, 4pm ChampianFulton Qrt, 7pm Nicole Henry Qrt, 09/2912pm Houston Person Qrt, 3pm Nicki ParrottTrio.
LONG BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL: at Cabana(CB), Half Moon Cafe (HMC), JR Fusion(JRF), Junction LBNY (JLBNY), LB Social
CONNECTICUT
LONG ISLAND
NEW JERSEY
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 4:48 PM Page 24
25
ANOTHER REASON TO CELEBRATEBy Elzy Kolb
Boshnack photo by Daniel Sheehan.
Modern explorer
SAMANTHA BOSHNACK ALWAYShas a variety of musical irons in the
fire, and sometimes the fire itself can bethe source of inspiration. The concept ofher latest release, Seismic Belt Live inSanta Monica (Orenda Records), wassparked by the abundance of volcanos andearthquakes in the Pacific region, which isnow home to the New York-born, Seattle-based trumpeter and composer.
She wrote Seismic Belt last year duringa three-month residency at the 18th StreetArts Center in L.A., after receiving theannual Make Jazz Fellowship award,sponsored by the Herb Alpert Foundation.Since then, Sam has played the eight-movement Seismic Belt in California,Seattle and New York; she returns to theBig Apple this month to present the pieceat the Festival of New Trumpet Music(FONT Music). "I've had the experience ofputting together bands in different citiesand it's been a lot of fun," she notes. "Eachtime there's a different flavor from differ-ent players and I'm excited to do it again."
Besides her band Seismic Belt, amongthe groups the trumpeter has recordedwith are her large ensemble B'shnorkestra(the name is a mashup of a few letters fromBoshnack and a creative spelling of"orchestra"), the Sam Boshnack Quintet,and the sextet Reptet. "They're not allgoing at the same time—I'd probably losemy mind," she notes. "It's a lot of work andI'm doing it all myself. Plus, I teach and gigwith other people. I like playing other peo-ple's music, and it's so enriching to see howthey lead their groups."
She's also part of the composers collabo-rative Alchemy Sound Project, along withErica Lindsay, Sumi Tonooka, DavidArend and Salim Washington, and is acomposer fellow at the Gabriela LenaFrank Creative Academy of Music inCalifornia. Sam looks forward to the debutof her recent works for string trio this fall,and has received a grant for a night of
chamber music and spoken word inSeattle. "I'm collaborating with poets onthings that are hard to talk about but thatwe think about a lot," is her intriguingdescription of the project. "I'm interestedin exploring this avenue, which couldinclude elements of improvisation."
Evolution plays a big role in the com-poser's creative process: "I come up with aproject idea, but every bit is not mappedout." She cites as an example the NellieBly Project, a work she did with her quin-tet celebrating the life of the investigativejournalist of the late 19th and early 20thcenturies. "I didn't know I'd use words asmuch as I did. I write the music and let itgo where it needs to go."
For her upcoming work, Sam won'tdefine for the poets exactly what theyshould delve into when it comes to "thingsthat are hard to talk about." She muses, "Iwon't give the topics, I'll just give themthose words and see what they do with it.It's interesting how writers' minds work,how they interpret the words."
She continues, "I've worked with poetsbefore and enjoyed the process. I've workedwith dancers; I like finding ways to collab-orate."
She'll be collaborating with some newplayers in the Seismic Belt band this timearound. In addition to Sam, the lineupcomprises Chris Credit on tenor and bari-tone saxes, Jessica Pavone on violin andviola, Sarah Bernstein on violin, Kai Onoon piano, Lisa Hoppe on bass and JacobShandling on drums. They appear at theJazz Gallery on Sept. 9.
High standards
Judy Wexler studied psychology in col-lege, but she doesn't count her grasp ofwhat makes humans tick as her most use-ful tool when it comes plumbing the depthsof a lyric. That honor goes to her back-ground in acting. "That's more of an influ-ence," the vocalist muses. "Getting inside a
Samantha Boshnack, Jazz Gallery
Judy Wexler, Jazz at Kitano & Maureen’s Jazz Cellar
continued on page 26
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 25
26
ANOTHER REASON... continued from page 25
LISTINGS...continued from page 24
HUDSONThe BRIGHTSIDE TAVERN: 141 Bright St.
Jersey City. www.brightsidetavern.com. 201-435-1234. Mon: 8pm Keyed Up featBrightside Tavern Trio.
HEADROOM BAR & SOCIAL: 150 Bay St.Jersey City. www.headroombar.com. 201-963-4565. Sun 3-7pm All-Female Jam featAndrea Brachfeld.
J. OWEN GRUNDY PIER: At Exchange Pl.Jersey City. 201-547-5000. Sep 6: 6pm freeadm NJCU Alumni Jazz Big Band featWynton Marsalis & Allan Harris.
HUNTERDONFLEMINGTON DIY: 90 Main St. Flemington.
www.flemingtondiy.org. Sets: 7:30pm/$15adm. Sep 21: Good & Plenty Jazz.
STANGL ROAD: Flemington. Sep 13: 6-9pmfree adm Central Jersey Jazz Festivalwww.centraljerseyjazzfestival.com feat 6pmWillerm Delisfort, 7:30pm Jeanne Gies, 9pmWinard Harper.
MERCER1867 SANCTUARY AT EWING: 101 Scotch
Rd. Ewing. www.1867sanctuary.org/seriesjazz. 609-392-6409. Adm: $20-5. Sep 6: 8pmJosh Marcum & Gene Bertoncini; 8: 2pmMaurício de Souza & Bossa Brasil®; 15: 3pmGreg Giannascoli; 21: Danny Tobias &friends feat Larry McKenna, 8pm JackFurlong Qrt; 25: 8pm Monika Ryan; 29: 2pmBarbara Browne.
CANDLELIGHT LOUNGE: 24 Passaic St.Trenton. www.candlelightevents.way.to. 609-695-9612. Sat: 3:30-7:30pm free adm/$10min. www.jazztrenton.com. Sep 7: CarrieJackson; 14: closed; 21: Frank Catalono; 28:Matt Parrish.
HOPEWELL VALLEY BISTRO & INN: 15East Broad St. Hopewell. 609-466-9889.www.hopewellbistro.com. Thurs: 6-9pm/$15/5 don Jazz On Broad. Sep 12: Tobias/Colianni/Plowman; 19: Larry McKenna &Warren Vaché; 26: Steve Kramer Trio.
McCARTER THEATRE: 91 University Pl.Princeton. 609-258-2787. www.mccarter.org.Sep 28: 8pm Pink Martini feat China Forbesw/spec guest Meow Meow.
MIDDLESEXCHAMBER 43: 427 Raritan Av. Highland Park.
www.chamber43.com. 732-317-9427.DELTA’S RESTAURANT: 19 Dennis St. New
Brunswick. www.deltasrestaurant.com. 732-249-1515. Sep 21: 6:30-10:30pm Maurício deSouza & Bossa Brasil® feat Andrew Beals.
DUE MARI: 78 Albany St. New Brunswick.www.duemarinj.com. 732-296-1600. Fri: 6:30-9:30pm free adm The New Brunswick JazzProject/www.nbjp.org feat Duos. Sep 6:Emma Larsson; 13: Jackie Jones; 20: AlexCollins; 27: Kate Curran.
GEORGE STREET: (bet Liberty & Bayard Sts).New Brunswick. Sep 14: 1-6pm free admCentral Jersey Jazz Festival www.centraljerseyjazzfestival.comfeat 1pm JeromeJennings, 2:45pm Five Play, 4:30pm JohnLee & Dizzy Gillespie Afro Latin Experience.
continued on page 30
her on the bandstand both nights arepianist Mark Soskin, bassist Bill Moringand drummer Anthony Pinciotti. In addi-tion to the songs from the new album, Judyis likely to mix in tunes from her previousrecordings, along with some new material.
song is more of an acting exercise. I ana-lyze the lyrics; I appreciate a good melodicstructure, but I need words I can relate toand convincingly interpret."
An ear for top-quality material thathasn't been done to death has been a wide-ly recognized hallmark of Judy's life insong since she released her first album,Easy on the Heart, in 2005. For her latestrecording, Crowded Heart (Jewel CityJazz), she set out to find 10 tunes by con-temporary songwriters that could measureup to the beloved standards embraced byvocalists and audiences alike and haveendured for decades. Among the criteria: agood story and a certain indescribable vibethat instantly marks it as a standard toJudy's ears. "It's all intuitive: I know itwhen I hear it," she notes.
The title track, written by Judy's friendSinne Eeg, was among her first picks. "Iheard her sing it and thought, That soundslike a standard. I had the same impressionabout 'The Last Goodbye,' by AlanBroadbent. I wanted to do a whole albumof songs like that. They were the gold stan-dard of what I was looking for," Judy says."The two songs are excellently constructed,the stories are told in a literate, easy-to-fol-low way."
Besides searching online and listeningto a lot of recordings, the Los Angeles-based singer asked for suggestions andreached out to the jazz songwriting com-munity. Picking the tunes took a year. "Itwas harder than I thought it would be,"she admits. "I got a lot of suggestions, somedidn't fit the concept. Some challenged me.I did a lot of listening and evaluating. Itwas an interesting process."
Before recording, Judy sanity-checkedher choices with pianist, arranger and co-producer Alan Pasqua. "He gave thethumbs up to every song I desperatelywanted," she says. "We see eye to eye onwhat makes a good tune." All of the songshave been recorded at least once before,but most are unlikely to be familiar tomany listeners.
Crowded Heart includes material by thelikes of Luciana Souza, Kurt Elling,Gregory Porter, René Marie and FredHersch. One song in particular piquedJudy's imagination, "I Took Your Hand,"by Lorraine Feather and EnricoPieranunzi. "It's not easy to sing themelody," Judy admits. "The story of thesong reminded me of Romeo and Juliet, themasked ballroom scene in Zeffirelli's movieversion."
New York-area audiences have achance to hear the results of Judy's songsearch this month, as she celebrates therelease of Crowded Heart at Jazz atKitano Sept. 20, and at Maureen's JazzCellar in Nyack, NY, Sept. 21. Joining
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 26
27
By Seton Hawkins
HOT FLASHES
Mrubata photo by Ngoma Mphahlele.
Artists Talk Inspirations: McCoy Mrubata
IN APRIL 1994, MILLIONS OF SOUTHAfricans lined up at polling boothsaround the country to vote in fully demo-cratic elections for the first time in thenation's history. With 2019 marking the25th anniversary of that historic moment,Jazz at Lincoln Center opens its seasonwith The South African Songbook, a per-formance by the Jazz at Lincoln CenterOrchestra celebrating the nation's jazzscene and featuring music composed bySouth African artists post-1994.
Joining the orchestra are eight extraor-dinary South African artists, including thesaxophonist, flautist and composer McCoyMrubata. He emerged on the music scenein the 1980s and rose to prominence in thefollowing decade, recording seminalalbums that helped shape and define thepost-apartheid jazz scene and sound ofSouth Africa.
McCoy Mrubata
"People started to follow me," McCoyexplains. "I stuck to the South Africansound and tried to speak to what I grew upwith. Many others leaned on a fusionsound, or a more American type of jazz.What I'm noticing now is that musicianshere are trying to find themselves. Let'ssay you're of Zulu descent, you might starttrying now to find a folk song to include."
McCoy's work captures a rich portrait ofhis musical influences: South Africanmbaqanga, gospel music, swing-era jazz,hard bop and traditional Xhosa music allcollide into something unforgettably won-derful in his playing. Indeed, SouthAfrica's jazz history is rich and varied withits own unique songbook and standards.While American listeners might knowHugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba orAbdullah Ibrahim, less familiar to interna-tional listeners are local legends like thelate Winston "Mankunku" Ngozi, a tenorsaxophonist whose sound is all but synony-mous with South Africa's tenor saxophonetradition. In preparing for his Septemberperformance with the JLCO, McCoybrought several pieces to table: One ofthen, Mankunku's 1998 composition "ASong for Bra Des Tutu," serves as McCoy'stribute to the elder musician. "We wereprivileged to have someone likeMankunku," he explains. "He might nothave gotten the recognition he deserved,but he shaped our sound."
The September concerts mark McCoy’sthird time performing at Jazz at LincolnCenter; previously, he appeared as musicaldirector for the Johannesburg-based jazzsupergroup Uhadi, which played at Dizzy'sin 2014 and 2016. With the upcoming per-formance in Rose Theater with WyntonMarsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln CenterOrchestra, McCoy fulfills a lifelong goal."It's a dream come true," he notes. "It's likeI've arrived."
McCoy Mrubata joins Wynton Marsalisand the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestraat Jazz at Lincoln Center Sept. 12-14.To learn more about McCoy, visitwww.mccoymrubata.com.
Festivals and SeriesThe 17th season of the Festival of New
Trumpet Music (FONT) takes place Sept.3-12 across seven locales. Josh Lawrence, Dave Douglas, Riley
continued on page 28
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 27
28
By Addie Vogt
FRESH TAKES
Frank photo by Shervin Lainez.
DRAWING INSPIRATION FROMartists such as Joni Mitchell, Norah
Jones and Wilco, Emma Frank's music isboth evocative and healing, incorporating aunique blend of folk and pop with strongroots in jazz. Originally from Boston,Emma studied literature at McGillUniversity in Toronto, meanwhile playingwith jazz musicians in the city and writingher own music. "I had this fear thatbecause I didn't go to a conservatory, Iwould never be taken seriously," she says."When I was in Montreal, I think I maybeapproached my writing with a little bit ofsomething to prove. Now, I'm a bit morefocused on feeling grounded when I write."
Emma's unique sound has maturedthroughout her recording career; hermusicmaking is driven not by ego but by adesire to follow her instincts and find newsounds. "The last two records, Ocean Avand Come Back, I've just been so muchmore thorough, in the workshopping anddevelopment of the songs, and in the actualrecording. We're just giving ourselvesenough time to do the work well, and to
HOT FLASHES...continued from page 27
Mulherkar, Charles Tolliver, LindaBriceño, Sarah Belle Reid and othersgrace the stages of venues includingDizzy's Club, the New School, JazzGallery, and Jazz Standard. Visit fontmusic.org to learn more.
Vinyl label Newvelle curates an impres-sive series of concerts at Jazz StandardSept. 3-8. A remarkable array of talent,including Rufus Reid, Noah Preminger,Bill Frisell, Dave Douglas, JaneBunnett and more take to the stage dur-ing this series. Find tickets online at
Sarah Belle Reid
www.jazzstandard.com.Sept. 14-15 marks this year's Lake
George Jazz Festival. Camila Meza,Wayne Escoffrey, Chano Dominguez,Nate Smith, John Ellis, NicoleZuraitis and Dafnis Prieto provide anextraordinary weekend of music. See thefull lineup at www.lakegeorgearts.org.
The Long Beach Jazz Festival cele-brates its 16th anniversary Sept. 19-22.Highlights of the free festival include per-formances by Bakithi Kumalo, AlexBlake, Frank Vignola and Rachel Z. Fora full schedule, visit www.longbeachjazzfest.com.
Frank Vignola
allow ourselves to soften a bit in the stu-dio."
Emma presents music from herupcoming album, Come Back, at theKnitting Factory Sept. 6, with bassistDesmond White, keyboardist DominicMekky, guitarist Franky Rousseau anddrummer Pedro Barquinha.
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 28
29
B A C K S TA G E PA S S
JOHNSON...continued from page 17
HORN...continued from page 21
Joe points out, "Howard understandshow to orchestrate a tuba ensemble so itsounds like a choir of male singers. Whenhe leads in the high parts it sounds like noinstrument, it's like a voice reaching forspiritual experience. When we did TheReal Thing, it was like Taj was GladysKnight and we were the Pips, like a four-voice men's vocal choir."
Expect to hear Howard Johnson origi-nals and arrangements, such as a soulfulversion of the classic Jerome Kern ballad"Yesterdays" and a rollicking take on DonPullen's "Big Alice," when an all-star line-up of musicians gathers at Merkin Hall onSept. 18 to pay tribute to the 78-year-oldjazz innovator. The concert includesHoward's tuba ensemble, Gravity, and hisbaritone sax band, the Bear-Tones; TajMahal is going to be on hand, as is theLevon Helm Horns. A short list of playerson the roster include Joe Daley, EarlMcIntyre, Bob Stewart, Velvet Brown,Dave Bargeron, Nedra Johnson, StevenBernstein, Claire Daly (playing Howard'sfirst baritone sax), Erik Lawrence, ClarkGayton, Lauren Sevian, Jason Marshall
destiny, singing, swinging and expandingthe jazz vocal canon with her passion, pre-cision and artistry. The lyrics to "Free YourMind" serve as her credo: "Free your mindand let your thoughts expand … take yourtime, only on your demand."
Jazzmeia Horn performs at (Le)Poisson Rouge Sept. 9.
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.
Claude Thornhill had a successful band, but he was a little shy of the limelight. While Iwas on the road with him in the summer of 1953, we came to one ballroom that had speciallighting for the band. There were cables with foot switches on the floor of the bandstand, soeach section could control its own lighting.
While I was setting up, I saw that there were three spotlights that were aimed at thepiano, and I pulled the switches for those lights over behind my music stand. On the first set,every time Claude played the melody, I would hit him with a bright white spotlight. If heplayed only a one measure decoration, a bright spot would pick him out. If he had a solo, allthree spotlights would flash on and off as he played. The rest of the band enjoyed watchingClaude's discomfort all during the set.
We took an intermission, and when we returned to the bandstand, I saw that Claude hadfound the switches behind my music stand, and had moved them far away from me. He neversaid a word to me about it.
A Moment You Missed by Fran Kaufman Hot HouseContributing Photographer
I've been a big fan of bandleader MichelaMarino Lerman's tap dancing, but hadno idea she—and members of her band—sing as well.
Here, bassist Russell Hall andMichela are backstage at Ginny's SupperClub in Harlem, getting ready for theirAug. 10 show.
and Melissa Slocum. Students ofInterSchool Orchestras, including threeyoung tubists, also play; the event is a ben-efit for the student financial aid fund of theInterSchool Orchestras of New York. Thegala event concludes with more than twodozen tuba players taking to the stage forthe grand finale. Musicians from aroundthe world are coming to town to partici-pate.
For tickets and information, go to:https://www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/mch/event/tribute-to-howard-johnson/.
The tribute to Howard Johnson isscheduled at Merkin Hall on Sept. 18.
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 29
30
continued on page 32
CATSKILL MOUNTAIN PIZZA COMPANY:51 Mill Hill Rd. Woodstock. 845-679-7969.www.catskillmountainpizza.com. Wed: 9pmJazz Night.
The FALCON: 1348 Rte 9 West. Marlboro.www.liveatthefalcon.com. 845-236-7970.Sets/adm: 8pm, Sun 11am Brunch (B); $20don suggested. Falcon Underground (FU).Sep 1: Ferenc Nemeth Freedom Trio; 7-8:Mood Swing Reunion feat Redman, Mehldau,McBride, Blade; 11: FU 7pm Jazz Sessions;12: Rich Hinman vs. Adam Levy; 19: FUTelepathic Moon Dance; 29: B Saints ofSwing, 8pm Tony Malaby Trio.
LYDIA’S CAFE: 7 Old US Hwy 209. StoneRidge. www.lydias-cafe.com. 845-687-6373.Sets: 7-10pm. Sep 7: Rob Scheps Core-tet;13: Donica, Meyer, Armacost Trio; 21: RolandVazquez Sxt; 27: Benji & Rita.
MAUREEN’S JAZZ CELLAR: 2 N Bway.Nyack. www.maureensjazzcellar.com. 845-535-3143. Sets/adm: unless otherwise notedSun 6pm/$15, Fri-Sat 8&9:30pm/$20. Sep 7:$25 adm Sheila Jordan/Cameron BrownDuo; 13: Bill Ware & the Club All Stars; 14:Mr. Gone; 20: David Janeway Trio; 21: JudyWexler w/Mark Soskin Trio; 22: JudimarieCanterino; 27: Erik Lawrence Qrt feat MaryaLawrence; 28: Maucha Adnet & Duduka daFonseca.
NEWBURGH FREE LIBRARY: 124 Grand St.Newburgh. www.newburghlibrary.org. 845-563-3601. Sep 22: 3-4:30pm free adm JazzMeets Flamenco feat Judi Silvano Trio &Daniel Pimentel, Natalia Loza & GuillermoBarrón.
ORIGINAL VINYL RECORDS: 314 State Rte94 S #7. Warwick. www.originalvinylrecords.com. 845-987-3131.
The ROSENDALE CAFE: 434 Main St.Rosendale. www.rosendalecafe.com. 845-658-9048. Sets: 8pm. Sep 7: $20 adm FrankVignola & Martin Pizzarelli; 28: $15 OlliSoikkeli & Cesar Garabini.
SENATE GARAGE: 4 N Front St. Kingston.www.senategarage.com. 845-802-5900. Sep6: 8pm $30 adm Jazzstock series www.jazzstock.com feat Andy Bey.
SHEPARD PARK: Canada St. Lake George.518-668-2616. www.lakegeorgearts.org. Sep14-15: Jazz Weekend feat 09/14 1pm CamilaMeza & The Nectar Orch, 2:45pm WayneEscoffery Qrt, 4:30pm Chano Domínguez,7:30pm Nate Smith + KINFOLK, 09/15 1pmJohn Ellis & Double Wide, 2:45pm NicoleZuraitis, 4:30pm Dafnis Prieto Sxt.
TRATTORIA MARBELLA: 151 Canal St.Ellenville. www.trattoriamarbella.com. 845-647-9269. Sets: 7pm. Sep 6: Soundstream;13: Hudson Valley Jazz Trio; 14: Chip SheltonPeacetime Ens Trio; 20: Ben Basile & SteveRaleigh; 27: Tom Brendel & Tommy Brendel.
TURNING POINT CAFÉ: 468 Piermont Av.Piermont. www.turningpointcafe.com. 845-359-1089. Mon: 8-11:30pm $5 adm MondayJam by John Richmond.
CHRIS’ JAZZ CAFE: 1421 Sansom St.Philadelphia. www.chrisjazzcafe.com. 215-568-3131.
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):
LISTINGS...continued from page 26
GEORGE STREET ALE HOUSE: 378 GeorgeSt. New Brunswick. www.gsalehouse.com.732-543-2408. The New Brunswick JazzProject/www.nbjp.org. Tues: 8-11pm Emer-ging Artists + Jam. Sep 10: Dave Mosko Qrt;17: Ilan Eisenzweig Gp; 24: Alex Laurenzi.
The GREEK ON MAIN: 419 Main St.Metuchen. www.thegreekonmain.com. 732-515-9457. Sep 22: 11:30am $50 adm JazzBrunch feat Nicki Parrott Trio.
NEW BRUNSWICK PERFORMING ARTSCENTER: 7 Livingston Av. New Brunswick.732-729-0320. www.newbrunswickarts.org.Sep 8: 7-9pm free adm Aaron Diehl.
TAVERN ON GEORGE: 361 George St. NewBrunswick. www.tavernongeorge.com. 732-545-6205. Mon&Wed-Thurs: 8-11pm free admThe New Brunswick Jazz Project www.nbjp.org. Mon: Roseanna Vitro Open Session. Sep4: Lucy Yeghiazaryan Trio; 5: Dave GibsonQrt; 11: Johnny O’Neal Trio; 12: VincentHerring Qrt; 18: Chris DeVito Trio; 19:Freddie Hendrix Qrt; 25: Lou Watson Trio; 26:Don Braden Qrt.
MONMOUTHHERB ECKERT AUDITORIUM: At Senior
Center South Brunswick Municipal Complex.540 Rte 522. Monmouth Junction.www.sbarts.org/jazz-cafe. 732-329-4000X7635. Sep 6: 7:30pm $6 adm New Forest Ens.
MORRISSHANGHAI JAZZ: 24 Main St. Madison. 973-
822-2899. www.shanghaijazz.com. Free adm.Sun 6-8:30pm, Tues 6:30-9pm, Wed-Thurs 7-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 6:15&8:45pm. Closed Mon.Tues: John Korba Trio. Sep 4: CharlieApicella; 5: Dan Levinson w/Kris Tokarski; 6:Jerry Vivino Qrt; 7: Nicki Denner’s BrazilianPiano Trio; 8: Leoneike Scheuble; 11: OlliSoikkeli & friends; 13: Bob DeVos Qrt; 14:Champian Fulton Qrt; 21: Eric Mintel Qrt; 26:Deep Groove Jazz Trio; 28: Matta’s BrazilianQrt.
OCEANThe JAY & LINDA GRUNIN CENTER FORTHE ARTS: 1 College Dr. Toms River. 732-255-0500. www.grunincenter.org. Sep 15:3pm The Jazz Lobsters.
SOMERSETBROOK ARTS CENTER: 10 Hamilton St.
Bound Brook. www.brookarts.org. 732-469-7700. Sep 14: 7:30pm $20/18 adm Amani.
SOMERSERT COUNTY COURTHOUSEGREEN: E Main & Grove Sts. Somerville.Sep 15: 1-6pm free adm Central Jersey JazzFestival www.centraljerseyjazzfestival.comfeat 1:30pm Javon Jackson, 3:05pm BriannaThomas, 4:45pm Nat Adderley, Jr.
WARRENRUTHERFURD HALL: 1686 Rte 517.
Allamuchy. 908-852-1894. www.rutherfurdhall.org. Sep 13: 7:30-9:30pm $22.50/27.50adm Jazz at the Rutherfurd feat DavidLeonhardt Trio w/Nancy Reed.
ATHOS RESTAURANT: 1814 Western Av.Albany. www.athosrestaurant.com. 518-608-6400. Fri: 6:30-9:30pm. Sep 6: TeresaBroadwell Trio; 13: Carmen Lookshire.
CAFFE LENA: 47 Phila St. Saratoga Springs.www.caffelena.org. 518-583-0022. Sep 10: 7-9pm Chuck Lamb Trio & Ben Monder; 12: 7-9pm Hot Club of Saratoga w/Luca Pino; 21:8pm Stephane Wrembel.
NEW YORK STATE PENNSYLVANIA
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 30
31
IT WAS AN ANGRY CATALAN WINDthat wrapped its frozen arms around
composer, pianist and big band leaderJuan Andrés Ospina, delivering himfrom Bogotá and Barcelona to Boston'sBerklee College of Music in 2005, and laterto New York City. There, that wind, tra-montana, turned into the welcomingwarmth of numerous audiences who wereprivileged to listen to his epic works. Sincethen Juan has travelled the world spread-ing the gospel, so to speak, of the music ofColombia, turning its thousand rhythmsinto a molten mix with grand compositionsthat leap off the page through musicians'breathtaking improvisations.
As a matter of fact, Colombia is knownto have more than 1,025 folk rhythms, andJuan has immersed himself in everythingfrom the bambuco to the joropo de losLlanos and zumba que zumba. "I havebeen writing music since childhood, while Iwas at Universidad Javeriana in Bogotáand thereafter, when I attended the EscolaD'Angel Soler and the Taller de Musics inBarcelona," he says. Juan's enigmaticmusic integrates melody, harmony andrhythm, composition and improvisation,individuality and tradition in equalmeasure.
He was not always sure of himselfthough. "It took me years to realize I couldmake it happen," he says. He finally put ittogether in 2018's critically acclaimed self-produced recording Tramontana, named asmuch for the home in which he was raisedin rural Colombia, as for that Catalanwind that brought him from Bogotá to NewYork City. "I had to convince myself that itcould happen. It finally struck me like astrong windstorm, like the cold and fiercetramontana that lashes the Catalancoasts, leaving a clear sky behind," he sayswith poetic flourish.
Nearly everything changed for Juanafter that release. In May 2018, the world-
renowned WDR Big Band in Köln,Germany hosted him and his close musicalassociate Magda Giannikou; Juan conduct-ed the prestigious band playing selectionsfrom Tramontana. Thousands heard theconcert in the auditorium and on its globallive stream. Juan presented the musicagain, at a triumphant homecoming ofsorts at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, performedby 26 New York-based musicians from 10countries.
"I couldn't have done it without the sup-port of my family; my dad and mum," hesays, modestly, "and my brother Nicholásand sister, Sylvia; Magda and my partnerSofia Ribeiro too. They've always believedin me and pushed me to record and per-form this music. Thank God I listened!" headds with a touch of pride.
Where will the music take him fromhere? Back to Dizzy's for starters, for a bigband concert featuring two new songs."Then who knows. Perhaps a duo perform-ance with Nicholás, and our comedy andmusic act, Inténtalo Carito," he says, trig-gering thoughts of another happy tramon-tana.
Juan Andrés Ospina's big band per-forms at Dizzy's Club Sept. 30.
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 31
32
LISTINGS...continued from page 30
Thurs Jam w/Bill Washer & friends. Sep 1:Sharon Norris Gp; 5: R; 6: The Young Lions;7-8: 2:30-11pm COTA Festival feat 09/72:30pm Dark Square, 4:30pm Jay RattmanGp, 6:30pm Clarice Assad & friends, 8pmJam, 09/8 2:30pm Jay Leonhart Trio w/Carolyn Leonhart, 4:30pm Walt Bibinger &Roy Cumming, 6pm Mike Stephans/DaveLiebman Qrt, 8pm Bill Goodwin Qrt, 9pmJam; 12: R; 13: B.D. Lenz Trio; 14: Nancy &Spencer Reed; 15: Vicki Doney & friends; 19:R; 20: Harry Allen; 21: 3Divas; 22: MartinWind Special Trio; 26: R; 27: Barry GreeneTrio; 28: Lewis Porter All-Star Band; 29: RonBogart Qrt.
SOUTH JAZZ: 600 North Broad St.Philadelphia. www.southrestaurant.net. 215-600-0220.
DOMINIES: 34-07 30th Av. Long Island City.718-728-1834. Sun: 9pm-12am Keyed Up featChristian Coleman’s Trample Man.
FLUSHING TOWN HALL: 137-35 NorthernBlvd. Flushing. www.flushingtownhall.org.718-463-7700. 1st Wed: 7pm $10 adm Jamw/Carol Sudhalter. Sep 20: 7pm $16/10 JaneBunnett & Maqueque; 21: 2:30pm $10 MattKoraus & Mark Wade.
JACKSON ROOM: 192-07 Linden Blvd. StAlbans. www.jacksonroom.com. 718-525-2387. Last Sat: 8-11pm. 8&10pm $20 adm inclsnacks/beverage feat Ed Jackson Qrt.
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.
SUTPHIN BOULEVARD: 88-11 Sutphin Blvd.Sep 21: 10am free adm SBID HarvestFestival.
TERRAZA 7: 40-19 Gleane St. Elmhurst.www.terraza7.com. 718-803-9602. Sun:9:30pm-2am $7 adm Jam w/John BenitezTrio. Sep 4: 9:30pm $15 Ari Hoenig Trio; 11:9pm $7 The Terraza 7 Sessions; 12: 9:30pm$15 Pedro Giraudo Tango Qrt.
ALVIN & FRIENDS: 14 Memorial Hwy. NewRochelle. www.alvinandfriendsrestaurant.com. 914-654-6549. Sets/adm: Fri 7-10:30pm,Sat 7:30-11pm/free. Sep 21: Peter Hand Trio.
ARTSWESTCHESTER: 31 Mamaroneck Av.White Plains. 914-428-4220. Sep 12-13:JazzFest www.artswestchester.org feat09/12 8pm $25 adm Pete Malinverni’s Jazz-Chester, 10pm $10 Jam, 09/13 7:30&9pm$20/30 Joel Ross Good Vibes.
BEANRUNNER CAFÉ: 201 S Division &Esther St. Peekskill. 914-737-1701.www.beanrunnercafe.com. Fri-Sat: 8-10:30pm $15 adm. Sep 7: The Alonzo WrightProject; 14: Carlos Barbosa-Lima & Larry DelCasale; 28: Chien Chien Lu feat RichieGoods.
FARMER’S MARKET: 59 Court St. WhitePlains. Sep 11: 12:30pm free adm JazzFestwww.artswestchester.org feat KristinaKoller.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: 199N
QUEENS
WESTCHESTER
Columbus Av at E Lincoln Av. Mount Vernon.www.pjsjazz.org. 914-636-4977. 2nd Sun:5:15-9pm $25 adm Second Sunday Jazzseries. Sep 8: Antoinette Montague.
The GALLERIA: 100 Main St. White Plain. Sep14: 2pm free adm JazzFest www. artswestchester.org feat Jazz at the Galleria YouthShowcase.
GRACE CHURCH: 33 Church St. White Plains.914-949-2874. Sep 11: 12pm free admJazzFest www.artswestchester.org featNanny Assis Trio.
HARRISON PUBLIC LIBRARY: 2 Bruce Av.Harrison. www.harrisonpl.org. 914-835-0324.Sep 28: 2pm Libby Richman & Co.
JAZZ FORUM: 1 Dixon Ln. Tarrytown. 914-631-1000. www.jazzforumarts.org. Sets/adm: Sun4&6pm $15/20; Fri-Sat 7&9:30pm. Sep 1: JillMcCarron Qnt feat the Anderson Brothers; 6-7: $35 John Pizzarelli Trio; 8: Tyler BlantonTrio; 13-14: $30 Brubeck Brothers; 15:Vanderlei Pereira & Blindfold Test; 20-21: $25Freddie Hendrix Qnt; 22: Neal Spitzer &friends; 27-28: $30 Javon Jackson Qrt; 29:closed.
MEDITERRANEO: 189 Main St. White Plains.914-448-8800. Sep 11: 5:30pm free admJazzFest www.artswestchester.org featAlbert Rivera Qrt.
MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE: 5 Mamaro-neck Av. White Plains. 914-683-6101. Sep 11:6:30pm free adm JazzFest www.artswestchester.org feat Pablo Mayor’s Folklore UrbanoNYC Trio.
The RITZ-CARLTON: 3 Renaissance Sq.Westchester. 914-946-5500. Sep 11: 7:30pmfree adm JazzFest www.artswestchester.orgfeat Brian Carter Qrt.
SUNSET RESTAURANT & BAR: 49Mamaroneck Av. White Plains. 914-607-2900.Sep 11: 8:30pm free adm JazzFest www.artswestchester.org feat Gilberto Colon Jr. &Ensalada De Pulpo.
WHITE PLAINS: Mamaroneck Av at Main St.White Plains. Sep 15: 12-5pm free admJazzFest www.artswestchester.org featLagond Music All-Stars, Art Bennett & TheOrganic Ens, Mwenso & The Shakes, CamilleThurman w/Darrell Green Trio, AlphonsoHorne & The Gotham Kings.
WHITE PLAINS PERFORMING ARTS CEN-TER: 11 City Pl. White Plains. 914-328-1600.Sep 14: 8pm $29-44 adm JazzFest www.artswestchester.org feat Emmet Cohen Qrtw/George Coleman & Jimmy Cobb.
WHITE PLAINS PLAZA: 1 N Broadway. WhitePlains. Sep 13: 5pm free adm JazzFestwww.artswestchester.org feat Kotoko Brass.
WHITE PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY: 100Martine Av. White Plains. 914-422-1400. Sep12-14: 12pm free adm JazzFest www.artswestchester.org feat 09/12 Eunha So Qrt,09/13 Marcio Garcia Trio, 09/14 2pm Hands-On Jazz for Families.
Hot House is not responsiblefor any errors in the listingswhich may have occured fromlate changes or incorrect information supplied to us.Please call the venues or check websites
for up to date calendars.
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/22/19 3:48 PM Page 32
34
203868_HH_Sept_0 8/23/19 4:54 PM Page 34
