Sunday, March 31, 2013

Shirley Scott On Piano Jazz

by GRANT JACKSOn, March 29, 201312:04 PM

In this Piano Jazz episode recorded in 1992, we remember the remarkable talents of Shirley Scott, the "Queen of the Organ," as she solos on "Skylark" and joins host Marian McPartland for a piano duet of "In a Mellow Tone."

Shirley Scott was born in Philadelphia in 1934. Famous for her impeccable sense of swing and leadership within soul jazz, she developed her reputation on the Hammond B3 organ. While she was growing up, her father ran a jazz club in the family basement where prestigious musicians performed, including pianist Red Garland, drummer Philly Joe Jones and tenor saxophonist Al Steele.

Listen: http://www.npr.org/2013/03/29/175689014/shirley-scott-on-piano-jazz

Scott herself began playing music when her brother T.L. needed accompaniment for his tenor sax. She took up the piano and quickly developed a thirst for solos. In high school, she briefly played the trumpet, but finally settled with the B3 after hearing a Jackie Davis recording.

Read more: http://www.npr.org/2013/03/29/175689014/shirley-scott-on-piano-jazz?ft=3&f=126134671&sc=nl&cc=jn-20130331

Tom Harrell's 'Colors Of A Dream' In Concert

by PATRICK JARENWATTANANON

At 66, the jazz trumpeter Tom Harrell is as busy as ever: His current band has released five excellent albums since 2007 alone. (It performed for this concert series in 2009.) He's so prolific that he's been writing and arranging music for other ensembles all the while. Last year, Harrell presented a nine-piece chamber jazz ensemble, and he's been at work on a new, piano-less project. That band, called Colors of a Dream, supplements most of his working quintet with new additions — saxophonist Jaleel Shaw and bassist/singer Esperanza Spalding.

A veteran of bandleaders like Horace Silver and Phil Woods, Harrell visits the Village Vanguard to present the next step in his now-hefty solo discography. WBGO and NPR Music featured Colors of a Dream in a live online video webcast and radio broadcast.

Hear > http://www.npr.org/event/music/174986548/tom-harrells-colors-of-a-dream-live-at-the-village-vanguard

Set List
All compositions by Tom Harrell. 
"State"
"Phantasy In Latin"
"2013 Blues"
"Sail Away"
"Sunday"
"Nite Life"

Personnel
Tom Harrell, trumpet/flugelhorn
Jaleel Shaw, alto saxophone
Wayne Escoffery, tenor saxophone
Esperanza Spalding, bass/vocals
Ugonna Okegwo, bass
Johnathan Blake, drums

http://www.npr.org/event/music/174986548/tom-harrells-colors-of-a-dream-live-at-the-village-vanguard?ft=3&f=126134671&sc=nl&cc=jn-20130331

Last Week Top 10 Last week RVJ (radio.video.jazz)

1

Led Zeppelin - Baby, I'm Gonna Leave You (1969 Beat Club Bremen)
  Watch now >  

2

Chick Corea & Béla Fleck - Rehearsal 'Mountain'
  Watch now >  

3

Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin - Live Java Jazz Festival 2013
  Watch now >  

4

B.B. King And The B.B. King Blues Band - On Tour 2013
  Watch now >  

5

Chaka Khan with Al Di Meola - At rehearsal in Budapest
  Watch now >  

6

Norah And The Guys
  Watch now >  

7

Eric Clapton - Crossroads (New Orleans Arena, March 23 2013)
  Watch now >  

8

Aretha Franklin - Respect
  Watch now >  

9

Count Basie Orchestra 1994
  Watch now >  

10

Billie Jean's All Stars @ RaiTunes
  Watch now >  

Swing 46 Jazz And Supper Club Featuring The George Gee Orchestra....

PRWeb – Sat, Mar 30, 2013

The New York City Guide from Financial Firebird Corporation announces Swing 46 as a premium advertiser to promote its Broadway area jazz and supper club with great food and live music. Enjoy live big band music and learn to dance with artists including The George Gee Orchestra.

New York, NY (PRWEB) March 30, 2013
Financial Firebird Corporation announces a new business becoming a premium advertiser for theirNew York City Guide with the inclusion of the Swing 46 Jazz and Supper Club. In addition to taking a rotating spot on the main page of the city directory, Swing 46 added an expanded article about themselves and display ads on various appropriate pages within the website.
Over fifteen years ago, in the heyday of the modern swing resurgence era – Swing 46 Jazz & Supper Club opened its door in Times Square, New York City steps from the major Manhattan theaters, just half a block from BroadwaySwing music dance clubs were popping up all around the country and globe, taking advantage of the cultural climate of 1930s/1940s big band and retro lifestyle. Swing 46 stood out as unique not only in its perfect location at the crossroads of the world, but also the involvement of veteran swing big bandleader George Gee. Under his musical guidance, the trendy nightclub on Restaurant Row developed a world-class schedule of entertainment of music and lindy hop. The hot big band sounds of The George Gee Swing Orchestra held the honor of being first band to grace the Swing 46 stage and continues to thrill music lovers and swing dancers with its weekly Tuesday night big band spectacular. Both local New Yorkers and tourists from the four corners of the world make the pilgrimage every week to experience the ultimate NYC swing big band extravaganza – at the only swing dance supper club standing strong and true (7 nights a week)!
George Gee and his 12 piece swing orchestra (along with vocalist Hilary Gardner and John Dokes) are not just rooted in the retro- tradition, but also serves cutting edge, heaping portions of the music - as evolved from the old Harlem Savoy Ballroom era. Continually seeking new concepts in keeping this great original American art form alive; the regular Tuesday evening show also features The Swing 46 Big Band Floor Show with the championship dancers of award-winning lindy hop dance team – SwingFX!
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/swing-46-jazz-supper-club-featuring-george-gee-071425619.html

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Mulatu Astatke - Steps Ahead

REVIEWS

BBC
He weaves his highly individual magic in an infectious and mysterious style.On the back of his highly acclaimed 2009 collaboration with London-based astral funk group The Heliocentrics – album of the year in Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards – Ethiopian jazz-fusion maestro Mulatu Astatke was lured back into the studio for his first album in his own right for two decades.

Pitchfork
Anyone who’s liked his music in the past is very likely to enjoy this, but I think Mulatu Steps Ahead will broaden Astatke’s jazz following as well, and frankly, it’s a much more coherent record than a lot of heavily improvisational modern jazz albums.

Contact Music
When listening to ‘Mulatu Steps Ahead‘ I wasn’t sure whether it was just a jazz album as there are very clear influences to Ellington with long solos too. For me it’s when the African or other world influences kick in that makes quite special.

Read more: http://the.rvj.pm

Cliff Hines....

A multi-hued tapestry rich in East Asian mystique. Lush and eloquent, never brash nor naive… jazz that is at the same time exuberant and expressive, subtle and supple” – Aaron Lafont, Offbeat Magazine

Cliff Hines is a progressive jazz guitarist and composer from New Orleans, LA. He attended the renowned arts high school NOCCA from 2003-2007 and later became a teacher there from 2007-2010. His quintet (all of whom are NOCCA alum) features vocalist Sasha Masakowski, drummer Paul Thibodeaux, bassist Jasen Weaver, and pianist Andrew McGowan.

As a bandleader, he has toured as far as New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts (Harvard University), Texas (South by Southwest), Utah (The Orion Music Festival), and Oregon. He has also performed as a sideman at the Marciac Jazz Festival (Marciac, France), the High Sierra Music Festival (Quincy, CA), and multiple years at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
He has shared the stage with such heavyweights as Mike Dillon, Skerik, Marco Benevento, Stanton Moore, Johnny Vidacovich, Tony Clifton, Brian Haas and Mark Southerland (of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey), John Speice (of Grupo Fantasma), Helen Gillet and has opened for a diverse group of acts such as Talib Kweli, Jeff Coffin (of Dave Matthews Band), Big Sam’s Funky Nation, and Eric Lindell.

His first record “Like Mystics of Old” was released in 2009, and his second, “Wanderlust” (feat. New Orleans legends James Singleton, Bill Summers, Kent Jordan, and more) is being released January 2013. He is currently touring with The Mike Dillon Band as their bassist/guitarist/keyboard player, their debut album “Urn” is due in September 2012.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Beverly Kenney After Dark

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com

Beverlykenney
As you'll see in the videoclip below, only Hugh Hefner could pour Champagne and then rest his forearm across the top of the bottle. On Hef's Playboy's Penthouse TV show in late 1959 or early 1960, one of his guests was singer Beverly Kenney. Amazing Kenney could remember the lyrics with her host staring at her so intently. But to Kenney's credit, she did manage to coax Hefner into singing with her on Makin' Whoopee. And it turns out he had quite a nice voice. 
Bk_by_chuck_stewart_ssj_2_4
In April 1960—not long after her appearance on Playboy's Penthouse—Kenney committed suicide by combining excessive alcohol and Seconal. It was her second known attempt. She was 28 years old.
Here she is with Hugh Hefner, couresy of JazzWax reader Stuart Yasaki...
Used with permission by Marc Myers

Diane Moser

The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) is pleased to announce that celebrated jazz pianist and award-winning composer Diane Moser will visit the Meadowlands Environment Center (MEC) in April and May for a series of performances and interactive workshops that bring music, math, astronomy and nature together.


The first event, "Music of the Spheres," is on Wednesday, April 10, at 8 p.m. and features Moser’s Composers Big Band performing works inspired by the environment and celestial bodies. The concert is preceded at 7:30 p.m. by a discussion with Moser. After the show, visitors are invited to observe the night sky at the NJMC William D. McDowell Observatory, weather permitting.

On Saturday, May 11, at 8 p.m., Moser returns for "The Birdsong Project," in which her trio performs compositions based on bird songs and the natural soundscape. Join Moser prior to the show at 7:30 p.m. for a talk on "Deep Listening and Acoustic Ecology." Cost for the April 10 and May 11 performances are $15, seniors - $10, and MEC members - $8.

Read more: http://www.northjersey.com/news/200367121_Diane_Moser.html

Sarah Jarosz returns to music festival to open for David Grisham Folk-Jazz Trio

“I think the first documented video of me singing is when I was 2,” Jarosz says. “It’s something I’ve done all my life.
“When I took up the mandolin for the first time, there was no looking back,” she says. “I fell in love with it. Other instruments came along, as well as writing my own songs.”
In May, Jarosz will graduate from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston with a Bachelor of Music in contemporary improvisation, but she’s been performing and touring for years.
On April 5, the Sarah Jarosz Trio will open for the David Grisman Folk-Jazz Trio in a Savannah Music Festival original concert. Her trio first appeared at the festival in 2010. “I’m really looking forward to getting back to Savannah,” she says.
In addition to touring all over the United States, Jarosz has toured the United Kingdom and Canada with fiddler Alex Hargreaves and cellist Nathaniel Smith.
Jarosz began singing and playing in her hometown of Wimberley, Texas. She was 9 when she got a mandolin for Christmas and picked up the clawhammer banjo and guitar along the way.
“It was probably a combination of having heard the mandolin in recordings while growing up and liking the sound of it,” Jarosz says. “Also, as a young girl, it was not the obvious choice, and I kind of liked that about it. Being a little girl playing music, the small nature of the instrument fit me.”
By the time she was 11, Jarosz was performing outside of Texas. She began traveling the festival circuit and in 2007, was signed to Sugar Hill Records.
Her parents have encouraged her all along the way.
“My mom has been a singer and guitarist and songwriter just as a hobby,” Jarosz says. “My dad is a huge music lover. Both of them have showed me so much music I’ve grown to love. They’ve always taken me to live shows and always had music around the house.”
The musicians Jarosz has encountered also have encouraged her.
“I found out about a weekly Friday night bluegrass jam at home in Texas,” she says. “There was an open community aspect of the jam, and I was encouraged by other people to get into it, love it and get better.
“I also attended festivals and camps early on. It seemed to be the kind of music that paved the way for different musical styles.”
Jarosz was a high school senior in 2009 when she made her debut album, “Song Up in Her Head.” Two years later, she was a student at the New England Conservatory when she released “Follow Me Down.”
Both albums received Grammy and Americana Music Association nominations.
Read more: http://savannahnow.com/do/2013-03-28/sarah-jarosz-returns-music-festival-open-david-grisham-folk-jazz-trio#.UVQIvr_hEhQ

David Amram: The First 80 Years

Documentary on the life of music 82-year-old music legend David Amram, who has played and composed in the genres of jazz, classical, folk, country, and rock and roll, and whose collaborators have included Dizzy Gillespie, Jack Kerouac, Miles Davis, Leonard Bernstein, Eugene Ormandy, Charles Mingus, John Frankenheimer, Langston Hughes, Elia Kazan, Johnny Depp, Hunter S. Thompson, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and Pete Seeger. This film kicks off the four-day David Amram Festival at UNC and in Chapel Hill/Carrboro.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Jazz Across Europe (JAE)

Jazz Across Europe  (JAE) is your possibility to combine your love of music with the pleasure of visiting attractive cities and regions all over Europe. This project is an initiative of the Europe Jazz Network.

For the beginning a total of 15 participating festivals have put together exciting tourist packages that offers benefits besides the festivals pass such as special deals at hotels and restaurants, great activities like outdoor trips, balloon flights, museums visits and much more .

This is an ongoing project. Other European cities will join as it continues, so it’s really worthwhile to check this page from time to time.

Read more: http://www.europejazz.net/projects.htm

Skylite Jazz Band Making History

Reported by: Josh Colwell

The Skylite Jazz band from the Savannah Arts Academy will make history this week as they compete in the Savannah Music Festival’s Swing Central Jazz Competition.


Band Director Vann Thornton took the reins of the Jazz Band this year, and says his bands selection is a tremendous opportunity for the kids.


“I wanted to put them on a national stage and I thought what better stage than the Savannah Music Festival, one of the best music festivals in the world.”


The Skylight Jazz Band isn’t just one of the best bands in Savannah, they are one of the best bands in the country and Band Director Vann Thorton says his band being chosen to play in the Savannah Music Festival is a major honor.


“Yea, it is a hug honor for me and the kids; both to be invited to this thing and be a part of the Savannah Music Festival, but the greatest honor is that we are a Savannah band and the first Savannah band and one of only three bands in the state to participate in this.”


Savannah Music Festival Education Director Jenny Woodruff says they couldn’t be more excited to have a local band in the competition.


She says these students will get the training opportunity of a lifetime.


“The real benefit is just working with the clinicians one on one with intensive, immersive ways that is an experience you can’t get anywhere else.”

Read more: http://www.thecoastalsource.com/news/local/story/Skylite-Jazz-Band-Making-History/Q3B2EggjDkOVSShilQekCQ.cspx?rss=1669

NJJazzList.com Calendar

03/28 Thu Sylvia Cuenca Quartet at Makeda - 338 George St. New Brunswick, NJ 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm Style:Mixed, Cover: None, Drummer Sylvia Cuenca featuring Tim Ries on sax, Ron Oswanski on keyboard and Essiet on bass. Makeda - 338 George St. New Brunswick, NJ $5 cover charge. Learn more , (Unknown)

03/28 Thu Barbara Rose, Pianist & Vocalist at Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm Style: Mixed,Cover: None, Barbara’s style as a vocalist ranges from Judy Garland to Janis Joplin. Her piano style is reminiscent of Thelonius Monk. Learn more Hear samples , (732/848)
03/28 Thu Craig Handy & The Second Line Smith at Pilsener Haus & Biergarten 8:00 pm to 12:00 am Style:Soul/Groove, Cover: None, The music of Jimmy Smith meets New Orleans 2nd Line Learn more , (201/551)
03/28 Thu Greg Murphy at Lorenzo's 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm Style: Mixed, Cover: None, Hilton Garden Inn Staten Island 1100 South Avenue, Staten Island New York 718-477-2400 Learn more Hear samples , (Other )
03/28 Thu Greg Murphy at Lorenzo's 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm Style: Mixed, Cover: None, Learn more Hear samples , (Other )
03/28 Thu Jazz Celebration Big Band at Temperance House 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm Style: Swing/Big Band,Cover: $10 or less, 17 piece Jazz Orchestra featuring vocalist Claudia Perry Learn more Hear samples , (Unknown)
03/28 Thu Jazz Celebration Big Band at Temperance House 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm Style: Swing/Big Band,Cover: $10 or less, 17 piece Jazz Orchestra performing repertoire of Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman etc. Features vocalist Claudia Perry Learn more Hear samples , (Unknown)
03/28 Thu Jim Jasion & David Grossman at Pinoy Goods Restaurant 18 DivisionSt Somerville NJ 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Style: Straight-ahead, Cover: None, Piano Guitar duo - Straight-Ahead Jazz, Swing, Bossa with some vocals Learn more , (908/ )
03/28 Thu Jim Jasion & David Grossman at Pinoy Goods Restaurant 18 DivisionSt Somerville NJ 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Style: Straight-ahead, Cover: None, Piano/Guitar Duo playing Straight-Ahead, Swing & Bossa with Vocals and The Great American Songbook Learn more , (908/ )
03/29 Fri Bob DeVos Organ Quartet at Trumpets 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm Style: Contemporary/Post Bop, Cover:over $10, with Ralph Bowen-tenor sax, Dan Kostelnik-organ & Steve Johns-drums. 6 Depot Square, Montclair, NJ. Playing new music from the new CD. Learn more Hear samples , (862/973)
03/29 Fri Jim Jasion & Daijiro Okada at Pinoy Goods Restaurant 18 DivisionSt Somerville NJ 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Style: Straight-ahead, Cover: None, Piano Guitar duo - Straight-Ahead Jazz, Swing, Bossa with some vocals - with an eye towards ballads and Great American Songbook Learn more , (908/ )
03/29 Fri Jim Jasion & Daijiro Okada at Pinoy Goods Restaurant 18 DivisionSt Somerville NJ 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Style: Straight-ahead, Cover: None, Piano/Guitar Duo playing Straight-Ahead, Bossa & Fusion with Vocals and The Great American Songbook Learn more , (908/ )
03/29 Fri KEVIN HILDEBRANDT - solo guitar/vocals at SIAM GARDEN THAI RESTAURANT 2 Bridge Ave Red Bank 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm Style: Guitar, Cover: None, Learn more Hear samples , (732/848)
03/29 Fri OPEN JAZZ JAM AND FISH FRY at MOORE'S LOUNGE AKA BILL & RUTH'S, JERSEYNCITY, NJ 7:00 pm to 1:00 am Style: Jam Session, Cover: None, WINARD HARPER AND ROSALIND GRANT HOST THIS JAM EVERY FRIDAY. 8:30 pm - MIDNIGHT OPEN TO ALL MUSICIANS, VOCALISTS, SPOKEN WORD ARTISTS, DANCERS AND JAZZ MUSIC LOVERS. NO COVER NO MINIMUM. , (201/551)
03/29 Fri Pam Purvis & Bob Ackerman at Anna Bella Ristorante, Bath Pike, Bethlehem, PA 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm Style: Mixed, Cover: None, Back by popular demand, We continue to swing it at this popular restaurant. Reservations recommended. 4505 Bath Pike, Bethlehem, PA Learn more Hear samples , (Unknown)
03/29 Fri Rob's Blues-Jazz Quartet at Shanghai Jazz in Madison 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm Style: Mixed, Cover:None, Rob's Quartet will play Liitlle Walter to Sonny Rollins and more! 2 seatings so call 973-822-2899 for resvLearn more Hear samples , (Other )
03/30 Sat BLUE SOUL at ROD's - Steak and Seafood Grille Lounge 9:00 pm to 12:00 am Style: Blues-Electric,Cover: None, Blue Soul fuses vintage Blues, R&B, Soul, New Orleans, Jazz, and Rock styles. Featuring Herb Woodson (vocals), Bailey Gee (bass/vocals), Mitch Eisenberg (guitar), Glenn McClelland (piano), Frank Pagano (drums). Morristown, NJ - call (973) 539-6666 for info & reservations. NO COVER CHARGE !! Hang out at the bar and enjoy the music, or try their new casual dining "Red Dog Tavern". Learn more , (Unknown)
03/30 Sat Barbara Rose, Pianist & Vocalist at Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm Style: Mixed,Cover: None, Barbara’s style as a vocalist ranges from Judy Garland to Janis Joplin. Her piano style is reminiscent of Thelonius Monk. Learn more Hear samples , (732/848)