#SteveColeman is the most

Steve Coleman is the most important jazz musician that many fans have never heard of https://t.co/1FSvPtneKN

— New York Times Arts (@nytimesarts) August 31, 2016

#SteveColeman is the most important

Steve Coleman is the most important jazz musician that many fans have never heard of https://t.co/kRMVpXkEJD pic.twitter.com/hbDjKAvu4l

— New York Times Arts (@nytimesarts) August 28, 2016

Desert Island Discs with Steve Coleman

The National Jazz Museum in Harlem

Listening Party

Tuesday, March 22

Presenter: Ted Panken

58 W. 129th Street
2/3 Train to 125th and walk north to 129th then east (right) on 129th 

In the fall of 2015, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem debuted its version of Desert Island Discs. It's modeled on an iconic BBC radio show, extant since 1942, which invites eminences from various walks of life to choose-and discuss-the eight records they would bring for a stay on the apocryphal desert island. For the Jazz Museum's expanded version, the presenters are jazz musicians, who will present a cohort of music, of any genre, that was essential in the formation and evolution of their musical personality.

"Of all the musicians who followed Coltrane, Ornette and the AACM," Vijay Iyer said several years ago, "Steve Coleman has done the most work, and sustained the highest level of innovation and creativity, of output and impact." A 2014 MacArthur "Genius Grant" recipient, the 59-year-old alto saxophonist-composer, a disciple of Charlie Parker and the great Chicago-based saxophonists Von Freeman and Bunky Green, has spent the last quarter-century investigating and dissecting the musical systems of various non-Western and ancient Mediterranean cultures.

He's refracted them into a cohesive weave that reflects his own experience and cultural roots, as documented on a discography numbering more than 30 recordings and elaborated upon in numerous workshops and residencies. An extraordinarily effective communicator, his influence can be discerned in the musical production of a host of post-Boomers, among them Iyer, Miguel Zenon, Ravi Coltrane, Yosvany Terry and Rudresh Mahanthappa.

Charles Lloyd, Nicole Mitchell, Steve Coleman among top jazz releases

By Bret Saunders, Special to The Denver Post

There's so much accomplished new recorded music stacking up that I thought this relative breather between concerts would be a good time to get some of it out of my system and perhaps into yours.

Mostly Other People Do The Killinghas, over the decade since their formation, gelled into one of the premier jazz ensembles. Their CD cover art has perhaps received as much attention as the music itself, with the quartet's members re-creating classic LP shots from the likes of Roy Haynes and Ornette Coleman.

On the new "Slippery Rock" (Hot Cup) they present themselves as members of a slick '80s-era pop jazz ensemble a la Spyro Gyra (who will be in Parker

Lee Konitz will play at Dazzle on Sunday. (Associated Press)

this week, see below.) The irreverent cover art aside, this is a band committed to dizzying, avant-leaning intensity, usually provided with a hurried pulse. If MOPDTK remind me of anyone at this point, it's the infrequently documented ensembles of saxophonist and composer Henry Threadgill, which makes it as adventurous (and enthralling) as "jazz" gets. Meanwhile, trumpeter Peter Evans and woodwind expert Jon Irabagon are currently vying for the mightiest front line going.

Charles Lloydcontinues his seemingly endless winning streak with"Hagar's Song" (ECM) a more reflective set of duetswith pianist Jason Moran. Lloyd utilizes his arsenal of flutes and saxes to engage in soothing dialogue with pianist Moran, who has proven himself to be an empathic presence. It's a lovely hour, with the elder statesman reflecting on history (of jazz and himself.) Particularly effective are the meditative "Hagar Suite," the blues-inflected cover of Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo," and the CD's delicate coda, a cover of (former Lloyd associates) The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows."

The notion of "jazz flute" has probably been relegated to Ron "Anchorman" Burgundy in recent years, and that's too bad, because, like Lloyd, there are some fine practitioners on the instrument,includingNicole Mitchell. Her quartet Ice Crystal has a spirited new CD, "Aquarius," (Delmark) that extends back into Eric Dolphy and Rahsaan Roland Kirk territory. The idea behind this project is to contrast her flute with vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, hence the aural "ice crystals." The sonic combination is intriguing, and even if you're not disposed to love the flute as a lead instrument, there are plenty of exciting ideas being explored here. Of the handful of Mitchell's releases I've heard, this one is the most appealing.

Read more:Charles Lloyd, Nicole Mitchell, Steve Coleman among top jazz releases - The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/music/ci_22843696/charles-lloyd-nicole-mitchell-steve-coleman-among-top?source=rss#ixzz2ObHtCw00

Steve Coleman Joins New Label

Saxophonist Steve Coleman has signed with Pi and will release his first disc in nine years, Harvesting, Semblances And Affinities, on June 8.

All of the compositions on Harvesting, Semblances And Affinities are originals, except for “Flos Ut Rosa Floruit,” with a medieval Latin spiritual text, which was written by the Danish composer Per Nørgård. Some of the material is inspired by the work of Ramon Llull, a Majorcan mystical philosopher. The release features Coleman's band Five Elements, which includes trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson, Tim Albright on trombone, bassist Thomas Morgan, Tyshawn Sorey on drums and vocalist Jen Shyu. For more info go to http://www.pirecordings.com/
http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=news&subsect=news_detail&nid=1515