The Augmented Ear

A movie about a guitarist ... by a guitarist

2010-09-23T09:22:00.001-07:00

One of the coolest things about Steve Vai is that he is committed to his love of the instrument and music. Many artists have enjoyed artistic freedom, controlling their output and being able to maintain their visions thanks to his Favored Nations label.
Several years ago, Vai greenlighted a movie bio-pic about the legendary Hank Garland, called Crazy. I hadn't heard of this movie before coming across it on Netflix, and enjoyed it immensely.

Granted, it's a fictionalization, and gives short shrift to Garland's terrific jazz playing, but the first 30 minutes are a delight for fans of jazz guitar, western swing, or rockabilly playing. The opening shots of a room filled with Gibson and Gretsch archtops are a players' dream sequence.

For those unfamiliar with Garland, check out his recordings with Gary Burton. Burton says he went to Nashville to record with Boots Randolph, a local Evansville, Ind., hero when Burton was growing up, hired to play on Garland's jazz album.

The result is magic -- some of the best, hard swinging small combo music you'll hear. Garland reminds me of Barney Kessel at times, playing with that easy swing not matter the tempo, with a touch of blues every now and then.

His chord knowledge is just astounding, though. He jumps into quick chord stabs in the middle of a melodic run, then slips back into the run. Other times, he uses chains of chords to embellish a melody.

Check out Crazy if you like movies about musicians and great music. Watch for real-life guitarist Tony MacAlpine's screen debut as Wes Montgomery!

Oh, and producer Vai slips in for a moment Hank Williams.

Music service ... or disservice?

2010-09-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

I subscribe to several music services, including Napster and eMusic, for accessing music for my listening enjoyment, for work and for teaching. All of these sites offer their helpful "picks" or recommendations, but there's a huge difference between the recommendations made by the sites.
Compare Napster's top picks to eMusic's:
Napster:
Lyla by Avishai Cohen
The Architect of Modern Bossa Nova (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
The Best of Dizzy Gillespie
Ultimate Big Band Collection: Glenn Miller
Body and Soul, by Louis Armstrong

eMusic:
Pathways, by the Dave Holland Octet
Kind of Blue, by you know who
Lush Life, by John Coltrane
Half the Perfect Word, by Madeleine Peyroux

This a list of really great and important work done half-a-century ago ... and three new releases. Making Kind of Blue
one of your picks on these sights is analagous to "phoning it in": you've obviously not heard anything new so you're falling back for the obvious.

In fairness, both sites are pushing Esperanza Spalding on the eve of her new release, which is great. Scroll down a little bit to find my opinions of Ms. Spalding.

But as wonderful as she is, she is but one of hundreds of hugely talented people recording and touring today. Most of whom are getting the short end of the stick because record companies -- and their apparent proxies, the music services -- are beholden to their back catalogs of classic recordings.

If jazz is in trouble, it's because these companies have decided the marketplace only has the capacity to grow by one or two new names each year (this year's additions are Michael Buble and Spalding). There's more money to be mined in what was recorded 50 years ago, so why bother?

It's got to be extremely difficult for musicians to get their names known and to build any kind of music sales -- it's not right to make them compete with Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie.

An extra treat at the Somerville Jazz Festival

2010-09-12T17:27:00.000-07:00

Made it to Somerville in time to catch all of Louis Hayes' set -- the set list included some Monk, some Coltrane, some Adderley ... Hubbard and Shorter tunes. Terrific!
I took a Bloggie, hoping to capture at least one performance but forgot to change the settings -- after getting about 2 minutes of the opening tune, the memory card was full and the camera jammed up ... but I did get this video of the mayor of Somerville, Brian Gallagher, declaring Sept. 12 as "Louis Hayes Day" in Somerville.

Here's Louis showing off his proclamation:

Wouldn't it have been great to have captured a bit of the performance -- especially since Hayes brought Javon Jackson out! What a great treat!

A Central Jersey jazz weekend

2010-09-09T13:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend offers local jazz fans a feast and a festival ... Princeton's Jazz Feast on Saturday, and Sunday's Somerville Jazz Festival. Both have great lineups -- can you make both?

Princeton's feast opens with the Princeton University Jazz Ensemble -- a top notch group -- and follows with the New Legacy Jazz Band. Bucky Pizzarelli returns at 2:30 to help accompany Nicki Parrott -- that will be a great treat.

The afternoon is rounded out with The Fins and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks will wrap things up.

Sunday's fun begins at 1 p.m. and has a fabulous lineup: The Curtis Brothers, "Sweet Papa" Lou Donaldson, Melissa Walker and the great Louis Hayes to close it. Last year, the festival ended with Jimmy Heath -- do I see a pattern here? If so, it's a good one!

Both events are downtown and outside, so plan on getting in early for the best spots.

Thursday in Princeton

2010-08-26T12:02:00.001-07:00

Came across Adam Parker-Lavine and friends playing at Princeton's Farmers Market today:

Sorry for the lo-fi audio, but it's always nice to hear live music enhancing a gathering.

Jazz in Jersey City Friday

2010-08-02T18:37:00.000-07:00

If you've a taste for jazz delivered fresh, head to Casa Dante in Jersey City, Friday. Laura Hull will be joining Vic Juris and Steve LaSpina for a set starting at 7:30 p.m.
If you've not heard Ms. Hull, be sure to visit her website; ditto for Mr. Juris, one of the best guitarists in the area. They should make a great combination.Ms. Hull is not only one of New Jersey's busiest performers, she's also the current president of the New Jersey Jazz Society.
Casa Dante is at 737 Newark Ave.

New Brunswick project taking off

2010-07-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

New Brunswick is an often-overlooked oasis of terrific jazz, much of it safely cocooned within Rutgers' scattered venues.

Recently, a group of in-town jazzbos launched the New Brunswick Jazz Project, aimed at increasing the visibility and awareness of jazz in the Queen City. Headed by Rutgers prof – and Posi-Tone Records artist -- Ralph Bowen, the group has emerged as a solid source of jazz performers around town. I had a chance to review Bowen's Due Reverence for AllAboutJazz.com recently – you can read the review here.

The group has been organizing events in recent weeks, and Thursday, saxophonist Todd Bashore and his quartet will perform at Makeda at 338 George St. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., runs to 11 p.m., and there's no cover charge. The quartet includes pianist Orrin Evans, Yasushi Nakamura on bass, and Chris Brown on drums.

This show is a bit of a tune-up date for the group, which will be recording in August, ahead of Bashore's departure to hook up with the Max Weinberg Big Band for an upcoming tour.

Summertime, and the re-issues are jumpin' ...

2010-07-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

It's the middle of the summer, apparently not the best time to release a new CD. For those willing to try, beware of the competition!
According to AllAboutJazz.com's CD release schedule, this month has been rife with re-issues. From John Coltrane to Charles Mingus, Louis Armstrong to Bill Evans, it's been a crowded field of big names. Revamped, re-issued, reworked or re-mastered, it's a tough crowd to go against.
Next month perks up, though, with releases from Dave Liebman, Esperanza Spalding, Brian Bromberg, Vijay Iyer, Kenny Werner and Jeff Berlin.

Brains, beauty ... and a bass

2010-07-15T10:51:00.001-07:00

If you've not listened to Esperanza Spalding, you're missing out on a rare treat.
Spalding is a 25-year-old dynamo, maybe the best thing to happen to jazz in a decade or two because she has the star quality missing from so many young players. Eldar and Julian Lage are exciting players, but Spalding is not only a capable player -- she's also a singer capable of making a song her own.

Check out this video of her performing Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed":

We can thank Pat Metheny for this treat: the story goes Esperanza was ready to quit Berklee after spending two semesters lugging her bass around, and switch to a political science major. But Metheny told her not to, pointing out she has the undefinable quality that can make an artist rise above others.

Need more proof? Here she is Jimmy Kimmel's show:

How can jazz be dying when it draws someone so full of life?

Fairy tales can come true ... it can happen to you

2010-07-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

Choosing to be a musician is a commitment for the long-term, especially if one aspires to be a jazz musician. For every Jamie Callum or Eldar, there are thousands of determined players woodshedding every day and dreaming of having a hit record.
They may have even already recorded the tracks that will break through – and don’t know it. That’s what happened to New Jersey pianist Joel Zelnik.
Zelnik is a regular performer in New York and Northern New Jersey clubs, where he and his wife Francine Evans draw crowds with their tributes to Frank Sinatra, Big Band girl singers and other shows.
His career began in the late 1960s, when he formed the J. Zelnik Trio. The group’s swinging performances earned them lots of fans, including Dr. Billy Taylor, who would feature tracks from an LP recorded by the trio in 1970, Move, regularly on his radio shows.
Turns out, Move is a big hit in Japan … in 2010.
The album wasn’t a big seller initially, in fact, when the son of the trio’s drummer David Rosenburg, who died some years after the recording was made, wanted to hear his late-father’s work a few years ago, the only copy anyone seemed to know about was on Zelnik’s shelf.
Zelnik made a copy of the recording and sent it to Jay Rosenburg (son of David). Jay enjoyed it so much, he began a one-man crusade to spread the music of the J. Zelnik Trio.
Thanks to the Internet, Japanese businessman Keisuke Taniguchi became a fan, investing time and money in producing a CD to release in Japan.
Search online for the J. Zelnik Trio and a handful of Japanese sources pop up – using Google’s translator, a few things were clear: the album is legendary among jazz fans there (and they are a dedicated and informed bunch); it features such tunes as “Tune Up,” “A Minor Thought” and “Will You be Mine”;… and it’s selling out.
It’s such a hit, the Japanese Think! Label has already arranged to release a follow-up, Joel Zelnik Trio Live At Steinway Piano Gallery.
Both recordings are available stateside from Dusty Groove’s American site, dustygroove.com.

Summary judgment: Royce Campbell

2010-06-21T12:31:00.000-07:00

I just received a new CD from guitarist Royce Campbell, the third he's kindly sent me to review. While I owe him a longer writeup on his "Movie Songs Project" with Phil Woods, I wanted to share his name and my thoughts on his music sooner than I'll be able to do otherwise.
Campbell's latest release is "Solo Trane" (on Moon Cycle Records), a collection of John Coltrane tunes arranged for the guitar. Most musicians have enough trouble getting comfortable with Coltrane's often-complex harmonic ideas to skip trying to craft intelligent or creative arrangements -- it's all about the speed of soloing for too many Coltrane-wannabes. I've only had a chance to hear about half of the release, but it's clear Campbell is firing on all cylinders on these cuts. His treatment of "Naima" is magnificent; quietly passionate while still exploring all of the harmonic potentials of the song.
"Trane Track" gets a fun, strummed treatment to bounce melody and solo lines from ... I'm anxious to hear it again.
"The Movie Songs Project" (on Philology Jazz), a collection of movie soundtracks with bassist Bob Bowen, drummer Ron Free -- and a freelancing Phil Woods -- will satisfy bebop fans of such soundtrack faves as "Manha De Carnival" or "Laura." This group plays with classic cool, easily swinging while soloists tear through. Woods plays with a quiet intensity -- you can always count on quality improvisation with him, but he seems to be enjoying this outing a lot. I never thought of "Baby Elephant Walk" as much more than a novelty tune, but in the hands of capable musicians ...
The first listen I had of Campbell was his "Art of Chord Solo Guitar," which I wrote about for AllAboutJazz.com (you can read it here).
I found Campbell's solo work to be top-notch; it's great to see he isn't hindered in a band setting -- or by some of jazz's most challenging compositions.

A look at musicians' hard lives

2010-06-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

If you'd like to get a pretty realistic glimpse of the life of a jazz musician, turn in to HBO's "Treme," set in post-Katrina New Orleans.
Several of the show's primary characters are musicians, jazz or other, who eke out a living in one of America's most musical cities. If you can't make it here, can you anywhere?
Wendell Pierce stars as trombonist Antoine Batiste, marching in funeral lines by day and gigging anywhere he can at night. In one early episode, a taxi driver holds onto his horn while Antoine checks in on a gig, getting an advance to cover the fare.
Rob Brown's New York-based Delmond Lambreaux walks out of a gig at Small's in one episode to head south.
The show has featured appearances by Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, Sammie Williams, Donald Harrison Jr., Galactic, Trombone Shorty Andrews, Deacon John, The Pine Leaf Boys, and the Rebirth and Tremé Brass Bands for additional local flavor.
The show doesn't gloss over some of the hard realities of being a musician -- for example, both Antoine and Delmond are estranged from their families initially (Antoine seems to have a couple ...), which adds a smack of realism.
If you really want to see life on a jazz tour, though, check out the blog saxophonist Froy Aagre wrote for Jazz.com here. There's a bit of culture shock as she discovers the difference between being a professional musician in Europe and one in America, but it's also great to see things through her eyes ... and ears.

Summer's near and jazz is in the air

2010-06-03T12:45:00.000-07:00

Last night launched John Henry Goldman's summer series of perfomances at Labyrinth Books on Nassau Street in Princeton, which will continue each Wednesday night through July. If you missed it, you can catch John Henry, with Luke Abruzzo, Gary Schaeffer and Mike Ipri at Tre Pieni in Forestal Village at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night.
Friday, you can catch the VooDudes at the South Brunswick Jazz Cafe at 8 p.m., Dick Gratton at the Chambers Walk Cafe in Lawrenceville from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. And next weekend, enjoy the Wendy Zoffer Jazz Group at the Princeton Shopping Center from noon to 3 p.m. June 12, or help Stanley Jordan raise money for CASA Mercer County at the Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village on June 13 (the same day Fred Hersch and Joel Frahm are at the Lawrenceville School as part of the Princeton Festival).
There's so much great music to enjoy in Central Jersey -- be sure to get out and show your support for your favorite musicians.

Time to move on?

2010-05-11T07:29:00.001-07:00

I'm about to betray my generation, but I have to say I'm growing tired of the music of my youth. This is something that many of my fellow baby boomers apparently haven't felt ... yet.

While I still dearly love listening to -- and regularly do -- the music I grew up with, from the Beatles to George Benson, and Deep Purple to Return to Forever, I am forever hunting down new music to enjoy.

In recent years, I've found some recordings that I think will hold up over the years, just the way "Sgt. Pepper's" or "Kind of Blue" has, and I've mentioned them in other posts.

But I find the inability of many people to hear and fully enjoy such new music to be completely mystifying -- how can you find satisfaction in a steady diet of 50 or 60 year old music?

Dare I say it? Those recordings and musicians were great, but were not perfect. And you can be assured the last thing Miles Davis would have wanted is for his fans to stop hearing new music.

Thanks to sources like Napster, emusic and CD Baby, it's possible to consume a huge amount of new music, releases from musicians you've never heard of, from all around the globe.

Many are uninteresting or dully conceived; many are dazzling and brilliant. Are they as ground-breaking as "Giant Steps" was? No ... but how often can you listen to that and still feel it's originality?

I don't know if Ray Barretto's "Time is, time was" will be a classic, but I know I love to hear it as much as I love hearing Weather Report's "Black Market."

I don't know if critics and listeners will treasure Stefon Harris and Blackout's "Urbanus" as much as they treasure Charles Mingus' "Ah um," but I know it gives me the same pleasure as the first times I heard Mingus.

Some musicians attain greatness through ideas that flash like brilliant meteors; others are great through the brilliance of solid and steady performance. It's not always easy to tell which is which, when all we see is the brilliance, but you'll never know if you've closed your eyes.

Need proof? Check out the documentary "Jazz in the Present Tense," by directors Lars Larson, Peter J. Vogt and Michael Rivoira. It's not available widely yet, but here's a review by AllAboutJazz.com editor John Kelman that details the film's highlights.

Mary Lou, we hardly know ya ...

2010-05-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

The Princeton University Concert Jazz Ensemble will be paying tribute Saturday to Mary Lou Williams, possibly jazz's most overlooked genius, on the centennial of her birth.

Maybe it was her gender, maybe it was the company she kept (she worked for Dorsey, Goodman, Ellington ... you name it, anyone with a decent band in the 1930s wanted her arrangements), maybe she's just not had the kind of continuous presence many others have gotten; whatever the reasons, it's time to correct the oversight and give her her due.

Let's hope this concert goes a long way towards doing so. If it doesn't, it won't be because of the music: the jazz ensemble -- directed by Anthony Branker -- will play Williams' "New Musical Express," "Mary’s Idea," "Walkin’ and Swingin,’" "In the Land of Oo-Bla-Dee" and other standards she wrote or arranged.

Tickets are $15 and can be reserved here.

If you want to sample Williams' work, check out the fun novelty boogie-woogie "47th Street Jive," or "Harmony Blues." On for a longer listen, try the "Zodiac Suite" from 1945. Later on, Williams took to writing gospel music, capped by the beautiful "Black Christ of the Andes" in 1964. She returned to writing jazz, releasing such gems as 1974's soul jazz outing "Zoning."

Mary Lou Williams' unerring ear kept her composing through five decades of music, and she was always able to bring something new to her work. She deserves wider recognition and appreciation, which Saturday's concert may help launch.

Enjoy a big band?

2010-04-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

If you enjoy big band music, there are precious few opportunities to hear one outside of New York City.

One regular exception is the Jazz Celebration Big Band, which performs (almost) monthly at the Temperance House in Newtown, Pa. -- and will at 8 p.m. April 29.

The band will also have an added attraction: former Woody Herman saxophonist Larry McKenna. As Cadence magazine noted in a review of one of McKenna's releases, he shows "the skills and stylistic mannerisms that earned him a spot in the 1959 Woody Herman band and the high esteem of his home city's Jazz community."

Reserve tickets now for this event, which often sells out -- even without headliners like McKenna -- thanks to the band's quality and vocalist Claudia Perry.

Jazz writers pick award nominees

2010-04-19T14:09:00.001-07:00

The Jazz Journalists Association announced the finalists for the 2010 Jazz Awards, with a nice mix of young and old musicians in the list of the nominated.

Some of the newer names worth checking out are bandleader Darcy James Argue (who garnered nominations in five categories (Up & Coming Artist of the Year, Composer, Arranger, Big Band for his Secret Society and Record of the Year) and Vijay Iyer (nominated for Musician of the Year, Composer, Record, Small Ensemble and Pianist).

Lifetime Achievement in Jazz nominees include Muhal Richard Abrams, Jimmy Heath, James Moody, Wayne Shorter and Randy Weston -- and how James Moody and especially Wayne Shorter haven't already been awarded this honor must be a bit of an embarassment for the JJA. From Art Blakey to Weather Report, Shorter was a great contributor to the sound of jazz in the '60s to the '80s. Any self-respecting musician should know at least a handful of Shorter's compositions.

Nominees for Record of the Year include Argue's "Infernal Machines" and the Vijay Iyer Trio's "Historicity," and "Travail, Transformation and Flow" by the Steve Lehman Octet, "Folk Art" by Joe Lovano, Henry Threadgill's "This Brings Us To" and "Esta Plena" by Miguel Zenón.

New Jersey is well represented on the list -- with Bucky Pizzarelli up for Guitarist of the Year honors, and two WBGO hosts nominated for the Willis Conover-Marian McPartland Award for Broadcasting: Josh Jackson, for his "The Checkout -- Live at the Village Vanguard" program and (naturally) Gary Walker's "Morning Jazz."

Before the winners are announced, check out the nominees you haven't heard -- I guarantee you'll find some excellent jazz.

Shows to see this week

2010-04-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

I haven't been able to stay current with all of the great performances these days, but here are a few Central Jersey Jazz highlights to check out:

The John Bianculli Trio with Earl Sauls on bass and Taro Okamoto on drums will be at Steakhouse 85 on Church Street in New Brunswick from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.

Philadelphia-based Ellipsis will be at Small World Coffee on Witherspoon Avenue in Princeton, 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Stryker-Slagle (that's Dave Stryker and Steve Slagle) are featured at Trumpets Jazz in Montclair, Saturday.

Bucky Pizzarelli should be declared some kind of national treasure -- see why when he plays at Shanghai Jazz Wednesday night.

And guitarist Dick Gratton is featured in Lawrenceville twice this week: Friday at Chambers Walk Cafe and Saturday at Amalfi's.

Get out and enjoy live jazz this week.

March: in like a jazz lion

2010-03-11T13:24:00.000-08:00

Thursday, March 11
Join the fun at the Hopewell Inn with the jazz jam lead by Jim Popik, of Black Diamond Jazz. Bring your horn, ax or sticks anytime after 8 p.m.

Friday, March 12
The John Bianculli Trio, with vocalist Jackie Jones will be at Christopher’s at the Heldrich Hotel, 10 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Dick Gratton is at the Chambers Walk Café in Lawrenceville from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays.

If you’re a fan of guitarist Dave Stryker, you’ll be glad to know he’s got a new CD out, One for Reedus (Steeplechase, 2010) -- head to Cecil’s in West Orange from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. for the CD release gig. Appearing with him are Jared Gold on organ, and drummer Steve Williams.

Jerry Vivino brings his quartet to Shanghai Jazz in Madison tonight. It’ll be a good time – although he might be playing more blues since the gig with Conan ended …

Sarah Partridge
sings for the crowd at Hibiscus Restaurant at tonight’s Jazz Friday show, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Eryn Shewell may be New Jersey’s next “big thing”: her compositions cover everything from folk to R&B; her voice moves from Norah Jones smooth to Janice Joplin rough … when matched with her guitar chops and terrific band, it’s a rich combination. You can catch her at Giamano’s Restaurant in Bradley Beach at 8 p.m. tonight.

Guitarist Jim DeAngelis will be at Bottagra Restaurant in Hawthorne at 7:30 p.m. tonight with Jake Kulik, Lady Ci Ci and Don Williams.

Saturday, March 13
Pepe Moralli is this week’s featured jazz disciple at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton, today. Music starts at 3 p.m.

Rio Clemente will be performing at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. with Carmine and Dorayne Lombardo at The Bickford Theater in Morristown.
Call 973-971-3706 to purchase tickets.

Gordon James will spice up the offerings on Princeton’s Salt Creek Grille menu. Stop in from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and catch Gordon with his bandmates, Richard Cummings on piano, Chris Plunkett on bass, and Al Johnson on drums.

Sunday, March 14
The Brook Arts Center, in Bound Brook, is hosting an afternoon jazz event with guitarist Joel Perry at 3p.m. Tickets are $10 per person in advance ($15 at the door) and may be purchased at www.ticketweb.com, www.ticketmaster.com, at Mama Rosina’s Restaurant at the Bound Brook Train Station, or by calling the theatre at 732-469-7700. Perry has played with Lavern Baker, Joni Mitchell, Herb Ellis, Rosemary Clooney, Frank Foster and Ken Peplowski. His quartet will include Nick Scheuble on drums; Bill Crow on bass and vocalist Frank Noviello.

Pam Purvis, Bob Ackerman and Matt Chertkoff are at Cecil’s in West Orange at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, March 15
McCoy Tyner comes to Princeton's McCarter Theatre for a 7:30 p.m. Monday night gig with Gonzalo Rubalcaba.

Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, March 16
Ron Oswanski tickles the keys on his Hammond B3 at the Hibiscus Restaurant Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortiumjam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, March 17
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte entertains at Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Here's a movie to look for

2010-03-08T13:28:00.000-08:00

Eric Reed and Stacy Dillard are testing out their acting chops in a new movie in production called "Chaography," which looks to be a fresh take on jazz music. Director Doug Chang is putting the film together, mixing stories his father told of the old Jazz Gallery Club in New York, with the thoughts and words of real-life musicians like Reed and Dillard.
To avoid falling prey to big studios' preconceived notions of jazz and jazz musicians -- think "Bird" and "'Round Midnight" -- Chang is working with a new business model (act fast and you too can be a co-producer!). Read R.J. DeLuke's story about it at AllAboutJazz.com.

Time to stomp

2010-03-05T17:52:00.000-08:00

The New Jersey Jazz Society does a lot for jazz fans -- and for the future of jazz. One project the NJJS undertakes is the support of young jazz musicians, with scholarships awarded to students at New Jersey's fine schools of jazz: Rutgers University, William Paterson University, Rowan University and New Jersey City University.

Scholarships for Rutgers students are funded by the Pee Wee Russell Memorial Scholarship Fund, in memory of the clarinetist. The fund is maintained by the proceeds of the annual Pee Wee Stomp -- this year's event will be noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany. Tickets are $25 for NJJS members and $30 for non-members -- a terrific value for the show that includes performnaces by the Mark Shane Trio with Terry Blaine, Jon-Erik Kellso's EarRegulars, Kevin Dorn's Traditional Jazz Collective -- and this year's winners of the NJJS Jazz Scholarships. Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks are headlining -- here's a video:

Is it clear?

2010-03-04T12:31:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks' performances have been scrambled by the weather -- a special event planned by John Bianculli has been delayed, possibly until April, and the Jazz Celebration Big Band February show at the Temperence House in Newtown, Pa., was called off.

And to top it off, the launch of a new jazz jam in Hopewell, led by Jim Popik was pushed back to this week. But get over the Hopewell Valley Inn, at 15 E. Broad St. in Hopewell, at 8 p.m. and be a part of tonight's launch.

Friday, March 5

Gordon James, with bandmates Matt King, Chris Plunkett and Al Johnson will be at the South Brunswick Arts Council Jazz Café performing 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Café is in the South Brunswick Municipal Complex, 540 Route 522 (Ridge Road), Monmouth Junction. Admission is $5 and there are refreshments.

Vocalist Amanda Homi will join the John Bianculli Trio at Christopher’s at the Heldrich Hotel, 10 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Joining them will be Tom Baker on drums and saxophonist Nick Franciosa. John, Tom and Nick head to Steakhouse 85 for a Saturday night gig.

Dick Gratton keeps them coming to the Chambers Walk Café in Lawrenceville on Friday nights. Come hear why from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Frank Noviello is the featured headliner tonight for the Hibiscus Restaurant’s Jazz Friday show, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday, March 6

Jeff Hackman is this week's featured jazz disciple at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton, today. Music starts at 3 p.m.

Terrence McManus and Gerry Hemingway will be at Small World Coffee, on Witherspoon Street in Princeton, at 8:30 p.m.

Laura Hull is at Cecil’s, in West Orange, tonight and Saturday night, with pianist Steve Myerson. The music starts at 9 p.m.

B.D. Lenz will perform at Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 5 – 8 p.m.

The John Bianculli Trio-- John Bianculli, Tom Baker and Nick Franciosa -- will be at New Brunswick’s STEAKHOUSE 85, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Joe Licari plays at the Palazzo Restaurant in Montclair.

Sunday, March 7

Anthony Branker and Ascent will be at the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, on Witherspoon Street in Princeton. The event starts at 3 p.m.; tickets are $15/ $10 for ACP members. For more information, or to purchase tickets, click here or call 609-924-8777.

Pete Escovedo and the WPU Latin Jazz Ensemble will be onstage at William Paterson University’s Shea Theatre at 4 p.m. Admission is $15 ( $12 for seniors and $8 for students).

Pam Purvis, Bob Ackerman and Matt Chertkoff are at Cecil’s in West Orange at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, March 8

Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, March 9

Nikki Denner will be at the Hibiscus Restaurant Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, March 10

The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte entertains at Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

John Bushnell Mary Fowle will be at BT Bistro, on Route1 I Princeton, 9 p.m.

Thursday, March 11

Jim Popik and the JP3 will host a jazz jam at The Hopewell Bistro, part of the Hopewell Valley Inn at 15 E. Broad St. in Hopewell, starting at 8 p.m.

2010-02-18T14:02:00.000-08:00

Thursday, Feb. 18
Rio Clemente … The Bernards Inn … it’s your Thursday night date night. The Inn is at 27 Mine Brook Road in Bernards. You can enjoy Rio from 7 p.m.- 10 p.m.

Shenole Latimer will appear in a special community outreach performance at the Secaucus Public Library at 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 19
It’s 40 miles away (according to my Mapquest), but Randy Brecker makes a good reason to travel anywhere – he’ll be at the Sellersville Theater 1894, at 24 West Temple Ave. in Sellersville, Pa.(it’s just a bit west of Doylestown). Curtain opens at 8 p.m.

The John Bianculli Trio and vocalist Jackie Jones are moving up to "The Jazzberry Patch" at the Classic Quiche Café, at 330 Queen Anne Road in Teaneck. There’s a $10 cover but it all goes to the band, which includes Jonathon Peretz on drums, and Nick Franciosa on sax.

Singer Francine Evans has hit on a great idea with the show she and her pianist/husband Joel Zelnik have arranged, “Girl Singers of the ‘50s.” They will perform the hits of such great performers as of Patti Page, Rosemary Clooney, Gogi Grant and Dinah Washington Friday at Mina's-On-The-Mountain, 140 Rifle Camp Road in Woodland Park (West Paterson). The restaurant has two shows scheduled, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., and 10 to 11 p.m. Call 973-279-7400 to make reservations.

Dick Gratton returns to Chambers Walk Café in Lawrenceville tonight, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Betty Liste and Bill Robinson are featured tonight for the Hibiscus Restaurant’s Jazz Friday show, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Dana Reedy Trio will perform at Lounge Zen, 254 DeGraw Ave. in Teaneck, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Feb. 19. There’s a $10 minimum; call 201-692-1002 to make your reservations.

Crossing Vineyards and Winery’s All That Jazz show will feature the Karen Rodriguez Latin Jazz Ensemble 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight at the vineyard at 53 Wrightstown Road, Washington Crossing, Pa. Call 215-493-6500 for more information.

Saturday, Feb. 20
Gregg Riley will be this week’s featured jazz disciple at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton, today. Music starts at 3 p.m.

Jazz Master Kenny Barron will host a master class at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 36 South 8th St., Allentown, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for adults. Click here to get your tickets. The class will include Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts instructors Frank DiBussolo and Greg Eicher, and selected students.

Laura Hull will be at Ponte Vecchio at Murray Hill Inn in New Providence, starting at 6:30 p.m. Laura will be joined by guitarist John Hart and Jon Burr on bass.

The Darla Rich Quintet will be at the Hopewell Inn, 15 E. Broad St. in Hopewell, from 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

The John Bianculli Trio, with Earl Sauls on bass and Taro Okamoto on drums, will be at
New Brunswick’s STEAKHOUSE 85, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 21
The Princeton University Jazz Vespers Ensemble will perform at University Chapel at 11 a.m. The concert is free, but it’s good to reserve tickets.

Rio Clemente will be playing at the Monmouth County Library in Manalapan from 2 p.m. 4 p.m.

Pam Purvis, Bob Ackerman and Matt Chertkoff are at Cecil’s in West Orange at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 22
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 23
Tomoko Ohno returns to the Hibiscus Restaurant Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Feb. 24
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte entertains at Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Adrienne and Josh Hindmarsh will be at Paramus’ Chakra Lounge 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 25
Jim Popik and the JP3 will host a jazz jam at The Hopewell Bistro, part of the Hopewell Valley Inn at 15 E. Broad St. in Hopewell, starting at 8 p.m.

The Jazz Celebration Big Band will be back at the Temperance House in Newtown, Pa., playing 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. Feb. 25.

Make a mighty wind to blow away the storm

2010-02-04T12:46:00.000-08:00

There's a winter storm heading our way -- but let's hope it spares us: there's too many wonderful opportunities for great music.
Start with a special appearance by uber-bassist Michael Manring at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. Feb. 4. It's being presented The Folk Project, a non-profit organization promoting acoustic music in Northern New Jersey. Admission will be $20 at the door -- and if you've seen Manring play, you'll know he's worth it.

Advance tickets may be purchased before the show for $15 at www.folkproject.org. For further information, contact Pam Robinson at concerts@folkproject.org or 908-591-6491.

Thursday, Feb. 4

Rio Clemente will be at The Bernards Inn, 27 Mine Brook Road 7 p.m.- 10 p.m. tonight.

How about a rematch of Jazz vs. the Space Tiger? Head to BT Bistro on Route 1 in West Windsor for the opening round at 9 p.m. It’s an acid-jazz title fight …

Al Oliver and Gerry Groves will perform on sax and flute, respectively, at Nick’s Café 72, on West Upper Ferry Road in West Trenton, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

It’s Jazz Night at Princeton University’s Café Vivian, in the Frist Campus Center. Come out at 11:30 p.m. to hear the Princeton University Jazz Program. Anthony D.J. Branker will be directing.

Friday, Feb. 5
The John Bianculli Trio and vocalist Jackie Jones will be at
Christopher’s at the Heldrich Hotel, 10 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick. There’s no cover for the music, offered from 8:30 p.m. to midnight. The trio heads to Steakhouse 85 in New Brunswick tomorrow ...

Dick Gratton returns to Chambers Walk Café in Lawrenceville tonight, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Lauren Hooker is known for her arrangements of standards that utilize her three-octave range for best effect. Hear and see her at the Hibiscus Restaurant in the Morristown Inn, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Pam Purvis is headlining at the Hibiscus

The Franklin-Alison Jazz Quartet will be at the Salt Creek Grille from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 6
Jim Stewart will be this week’s featured jazz disciple at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton, today. Music starts at 3 p.m.

Dick Gratton returns to Bordentown’s Farnsworth House, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Eryn Shewell will be at The Shoppes at the Arcade in Asbury Park at 6 p.m. Feb. 6. She’s coming to Small World Coffee in Princeton next week.

Lauren Hooker will perform at Lounge Zen, 254 DeGraw Ave. in Teaneck, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Feb .6
There’s a $10 minimum; call 201-692-1002 to make your reservations.

Black Diamond Jazz, the collaboration of guitarist James Popik, bass player Mark Amentt, and Kartikkeya on drums and percussion, will blend bebop, blues, Americana and World Jazz at Princeton’s Small World Coffee at 8:30 p.m. Small World calls it “Scofield meets Metheny meets Dharma” Jazz.

Sunday, Feb. 7
Pam Purvis, Bob Ackerman and Matt Chertkoff are at Cecil’s in West Orange at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 8
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 9
Sarah Jane Cion entertains at the Hibiscus Restaurant Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Feb. 10
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte entertains at Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Hindmarsh duo video

2010-02-01T19:44:00.000-08:00

Adrienne and Josh Hindmarsh have been performing around New York and New Jersey, putting their spin on tghe Songbook's standards -- here's a video of them performing "Cheek to Cheek" they sent. If you like what you hear, catch them Friday at the Players Club in the city (from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), or at the Chakra Lounge (on Route 4 in Paramus) from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Feb. 10.

A Saturday night packed with jazz

2010-01-28T13:12:00.000-08:00

A benefit for Haitian relief Saturday will bring John Bianculli with Jackie Jones and friends; Black Symphony Circle; Gary Kaplan with the Fletchers; Sailors in Rags; Isabel Ruano; Brian Szura and friends; and Mark and Sedna together at Highland Park High School auditorium 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Admission is a donation at the door to charities supporting Haiti relief — they’ve set a minimum request of $15 for adults and $5 for children.

Thursday, Jan. 28
David Sanborn will take the stage at the South Orange Performing Arts Center with Joey DeFrancesco at 8 p.m. – hit that hyperlink and see if there are any tickets left.

Rio Clemente will be at The Bernards Inn, 27 Mine Brook Road 7 p.m.- 10 p.m. tonight. He’ll be at the Bickford Theater, 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday, and returns to Attilios Tavern in Dover Tuesday night … busy man.

The Jazz Celebration Big Band is back at the Temperance House, 5 S. State St., Newtown,Pa., tonight, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The 17-piece band features vocalist Claudia Perry. Reservations are recommended – call 215-860-9975.

Friday, Jan. 29
The John Bianculli Trio adds vocalist Jackie Jones and drummer Jonathon Peretz for tonight’s entertainment at
Christopher’s at the Heldrich Hotel, 10 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick. There’s no cover for the music, offered from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.

Dick Gratton holds the chair at Chambers Walk Café in Lawrenceville, playing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Lauren Hooker is known for her arrangements of standards that utilize her three-octave range for best effect. Hear and see her at the Hibiscus Restaurant in the Morristown Inn, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Pianist Dre Barnes will be at Steakhouse 85 in New Brunswick.

Small World Coffee is bringing the jazz-funk music of Soul Cycle to Princeton. 8;30 p.m. on Witherspoon St. – just follow the groove …

Saturday, Jan. 30
Percussionist Randy Sutin joins the Jazz Disciples at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton, today. Music starts at 3 p.m.

Dick Gratton returns to Bordentown’s Farnsworth House, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Branford Marsalis Quartet will be at McCarter Theater at 7:30 p.m. ‘Nuff said … except Esperanza Spalding is with him.

Weather forecasters are calling for a cold spell this weekend; jazz forecasters are calling for a hot spell at Kingston’s United Methodist Church -- Dave Kaczorowski (bass), Adrian Valosin (drums) and Jim Desalvo (piano) will be the heat on the church’s “Hot Jazz on a Cold Night” series. Get warm at 7 p.m. The church is at 9 Church St. in Kingston (just off Route 28).

Reeds, Rhythm and All That Brass will swing Saturday night away, performing at the First Presbyterian Church, 14 Hanover Road, East Hanover, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event is a swing dance concert – but listeners are welcome, too. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information, call 908-591-6491 or go to www.folkproject.org.

Sunday, Jan. 31
Vocalist Marcus Goldhaber has been collecting raves while singing at the Night Hotel in New York – he’s making his New Jersey debut at The Meadowlands Environment Center in Lyndhurst today, with shows at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. He’ll perform with The Jon Davis Trio, including Martin Wind on bass, and Marcello Pellitteri on drums. Cover charge is $10.

Pam Purvis, Bob Ackerman and Matt Chertkoff are at Cecil’s in West Orange at 5:30 p.m. Not enough? Pam will be at the Hibiscus Restaurant Feb. 5, so you can enjoy more of her singing.

Monday, Feb. 1
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 2
Pianist … composer … vocalist … Lou Watson offers audiences a lot – check him out Tuesday at the Hibiscus Restaurant from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Feb. 3
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Jazz socials and fundraisers

2010-01-21T13:42:00.000-08:00

There are some special events this weekend -- check Friday night's Princeton High School Big Band Dance fundraiser, and Sunday's New Jersey Jazz Society social.

Thursday, Jan. 21
The Eric Mintel Quartet will perform 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Thursday night through January at Mediterra, on Hulfish Street in Princeton.

Rio Clemente is back at The Bernards Inn, 27 Mine Brook Road 7 p.m.- 10 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 22
The Princeton High School Studio Band and Jazz Ensemble will put the swing in a fundraising Big Band Dance, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday at PHS. The Studio Band will be performing in Carnegie Hall March 5, so catch them before they hit the big time. Funds raised will be used to support the school’s musical education programs and band travel. Ticket are $6 for adults; $4 for students and seniors. Food and beverages will be available for sale. Click here for more information.

The John Bianculli Trio adds vocalist Jackie Jones and drummer Jonathon Peretz for tonight’s entertainment at
Christopher’s at the Heldrich Hotel, 10 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick. There’s no cover for the music, offered from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.

Dick Gratton returns to the Chambers Walk Café in Lawrenceville, playing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. He’ll head to the Farnsworth House in Bordentown, Jan. 9.

Rio Clemente has a one-man engagement at the Watchung Art Center at 8 p.m.
Tomorrow, he’s at the Milton United Methodist Church at 4 p.m. for a solo concert, followed by a light meal – call 973-697-2120 for reservations or more information.

It’s a match for the ages: Jazz Vs. Space Tiger, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Beanwood Coffee Shop, 222 Farnsworth Ave. in Bordentown. I think jazz wins ...

Jane Stuart will be singing at the Hibiscus Restaurant in the Morristown Inn, playing from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Jim Lapidus steps in at Steakhouse 85 in New Brunswick.

Saturday, Jan. 23
Innovative trumpeter John Swana will blow minds and his trumpet at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton, for the Jazz Disciples. Music starts at 3 p.m.

Dick Gratton is heading down Route 206 today, for a gig at Bordentown’s Farnsworth House, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 24
Love jazz music? Why not share your affections with like-minded folk: head to Shanghai Jazz today at 3 p.m. for the New Jersey Jazz Society Social. You can meet lots of fellow jazzbos, and enjoy Jerry Bruno and Bucky Pizzarelli. There’s a $10 food or beverage minimum at Shanghai Jazz, and a $10 admission if you’re not a member of NJJS (but you can click here and take care of that).

The Eric Olsen Trio will perform at the Bernardsville Public Library at 3 p.m., part of the “Sundays at Three” series funded by the Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library. Doors open at 2:45 p.m., and light refreshments will be served at intermission. No sign-up is needed.

Pam Purvis, Bob Ackerman and Matt Chertkoff are at Cecil’s in West Orange at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 25
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 26
Pianist Tomoko Ohno has a lot going on these days – she’s a regular featured artists at Trumpets Jazz Club, and a member of the DIVA Jazz Orchestra. Tuesday, she’ll be at the Hibiscus Restaurant from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Jan. 27
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Patty Cronheim is back at Princeton’s Mediterra Restaurant, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Coming up ...
You can catch the David Sanborn Quartet, with Joey DeFrancesco, at the South Orange Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. Jan. 28 – if you reserve your tickets.

A great weekend for fans of guitar jazz

2010-01-14T13:23:00.000-08:00

This weekend is full of great events, including several noteworthy guitarists in the area: B.D. Lenz, Frank Vignola and Joshua Breakstone are performing in Central Jersey, along with local favorites like Dick Gratton. It's a six-string spectacular.

Thursday, Jan. 14
The Eric Mintel Quartet will perform 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Thursday night through January at Mediterra, on Hulfish Street in Princeton.

Rio Clemente is back at The Bernards Inn, 27 Mine Brook Road 7 p.m.- 10 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 15
Catch The John Bianculli Trio, with Tom Baker on drums, and Jed Levy on sax, at Steakhouse 85, 85 Church St. in New Brunswick. There’s no cover charge, but help show support for the band by enjoying some food and drinks while there.

Pat Tandy and her trio will be at
Christopher’s at the Heldrich Hotel, 10 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.

Dick Gratton returns to the Chambers Walk Café in Lawrenceville, playing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. He’ll head to the Farnsworth House in Bordentown, Jan. 9.

Hopewell Valley Vineyards will feature music by Jersey Jazz – David Berends, Lance Sulton, Rich Saborsky from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Steve Lynn Group will be at the Beanwood Coffee Shop, 222 Farnsworth Ave. in Bordentown.

B.D. Lenz is bringing his guitar and band to the Hibiscus Restaurant in the Morristown Inn, playing from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

If you’re in Morristown, you can also catch The Frank Vignola Trio playing 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road. Adults’ admission is $7; children 12 and under, free – teach your children well. For more information, call 973-335-9489 or go to www.folkproject.org

Jim Lapidus steps in at Steakhouse 85 in New Brunswick.

They call Francine Evans “Lady Sinatra” and if you want to know why, catch her with Joel Zelnik from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m., at Marcello’s Ristorante at 8 Lafayette Ave. in Suffern, N.Y.

The Eric Mintel Quartet moves to the Crossing Vineyard and Winery in Washington Crossing, Pa., for an 8 p.m.-to-10 p.m. gig.

Drivetime will perform at New Hope’s Triumph Brewery, 500 Union Sq. at 10 p.m. Admission is $5.

Saturday, Jan. 16
The Darla Rich Quintet is back at the Hopewell Inn, playing from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Joshua Breakstone will be picking in the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton, with Trenton’s Jazz Disciples. Music starts at 3 p.m.

Laura Hull returns to Ponte Vecchio at Murray Hill Inn New Providence.

It’s Jazz in Bridgewater … at the Somerset County Vo-Tech, with Joe Midiri and the Midiri Brothers Orchestra’s tribute to Benny Goodman, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The school is at 14 Vogt Dr. in Bridgewater; tickets are $25 – check here for information on how to get them.

Sunday, Jan. 17
Pam Purvis, Bob Ackerman and Matt Chertkoff are at Cecil’s in West Orange at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 18
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 19
It’s the Franklin-Alison Jazz Quartet at The Witherspoon Grill, 57 Witherspoon St., Princeton, tonight. They’ll play from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Ted Brancato will be at the Hibiscus Restaurant from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Jan. 20

The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

The New Yorker's tribute to Bird's biggest fan

2010-01-13T14:42:00.000-08:00

In 2008, The New Yorker magazine printed a terrific article about Phil Schaap and his morning show on Columbia's WCKR-FM (89.9). The article notes Schaap's astounding and encyclopedic knowledge of Ornithology (that is, the kind that relates to Bird).
I used to pick up Schaap's program and was mezmerized -- if you've not heard it, tune in at 8:20 a.m. or catch a podcast here. Each show examines the intricacies of some of the most incredible recordings in bebop, including discussion of alternate takes -- something that can be helpful to learning musicians. There's something helpful in hearing Bird and Diz have to do multiple takes to get past the head of a tune ... of course, they played them at about 300 beats per minute ...
Schaap's knowledge is truly awesome, so much so that Columbia Records asked him to help edit and produce the complete Charlie Parker recordings reissues.
Amazingly, he's been doing this for 40 years and next month, WCKR will celebrate Schaap's career with a Feb. 2 party. If you can't make it, put on your favorite Parker recording (mine's "Star Eyes" from the "Charlie Parker with Strings" ... I know, I know, but I love the arrangement and Parker's lines), and be thankful people like Phil Schaap love this music so deeply that we can be so well educated and entertained.

Winter treats

2010-01-07T13:31:00.000-08:00

Thursday, Jan. 7
The Eric Mintel Quartet will perform 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Thursday night through January at Mediterra, on Hulfish Street in Princeton. If you can’t make it out for the Thursday night jazz offering, stop in on Wednesday for Patty Cronheim.

A few years ago, I fell under the spell of tenorist Virginia Mayhew’s Sandan Shuffle. She’s a strong presence on the horn, and when accompanied by such all stars as Harvie S. and Victor Jones, it’s a potent combination. Now, she’s leading the Ellington Legacy Band – catch her and Ellington’s Legacy 7:30 p.m. tonight at Trumpets in Montclair.

Friday, Jan. 8
Dick Gratton returns to the Chambers Walk Café in Lawrenceville, playing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. He’ll head to the Farnsworth House in Bordentown, Jan. 9.

Champian Fulton is headlining tonight at the Hibiscus Restaurant in the Morristown Inn, playing from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Laura Hull will be at The Adam Todd Restaurant at Cranberry Lake (Route 206 in Andover) from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. There’s no cover but a $20 minimum. Call 973-347-4004 for reservations.

Saturday, Jan. 9
Gordon James, Jose Loo, Chris Plunkett and Al Johnson will heat up Saturday night at the Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village (Princeton) from 7 to 11 p.m. If you prefer a more intimate setting, Gordon, Jose, Al and Mark Peterson will be at Flat 5 Records and Entertainment, 10 Throckmorton Ave. in Eatontown, Jan. 10. Gordon says, “This is a truly unique place, with a living room type atmosphere. It's also a music school and they do a great deal of community work for the underprivileged.” Admission to the show will be $10, and food will be served at $5 a plate. Check out www.flat5records.com for more information.

Andre Mutcherson is this week’s guest will visit the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton, for the Jazz Disciples. Music starts at 3 p.m.

The spirit and music of Benny Goodman will be enjoyed at the Somerset County Vocational Technical School, 14 Vogt Dr. in Bridgewater, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., with Joe Midiri and the Midiri Brothers Orchestra. Tickets are $20 and $25.

Sunday, Jan. 10
Pam Purvis, Bob Ackerman and Matt Chertkoff are at Cecil’s in West Orange at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 11
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 12
Fill up on the “High Octane Jazz” at The Witherspoon Grill, 57 Witherspoon St., Princeton, starting at 6 p.m. that will be offered by John Sheridan (on guitar), Art Stephano (bass) and Mike Ipri (drums). "The Brothers Grim" trio, as they are billed on their Web site, are part of Philadelphia’s Sixth Street Quaternion.
Betty Liste will be at the Hibiscus Restaurant from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Jan. 13

Patty Cronheim is back at Princeton’s Mediterra. She’ll be performing every Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. this month.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Princeton University’s University Jazz Vespers Ensemble will perform in University Chapel at 8 p.m. The show is free, but you can get tickets (just to be sure) here.

Coming up: It’s not too early to make sure you’ve got a good seat at the Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour show set for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at Princeton’s McCarter Theater. The tickets to see The Kenny Barron Trio, Regina Carter, Kurt Elling and Russell Malone start at $42. Think there will be a better bargain this year?

'Jaz' by Mel Nusbaum

2010-01-02T10:16:00.001-08:00

Mel Nusbaum sent this video he created about jazz. Mel's been a jazz fan since he was a kid growing up in Chicago. He started out as a guitar player, listening to Gene Ammons, Howlin Wolf and John Coltrane. He saw Miles at the Plugged Nickel, saw Wes Mongomery. His own playing has led him to playing Latin, funk, straight jazz, free jazz, and "things in between with more cool musicians," he said.

"I still love music but not the music business, which has never been good to me financially," Mel wrote. "Now I'm playing piano too, making poetry, composing tunes, doing creative projects with my hands, and making little videos. I'm working on one now about Chicago Blues to back up my illuminated collage about Maxwell Street that's on my web site." (Click here to go to his site)

Mel wrote intention in the video is to "portray the many sides of jazz and the jazz world and what jazz means to me."

See if you don't dig it, too.

Hot jazz for cold nights

2009-12-31T10:11:00.000-08:00

THe new year is starting right, for local jazz fans: Princeton's Mediterra has jazz each Wednesday and Thursday night through the month, and local favorites are returning to regular schedules.

Friday, Jan. 1
Start your New Year with jazz singer Laura Hull, who's appearing at the Hibiscus Restaurant in the Morristown Inn for tonight's Jazz Fridays presentation. She picks up the microphone at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 2

Altoist Julian Pressley will visit the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton, for this week’s meeting of the Jazz Disciples. Stop by at 3 p.m. to enjoy.

Eryn Shewell is having a CD release party at the Havana Restaurant in New Hope, Pa., at 2 p.m. Her music covers a lot of territory, including references to jazz and the Great American Songbook.

Sunday, Jan. 3
Jonathan Russell is 14-years-old, and when he plays the violin, the New York Times says, “he embraces his instrument and enters a private cocoon, where he conjures sophisticated improvisations on the melodies of jazz standards.” You can catch him at the Maplewood Women's Club at 60 Woodland Road, Maplewood, at 2 p.m. Call the club at 973-762-9877 for more information.

Pam Purvis, Bob Ackerman and Matt Chertkoff will be at Cecil’s in West Orange at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 4
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 5
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Jan. 6
Patty Cronheim is back at Princeton’s Mediterra, on Hulfish Street. She’ll be performing every Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. this month.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Thursday, Jan. 7
The Eric Mintel Quartet will perform 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Thursday night through January at Mediterra.

Friday, Jan. 8

Dick Gratton returns to the Chambers Walk Café in Lawrenceville, playing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. He’ll head to the Farnsworth House in Bordentown, Jan. 9.

Holiday jazz on tap

2009-12-24T10:41:00.000-08:00

There's a great list of events to enjoy this week, while you're basking in the glow of the holidays. Get out and enjoy live music.

Saturday, Dec. 26
Guitarist B.D. Lenz and his quartet (which includes James Rosocha, Abe Fogle and Geoff Mattoon) will be at Triumph Brewery in Princeton for a late-night show. The music begins at 10 p.m. -- take advantage of the low, low $5 cover and enjoy.

Philadelphian Orrin Evans will appear at this week's meeting of the Jazz Disciples at 3 p.m. at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton. Next week, it's altoist Julian Pressley.

Monday, Dec. 28
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 29
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Dec. 30
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Thursday, Dec. 31
Rio Clemente will join this year's First Night-Morris County non-alcoholic New Year's celebration in Morristown, performing at 9:45 p.m. and 11 p.m. at the Morristown High School, Early Street and Atno Avenue, Morristown. Tickets are $25 and can be ordered here.

Friday, Jan. 1
Start your New Year with jazz singer Laura Hull, who's appearing at the Hibiscus Restaurant in the Morristown Inn for tonight's Jazz Fridays presentation. She picks up the microphone at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 2
Eryn Shewell mixes genres for an interesting blend of styles -- she's having a CD release party at the Havana Restaurant in New Hope, Pa., at 2 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 3
Jonathan Russell is 14-years-old, and when he plays the violin, the New York Times says, “he embraces his instrument and enters a private cocoon, where he conjures sophisticated improvisations on the melodies of jazz standards.” You can catch him at the Maplewood Women's Club at 60 Woodland Road, Maplewood, at 2 p.m. Call the club at 973-762-9877 for more information.

'Tis the season ... to be swingin'

2009-12-10T13:23:00.000-08:00

There are lots of special gigs coming up for the holidays -- special dates for the Jazz Celebration Big Band, Karen Rodriguez and Gordon James. Why not put some swinging rhythm into Christmas classics?
You can start with the Princeton University Concert Jazz Ensemble and University Orchestra's performance of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite," as arranged by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Check it out at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday nights at the Richardson Auditorium.

Thursday, Dec. 10

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 11

Gordon James and Jose Loo will return to Scampi’s in Somerville next week for a Dec. 17 Christmas show, but this week they’re at the Salt Creek Grille in the Forrestal Village, Route 1 South. The date is actually a gig for the full Gordon James Band, which adds Chris Plunkett on bass and Al Johnson on drums.

Jim Popik’s Black Diamond Jazz will be at Kline's Gallery, 25 Bridge St. in Lambertville, for two sets, the first at 8 p.m. This acoustic outing will feature Jim and Richard Cann on nylon string guitars, with Karttikeya on a drum set and Halo drum, and special guest Kathy Ridl, upright bass. A $10 donation will be greatly appreciated, but not mandatory.

The Eric Mintel Quartet will be at the Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 1853 Wrightstown Road in Washington Crossing, Pa., at 7:30 p.m. The Quartet includes Mintel on piano, Nelson Hill on alto and soprano sax and flute, Dave Antonow on electric bass, and Dave Mohn on drums. Tickets are $45 and may be purchased online here or by calling 215-493-6500, ext. 19.

Laura Hull has a gig at the Hibiscus Restaurant in the Morristown Inn, playing from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Call 973-350-0200 for reservations.

Guitarist Dick Gratton will perform at the Chambers Walk Café, 2667 Main St., in Lawrenceville, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Trumpeter James Gibbs is at Cecils in West Orange tonight and tomorrow night at 9 p.m. Click here for a taste of his new CD.

The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30
p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 12
Akiko Tsuruga is this week’s visiting Jazz Disciple, meeting at 3 p.m. in Trenton’s Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. The list of fantastic keyboardists from Japan keeps growing …

Darla Tarpinian
returns to the Hopewell Inn’s Starlight Lounge, with accompaniment by husband Rich (vocals/guitar), Jim May (guitar), Joe Bezek (alto sax) and David Stier (drums).

Karen Rodriguez will make your Navidad muy feliz with her show at the Salt Creek Grille, at 1 Rockingham Row, Forrestal Village, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Dr. Karen Zumbrunn and her jazz trio will be at the Hopewell Valley Vineyard, 46 Yard Road in Pennington, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. There’s no cover or minimum.
John Bianculli will be at the Heldrich Hotel, 10m Livingston Ave, in New Brunswick at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 13

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Dec. 14
Rio Clemente is helping out at New Hope’s Bowman's Tavern neighborhood outreach foundation fundraiser 6:30 p.m.- 11 p.m.. There’s a suggested minimum donation of $50 ($100 per couple). The tavern is at 1600 River Road. Call 215-862-2972 for more information.

Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 15
Ted Broncado will be at the Hibiscus Restaurant in the Morristown Inn from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

McCaffrey’s in the Edgewood Shopping Center in Yardley will feature The Tom Adams Jazz Trio at 7:30 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Dec. 16
Singer-songwriter Patty Cronheim returns to Mediterra 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight. Make your reservations here.

Rio Clemente’s night at Attilios Tavern on Route 46 in Dover will include the Hon. Judge Michael Wright, of Morris County. Starts at 8 p.m. Call 973-328-1100 for reservations or more information.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Dec. 17
The Jazz Celebration Big Band, featuring Claudia Perry, will jingle your bells, Count Basie-style, at the Temperance House, at 5 S. State. St. in Newtown, Pa., from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 17 during the band’s Holiday Gala. They’ll also play Stan Kenton’s “Christmas Medley,” and more favorites. $10 cover. Call 215-860-9975 to make a reservation.

The “infectious grooves” of the B.D. Lenz Trio will be at Mediterra in Princeton, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Thanksgiving blessings for jazz fans

2009-11-19T12:59:00.000-08:00

The Union County Arts Center will be holding the “J5” summit – something like the “G-20” summit but with more swinging than last year’s stock market.
The Jazz Summit at UCAC will feature five great groups Saturday night -- Emilio Valdes and Cubafunk, Stefon Harris and Blackout, the Lionel Loueke Trio, “50 Years of Giant Steps” with Cedar Walton, and Randy Weston’s “African Rhythms Solo Piano.”
Whew! The concerts start at 6 p.m. and tickets are just $40 …unless you want to help the center’s fundraising and can kick in $100 for a chance to join the pre-performance reception at 4 p.m.

And if that's not enough, look at all the great shows lined up in Central Jersey this week:

Thursday, Nov. 19
Gordon James and Jose Loo return to Scampi’s in Somerville tonight, offering up renditions of jazz standards, R&B favorites and soul classics. There’s no cover charge, but plan on sampling the restaurant’s fine food (they specialize in seafood).

The Eric Mintel Quartet will be at Princeton’s Mediterra, on Hulfish Street, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Vinnie Rome entertains at Limelight, 812 N. Easton Road in Doylestown, this weekend, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. nightly.

John Henry Goldman and his friends are at Looking Glass Studio, 800 Alexander Road in Princeton. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655. If Thursday nights aren’t good for you, check out his Saturday night gig.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 20
The Eric Mintel Quartet will bring its version of “cool jazz” to Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 1853 Wrightstown Road in Washington Crossing, Pa., from 8 to 10 p.m. Nov. 20, the second program in the winery’s new fall offering – “All That Jazz.” The Quartet - Mintel on piano, Nelson Hill on alto and soprano sax and flute, Dave Antonow on electric bass, and Dave Mohn on drums - will perform at the winery. Cost of the evening is $20; wine and cheese will be available for purchase. Tickets may be purchased online at www.crossingvineyards.com or by calling 215-493-6500, ext. 19.

Laura Hull has a gig at Hibiscus Restaurant in the Morristown Inn, playing from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Hibiscus’ Web site says she’s performing with Rio Clemente, but Trumpets Jazz Club is expecting him there. Either way, you’d better get reservations: call 973-350-0200.

Guitarist Dick Gratton will perform at the Chambers Walk Café, 2667 Main St., in Lawrenceville, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Cecil’s Jazz Club in West Orange got Dave Stryker to stop by for shows at 9 p.m. tonight and tomorrow night. Click here to get tickets.

The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30
p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 21
Cliff Adams is the next guest at Trenton’s Jazz Disciples, meeting at 3 p.m. in the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St.

Darla Tarpinian returns to the Hopewell Inn’s Starlight Lounge, with accompaniment by husband Rich (vocals/guitar), Jim May (guitar), Joe Bezek (alto sax) and David Stier (drums).

Karen Rodriguez returns to the Salt Creek Grille, at 1 Rockingham Row, Forrestal Village, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Concerts at the Crossing will present a 35th anniversary celebration of Joni Mitchell's “Court & Spark,” featuring Maura Kennedy, Sloan Wainwright, Kelly Flint, LisaBeth Weber and Maggi Marshall. It begins at 8 p.m. at the Unitarian Church at Washington Crossing, Titusville. Call 609-510-6278 for more information. “Court and Spark” is a great melding of jazz and pop music — Joni Mitchell brought in Jim Hughart, Larry Carlton and Tom Scott, among others, to help.

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays nights at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant, 338 George St., New Brunswick.

Sunday, Nov. 22
It’s Jazz Month at the Monmouth County Library's Livingstone Auditorium in Manalapan, and what a month it is! This week, bassist Harvie S brings friends Joe Lovano and James Weidman for a free show at 2 p.m. Promoters promise lots of seating and lots of parking – if this week’s card doesn’t test that, then maybe next week’s will, when Claudio Roditi and his Latin Orchestra come to town. For more information, call 732-431-7220.

Pam Purvis will be at Langosta, 1000 Ocean Ave. in Asbury Park, from noon to 4 p.m., for the brunch offered there.

Jack Wilkins is a fine guitarist, and knew Les Paul well. He’s offering a tribute to the late Mr. Paul from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Shanghai Jazz Club.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Nov. 23
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 24
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Nov. 25
Singer-songwriter Patty Cronheim returns to Mediterra 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Autumn leaves

2009-11-12T12:04:00.000-08:00

Thursday, Nov. 12
Vinnie Rome entertains at Limelight, 812 N. Easton Road in Doylestown, this weekend, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. nightly.

John Henry Goldman and friends will be at Looking Glass Studio, 800 Alexander Road in Princeton. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655. If Thursday nights aren’t good for you, check out his Saturday night gig.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 13

Guitarist Dick Gratton will perform at the Chambers Walk Café, 2667 Main St., in Lawrenceville, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Here’s a great idea — go to the Starlight Lounge at the Hopewell Inn tonight and enjoy Lynn Randall at 7 p.m. tonight. Then, tomorrow, pop in the CD every attending will receive and enjoy her singing all over again.

Jane Stuart and Ted Broncado will be at Morristown's Hibiscus Restaurant, performing from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant is in the Morristown Inn, at the intersection of Madison Avenue and South Street.

The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30
p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 14
Trumpeter Curtis Taylor will preach to the choir of Trenton’s Jazz Disciples, at 3 p.m. in the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St.

Laura Hull’s monthly gig at Ponte Vecchio is set for 6:30-9:30 p.m. Nov. 14. She’ll be appearing with Eddie Monteiro (on jazz accordion) and guitarist Vinnie Corrao stepping in after the recent death of Lenny Argese. Ponte Vecchio in the Best Western Murray Hill Inn, at 535 Central Ave., New Providence. Call 908-464-4424 for more information. She returns to Morristown’s Hibiscus Room next week.

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays nights at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant, 338 George St., New Brunswick.

Sunday, Nov. 15
The jazz faculty of Princeton University will present “Composing in the Moment: A Concert of Original Works," at 3 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall. Featured performers include Ralph Bowen (tenor and soprano saxophones), Bruce Arnold (guitar), Michael Cochrane (piano), Brian Glassman (acoustic bass), John Arrucci (percussion), and Anthony D.J. Branker (composer). Admission is $15 general public, $5 students — call 609-258-9220 or order online at www.princeton.edu/utickets

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Nov. 16
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 17
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Nov. 18
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Coming up
The Eric Mintel Quartet will bring its version of “cool jazz” to Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 1853 Wrightstown Road in Washington Crossing, Pa., from 8 to 10 p.m. Nov. 20, the second program in the winery’s new fall offering –“All That Jazz.” The Quartet - Mintel on piano, Nelson Hill on alto and soprano sax and flute, Dave Antonow on electric bass, and Dave Mohn on drums - will perform at the winery. Cost of the evening is $20; wine and cheese will be available for purchase. Tickets may be purchased online at www.crossingvineyards.com or by calling 215-493-6500, ext. 19.

Was it jazz ... or does it matter?

2009-11-05T12:50:00.000-08:00

Remember in the '60s when a popular jazz tune would get AM radio airplay, along with The Beatles or Buck Owens? When did you first hear Cannonball Adderley introduce "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," or Wes Montgomery?
I don't know if we'd really call it jazz, but two staples of '60s pop instrumental music were Sergio Mendez' Brasil '66 and Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass. If you loved those sounds, head to McCarter Theater tonight -- Herb Alpert and his wife, Lani Hall (her's was the lead voice in Brasil '66) will be performing. Probably not the same things they played back then, but ...

Thursday, Nov. 5
Herb Alpert and singer Lani Hall will perform at 8 p.m. at McCarter Theater, and at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at Kean University’s Wilkins Theatre.

Vinnie Rome entertains at Limelight, 812 N. Easton Road in Doylestown, this weekend, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. nightly.

John Henry Goldman and his friends have a standing Thursday night at Looking Glass Studio, 800 Alexander Road in Princeton. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655. If Thursday nights aren’t good for you, check out his Saturday night gig.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 6
Laura Hull will be moving into a new post as president of the New Jersey Jazz Society, but first she's got a date at the Herb Eckert Auditorium, 540 Ridge Road, in Monmouth Junction, for 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 6. Admission is just $5 - call 732-329-4000 to reserve a spot.

Rio Clemente will move over to Casa Bella, on Route 46 in Denville, where he’ll perform with vocalist Elena Zabyako. 8:30 p.m. Call 973-627-2003 for further information.

The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30
p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 7
James Stewart is this week’s featured disciple at Trenton’s Jazz Disciples, meeting at 3 p.m. in the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St.

Bassist Lisle Atkinson and pianist Richard Wyands will join Steve Rozek (tenor sax), Mike Ipri (drums) and John Henry Goldman (trumpet) for two special shows 6 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Looking Glass Pond Studio, 800 Alexander, Princeton Junction. For a special Conversations in Jazz. For information and reservations, call 609-610-1655, or e-mail johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com.

Hopewell’s Starlight Room added a couple of extra dates for jazz in November, and will feature Stringzville’s mix of jazz standards with a bit of Gypsy Jazz and Bossa Nova, 7 pm to 9:30 pm. Nov. 7.

James Albis (keyboards and horns), Robert Felsted Jr. (bass and guitars) and Dave Witter (drums) comprise Bad Apples. They’ll be at Princeton’s Small World Coffee at 8:30 p.m.

Rio Clemente’s hands are getting a good workout this weekend – he’s playing tonight with Michael Ester at Vitellas Cucina, 40 Clinton Road, West Caldwell, at 6:30 p.m.

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays nights at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant, 338 George St., New Brunswick.

Sunday, Nov. 8
Pam Purvis will be at Van Gogh's Ear, 1017 Stuyvesant Ave., Union, at 8 p.m. Nov. 8. Pam says this is one of her favorite places to play – get out and check it out.

Jerry Topinka headlines today’s Jazz Brunch at the Salt Creek Grille 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Nov. 9
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 10
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to
the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Nov. 11
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Thursday, Nov. 12

Crooner Vinnie Rome entertains at Limelight, 812 N. Easton Road in Doylestown, this weekend, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. nightly.

John Henry Goldman and friends Thursday nights at
Looking Glass Studio, 800 Alexander Road in Princeton, are going strong. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

A time machine discovered ...

2009-11-03T17:14:00.000-08:00

I grew up listening to and loving jazz, but it was a mostly long-distance affair.
Jazz lovers in Montana can enjoy thier music, but don't have many opportunities to catch the big name acts of the day. I was able to catch some who are among my favorites -- such as Emily Remler -- but never saw giants like Miles Davis.
But today, co-worker Vic Monaco hipped me to the neatest Web site I've seen in years: Wolfgang's Vault. Holding the archives of decades of live performances on the King Biscuit Flower Hour and other sources, the site has hundreds -- if not thousands -- of live performances in free streaming downloads.
Leaning heavily towards rock and popular music, the site does hold surprises for jazzbos: rememebr Brian Auger's Oblivion Express? Enjoy a Nov. 25, 1975, performance at Winterland.
Didn't catch Weather Report live? Take your choice of the band's Sept. 2, 1973, show at the Lenox Music Inn; the Nov. 29, 1973, show at Cornell University; or a March 2, 1979, gig at the Karl Marx Theater.
For Miles fans, you can choose from seven shows -- but check this out: you can listen to and compare the early show and the late show from two dates in March 1970 at the Fillmore East!
There are also interviews, including a 38-minute George Benson interview from 1979.
Sound quality is ... well, it was the '70s ... certainly professionally made recordings and not boot-legged tapes off somebody's portable tape recorder.
It's almost like being able to go back in time and be there.

No tricks, but lots of treats

2009-10-29T13:08:00.000-07:00

This is a great weekend for jazz lovers in Central New Jersey -- lots of venues with great music through the week.

Thursday, Oct. 29

Crooner Vinnie Rome entertains at Limelight, 812 N. Easton Road in Doylestown, this weekend, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. nightly.

John Henry Goldman and friends Thursday nights at
Looking Glass Studio, 800 Alexander Road in Princeton, are going strong. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 30
Dick Gratton returns to Chambers Walk Café in Lawrenceville from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. He’ll be playing original arrangements – it’s sure to be packed so call 609-896-5995 to make your reservations.

Happy hour at Hopewell Valley Vineyards will include the Upper Princeton Swing Collective …

Steve Turre takes his quartet and his trombone to Shanghai Jazz for shows tonight and tomorrow night.

The Meg Hanson Group is at Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight.

The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio with Jackie Jones will be at Christopher’s, in the Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick, at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31
Ronnie Burrage (check out his bio) will be at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St., Trenton, for this week’s Jazz Disciples meeting at 3 p.m.

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio moves to Steakhouse 85 on Church Street in Metuchen tonight, playing from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 1
You can catch Jerry Topinka at the Salt Creek Grille from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Jazz Brunch.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Cecil’s Jazz Club, 364 Valley Road, West Orange, will feature Pam Purvis and Matt Chertkoff at its Jazz Social at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 2
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 3
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Nov. 4
BD Lenz will be at Mediterra in Princeton at 8 p.m. If you like what you hear here, be sure to catch him.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Thursday, Nov. 5
Herb Alpert and singer Lani Hall will perform at 8 p.m. at McCarter Theater, and at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at Kean University’s Wilkins Theatre.

Coming up
Laura Hull will be moving into a new post as president of the New Jersey Jazz Society, but first she's got a date at the Herb Eckert Auditorium, 540 Ridge Road, in
Monmouth Junction, for 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 6. Admission is just $5 - call 732-329-4000 to reserve a spot.

Bassist Lisle Atkinson and pianist Richard Wyands will join Steve Rozek (tenor sax), Mike Ipri (drums) and John Henry Goldman (trumpet) for two special shows 6 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Looking Glass Pond Studio, 800 Alexander, Princeton Junction. For a special Conversations in Jazz. For information and reservations, call 609-610-1655, or e-mail johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com.

Hopewell’s Starlight Room added a couple of extra dates for jazz in November, and will feature Stringzville’s mix of jazz standards with a bit of Gypsy Jazz and Bossa Nova, 7 pm to 9:30 pm. Nov. 7.

Jazz for a cause -- or just because

2009-10-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

More Jersey jazzbos are back at work this week, with gigs galore to enjoy.
Thursday, Oct. 22
Celebrate big band music – get out to the Temperance House, at 5 S. State St. in Newtown, Pa., and enjoy the 17-piece Jazz Celebration Big Band, playing from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. It’s always a good idea to call ahead for reservations at the Temperance House – 215-860-9975.

If you’ve got an appetite for Latin jazz, catch Karen Rodriguez at the Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village tonight and Saturday night, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Vinnie Rome entertains at Limelight, 812 N. Easton Road in Doylestown, this weekend, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. nightly.

John Henry Goldman and his friends have a standing Thursday night at Looking Glass Studio, 800 Alexander Road in Princeton. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655. If Thursday nights aren’t good for you, check out his Saturday night gig.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards
Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 23
Brian Pastor takes his big band to Philadelphia’s Devon Theater for a show at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 ...

Catch some funked-up jazz and swing by The Franklin-Alison Jazz Combo at the BT Bistro, 3499 Route 1 S., West Windsor, at 7 p.m., 609-919-9403
Jazz, blue, swing, and funk.

Eric Mintel will be at the Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village tonight. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The John Bianculli Trio with Jackie Jones moves to Christopher's in the Heldrich Hotel, 10 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick, for a show at 8:30 p.m.

Jerry Vivino, of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, will be “Walking with the Wazmo” tonight at Shanghai Jazz. Check here for times and seatings.
The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30
p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 24
Joe Ford is this week’s featured disciple at Trenton’s Jazz Disciples, meeting at 3 p.m. in the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St.

Pam Purvis will participate in a fundraising concert from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Stanley Congregational Church in Chatham’s Cornerstone Café. She’ll be working with organist Pat Bianchi (you could call him an understudy of Joey DeFrancesco) and drummer Noel Sagerman. Proceeds from the $15 tickets will be donated to area charities. The church is at 94 Pairmount Ave.

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays nights at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant, 338 George St., New Brunswick.

Saxman Tom Tallitsch returns to Small World Coffee in Princeton at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 25
Jerry Topinka headlines today’s Jazz Brunch at the Salt Creek Grille 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pam Purvis has a standing gig at Cecil’s Jazz Party from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every Sunday. She’ll be alongside Bob Ackerman and Matt Chertkoff.
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Oct. 26
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 27
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to
the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Oct. 28
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up
Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Who's setting the mood?

2009-10-20T14:02:00.000-07:00

One of the most salient features of the best music is its ability to stike a mood, to capture a sound that reflects its time. Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" encapsulates the late 1950s cool and sets such a definitive mood, just as John Coltrane's Impulse! releases hit the mark for the 60s. Can you hear George Benson's "Breezin'" without being transported to the late 1970s?
While there's a lot of terrific music recorded today, one has to wonder if anyone is really, really nailing the sounds that will become associated with this decade in such a way.
That's the first step towards becoming a classic ...
While I don't know if they've hit the right mood yet, several new releases have powerful moods that strike me as being potential classics -- though only time will tell.
Stefon Harris and Blackout's outstanding "Urbanus" has such an amazing range of sounds that I think it may be among the most memorable for a long time. Blackout's phenomenal rhythm section -- Ben Williams and Terreon Gully -- keep a groove going that is subtle but brilliant. If you can get your ears off the melodies and solos, you'll find a rich tapestry in the background.
But that's a big "if" -- Harris has combined and balanced a potent mix of the familiar and not-familiar. Several tracks lay a Vocoder-synthesized melody over the rhythm section, with Harris and others soloing, an effect that was entrancing. Sounding at once unhuman yet warm, it's a delicious treat -- especially on Stevie Wonder's "They Won't Go."
Madeleine Peyreaux's new "Bare Bones" captures a unique mood. It's a mystical brew made with blues-based stock, with all sorts of funky flavors added. The opening track -- "Instead" -- opens with a spot-on imitation of George Harrison's slinky guitar playing (that is, the sounds he favored later, not while with the Beatles). then adds Peyreaux's melancholy and smoky voice.
It's a powerful dose which may not suit everyone, but much of it was entrancing.
Check them out and let me know what you think -- what captures your ears, or sets a mood for you?

Cold winds and hot trumpeters blowing

2009-10-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

What's October without a change of seasons? Central Jersey always has lots of hot jazz, thanks to our local musicians and venues.

Friday, Oct. 16
Jim Popik brings his Black Diamond Jazz group to the Looking Glass Pond Studio on Alexander Road in Princeton, tonight at 8 p.m.

The Eric Mintel Jazz Quartet will entertain the Arts Council of Princeton at the Robeson Center, 102 Witherspoon St., at 8 p.m. Oct. 16. Mintel promises to feature Dave Brubeck’s music. Tickets are $15 – go to www.artscouncilofprinceotn.org or call 609-924-8777.

The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 17
Darla Rich and her Quintet return to the Hopewell Inn for shows at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 17.

Laura Hull will be at Ponte Vecchio at Murray Hill Inn, New Providence, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17. She joins Rio Clemente at the Mahwah Library, 100 Ridge Road, at 2 p.m. Sunday. Call 201-529-2183 for information, or check the Web site http://mahwah.bccis.org

NYC-based guitarist Sten Hostfalt will be at Garwood's Crossroads, 78 North Ave., tonight at 10 p.m. Don't know him? Read his bio here

Trumpeter Jean Caze will brave our cold weekend to join Trenton's Jazz Disciples 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St.

The Princeton University Concert Jazz Ensemble will present "The Voice of the Jazz Composer: The Music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn" at 8 p.m. Oct. 17 in the Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall on campus. Admission is $15 general public, $5 students. Call 609-258-9220 or order online at www.princeton.edu/utickets

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays nights at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant, 338 George St., New Brunswick.

Sunday, Oct. 18
The Princeton University Jazz Vespers Ensemble will perform in University Chapel at 11 a.m Oct. 18. Free admission.

Laura Hull and Rio Clemente will warm the rooms at the Mahwah Library, 100 Ridge Road, at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Jerry Rife and the Rhythm Kings will perform at Princeton’s Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 50 Cherry Hill Road, at 3 p.m. Oct. 18. Tickets are $15 at the door.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Oct. 19
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 20
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Oct. 21
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Thursday, Oct. 22
John Henry Goldman and his friends have a standing Thursday night at Looking Glass Studio, 800 Alexander Road in Princeton. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655. If Thursday nights aren’t good for you, check out his Saturday night gig.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Morristown’s Hibiscus tomorrow night.

¶

So much jazz, so little time

2009-10-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

We are blessed in this area with abundant opportunities to hear fine music -- including lots of terrific local jazz musicians.

Thursday, Oct. 8
John Henry Goldman and his friends have a standing Thursday night at 800 Alexander Road in Princeton Junction. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655. If Thursday nights aren’t good for you, check out his Saturday night gig.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 9
The JP3 -- Hopewell resident Jim Popik (guitar), Mark Amentt on bass, and Andy Janowiak on drums – will play swing, bebop, blues and modern jazz at the Trenton Marriott 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 9.

Laura Hull wrote to say she'll be joined by Eddie Monteiro and guitarist Lenny Argese at this week's Jazz Nights at the Hibiscus 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 9 -- thanks, Laura! The Hibiscus is in the Best Western Morristown Inn, 270 South St., Morristown.

Matt Richards, Bill Zola and Adrian Valosin are booked for the Taste of Woodbridge event at 6 p.m. today in the Woodbridge Community Center, before heading to the Witherspoon Grill in Princeton on Sunday.

The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 10
Guitarist Dick Gratton will be busy this weekend at the Allentown, N.J., Fall Harvest festival. He’s on stage at 3:30 p.m. both days, Saturday at the Methodist Church on Church Street; Sunday on Main Street.

Fingerstyle wiz Tim Thompson is this week’s Jazz Disciple featured at 2 p.m. in the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton.

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays nights at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant, 338 George St., New Brunswick.

Sunday, Oct. 11
Pam Purvis sings at Langosta, 1000 Ocean Ave. Asbury Park, on Oct. 11.

Guitarist Matt Richards will be at the Witherspoon Grill at 2:30 Sunday for a fundraising event.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Oct. 12
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 13
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Oct. 14
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.
Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

October is for cool jazzy nights

2009-10-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

Thursday, Oct. 1Make your way to the Glen Rock Inn, 222 Rock Road, Glen Rock, by 7 p.m. tonight to catch Jack Wilkens and Howard Alden. They’re always a great duo.

John Henry Goldman and his friends have a standing Thursday night at 800 Alexander Road in Princeton Junction. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655. If Thursday nights aren’t good for you, check out his Saturday night gig.

Princeton University’s University Jazz Program Small Group, Anthony D.J. Branker, director will perform at 11:30 p.m. in Café Vivian in the Frist Campus Center. It’s free ...if you're still up.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Morristown’s Hibiscus tomorrow night.

Friday, Oct. 2
The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 3
Randy Sutin meets the Jazz Disciples at 2 p.m. in the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton.

The StraightJazz Quintet -- Steve Rozek on tenor sax, Mike Ipri on drums, Doug Miller on piano, Tom McMillan on bass and John Henry Goldman on trumpet – will be at 800 Alexander Road, Princeton. Two shows – 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – will feature jazz standards, such as “Willow Weep for Me,” “My Favorite Things,” “Lullaby Of Birdland,” and music by great 20th century composers Oscar Hammerstein II, George Shearing, Bill Evans, Wes Montgomery, Bird and Monk.

The Robert Ross Band will headline a special show at 7:30 p.m. at the Somerset County Vocational and Technical School Performing Arts Theatre, 14 Vogt Dr. in Bridgewater. Call 908-237-1238 to reserve tickets ($15-$20 in advance; more at the door).

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays nights at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant, 338 George St., New Brunswick.

Sunday, Oct. 4
Ever wanted to hear how musicians like Mulgrew Miller and Gary Bartz approach a standard? Here’s a chance: they’ll be at William Paterson University, ready to talk at 3 p.m. They’ll play at 4 p.m. Talk is cheap – free, actually, but the performance comes at a price ($15; $12 for seniors and $8 for students). The gig is part of the New Jersey Jazz Society’s College Jazz Performance Series.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Oct. 5
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 6
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Oct. 7
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.
Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Coming up:
The JP3 -- Hopewell resident Jim Popik (guitar), Mark Amentt on bass, and Andy Janowiak on drums – will play swing, bebop, blues and modern jazz at the Trenton Marriott 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 9.

Laura Hull will be the featured guest for Jazz Nights at the Hibiscus 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 9. The Hibiscus is in the Best Western Morristown Inn, 270 South St., Morristown.

Pam Purvis sings at Langosta, 1000 Ocean Ave. Asbury Park, on Oct. 11.

New sounds from new crowds

2009-09-29T12:39:00.000-07:00

National Public Radio's jazz blog, ABlogSupreme, posted an article yesterday with seven jazz bloggers under the age of 24 comments on who they like. The NPR blog (read it here ) includes the bloggers commentary on five recent releases: Brad Meldau's "When It Rains" from the CD Largo, Christian Scott's "Litany Against Fear" from his release Anthem, saxman Andrew D'Angelo's composition "Fam Hana" on the Skadra Degis CD, "Hat Trick" on the Soulive release Up Here, and Tigran Hamasyan and Aratta Rebirth recording of "Sibylla" on the CD Red Hail.
First, let's take a moment to note how refreshing it is have someone throwing out their new favorites -- I'm hearing so much truly terrific music, much of it very innovative and original but I don't think I trust my ears enough anymore to really say something sounds new.
I've learned there are key reference points I listen for, and consequently, it sort of pegs my music. In the list above, I didn't hear many of those points in "Fam Hana" or "Litany Against Fear," but Brad Meldau oftens hits them and I liked Soulive right away.
Were I to continue my list of new faves, I suspect it would become progressively easier to pin me down as a jazz fan originating in the late-70s.
I don't want to be pinned down in this way, but I just can't seem to fall in love with a composition that doesn't have certain beats, some dissonance (but not too much!), and somewhere, a strong melody ... you know, something Wayne Shorter-ish ...
Still, I fear my tastes are still firmly rooted in the jazz forms and harmonies that were generated in the late 1950s. Those sounds may have culminated in Weather Report or Return to Forever, but at the risk of being a traitor to my generation, I want to hear today's Jaco ... I'm not tired of the first, it's just that I want to hear something more ... and I don't even know what it is.
So it's great to hear suggestions from a younger generation, operating with fresher ears, that also appeal to me. I'll listen to these bands and performers more, and perhaps after a few more listens come to different conclusions ... maybe I'll hear my next Miles or Jaco in there.

Pianist Helio Alves is making his mark

2009-09-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

Here's a name to remember: Helio Alves.
I've come across his name on two recent releases, and noted his skillful playing on both. Alves, a pianist, hails from Brazil but has been making a career in the U.S. since attending Berklee in 1984. While he's turning up now as an in-demand sideman on jazz dates, he's also able to play it straight -- he was the pianist on Yo-Yo Ma's Garmmy Award-winning "Obrigato Brazil" album in 2003.
Alves gives bassist Gabriel Espinosa's "From Yucatan to Rio" CD lively keyboards to work with. The release is a nice collection of light Brazilian sounds, some with a neo-Sergio Mendes flavor.
Alves also backs up the great Louis Hayes on Hayes' new "The Time Keeper." His playing varies nicely on the releases, which includes some nice straight-ahead boppers and sweet ballads (the release also features compositions by saxophonist Abraham Burton, who is also worth keeping an eye on).

Start the weekend off with jazz

2009-09-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

We've got another great weekend for jazz lovers, due in no small part to the New Jersey Blues and Jazz Festival, which kicks off tonight (Thursday) at the State Theater in New Brunswick. Tonight's focus is on the blues part of the event, with Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers; tomorrow night it's Marcia Ball. But Saturday night's finale features the Yellowjackets.

Thursday, Sept. 24
Gordon James hooks up with singer Lauren Hooker for a performance date tonight at Scampi’s Restaurant, 198 West Main St., Somerville. There’s no cover, no minimum … why not stop by for a drink?
John Henry Goldman and his friends have a standing Thursday night at 800 Alexander Road in Princeton Junction. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655.

Friday, Sept. 25
The Franklin-Alison Jazz Combo will perform at BT Bistro on Route 1 in West Windsor.
The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 26
The Jazz Disciples will feature Bob Devos at 2 p.m. in the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton.

Sunday, Sept. 27
WWFM Radio is celebrating the anniversary of the station’s return to broadcasting jazz with a special event, Jazz On 2 at Katmandu, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Katmandu in Trenton. Scheduled performers includeJoe Cataldo, Tom Tallitsch, Gail Dixon, Buzz Herman and Doris Spears, Jerry Rife's Rhythm Kings, vocalist Miche Braden, Joe Zook and Blues Deluxe, and, from the campus of Mercer County Community College, Zingu. There’s no charge to come and listen, but Katmandu is planning some special brunch and New Orleans-themed menu items.
John Nobile's SummerSwing Orchestra will be performing at 1 p.m. with the First Marine Corps Band at the Raritan Township's band shell located on Old York Road in Raritan for the town’s celebration of hometown hero John Basilone.
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Sept. 28
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 29
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.
Shanghai Jazz in Madison will have John, Martin and Bucky Pizzarelli – with Tony Tedesco — tonight and Wednesday. One of my favorite records to play on my college radio station was a Bucky and John album … now John’s leading …

Wednesday, Sept. 30
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Thursday, October 1
Princeton University’s University Jazz Program Small Group, Anthony D.J. Branker, director will perform at 11:30 p.m. in Café Vivian in the Frist Campus Center. It’s free.
Rio Clemente’s fans at the Bernards Inn will be glad to know he’ll be back tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Wynton Marsalis steps in

2009-09-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

Saturday, Wynton Marsalis stepped up to join in with a high school band at the Vacaville, Ca., Jazz Festival. Read about it -- and catch some videos here.
Whether you're a Marsalis fan or a hater -- and there appears to be plenty of both -- you've got to give it up to a guy who takes every opportunity to teach. I first learned of this aspect of Marsalis' nature in the mid-1980s, when he was playing a concert in Billings, Mont. Hours befoe the gig, he stopped in at a local jazz club after calling area high schools to let the kids know he and his band would be there if anyone wanted to join him.
Aspiring to a career as a jazz musician can be a lonely undertaking -- doubly hard in land filled with cowboy honky tonks and redneck music. Can you imagine how inspiring it must have been for some of those kids to have a chance to sit in with such a band?
In the book he co-authored with Carl Vigeland, "Jazz in the Bittersweet Blues" (Da Capo Press, 2002), Marsalis time and time again shows his willingness to do more to help spread his love of jazz.
I've enjoyed much of Marsalis' work -- but not everything. And that's one of the things I like about him: he's not afraid to change or to try something new.
If we have a modern ambassador for jazz -- a Duke Ellington or Dizzie -- it's got to be Wynton Marsalis.

Can jazz be saved? Can anything?

2009-09-19T18:38:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of ink spilled in response to a column by Terry Teachout in an early August issue of the Wall Steet Journal titled "Can jazz be saved?"
Teachout's column reviewed statistics collected in a survey by the National Endowment for the Arts, measuring participation in various cultural events and activities. I haven't read the entire column, but one summary notes Teachout reported on the decline in stated attendance at jazz concerts, and the increase in average age of said attendees.
Here's a graf in the NEA's summary of the survey's findings, which show it ain't just jazz that's in dire straits: "Between 1982 and 2008, attendance at performing arts such as classical music, jazz, opera, ballet, musical theater, and dramatic plays has seen double-digit rates of decline."
I don't know how the survey was conducted, but my question is how was or is a jazz concert defined? Sure, it's easy if it's a Pat Metheny or Dave Brubeck show, but did they reach the fans of Modeski, Martin and Wood, or Charlie Hunter? Moving even further from mainstream jazz, we find the definitions getting even more blurred - if yo define jazz as music incorporating improvisation, syncopated or swing rhythms and advanced harmony, then doesn't the Dave Matthews Band fall under the jazz heading?
There are dozens more examples, but the point is jazz is so broadly interwoven in modern music that it's hard to see where the lines of distinction may be.
So let's parse it further: the question is can mainstream jazz or be-bop be saved?
If "saved" means maintain sales quotas, or draw crowds of certain sizes, then no, it most likely can't. Outside of the growing list of has-been singers getting a quick sales bump by doing a collection of songs from the cliche-ridden Great American Songbook (Willie Nelson? Really?), mainstream jazz releases are not goign to ignite Billboard charts.
But there's a lot of excellent, exciting and innovative jazz that's doing very well, thank you very much. And if we really open our ears, we'll find jazz living and thriving under many rocks ... including rock.
So, save your worries for Bach and Beethoven, and add Brubeck if you want. I think art will survive because it is fine art.

But don't write off jazz yet -- like an adaptable virus, jazz has a way of permeating all kinds of hosts. Many people have been infected and don't even know it ...

Schedule your jazz

2009-09-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

Thursday, Sept. 17

John Henry Goldman and his friends have a standing Thursday night at 800 Alexander Road in Princeton Junction. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655.

Gordon James hoped to be at Scampi’s Restaurant in Somerville tonight, but someone misread their calendar and double-booked the room. So, plan on catching him next Thursday with singer Lauren Hooker.

The Jazz Celebration Big Band is back at the Temperance House in Newtown, Pa., from 8 - 10 p.m. They offer classic big band jazz, which you can enjoy with great food and drink. Reservations are recommended: call 215-860-9975 to book yours.

Trumpeter Ted Curson hosts Trumpets Jazz Club’s Thursday night jam session, if you’re looking to get out of your woodshed. For more information, click here.

Friday, Sept. 18

Rio Clemente will be at Casa Bella Restaurant, 304 Route 46 in Denville, with vocalist Elena Zabyako 8 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Call 973-627-2003 for information.

The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 19

Andrew Beal visits this week’s meeting of the Jazz Disciples, 2 p.m. at Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton.

Darla and Rich Tarpinian return to the Starlight Room at Hopewell Valley Inn, 15 E. Broad St. in Hopewell. Hear them from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 20

John Nobile's Summerswing Orchestra will be appearing at Rhythms in the Night, 729 S. Main St. in Manville, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There’s a $10 cover charge, and it’s bets to call ahead for reservations (908-707-8757).

The Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village jazz brunch with live music runs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Aug. 21
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 22

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Aug. 23

The New Jersey Jazz Society film series continues with "Jazz on a Summer's Day," a documentary of the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival featuring performances by Anita O'Day, Mahalia Jackson, Thelonious Monk and Louis Armstrong. The show will be presented at the Library of the Chathams, 214 Main St. in Chatham Boro, starting at 7 p.m. There is no admission charge, and the programs are open to the general public.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 24

Grover’s Mill Coffeehouse, 295 Route 571 (West Windsor-Hightstown Road), hosts jazz by Straight on Red at 7:30 p.m.

Don't forget Gordon James and Lauren Hooker at Scampi's ...

Jimmy Heath ... still bopping at 83

2009-09-14T08:35:00.001-07:00

From Jimmy heath at Somerville Jazz Festival, Sept. 13, 2009

Didn't have a chance to get to Saturday's drizzled JazzFeast in Princeton, but Sunday's inaugural Somerville Jazz Festival was great. Gretchen Parlato gave a solid setting, capping her performance with a Stevie Wonder tune which gave her accompanists a chance to stretch out a bit.
After an introduction by Somerville Mayor Brian Gallagher, Jimmy Heath capped the festival with some spot-on playing. He moved easily between Calypso and post-bop rhythms, and danced and smiled for the audience while his band took solo turns.
Before playing, Heath admitted he was entering his sixth decade on jazz circuits but you may not have known that from his playing. He's slowed a bit for sure, but his tone was full and his lines were lively and melodic.
There may not words like "retirement" in jazz musicians' vocabularies, but when one can still play and have as much fun doing it as Jimmy Heath seemed to be having Sunday ... why would you?

Feast on this

2009-09-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

After two weeks out of state, it's great to be back in time for a weekend of jazz. We've not only got a full slate of great jazz performances in the clubs (and the South Brunswick Library), but two open air festivals, the Princeton Jazz Feast Saturday and Sunday's Somerville Jazz Festival.
There are great acts to see at both: Roomful of Blues and the Marlene Verplanck Group are in Princeton, with Alan Dale and the New Legacy Jazz Band and the Smith Street Society. The Feast runs from noon to 6 p.m.
Sunday's Somerville event is going to be just as great: Jimmy Heath gets top billing, but the event also features The Gretchen Parlato Band, Harry Allen Quartet and Sherman Irby’s “Organomics.” It's been produced by WBGO's Sheila Anderson. The festival runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the lawn of the Historic Somerset Courthouse -- for more, check www.FindSomerville.com.

Thursday, Sept. 10
Rio Clemente will be at Mullberries Bar and Grille, with Mr. Muzzy and his Melliferous Tones … 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mulberries is at 158 Market St., Elmwood Park. Call the bar at 201-475-5700 for further information. Rio will be at Armando's Italian Restaurant, 144 Main St. in Ft. Lee, with bassist Jerry Bruno from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Trumpeter Ted Curson hosts Trumpets Jazz Club’s Thursday night jam session, if you’re looking to get out of your woodshed. For more information, click here.

Friday, Sept. 11
The Sixth Street Quaternion will close out Crossing Vineyards’ Summer under the Starts Music series at 7 p.m. It’s $10 to go, or $25 with the food buffet. Make your reservations here. They’ll be playing selections from their new new CD “Summer Nights” – which includes the track “Wine Me, Dine Me.” Almost sounds as if written for the date, doesn’t it?

The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 12

The Jazz Disciples program at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton features local hero Richie Cole. The program starts at 2 p.m. – go and get yourself some alto madness…

The South Brunswick Library won’t be quiet at 7 p.m. tonight, when the Andy Rothstein Band performs. The library describes guitarist Andy Rothstein as melding Stevie Ray Vaughn, Pat Martino and “The
Edge” from U2. With him will be Chris Bacas on saxophone, Steve Jankowski on trumpet, Tony Senatore on bass, and Luther Rix on drums.

Sunday, Sept. 13
Laura Hull headlines at Shanghai Jazz tonight, with Tomoko Ohno on piano. Call 973-822-2899 to get your tickets. Learn more about Laura at www.LauraHull.com

The Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village jazz brunch with live music runs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

The New Jersey Jazz Society member social scheduled for 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Shanghai Jazz Club will feature the Baby Soda Jazz Band with Ed Polcer, who will talk about the pleasure of working with the young lions of jazz and offer some thoughts of what it's like to work with a seasoned and accomplished player. According to the NJJS Web site, “Baby Soda is on the cutting edge of a new movement loosely known as street jazz; with an eclectic set of influences ranging from New Orleans brass bands, jug music, southern gospel and hot jazz. The ensemble doesn't desire to recreate the past, rather they bring the concept and joy of the music to the present.” You don’t have to be a member to go – but it helps – find out more at www.njjs.org.

Monday, Aug. 24
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 25
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Aug. 26
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

The good, the bad and the monotone

2009-05-29T13:34:00.000-07:00

Recently, I listened to two new independent releases, one which really struck me as being a quality musical project. The other, not so much.
In fairness, it's clear Recording X, as we'll call the weaker of the two, was made on a lower budget, by jazz musicians really just starting out, whereas Recording A was made by an experienced, if relatively unknown player.
When I realized I can't listen to Recording X without getting droopy, I began to try and pin down what was missing. The combo features a piano and saxophone, both of whom are clearly competent performers -- they know their changes; they have good timing; and, for the sax player, good intonation.
What's wrong?
It really didn't hit me until I went back to Recording A -- at first I thought, sure the recording is sharper and clearer, but is that part of the problem? Two things stood out -- and it seems listeners and musicians should pay more attention to these two things than many do: Recording X was very compressed in the recording process, and the musicians weren't paying attention to their phrasing as much as they should have.
The first problem may have crept in in post-production, but the lead instrument was always too much louder than the others. When the sax soloed, the piano was buried in the mix, killing the dynamics of the music.
Without the dynamics, the recording feels lifeless and causes drowsiness ... not to be listened to while operating heavy equipment.
Furthermore, the solos on Recording X tended to have long, scalar runs ... continuously. It got exhausting -- causing further drowsiness.
Recording A is a debut recording from a long-time professional. He certainly has had opportunities to record before, I'm sure, but waited until he knew what he wanted to do.
When he soloed, he played with terrific dynamics -- articulating individual notes in a run or arpeggio; he employed slides, honks and other "gimmicks" comfortably and without drawing too much attention to them.
This made the recording more enjoyable and easy to listen to -- and frankly, a much, much better jazz CD, even without the higher-quality recording.
I won't mention who made Recording X -- I hope the group can listen to their work and continue to develop their skills -- but Recording A is Scotty Barnhart's "Say It Plain." Go to www.scottybarnhart.com to hear a sample from the release -- "a brilliant reworking of "Giant Steps." It's traditional but innovative, features terrific soloing, and is representative of why this release is likely to be one of the year's top jazz recordings.

Big night for a big band

2009-05-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

Thursday, May 28

The 17-piece Jazz Celebration Big Band, featuring vocalist Claudia Perry, will be at Poco's Comedy Cabaret (2nd floor), 625 North Main Street in Doylestown from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight. They’re hoping to impress club owners on the viability of jazz bands – try to get over and back them up. There’s a $10 cover charge. You can learn more about Cluadia Perry here.

Trumpeter Gordon James and Henry Loo on piano will be appearing at Scampi’s at 198 West Main Street, Somerville, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. every Thursday, beginning tonight. They’ll perform some R&B, pop standards and jazz – something for everyone with shrimp on the side!

Pianist Rio Clemente will be at the Bernards Inn on Route 202 in Bernardsville, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, May 29
Guitarist Dick Gratton will be at the Chambers Walk Cafe on Main Street in Lawrenceville, with sets at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

The Trenton Marriott at 1 West Lafayette, always features live jazz music from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. No cover.

Steakhouse 85 (http://www.steakhouse85.com/aboutus.html), 85 Church St., New Brunswick, has live jazz music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, May 30
Clifford Adams will be at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St., Trenton, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The date is part of the series organized by the Trenton Jazz Disciples.

Dick Gratton will be at Bordentown’s Farnsworth House from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Steakhouse 85 (http://www.steakhouse85.com/aboutus.html), 85 Church St., New Brunswick, has live jazz music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Trumpeter Claudio Roditi and his quartet will be at Trumpets Jazz in Montclair – I’ve hearing a lot of this guy lately and he’s worth the trip.

Sunday, May 31
Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village has a jazz brunch, with live music, starting this weekend. The brunch is offered from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dick Gratton will be back at it at Hightstown's Sunday Jazz Brunch at Bistro Soleil, 173 Mercer St. Sets at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium hosts a jam session from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park.

Monday, June 1
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, June 2
Steakhouse 85 (http://www.steakhouse85.com/aboutus.html), 85 Church St., New Brunswick, has live jazz music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, June 3

The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Thursday, June 4

Pianist Rio Clemente will be at the Bernards Inn on Route 202 in Bernardsville, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Look below for Rio’s weekend plans.

Later

Drew University will host the Sanofi-aventis Jazzfest 2009 June 5 – 6 at the Madison campus. Among the acts appearing will be the Allan Vache Benny Goodman Tribute Big Band, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, the Brazilian jazz of Trio da Paz and the bop sounds of tenor star Houston Person Quartet throughout the afternoon. The Rio Clemente Trio and vocalist Laura Hull will perform June 6, along with jazz singer Curtis Stigers, Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra. The festival begins with a free concert at 7 p.m. Friday and then noon to 10 p.m. June 6.

Tickets are only $50 in advance, but will be $65 at the gate on June 6. For more information, advance sale discount tickets and hotel reservations log onto www.njjs.org or call 800-303-6557. Students are $10 at the gate and kids 16 and under are free. Drew University is on Route 124 in Madison and parking is free.

We moved!

2009-05-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

The Augmented Ear blog has been moved to a new server -- you can find it here:
http://packetinsider.com/blog/augmentedear

More on big bands ...

2009-05-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

As I noted in my last blog, big bands are hard to sustain these days, but that doesn't mean you won't find some outside of your closest high school or college.
In fact, there are several bands trying to make a go of it in our neighborhood -- you can help by getting out and supporting local musicians.
The 17-piece Jazz Celebration Big Band, fronted by Paul Morris and featuring vocalist Claudia Perry (his wife), has been working hard on making big band music available for local fans. The band will be at Poco's Comedy Cabaret at 625 N. Main, Doylestown, at 8 p.m. May 28, where they're looking to prove area fans will support their music. The cover is low ($10), so make a note to show up.
John Nobile's Hunterdon County-based SummerSwing Orchestra can often be found playing in Somerville and Manville. The band has performed at The Rhythms of the Night nighclub in Manville several times this year -- and will be back June 28, and ie a regular at the Indigo Ballroom in Somerville -- catch the orchetsra there on May 23.
You can also enjoy the SummerSwing Orchestra June 5 in Somerville on the lawn of the historic courthouse.
Big bands are labors of love, requiring hours of practice and dedication by the musicians. There's some powerful medicine in the power and beauty a larger group of musicians can summon -- check it out and you'll see for yourself.

Diggin' the big bands

2009-05-10T12:47:00.000-07:00

As much as I like the classic small combos of Miles Davis or Art Blakey, big bands can really get me excited. I haven't played in a large band setting since college, but being part of such a big, noisy machine is a powerful experience.
Big bands are pretty rare these days, the costs of maintaining them is just too high. But there are a few -- Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band is one.
Most of the time, you'll find special one or two-date bands assembled and recorded. Gerald Wilson never fails to deliver great music this way.
Recently, I've been listening to some re-issued big bands that I'm really enjoying --- I'm not talking about Basie or Ellington, although they were terrific.
No - we're moving into more modern territory. Compositionally.
For example, remember Jaco Pastorius' Word of Mouth Big Band? They recorded a couple of fantastic releases. Some of the tracks are like Weather Report -- but with less Joe Zawinul and more horns ... and Jaco bouncing along underneath.
In 2003, trumpeter Randy Brecker led a big band, with brother Michael, recorded a German date released as "Some Skunk Funk" that shows how wonderfully talented the Brecker Brothers were. If their earlier fusion scared you -- don't be put off: this is a marvelous fast-paced, big band outing.
Speaking of fusion: I recently listened to Frank Zappa's "Grand Wazoo," which has all of his trademarks. That is to say, you'll find lots of wooden marimba sounds, bells, incredible harmonies and quirky rhythms that made Zappa Zappa. I know Zappa viewed the Grand Wazoo as a big band for his compositional ideas, but I'm not certain it's got quite enough to really be a big band ... maybe like a nonet, with guitar, bass, synthesizer, drums, tenor and baritone saxes, and always a few other, unexpected surprises. If you haven't listened to The Grand Wazoo, check out "Blessed Relief" or "Eat that Question."

May showers bring jazz by the hours ...

2009-05-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

Your Augmented Ear calendar for the week ...

Thursday, May 7

Pianist Rio Clemente will be at the Bernards Inn on Route 202 in Bernardsville, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Princeton University Sinfonia will conclude its 2008—2009 season at 8 p.m. May 7 with the premiere of Princeton-area composer Laurie Altman’s jazz-influenced work In Another Time, as well as several orchestra favorites. The orchestra, conducted by Ruth Ochs, will be joined by Fuma Sacra, a professional vocal ensemble directed by Andrew Megill, guitarist Nate Radley, and the Princeton University Concert Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Anthony D.J. Branker. In Another Time was commissioned and supported by the Lewis Center for the Arts, the Princeton University Jazz Program, and the Princeton University Music Department. Tickets for the concert are $5 and seating is general admission. For tickets call 609-258-9220 or order online at www.princeton.edu/utickets.

The Cornelia Street Café at 29 Cornelia St. in New York has a special ECM release event at 8:30 p.m. featuring Theo Bleckmann and the Ben Monder Duo and Cyminology. I had the pleasure of interviewing Cymin Samawatie of Cyminology for AllAboutJazz.com, as well as enjoy the band’s new ECM release “As Ney.” There’s a beautiful and compelling blend of harmonies in the compositions, which are spellbinding with Ms. Samawatie’s Farsi-language poetry. I’m hoping this band catches on – they’re talented and skilled, with an original sound.

Friday, May 8

Trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair has the Houston Person Quartet tonight and tomorrow night. There’s a $20 cover and $12 minimum. Get details at www.trumpetsjazz.com.

Guitarist Dick Gratton will be at the Chambers Walk Cafe on main Street in Lawrenceville, with sets at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

The Trenton Marriott at 1 West Lafayette, always features live jazz music from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. No cover.

Steakhouse 85 , 85 Church St., New Brunswick, has live jazz music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, May 9

Duane Eubanks will be at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St., Trenton, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Princeton University Concert Jazz Ensemble will present “Celebrating Jazz at Princeton University: 35 Years and into the Future,” billed as “the beginning of a yearlong anniversary salute to the Princeton University Jazz Ensembles featuring Jazz Program Alumni.” The Concert Jazz Ensemble will perform the works of Herbie Hancock, Bob Brookmeyer, Ryan Kisor, Pat Metheny, and Freddie Hubbard while several alumni from the university jazz program will be spotlighted in small group settings including trumpeter Eli Asher; pianists Keigo Hirakawa, Julia Brav, and Vivek Mathew; saxophonist Ben Wasserman; bassists Julian Rosse, Dean Reynolds, and Dan Ryan; as well as the Klez Dispensers featuring Adrian Banner, Ben Holmes, Amy Zakar, and Audrey Welber. It’s set for Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $15 ($5 for students) and may be purchased at the Box Office in Alexander Hall. For more information, call 609-258-5000 or go to www.princeton.edu/~richaud

McCarter Theater will feature Tiempo Libre and the Conga Kings at 8 p.m. The theater’s Webs ite says “The music of Tiempo Libre explodes in dance floor ecstasy, and the band is renowned for its incendiary performances of timba – that mix of high-voltage Latin jazz and the seductive rhythms of son. With two Grammy nominations already, Tiempo is the first authentic all-Cuban timba band in the USA.” Can you say, “Ticketes, por favor?” Click here to get your tickets. http://www.mccarter.org/ticketoffice/eventdetail.aspx?page_id=7&event_id=4395

Steakhouse 85 , 85 Church St., New Brunswick, has live jazz music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday, May 10

Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village has a jazz brunch, with live music, starting this weekend. The brunch is offered from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dick Gratton makes his regular appearance at Hightstown's Sunday Jazz Brunch at Bistro Soleil, 173 Mercer St. Sets at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium hosts a jam session from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park.

The Darla Rich Quartet will be appearing in the Starlight Room at the Hopewell Valley Inn on East Broad Street in Hopewell from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., part of the Inn’s Mother’s Day brunch. Call 609-466-9889 for reservations … then call mom.

The fifth annual Barn Dance to benefit the New Jersey Conservation Society will feature pianist Fred Miller, 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, at Brook Hollow Farm barn in Sergeantsville. Tickets are $100.

Monday, May 11

In case you forgot – you can still see Les Paul and his trio at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the Iridium. What a legend!

Tuesday, May 12

Steakhouse 85, 85 Church St., New Brunswick, has live jazz music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Wednesday, May 13

Dick Gratton will perform for the Trenton Downtown Association - Wednesday on Warren event, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Warren Street between State and Front streets, in Trenton.

We miss you, Art

2009-05-01T12:44:00.000-07:00

The University of Hartford is hosting a tribute to Art Blakey on May 22, featuring The Jazz Messengers All Star Band -- Mulgrew Miller, Javon Jackson, Carl Allen, Steve Davis, Eddie Henderson and Nat Reeves.
That's an impressive lineup, but no where near the amazing lineups Blakey assembled through his career and during the 40 years of Jazz Messengers he led.
When Mulgrew Miller was a Messenger in 1984, he played along with Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, Jean Toussaint and Lonnie Plaxico.
Javon played with Kenny Garrett and Wallace Roney, Robin Eubanks and Terrence Blanchard during his time with Blakey.
And Henderson was alongside Jackie McLean, Curtis Fuller, Cedar Walton, Airto Moreira and Valery Ponomarev while a Messenger in 1979.
From the first iteration of the Messengers through the last, Blakey surrounded himself with amazing musicians -- he often stole them from other bands and leaders, but it wasn't hard for him to do: The Jazz Messengers meant steady gigs, good pay, prestige and the opportunity to compose -- no, the expectation of composing.
Along the way, Wayne Shorter pinpointed his voice and Wynton Marsalis found his passion. Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Dorham, Cedar Walton, Eddie Gomez, Chuck Mangione, Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner, Woody Shaw, Randy Brecker, Stanley Clarke, Olu Dara and dozens more have all testified on the stage with Art Blakey behind them.
It's the history of modern jazz ... a creative force driving the progress of jazz through the 60s and 70s and 80s as forcefully as an Art Blakey snare roll and double kick on the bass ...
You really can't go wrong with a Blakey recording -- what's your favorite? I've been listening to Reflections on Buhania (1957), Ugetsu (1963) and Straight Ahead (1981) -- all full of great music.
It would be great to get to the Hartford show, but I doubt I will -- I'll have to content myself by putting some more Blakey music on my MP3 player.

Lots of locals out this week

2009-04-30T12:59:00.000-07:00

It's another great week for local fans -- we've got players from old to young and in-between this week ....

Thursday, April 30
The Highland Park-based Jim Lapidus Trio will be at Steakhouse 85 , 85 Church St., New Brunswick.
Pianist Rio Clemente will be at the Bernards Inn on Route 202 in Bernardsville, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, May 1
The annual Cranbury-Princeton High School Jazz Dance begins at 7 p.m. Friday in the Cranbury School Auditorium, 23 N. Main St., Cranbury. The event will feature several area school jazz bands, including Princeton High School’s award-winning Studio Band and Jazz Ensemble. The $6 adult tickets ($4 for seniors and children) will help support Princeton bands; buy some refreshments to support Cranbury musicians. Tickets will sold at the door or by band members.

Guitarist Dick Gratton will be at the Chambers Walk Cafe on main Street in Lawrenceville, with sets at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

The Trenton Marriott at 1 West Lafayette, always features live jazz music from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. No cover.

Saturday, May 2
James Stewart will be at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St., Trenton, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, May 3
Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village has a jazz brunch, with live music, starting this weekend. The brunch is offered from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dick Gratton makes his regular appearance at Hightstown's Sunday Jazz Brunch at Bistro Soleil, 173 Mercer St. Sets at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium hosts a jam session from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park.

Monday, May 4
The incomparable Maria Schneider will be in concert with the New Jersey City University Jazz Ensemble, at 7:30 p.m. in the Margaret Williams Theatre at NJCU in Jersey City. $15 general admission; $10 students/seniors.

Thursday, May 7
The Princeton University Sinfonia will conclude its 2008—2009 season at 8 p.m. May 7 with the premiere of Princeton-area composer Laurie Altman’s jazz-influenced work "In Another Time," as well as several orchestra favorites. The orchestra, conducted by Ruth Ochs, will be joined by Fuma Sacra, a professional vocal ensemble directed by Andrew Megill, guitarist Nate Radley, and the Princeton University Concert Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Anthony D.J. Branker. "In Another Time" was commissioned and supported by the Lewis Center for the Arts, the Princeton University Jazz Program, and the Princeton University Music Department. Tickets for the concert are $5 and seating is general admission. For tickets call 609-258-9220 or order online at www.princeton.edu/utickets.

2009-04-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

When reviewing new releases for publications, one often gets smitten with a new release. Most of the time, the love doesn't last -- once you're not listening to something as closely, whatever beauty it had fades and when it's heard again ... well, it's like bumping into an old aquaintance you've forgotten about.

But every now and again, there's real gold among the thousands of new releases, and one of my favorites is Ray Barretto's "Time was -- Time is" from 2005 on O+ Music.

It was Ray's last studio release, and it's a fine tribute to this incredible musician who gave us "El Watusi" in the 60s, 1972's "Carnival" and this, before his death in early 2006. His contributions to salsa music is legendary -- but his jazz was also first rate.

I find the opening track of "Time was - Time is" -- "Drume Negrita" -- completely enchanting. With Barretto on shakers, pianist Robert Rodriguez outlines the harmonic structure with a series of whole-note chords.

Then, in a beautifully realized and powerful statement, Sean Conly's bass gives the tune's bottom end. It's a wonderful fulfillment of the rhythm and chordal presence, with a snaking rhythm moving down a descending melody line.

By the time the two horns -- Joe Magnarelli on trumpet and altoist Myron Walden -- join, the song balances on the interplay between the elements.

There are times I will crave another listen to this delicious serving the way some people crave ice cream -- it begins with the hypnotic shakers, then the bass line ...

Throught the CD, Baretto's percussion work is moved up in the mix, creating a more urgent feel to the music. It's not in-your-face percussion, but -- typical of Barretto -- perfectly placed and played.

The arrangements and perfomances here -- recorded over a three-day session at the end of November 2004 -- are sublime and fresh. The septet with two horns is an unusual combination, but it works -- they're light and nimble, and Magnarelli is fantastic here.

It's become one of my favorite recordings of the decade, one that earns repeated listens and deserves to become a classic. As a final effort, it shows what an immense talent Barretto was.

Finding a surprise on Saturday night

2009-04-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

Last week, I mentioned Julian Lage and Tal Wilkenfeld, a couple of up-and-coming musicians who have been getting lots of attention and press. Saturday, I witnessed an impressive performance by some talented local youth while out and about in Princeton.
Unfortunately, I didn't catch the names of the keyboard-flugelhorn-drums lineup -- they were playing at the Carousel Luncheonette, as part of an event for the Princeton Young Achievers.
But they did a terrific job, listening and responding to each other. They played well, like mature musicians, although I don't think any of the trio I heard was more than 20 years old. Their arrangements on standards were tasteful and creative, and void of the usual over-playing young and inexperienced players often give.
I'll keep an eye out for these musicians -- and so should you -- they may be among the future stars.

We're having a heat wave ...

2009-04-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

It’s getting hot this week … and we’re not talking about the weather! Lots happening for jazz lovers – get out and support local musicians.

Thursday, April 23
Alan Holdsworth opens a four-night arpeggio-fest at Iridium in Manhattan. Tix are $30 – get some at www.iridiumjazzclub.com, see him and be prepared to be amazed … he’s adding two shows at The Turning Point, Monday. That’s at 468 Piermont Ave., Piermont, N.Y. 10968; 845-359-1089

Friday, April 24
Trumpeter Gordon James will be at the Salt Creek Grille in Princeton Forrestal Village from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Gordon’s got a new release – "In Joy" on Caress Music – coming out and he’s booking dates in area clubs (he’ll be in new Brunswick Sunday).
Guitarist Dick Gratton will be at the Chambers Walk Cafe on main Street in Lawrenceville, with sets at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
The Trenton Marriott at 1 West Lafayette, always features live jazz music from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. No cover.

John Scofield and Chris Potter’s Underground at McCarter Theater. ‘Nuff said. Check here for details.

Saturday, April 25
The Watchung Arts Center will feature Brazilian pianist Adriano Santos, with composer Helio Alves, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $16; $8 for students. Click here, e-mail to wacenter@optonline.net, or call 908-753-0190 to reserve yours.
If you miss Santos’ Watchung show, don’t fret – he’s playing Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola from April 28 to May 3 in "Samba Jazz and the Music of Jobim," a tribute to Jobim. He’ll join Eddie Gomez, Claudio Roditi and Toninho Horta, Duduka Da Fonseca on drums, and singer Maucha Adnet. Click here for more details.
John Nobile's Summer Swing Orchestra will be at the Indigo Ballroom, 17 Division St. in Somerville at 8:30 p.m. There’s a $20 cover charge, but that includes a one-hour swing dance lesson, and refreshments. Call 908-218-9418 for more information.

Sunday, April 26
Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village has a jazz brunch, with live music, starting this weekend. The brunch is offered from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Dick Gratton makes his regular appearance at Hightstown's Sunday Jazz Brunch at Bistro Soleil, 173 Mercer St. Sets at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The Somerset Jazz Consortium hosts a jam session from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park.
Gordon James kicks off what he hopes will become a regular Sunday night event — Smooth Sensual Sunday — 6 p.m. at the Progressive Temple 186 Hale St. in New Brunswick. He’ll have his band, a light show and "visual motion photography" by Funkologist. Tickets are $15.
The New Jersey Jazz Society meeting will begin at 2 p.m. at Trumpet's Jazz Club, 6 Depot Square, Montclair. Today’s meeting will feature pianist-singer-educator Dena DeRose in the NJJS’s Intimate Portrait Series features. Click here for details.

Monday, April 27
The Justin Derman Jazz Trio will perform at the Bound Brook Library at 7 p.m. Monday. Justin Derman is a Bound Brook resident who studied at Kean University and New Jersey City University. The concert is free, thanks to the Friends of the Bound Brook Library.

Tuesday, April 28
Shanghai Jazz in Madison has Russell Malone – if you haven’t seen Malone on stage, you really haven’t heard him. He’s got a great musical presence on stage, playing with more energy than on many of his releases. There’s no cover charge, but $35 per person for food and drink minimum at all tables ($10 to sit in the bar). Call 973-822-2899 to make the required reservations.

Keeping up with the kids

2009-04-22T05:46:00.000-07:00

Music can be a merciless taskmaster ... and jazz is the meanest mistress. Many spend their lives struggling to master the delicacies of a minor 7 with a flatted fifth ....
Of course, others aren't so hampered: they get it early on in life.
To wit: check out Julian Lage, an old-hand on the jazz circuit at 21. I first read about him five years ago, when Just Jazz Guitar did a profile on the 16-year-old phenom.
How about Tal Wilkenfeld -- here she is doing her rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Cause We've Ended as Lovers" with Jeff Beck. She toured Australia last year with Chick Corea. She's 21, too.
A quick search on Google finds links to articles from Maine to California about teenage and early-20-year-old jazz musicians ... and if you pursue it, you'll find there's a lot of good music coming from them.
Now, back to practicing those altered dominant sevenths ...

Gordon James -- new release and new area dates

2009-04-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

Middlesex resident Gordon James -- that's him at right in the photo with Ronnie Jordan -- has just released his third CD, "In Joy" on Caress Music, adding to his collection of nice funk and smooth jazz releases. His work covers a lot of territory within the genre, though -- I checked out several cuts from his ouvre, really enjoyed his take on "Grazin' in the Grass" on his 1999 release "Gordon James" -- he's punched up the bottom a bit and moved the melody back in the mix, making it funkier than say, Grover Washington's take on it.

Check out his Web site here , or jump over to CDbaby to hear cuts from "After Hours," "Gordon James" and "In Joy" -- and order yours.

Or, better yet, catch him live -- Gordon and his band are regulars in area clubs and venues. He'll be at the Salt Creek Grill in the Forrestal Village off Route 1 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday (April 24) , and at the Progressive Temple 186 Hale St.

in New Brunswick at 6 p.m. Sunday (April 26) -- the "Smooth Sensous Sunday" show!. Sunday's show includes his working band and a

visual motion photography and light show -- should be fantastic!

Favorites from "The House that Trane Built"

2009-04-20T09:38:00.001-07:00

Finished Ashley Kahn's excellent "biography" of Impulse Records, "The House That Trane Built," and have been seeking out some of the iconic releases mentioned.

One of my all-time favs is Oliver Nelson's "The Blues and The Abstract Truth." Nelson's arranaging was always top notch, and no matter how many times I listen to "Stolen Moments," it still stuns me with the chromatic steps in the bridge, and the fantastic solos by Freddie Hubbard and Eric Dolphy.

I'm still doing some digging -- checked out John Handy's "Work Hard" last week, and several Archie Shepp tunes the week before.

Brother, can you spare a dime?

2009-04-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

If money were no object, there'd be no reaosn to pick and choose from the great jazz offerings around these days. It's hard to know what the best buy for your bebop bucks is ... but here are five hot buys I'd like to make:
1. Tickets to a John Scofield's "Piety Street" show. He's traveling with George Porter Jr., Jon Cleary and Ricky Fataar, doing shows that are getting raves all around. Sco's a great treat, consistently very good and when he's really on, hard to beat. I love how he always keeps one foot in the blues...
2. Brian Blade's CD "Mama Rosa": Due out next week, this sounds really intriguing ... know it or not, you've heard Blade drumming (unless you've avoided anyone in this list: Wayne Shorter, Joshua Redman, Kenny Garrett, Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, Bill Frisell, and Seal and some guy named Dylan, Bob Dylan). BUT you've not heard him like this - a stripped-down collection of songs more Dylan than Shorter in style, with Blade singing and strumming a guitar. You've got to love a guy who seems to do it all ...
3. Tickets to the Blue Note 70th Anniversary shows: this would be steep, because I missed it at McCarter. Let's who is playing? Oh, yeah, it's Ravi Coltrane, Nicholas Peyton, Bill Charlap and Steve Wilson.
4. A WBGO donation ... because it's a great station and I want to hang with Gary Walker.
5. A Livio radio. These $150 boxes offer WiFI and Ethernet Internet connectivity and use Pandora software for Internet radio service. You can plug in earbuds, give tunes a thumbs up or thumbs down ... and never have to listen to "Freebird" again.

Debate ragin' for New Orleans festival cajuns

2009-04-17T13:59:00.000-07:00

This week, Mac Rubinack ... aka, Dr. John ... was seen on Youtube expressing support for a plane that will be flying over next week's New Orleans Jazz Festival protesting Shell Oil Co.' s sponsorship of the event ... and oil exploration in Southern Louisiana.
Then, the good doctor had to issue a retraction, claiming he was exhausted and apologizing for reading someone else's words. In the retraction, Rubinack praises Shell for its sponsorship of the festival.
Oil is a big deal in Louisiana, and oil money does pay a lot of wages and for a lot of events in the region. It also is destroying the wetlands and environment.
The New Orleans festival is certainly the mac-daddy grandest of all festivals, probably in no small part due to the corporate largesse -- check out the schedule - there's almost 60 acts the first day.
No doubt many of the musicians are as conflicted as Dr. John. Maybe that's just part of the gumbo that makes New Orleans so damn funky, too.

Jazz calendar for April 16

2009-04-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Trenton resident – and saxophonist extraordinaire -- Phil Woods will part of a special "Living Jazz Saxophone Legends" at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center 199 Chambers Street, between Greenwich and West Street tonight at 8 p.m. He’s mixing it up with Lou Donaldson, Michael Weiss, John Webber, Bill Goodwin – and Lew Tabackin. Tickets are $35 for this show, part of the Highlights in Jazz series at Manhattan Community College. http://www.tribecapac.org/music.htm

Friday, April 17
Guitarist Dick Gratton will be at the Chambers Walk Cafe on main Street in Lawrenceville, with sets at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

The Trenton Marriott at 1 West Lafayette, always features live jazz music from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. No cover.

Head to the Creole Restaurant and Supper Club at 2167 Third Ave. in New York tonight at 8 p.m. for Grady Tate and Quintet
(John Di Martino, Noriko Ueda, Lance Murphy, Shinnosuki Takahashi and Chembo Corniel) and you may end up in the video being filmed for a documentary on the singer. If you don’t care about that, you can take in his 10 a.m. show or go Saturday night at 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. For information and reservations, call 212-876-8838, or check the Web site http://creolenyc.com/

Saturday, April 18
Dick Gratton will be at The Farnsworth House in Bordentown from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday, April 19
Dick Gratton makes his regular appearance at Hightstown's Sunday Jazz Brunch at Bistro Soleil, 173 Mercer St. Sets at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium hosts a jam session from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park.

The new Jersey Jazz Society Afternoon of Jazz at the Morristown Community Theatre will feature the always-delightful Bucky Pizzarelli Trio, with Jerry Bruno and Aaron Weinstein, in a salutes to Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Tickets are $15 and are available at the Community Theatre Box Office or by calling 973-539-8008.

Monday, April 20
West Coast trumpeter Bria Skönberg and trombonist Jim Fryer, who plays with the Nighthawks and leads his own bands, will be at the Bickford Theater in Morristown at 8 p.m. Monday. The duo’s Borderline Jazz Band includes reed player Anat Cohen, Mark Shane (piano), Gim Burton (banjo and guitar), Robbie Scott (drums) and Ed Wise (string bass). Tix are $15 in advance, $18 at the door (less for Morris Museum members) -- call 973-971-3706 to reserve yours.
They will also be at the Ocean County Library in Toms River Wednesday.

Tuesday, April 21
Pianist Tomoko Ohno has two shows at Shanghai Jazz tonight. www.shanghaijazz.com

That’s all for this week – but next week is shaping up to be another dandy one for Central Jersey jazzbos – lots of local highlights and great shows.

Bad idea or brilliant mashup?

2009-04-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

Just read an article in the Detroit Free Press about an upcoming Kurt Elling performance there, where Mr. Elling plans to sing selections from John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. I'm not a fan of Kurt Elling, although I confess I've never seen him live and his reputation as one of the best these days is based more on his live performances than recordings.
But I'm still wondering if it's a good idea to bother doing something like this -- as much as I love the originals, many of them are standards Hartman could have sung anytime or anywhere. The legend goes Coltrane asked producer Bob Thiele to set up the recording, and when asked, Hartman demurred, feeling he wasn't up to singing with Coltrane.
Imagine trying to keep up with a force like John Coltrane in 1963!
The recordings work because, rather than use all of his power, Coltrane carefully chose his every note to bolster Hartman.
So, I'm wondering, what role does Elling see here? Is he the constrained uber-musician drawing emotion out by carefully avoiding playing to type? Or is he the self-effacing vocalist worried he'll be overshadowed by a powerful horn player?
Or is he is just picking six standards to sing with a featured sax player that coincides with the Coltrane-Hartman playlist?
I hope to have a chance to hear a clip from the performance ... maybe I'll become an Elling fan yet.

Freddie Hubbard tribute in Brooklyn

2009-04-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

If you find yourself in Brooklyn April 19 ... stay for the tribute to Freddie Hubbard and Ronnie Mathews planned by the Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium at SugarHill Restaurant & Supper Club, 609 DeKalb Avenue near Nostrand, in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn from 5 to 9 p.m.
Artists paying homage to Misters Mathews and Hubbard include: James Spaulding, Louis Hayes, George Cables, Dwayne Burno, Kenyatta Beasley and musical director Kiane Zawadi with a special poetic interlude by Louis Reyes Rivera plus other invited guest artists.

Ronnie Mathews' Brooklyn roots go back to his birth year of 1935. He has been compared by critics to Bud Powell and McCoy Tyner and the NY Daily News says of Ronnie, " . . . another stalwart figure who has yet to receive proper recognition". Jazz master Freddie Hubbard became a one name jazz icon while living in Brooklyn during the 60s and put the borough on the jazz map with his immortal live recording, "The Night Of The Cookers", in the jazz venue Club La Marchal.

This event is sponsored by Yamaha Corporation of America, Brooklyn Tourism and Visitors Center and the 47 members/organizations of Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium.

Oh, dem bones

2009-04-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

Listening to XM Radio's channel 70 this morning, when hostess Rhonda Hamilton played some J.J. Johnson and talked about Johnson's key role in making the trombone a vital instrument in jazz.
Johnson's virtuosity on his chosen instrument enabled him to hold the stage with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. He died in 2001, and left a legacy that still echoes.
I hadn't really considered the trombone much before college, when our professor of jazz was a trombone player. After listening to him -- and checking out some of the recordings available -- I regretted my fateful decision in the third grade to not play the trombone in the school band.
Now, I can honestly say bones are a favorite. While there are many great players today, and many greats from the past, it seems the trombone is still not as commonly heard as trumpets and saxes.
But I can really dig the deep, full sound of trombones, and when in the right hands, I don't think anything swings like a trombone can. Check out J.J Johnson or Kai Winding ... Roswell Rudd ... Clifton Anderson ...Wycliffe Gordon ... ahh, there are too many!

D.C. al fine: Bud Shank

2009-04-06T11:36:00.000-07:00

Saxophonist Bud Shank died yesterday at age 82 at his home in Tuscon, ending an amazing 60-year career.
I don't know where or when I first heard of Bud Shank, or heard Bud Shank, but he was the kind of jazzbo who seemed to always be around. He wasn't what one might consider an "A" list name, but his was an unforgettable name.
I plan to listen to his last release, 2007's "Beyond the Red Door" on Jazzed Media. Billboard gave it 4 out of 5 stars, and I'd agree. He would have been 79 or 80 at the time of the recording, but you'd never know it from his still-throaty sound. Bud wasn't the horn player to call for smooth fills, or soft backing -- I haven't heard all that much of his playing, but he always sounded like he was playing with energy and enjoyment. He was inventive when playing familiar lines, and dynamic when crafting his own solos.
Here's the Associated Press' report on Bud Shank:

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Bud Shank, a flutist and alto saxophonist who worked with such famous acts as the Mamas and the Papas, has died. He was 82.
Shank died Thursday of pulmonary failure at his home in Tucson, according to his Web site and JazzTimes magazine. No phone numbers were listed for Shank's home.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Shank worked with saxophonist Charlie Barnet in North Carolina before moving to California in the 1940s. There, he played with trumpeter Shorty Rogers and then pianist Stan Kenton.
Shank was one of the first jazz musicians to explore Brazilian music, and recorded a number for World Pacific, a world music label, from the 1950s to the 1970s, according to JazzTimes.
During his career, Shank worked with Sergio Mendes and the Mamas and the Papas. His flute work is heard in the latter's song, "California Dreamin.'"
Shank reached the Billboard charts in 1966 with his album Michelle, a collection of covers of pop hits.
More recently, Shank focused on his alto work and formed the Bud Shank Big Band in 2007. Shank was recording a new album in San Diego the day before he died.

A new jazz basement

2009-04-05T04:57:00.000-07:00

There was a time when young musicians could play and practice as much as 18 hours a day -- in his biography "We called it Music," Eddie Condon said he and his pals in 1930s New York would get up in the middle of the afternoon, go to a paying gig, then head out in search of jams that would often last until daybreak.
Minton's Club in Harlem was a well-known after-hours destination for boppers in the late-40s and 1950s.
These opportunities gave rise to the great virtuosity of many musicians, and it's very difficult for players today to get anywhere near the same experience.
Up in North Jersey, Cory Dinkle is trying to hoping to create an open environment for jazz fans and players -- he posted an ad on Craigslist to see if anyone was interested. So far, he said he's gotten about a dozen responses -- now, they just need a location.
I wonder if anything like that would survive here ...

Ever have a song get in your ear ...

2009-04-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

...and you can't get it out? This happens to me most often when I'm working on a song, trying to get the melody and harmonic structure to stick. Earlier this week, I came a cross an arrangement of "Fly me to the moon" by Ted Greene, who was a phenomenal guitarist. After playing the song few times, I kept hearing the melody, singing it about the house and then digging out CDs with recordings of it ... a recording by Paula West on Verve is my favorite at the moment -- I love the way she plays with the melody.

Parents, teach your children well

2009-04-02T14:06:00.000-07:00

And teach them jazz ... a great way to start is with the WBGO Kids Jazz Concerts series, Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. These free shows, held at a variety of venues, will introduce jazz and jazz culture to kids. Check out the schedule at http://www.wbgo.org/, click on "events."

Thursday, April 2
Shanghai Jazz in Madison has a treat tonight: Gene Bertoncini will be onstage in the Bob Litwak Trio, with clarinetist Ron Odrich. www.shanghaijazz.com
The Rowan University Lab Band and Big Band will perform in the school’s Pfleeger Concert Hall. The show is free; begins at 8 p.m.

Friday, April 3
Peddie School’s Jazz Friday series continues with Guillermo Nojechowicz and El Eco, hosted by the Community Arts Partnership at 8 p.m. in Hightstown. Tickets are $25 — call 609-490-7550 to reserve. Read more about El Eco here
Guitarist Dick Gratton will be at the Chambers Walk Cafe on main Street in Lawrenceville, with sets at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
The Barry Levitt Trio, featuring guest saxophonist Zan Stewart, will be performing at the South Brunswick Jazz Café, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Herb Eckert Auditorium in the South Brunswick Senior Center, Friday. The trio is filling in for vocalist Marlene VerPlanck, who had to cancel due to an emergency. Admission is just $5, and light refreshments are available.
The Trenton Marriott at 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz music from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. No cover.

Saturday, April 4
Dick Gratton will be at The Farnsworth House in Bordentown from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The New Jersey Jazz Society is hosting a Night of Jazz at the Theatre at
Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, featuring Five
Play, Rio Clemente, vocalist Frank Noviello and Mark O’Connor at 7 p.m. April 4.
Tickets are $20 and $25 and are available at the box of´
fice by calling 908-725-3420.

Sunday, April 5

Dick Gratton makes his regular appearance at Hightstown's Sunday Jazz Brunch at Bistro Soleil, 173 Mercer St. Sets at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The Somerset Jazz Consortium hosts a jam session from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park.
Patriots Theater at the War Memorial presents "Red, White, Blue, Ragtime Revue," with Dave Wickerham, organ, and Dick Kroekel, piano, at 3 p.m. The show is being presented by the Garden State Theatre Organ Society. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 seniors and children – call the box office at 609-984-8400. For more information, click here

Monday, April 6
Bill Charlap, Peter Bernstein, Ravi Coltrane, Lewis Nash, Nicholas Payton, Peter Washington and Steve Wilson will be at McCarter Theater for the Blue Note 70th Anniversary concert. Could you ask for anyone more? Go to http://www.mccarter.org/ to get your tickets.

Tuesday, April 7
Rhythms of the Night hosts one part of the Somerset Jazz Consortium at 7 p.m. (there's no cover!), while other members of the consortium head to the Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison for a jam session from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Musicians: Check out the rules of the road for the sessions before going.

Wednesday, April 8
Cedar Walton, Javon Jackson, Buster Williams and Jimmy Cobb open a four-night engagement at the Iridium. http://www.iridiumjazzclub.com/

Thursday, April 9
New Jersey Jazz Society presents the Rowan University Lab Band and Big Band at Pfeeger Concert Hall at 8 p.m. -- it's a free show!

Get ready for JAM

2009-04-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

Each year since 2002, the Smithsonian Institution designates April as Jazz Appreciation Month in honor of the birth of Benny Goodman. It's a great opportunity to catch some fine music at a nearby venue, or dig deeper into the musicians you dig.
Click here to visit the National Museum of American History's Jazz Appreciation Month Web page, with links to calendars and events going on.
But everyone's getting in on it -- click here for WBGO's plans to celebrate.

Happy birthday, Freddie!

2009-03-31T11:17:00.001-07:00

Guitar great Freddie Green was born March 31, 1911, in Charleston, S.C. His work with Count Basie is legendary -- he's probably the most famous guitarist to have almost never taken a solo.
His approach to comping behind the big band set a high standard for other players, often using techniques that run against conventional wisdom.
For example, guitarists tend to accumulate chord fingerings the way squirrels gather nuts: one can't have too many of them, even if you don't remember exactly where they all are all the time.
Freddie's style relied on the use of three-note chord forms, chords which carry the important harmony for the music -- without the filler of duplicated notes (which often creates a muddier sound).
His mastery of chords and rhythm playing was phenomenal -- check out this quote about Freddie's knowledge from Wes Montgomery (found on allaboutjazz.com's "Musician of the Day" page): “It would be alright, but I don't know that many chords. I'd be loaded if I knew that many. I'd probably go join a (big) band and play rhythm, man, because he's (Freddie) not just playing chords, he's playing a LOT of chords.”
A lot of what he did used common ii-V substitutions ... it ain't rocket science, but it will definitely propel the music!

He achieved this using big, hollow-bodied guitars -- Strombergs, Epiphones and Gretchs measuring as much as 18 inches across the lower bout (by comparison, a Gibson ES-175 runs less than 17 inches).

The bigger box helped give his playing more projection, as did the setup on his guitar. These days, everyone wants their strings as close to the neck as possible, as close as 5/32".

Freddie kept his strings waayyy off the neck -- it also added to the projection but must have been awfully hard to play.

Freddie died in 1987, after taking over the Count Basie Band when Basie died in 1984.

Tom Harrell's new release ... um, rocks?

2009-03-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

OK, it's a poor choice of words ...there's no rocking -- just very solid jazz and some great arrangements.
I've been a fan of Harrell's for some time, enjoyed "Forms" but think his new release "Prana Dance" is top-notch. Working with Wayne Escoffery on soprano and tenor saxes; Danny Grissett on keys; Ugonna Okegwo on bass and drummer Johnathan Blake, Herrell's arrangements are fuller than you might expect from a five-piece group.
But he's always been able to convey more than most in his music. I really enjoy the way his and Escoffery's solos weave around the rhythm section. There's a logic to them that's beautiful. The tunes also have a touch of fusion in them, but never stray too far from Harrell's swinging hard bop roots.
The Los Angeles Times aid "What Harrell [does] is spin out improvisational lines filled with instant melodies. Like a lyricist who illuminates phrases with subtle internal rhymes, Harrell's soloing captivates both the hearts and the minds of his listeners."
Helping here is an unusually lush recording -- done at "Bennett Studios, Englewood, NJ" on May 29 and June 10 last year, according to jazzloft.com .... "Bennett Studios" ... "Englewood, NJ" ... remind you of anyone?
Harrell's group will be at the Village Vanguard April 7-12.

Kinda cool

2009-03-28T13:15:00.000-07:00

The Jazz Studies Center at Columbia University has launched Jazz Studies Online, which offers lots of fun and interesting historical sources for students of jazz.
For example, here's a link to a page where you can download liner notes for a Lenny Tristano recording by Barry Ulanov that appeared in "The Jazz Review."

Catch local musicians ... "Live from Kennedy Center"

2009-03-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

Tonight's "Live from Kennedy Center" on PBS features the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra performing a range of fresh arrangements of tunes from Duke Ellington (who you might expect from Wynton Marsalis' group) to Thelonius Monk and Oliver Nelson (who you may not).
This incarnation of the group appears every bit as solid musically as the previous versions -- I'm looking forward to hearing them after reading so many praising reviews.
Among the group are several New Jersey based or born players: saxophonist Sherman Irby lives in Vauxhall, while West Orange residents Carlos Henriquez (on bass) and Ali Jackson Jr. (drums) hold down the bottom. Bonesman Vincent Gardner calls Roselle Park home and trumpeter Marcus Printup lives in Maplewood.
Check them all out - check your local listings, too, for when the show is on...

Randy Sandke kicks off area week in jazz

2009-03-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

Thursday, March 26

Barge Music's Jazz Night will feature Randy Sandke and Friends (including Nicki Parrott on bass, and pianist Ted Rosenthal) at 8 p.m.Tickets are $25 regular, $20 senior, $15 student for the show on the barge conveniently moored at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in Fulton Ferry Landing, Brooklyn. For reservations and further information, call 718-624-2083 or go to http://www.bargemusic.org/

Guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli will be at Shanghai Jazz in Madison. Check the Web site at www.shanghaijazz.com for details.

The Afro Cuban All Stars, featuring singer and guitarist Juan de Marcos (of "Buena Vista Social Club" fame), will be at the Patriots Theater at The War Memorial in Trenton at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $18 to $45 -- go to www.state.nj.us/state/divisions/memorial/ to get yours.

Friday, March 27

Guitarist Dick Gratton will be at the Chambers Walk Cafe on main Street in Lawrenceville, with sets at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

The Watchung Arts Center announces a dedication concert honoring Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett, performed by the Sarah Jane Cion Quartet at 8 p.m. The center reports "After learning of the tragic accident that took the lives of two celebrated musicians, Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett, it is with great respect that we will be dedicating this performance to their great and lasting memories. Both Mellett and Niewood have played at the Watchung Arts Center and were both to play again; Niewood to play with Cion and Mellett to play with wife Bryson in May. Cion will not be replacing Niewood but will continue on as a Trio. "Sarah Jan Cion, a dynamically spirited pianist, appeared on the NPR radio show "Piano Jazz" with Marian McPartland in 2000. She was the First Place Winner of the 17th Annual Great American Jazz Piano Competition judged by Horace Silver, Kenny Barron, Ellis Marsalis and Benny Green (Jacksonville, FL, 1999). Cion performed in the Kennedy Center's "Women in Jazz Festival" in 1999 and at the Smithsonian Institute's Voice of America Stage in Washington, D.C. in 2001. She has performed with Clark Terry, Etta Jones, Bucky Pizzarelli, Anita O'Day among many others." Tickets for the event are $20 ($18 if you're a member of the arts center).

Javon Jackson will bring his band to Shanghai Jazz for shows Friday and Saturday. The saxophone star has a new CD out, so this should be a great show.

Saturday, March 28

The Princeton High School Jazz Festival begins at 2 p.m. at the school. Enjoy local young musicians, then catch Tierney Sutton at 7 p.m. Tierney Sutton Tickets are on sale now -- $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors.

New Jersey-based jazz vocalist and songwriter Laura Hull will appear at Stone House at Stirling Ridge at 7:30 p.m. Joining her is master jazz accordionist Eddie Monteiro. Stone House at Stirling Ridge is located at 50 Stirling Road in Warren.
Ms. Hull has been described as a savvy jazz stylist with a distinct sound. Her music is drawn from an extensive repertoire of American popular songs, jazz standards, obscure gems, and her original music. Noted Jazz Café host John Bohannon at WRHU Radio in Hempstead, NY says "We're lucky to have a performer such as Laura Hull who has the style and grace to keep this great American music alive."
In addition to her ensemble known as Laura Hull & Her Jazz Gems, she is a member of the Fun Bunch Big Band and serves as featured guest with noted bassist-composer Jon Burr’s 3 For All Trio, among others. Recent appearances include New York City’s Metropolitan Room, Pennsylvania’s Historic Gettysburg Festival, and Trumpets Jazz. Her latest CD, "Take Me Home," has garnered excellent reviews and major radio play. In addition, Ms. Hull recently released "LauRio Live!" a compilation of live performances with pianist Rio Clemente, with whom she has collaborated since 2006.
She'll also be hosting next week's New Jersey Jazz Society Evening of Jazz at Raritan Valley Community College.
Further more information about Ms. Hull, please visit www.LauraHull.com.
For additional information about Stone House, visit www.stonehouseatstirlingridge.com or call 908-754-1222.

Dick Gratton makes his regular appearance at Hightstown's Sunday Jazz Brunch at Bistro Soleil, 173 Mercer St. Sets at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The Somerset Jazz Consortium hosts a jam session from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park.

Sunday March 29

The 10-piece Beacon Hill Jazz Band will be at the Watchung Arts Center at 3 p.m. Tickets are $16, $13 for members and $8 for students. Tickets can be purchased on line for this concert by going to http://www.watchungarts.org/

Tuesday, March 31

Rhythms of the Night hosts one part of the Somerset Jazz Consortium at 7 p.m. (there's no cover!), while other members of the consortium head to the Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison for a jam session from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Musicians: Check out the rules of the road for the sessions before going -- it's here).

Shanghai jazz in Madison will feature pianist Tomoko Ohno, of the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars, and the Diva, All-Women Band. Shows at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 2

New Jersey Jazz Society presents the Rowan University Lanb Band and Big Band at Pfeeger Concert Hall at 8 p.m. -- it's a free show!

Saturday, April 4

The New Jersey Jazz Society is hosting an "Evening of Jazz" featuring Five Play, Vocalist Frank Noviello, Rio Clemente, and Mark O'Connor and His Hot Swing Trio at the Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC).
Tickets are $20 and $25 and are available at the RVCC Box Office, click here to order tickets; or by calling 908 218-8867. Music committee chair, and vocalist, Laura Hull, will serve as host for Night of Jazz.

Make your plans now: McCarter Theater in Princeton will host the Blue Note All-Stars April 6, for the Blue Note 70th Anniversary. Performers include Bill Charlap, Peter Bernstein, Ravi Coltrane, Lewis Nash, Nicholas Payton, Peter Washington and Steve Wilson. Could you ask for anything more?

Jazz society joins RVCC jazz event

2009-03-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

Just received this from the New Jersey Jazz Society:
Hullarious Productions will present Night of Jazz at the Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, at 7 p.m. April 4. This multi-artist show is presented in cooperation with the New Jersey Jazz Society. Tickets are $20 and $25 and are available at the box office by calling 908-725-3420. For details and information please visit the Theatre at RVCC Web site at www.rvccarts.org.
Night of Jazz was conceived in collaboration with the New Jersey Jazz Society. RVCC Artist Director, Alan Liddell, sought out to revive a relationship begun in the early days of the Society when they co-presented a Jazz Cabaret series led by then president, Jack Stine. "We are so pleased to be presenting jazz in cooperation with RVCC. We are really looking forward to this collaboration," said Andrea Tyson, President of NJJS.
Night of Jazz will open with Five Play, created from the world renowned DIVA Jazz Orchestra as a means to feature some of its foremost players. Five Play‘s repertoire is comprised of innovative arrangements of classic and contemporary standards, as well as original music composed by the band’s members. Also on the program is pianist-composer and noted "Bishop of Jazz," Rio Clemente, who will present some of his masterful and improvisational arrangements. Clemente, a favorite in the area, is known for leaving his audiences in awe. Acclaimed vocalist Frank Noviello, a no-nonsense, soulful and swinging jazz vocalist, and the evening’s emcee, vocalist -composer Laura Hull, will be singing and swinging with Five Play’s rhythm section. And, finally, closing the show will be virtuoso Mark O’Connor, who is recognized as one of the finest violinists in the world, earning a Grammy® for best classical cross-over album, "Appalachian Journey." O’Connor’s hot swing jazz performances and compositions pay tribute to his friend and mentor, the legendary French jazz master Stephane Grappelli.
To learn more about the Theatre at RVCC, visit www.rvccarts.org.

Jazz singer coming to high school festival

2009-03-22T06:50:00.001-07:00

Tierney Sutton has been working a lot lately, getting lots of deserved attention and acclaim. On Saturday, she'll be visiting Princeton High School for the school's jazz festival. Wouldn't it be great to be able to learn from such musicians so early on? Maybe this kind of exposure will launch the career of the next Jersey jazz great ...

Click here for a video of the Tierney Sutton band.

Spring is here and Bird is back

2009-03-20T09:28:00.000-07:00

Lots of great music available this week for fans of jazz music. Here's a rundown of this week's highlights and local offerings:

If you get into the city, catch the Teddy Charles All-Stars tribute to Bird at the Iridium through Tuesday. Special guests include Bob Cranshaw (bass) and Kenny Washington (remember when he was DJing at WBGO between gigs?). Other expected guests include altoist Chris Byars, Richie Vitale (trumpet) and Eddie Bert on bones.

Friday

Guitarist Dick Gratton will be at the Chambers Walk Cafe on main Street in Lawrenceville, with sets at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Trumpets Jazz Club in Monclair has the quartet led by saxman Baron Raymonde ( Kip Sophos, bass; Thierry Arpino, drums; Ed Bishai, keyboards and vocals) joining guitarist Gil Parris.

Saturday

"This is Ragtime," conceived and performed Terry Waldo, will be presented at the Passage Theater, Front and Montgomery streets, Trenton. For ticket or general information, visit http://www.passagetheatre.org/; email info@passagetheatre.org, or call 609-392-0766 and/or 609-392-0318.

Trumpets has jazz and bossa from Yashmin Charnet. She'll be backed by Paul Abler on guitar, John DiMartino on piano, Santi DeBriano on bassand drummer Tim Horner.

Sunday

Rhythms of the Night, on South Main Street in Manville, has John Nobile's 17-piece Summer Swing Orchestra from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Dick Gratton makes his regular appearance at Hightstown's Sunday Jazz Brunch at Bistro Soleil, 173 Mercer St. Sets at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium hosts a jam session from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park.

Monday

Ed Joffe and the Jersey City State University Jazz Ensemble will be at Trumpets. The NJCU Jazz Ensemble has been performing and recording big band music ranging from Fletcher Henderson to Maria Schneider for 16 years. The band consists of students enrolled in the jazz performance degree offerings at New Jersey City University as well as alumni.

Tuesday

Rhythms of the Night hosts one part of the Somerset Jazz Consortium at 7 p.m. (there's no cover!), while other members of the consortium head to the Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison for a jam session from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Musicians: Check out the rules of the road for the sessions before going -- it's at www.somersetjazz.com).

Wednesday

The New Jersey Jazz Society Jazz Film Series will show "Symphony in Riffs," a documentary on Benny Carter narrated by Burt Lancaster. The films will be shown at the Library of the Chathams, 214 Main Street in Chatham Boro, starting at 7 p.m.. There is no admission charge, and the programs are open to the general public.

Thursday

Barge Music's Jazz Night will feature Randy Sandke and Friends (including Nicki Parrott on bass, and pianist Ted Rosenthal) at 8 p.m.Tickets are $25 regular, $20 senior, $15 student for the show on the barge conveniently moored at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in Fulton Ferry Landing, Brooklyn. For reservations and further information, call 718-624-2083 or go to www.bargemusic.org

Guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli will be at Shanghai Jazz in Madison. Check the Web site at www.shanghaijazz.com for details.

The Afro Cuban All Stars, featuring singer and guitarist Juan de Marcos (of "Buena Vista Social Club" fame), will be at the Patriots Theater at The War Memorial in Trenton at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $18 to $45 -- go to www.state.nj.us/state/divisions/memorial/ to get yours.

Friday March 27

The Watchung Arts Center announces a dedication concert honoring Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett, performed by the Sarah Jane Cion Quartet at 8 p.m. The center reports "After learning of the tragic accident that took the lives of two celebrated musicians, Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett, it is with great respect that we will be dedicating this performance to their great and lasting memories. Both Mellett and Niewood have played at the Watchung Arts Center and were both to play again; Niewood to play with Cion and Mellett to play with wife Bryson in May. Cion will not be replacing Niewood but will continue on as a Trio.

"Sarah Jan Cion, a dynamically spirited pianist, appeared on the NPR radio show "Piano Jazz" with Marian McPartland in 2000. She was the First Place Winner of the 17th Annual Great American Jazz Piano Competition judged by Horace Silver, Kenny Barron, Ellis Marsalis and Benny Green (Jacksonville, FL, 1999). Cion performed in the Kennedy Center's "Women in Jazz Festival" in 1999 and at the Smithsonian Institute's Voice of America Stage in Washington, D.C. in 2001. She has performed with Clark Terry, Etta Jones, Bucky Pizzarelli, Anita O'Day among many others."
Tickets for the event are $20 ($18 if you're a member of the arts center).

Javon Jackson will bring his band to Shanghai Jazz for shows Friday and Saturday. The saxophone star has a new CD out, so this should be a great show.

Sunday March 29
The 10-piece Beacon Hill Jazz Band will be at the Watchung Arts Center at 3 p.m. Tickets are $16, $13 for members and $8 for students. Tickets can be purchased on line for this concert by going to www.watchungarts.org

Great composers steal ...

2009-03-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

Igor Stravinsky was reported to have said, "Good composer borrow (ideas from other composers), great composers steal."
Here's proof: Beboppers Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, along with Miles Davis and others, gave us great jazz classics as "Koko," "Groovin' High," and "Donna Lee" by using the chord progressions to popular tunes of the day ("Koko" shares the same progression as "Cherokee," for example).
The new melodies were taken from solos they played to the originals.
Of course, Stravinsky's comment fails us a little when we consider Thelonious Monk, who as far as I can tell, was completely original.

Looking back at Steps Ahead

2009-03-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

A friend and I share a love for the music of the fusion band Steps Ahead, fronted by Mike Manieri. I recently discovered some new recordings that are available, predating the first recordings under that name but made by the same members (thanks, emusic!)
Lsitening to the early work, I can hear the development of the band's sound, which to me, culminated in the 1989's "NYC," compositionally speaking. Many of the tracks on the earlier "Modern Times" (1984) are better, with Michael Brecker playing brilliantly on saxophone.
Bendik replaced Brecker by the time "NYC" was recorded.
Of course, I will admit to not having listening to "Modern Times" in quite a while -- it was the last time I lent someone a Steps Ahead album or CD ... I never got it back!

The art of flaming ...

2009-03-16T10:20:00.000-07:00

Catching up on posts in a jazz guitar group ... someone commented on the late Tal Farlow, taking a rather critical view of his playing. This naturally led to tons of flaming of the poster, and other guitarists.
I've never understood the need so many people have to take issue of music they don't like -- it's not enough to say you don't like it -- it's got to be that anyone who does like it is ignorant and stupid...
I remember in the 1980s when I realized the grocery store's Muzak system was playing Wes Montgomery and Chuck Mangione -- is there a worse insult to music than to be labeled as Muzak -- yet, here was Muzak playing Wes Montgomery's soulful tunes.
There's no time left to enjoy whatever you like, if you're too busy putting down something you don't.

Hearing things anew

2009-03-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

A drummer friend recently discovered the beauty of fusion jazz, so I lent him some old vinyl I have: Weather Report, Return to Forever, etc.
I haven't had a record player for years, so now I may have to go out and buy some of those favorites. He was particularly excited about Weather Report's "Black Market" -- if you haven't heard it, or forgotten it, check it out. It's full of unique and magical rhythms.
Return to Forever's "Romantic Warrior" was another of our favorites -- it's another classic.

Jazz calendar for March 13-20

2009-03-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

Friday, March 13:
Guitarist Jim Gratton and bassist Jim McDonough will be at the Chambers Walk Cafe at 2667 Main St., Lawrenceville, from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Jim will be back next Friday, too.

Husband-and-wife team Vic Juris and Kate Baker will be at Trumpets in Montclair for two shows tonight, at 8:30 and 10:30. Both are excellent musicians, Mr. Juris among the best guitarists working and Ms. Baker a highly praised vocalist.

Put a little salsa on your weekend: The Tropical All Stars Band Playing will be performing classic salsa, merengue, bachata and more from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Maxine's 2, 120 S. Warren St. in Trenton. There's no admission, it's open to all -- you can get a free salsa dance lesson from 8 p.m. -9 p.m. by dance instructor Jose "Papo" Diaz.

Saturday, March 14:
Support your neighborhood jazz student! Hamilton's Steinert High School is hosting its Jazz Festival 2009, featuring young jazz musicians from several area schools, at 4 p.m. For more information, call 609-631-4150, ext. 3412.

Enjoy the music of Dave Brubeck performed by the Eric Mintel Group at Shanghai Jazz in Madison. It's the 50th anniversary of the release of "Take Five."

Trumpets has harmonica virtuoso, classical guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, composer Enrico Granafei for two shows.

Catch Mulgrew Miller and his Trio at McCarter Theater in Princeton at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 15:
Guitarist Jim Gratton will be at Hightstown's Bistro Soleil Sunday Jazz Brunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

John Di Stefano hosts Trumpets' Sunday Brunch from 11:30 a.m. tol 2:30 p.m.
Later, Sarah James (vocals/sax) will host her CD Release party at 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

The New Jersey Jazz Society Member Meeting will feature music by pianist Larry Ham and bassist Lee Hudson at 2 p.m. at Trumpets Jazz Club, 6 Depot Square, Montclair. The meeting is open to non-members for a $10 admission (which could go a long way towards paying your membership, which gets you in these events for free).

The Somerset Jazz Consortium will host a Sunday jam session at PJ's Coffee, 315 Raritan Ave. in Highland Park.

Tuesday, March 17:
Jazz jam at Rhythms of the night on South Main Steet in Manville. www.rhythmsofthenight.com/

Wednesday, March 18:
Vocalist Bill Robinson, accompanied by pianist Betty Liste, will channel Nat "King" Cole
at Shanghai Jazz.

Friday, March 20:
The Bass Boards will be playing at the St. Patrick's Day party at Mangia Bene at the Ramada Hotel on Route 202 in Flemington for 8 p.m. to midnight. For mor eon the band, visit www.myspace.com/thebassboardsbluesband, or www.bassboardsmusic.com

Saturday, March 21:
The West Windsor Arts Council Cabaret will feature a quartet with trumpeter John Henry Goldman, Doug Miller on keyboards, Tom McMillan on bass and Joe Falcey on drums and percussion --- featuring vocalist Laura McMillan -- in concert at the D&R Greenway's Johnson Education Center, off Rosedale Road in Princeton. The event is a benefit to support the renovation of the West Windsor Firehouse into a flourishing center for the arts -- tickets are $75 and can be reserved at www.westwindsorarts.org.

Trenton's Passage Theater Seventh Annual Solo Flights Festival will present "This is Ragtime," conceived and performed Terry Waldo at 8 p.m. Waldo was a student and protoge of the great Eubie Blake -- his performance will include stories of Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Irving Berlin, and Eubie Blake, whose music ushered in the jazz age of the 20s. Passage Theater, Front and Montgomery streets in Trenton. For ticket or general information, visit http://www.passagetheatre.org/; email info@passagetheatre.org, or call 609-392-0766 and/or 609-392-0318. www.passagetheatre.org/

Highlights from NYC:
There's always so much happening, let's just focus on a highlight or two:
One highlight is certain to be Sunday's Prez Fest 2009 at St. Peter’s Church, 619 Lexington Avenue, at 54th Street. This year's event will be celebrating Billy Strayhorn -- lectures, performances by Randy Weston and Billy Taylor, the saxophonists Billy Harper and Ron Blake, and trumpeter Jimmy Owens. Begins at 4 p.m. (check saintpeters.org for more details). A $20 donation for the church's jazz ministry is requested.

You say "Philly Sound," I hear "Stanley Clarke": Sure, I love the Spinners and the O'Jays (seriously, I do), but when I think of Philly anymore, Stanley Clarke pops to mind. Head to The Blue Note Tuesday and Wednesday if you want to dig what's he up to now.

Jazz calendar for March 6-13

2009-03-06T09:35:00.000-08:00

Friday: Heading to the shore? Catch the Dave Stryker Organ Trio as part of the Cape Bank Jazz Festival at Gregory’s in Somer's Point from 10 p.m. -1 a.m. www.gregorysbar.com/

Christian Fabian( Bass), Steve Hunt (Keys), David Bromberg (Drums) and vocalist Lewis Robinson will be at Trumpets in Montclair. http://www.trumpetsjazz.com/

Saturday: Shanghai Jazz in Montclair has the Grammy Nominated Brazilian trumpeter Claudio Roditi and his quartet. http://www.shanghaijazz.com/
Trumpets has percussionist Vinx -- check out his Web site at www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/bio/0,,506031,00.html

Sunday: William Paterson University is hosting a birthday tribute to James Williams, featuring Mulgrew Miller and Friends at 4 p.m., part of the Music Department's Sittin’ In Meet-the-Artist Session (which begins at 3 p.m.). Admission: $15 standard; $12 senior citizens and members of the William Paterson community, $8 students. At the Shea Center for Performing Arts, 300 Pompton Road in Wayne.

Guitarist Jim Gratton will be at Hightstown's Bistro Soleil Sunday Jazz Brunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Baritone Saxophonist Shane K. Zwiebel leads the 15-piece Fun Bunch Big Band, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Trumpets.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium will host a Sunday jam session at PJ's Coffee, 315 Raritan Ave. in Highland Park.

Tuesday: Jazz jam at Rhythms of the night on South Main Steet in Manville. http://www.rhythmsofthenight.com/

Shanghai Jazz has John Zweig (guitar) and Steve Freeman (bass). http://www.shanghaijazz.com/

Wednesday: Love Billie Holiday? Check out Suzanne Douglas, with Don Braden, at Shanghai Jazz. in Madison. Love Ellington? Catch the Duke Ellington Legacy Band at Trumpets tonight.

Thursday: The Morris Nanton Trio, with Norman Edge on bass, at Shanghai Jazz.

What if Frank had done this?

2009-03-06T09:11:00.000-08:00

From the Associated Press:
"RALEIGH, N.C. — Jazz great and North Carolina resident Branford Marsalis wanted to lobby the state Legislature, but he couldn't stay out of the spotlight.
The Grammy-winning Durham resident said he visited the General Assembly on Thursday to lobby on behalf of the North Carolina Symphony. He is a member of the symphony's Board of Trustees.
Senate leaders invited Marsalis to join them on the legislative floor, where he was given a North Carolina flag and posed for photos with lawmakers.
Marsalis said he would have brought his saxophone to the Legislature if he'd known he would be in front of a microphone.
He also said he would have given senators copies of "American Spectrum," the symphony's first commercial recording on which Marsalis performs, but feared the gift would violate legislative ethics laws."

I hope Branford is successful in his lobbying, and it inspires our New Jersey jazzers to do some lobbying. Who knows what Frank Sinatra, Count Basie or Dizzie Gillespie could have gotten New Jersey legislators to do ... what if a contingent of our current jazzbo residents marched on Trenton? You'd have Phil Woods, Bucky Pizzarelli, Richie Cole, Keith Jarrett, George Benson, Clark Terry, Steve Turre ... there's too many. Maybe the rest of us should step up to the plate to lobby on behalf of the tremendous place New Jersey has in jazz history.

So what?

2009-03-02T13:06:00.000-08:00

It was 50 years ago today, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers and Billy Cobb began recording "Kind of Blue," often cited as the best-selling jazz recording of all time.
Work began at Columbia Record's studio on 30th Street at 2:30 p.m. and continued until 9 p.m. that night, with a 90-minute break. They recorded "So What," "Freddie Freeloader" and "Blue in Green." A final session on April 22 captured the other two tracks, "All Blues" and "Flamenco Sketches."
One of the delights of "Kind of Blue" is its lack of perfection -- the solos are often rough, you can hear Adderly and Coltrane stumbling here and there. Ashley Kahn noted in his amazing book on the recording Davis was upset at Coltrane for soloing in G instead of D minor on "All Blues."
But what a marvelous work it is -- setting a mood unlike any other recording, so accessible and yet intriguing. The opening bass line on "So what?" so memorable -- a perfect setup for the piano and horns' response: "So what?"

Iridium's special Dexter Gordon tribute

2009-02-23T11:48:00.000-08:00

The Iridium, Broadway at 51st St., is marking what would hav ebeen Dxter Gordon's 84th birthday Friday with a special show next week, "Dexter calling"
Dave Liebman and Randy Brecker will trade off on the lead spots, with Eric Alexander, George Cables, Lonnie Plaxico and Billy Drummond filling out the band. Liebman takes the spotlight on March 5 and 6; Mr. Brecker on March 7 and 8.

Too funny!

2009-02-20T11:28:00.000-08:00

Hey band leaders -- does this look familiar?
"Dear Bandleader:
We look forward to your performance at our daughter's wedding. If you don't mind, we would like to request a few of our favorite songs. Please play these during the reception:
A Keith Jarret composition from his solo series. Please arrange it for full ensemble in the key of B but nothing in 4/4 please.
Mahavishnu Orchestra, "Dance of the Maya" and please have the guitarist play John McLaughlin's solo from the live performance Nov.16, 1972 at Chrysler Arena. My wife and I were at that show and we liked his use of polyrhythms.
One of John Coltrane's duets with Pharaoh Sanders. Our guests love high register tenor saxes. We thought a little Stravinsky right after the toast would be nice.
So, please play "The Rite of Spring." We like a tempo of about 1/4 note=93 and transpose it down 3 half steps - it will be so much more appropriate for this occasion in the slightly lower register.
Then for the candle lighting ceremony, please play Frank Zappa's "TheGrand Wazoo." The original key of B flat, would be fine but my cousin Jeannie would like to sing the baritone sax solo in the key of D - she has kind of a high voice.
When my new son-in-law takes off the garter, please just a little ofVarese's "Ionization." It's such a funny piece, we think it would goover real well. Much better than the "The Stripper."
And for the bride and groom's first dance, please slow things down a bit by doing Barber's "Adagio for strings." It's so much better than"We've only just begun" or the "Anniversary Waltz."
When my wife and I join in the first dance, could you segue to Thelonius Monk's "Ruby, MyDear" it's in honor of my wife's grandmother whose name was Ruby. It would mean so much to the family.
Thanks for all your help. Depending on the outcome, we'll certainlybe happy to recommend your band to our friends.
We'll have your check for the fee of $250 (minus our expenses in contacting you of $12.50) by the end of next month; we're a little short, as the young lady doing the balloon arch wanted her $1,850 in advance and the DJ had to be paid up front his $2,500 as normal. Our daughter assured us that your love of music was greater than your need for money, and that you would welcome the EXPOSURE you would get from playing this wedding.
Before you leave, please feel free to ask the caterer for a snack sandwich and a soda (the bottles are returnable or you can pay the deposit to the butler). Oh, and please use the back entrance to avoid disturbing the guests.
Sincerely yours,
Alice Rockefeller Gates"

Jazz biographies

2009-02-20T06:42:00.001-08:00

I've enjoyed a lot of jazz bio books and movies -- Sue Mingus' "Tonight at Noon" is a favorite, not only because of the unusual and amazing life of Charles Mingus, but her literate and refreshing approach to writing a biography is a treat.
I just received a shipment of books ordered from a favorite book seller (Edward R. Hamilton Bookseller, www.edwardrhamilton.com), who has a number of fine bios deeply discounted: I grabbed Ashley Kahn's "The House that Trane Built," "Hard Bop Academy" by Alan Goldsher, and a collection of Dan Morgenstern's articles. Can't wait to get started ...
What's your favorite bio, movie or book?

Jazz calendar for Central Jersey

2009-02-19T12:50:00.000-08:00

Princeton's hopping, with concerts by Wycliffe Gordon next week (see blog below) and Maria Schneider at McCarter Theater Friday.
But there's more in store for area jazz fans:
Trenton's Marriott at 1 West Lafayette, will feature live jazz by singer and guitarist Jim Rowland from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday. It's a free event, part of the Downtown Trenton Association Friday Night Lights.
Guitarist Jim Gratton will be heard at Chambers Walk Cafe in Lawrenceville, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, and at Hightstown's Bistro Soleil Sunday Jazz Brunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Somerset Jazz Consortium will host a Sunday jam session at PJ's Coffee, 315 Raritan Ave. in Highland Park.
Also on Sunday, the Rhythms of the Night at JP's Steakhouse, 729 S. Main St. in Manville, will have John Nobile's Summer Swing Orchetsra, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. There's a $10 cover charge, swing dance lessons at 5 p.m. and hours of fun swing music.
Tuesday, Jim Jasion and His Jazz Featuring The SJC Horn Squad will perform at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison. He'll return for a jam session at the buffet Wednesday, too. For more information, check the Web site, http://www.somersetjazz.com/index.html
If you're heading to the city, here's the New York Times' Jazz listings for the weekend: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/arts/music/20jazz.html?_r=1

Wycliffe Gordon coming to Princeton

2009-02-19T10:32:00.001-08:00

This week's Time Off magazine in Packet Publications newspapers has a cover story by Adam Grybowski about trombonist Wycliffe Gordon (http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2009/02/19/time_off/entertainment_news/doc499d7ea529af2237213676.txt), who's coming to Princeton next week for a series of workshops in schools and a concert. If you haven't enjoyed Mr. Gordon's playing yet, get your tickets now -- he's a wonderful musician. From his stint with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra to Randy Sandke's avant-garde "The Subway Ballet" to his own quartet, he's always exhibited great technique and sense of swing.
I first heard him during one the initial concerts in the Jazz Friday series at Peddie School in the late 1990s ... what a great performance.

Jazz 101: Comping

2009-02-18T06:49:00.000-08:00

Last week, I posted Herbie Hancock's comments on playing "inside" and "outside" of the usual scale notes when playing jazz. Putting three or more notes together at once makes a chord, and there are few better at putting together chords than Herbie Hancock.
When jazz players are playing chords, they're comping -- "accompanying" the soloist or singer, or for pianists, the melody.
Many people listening to jazz focus on the soloists and singers, but next time, try to focus your ears on the comping -- usually a piano or guitar -- behind the lead player. You'll find a great new world of enjoyment in the layers there.
Listen to Herbie with the V.S.O.P. Quintet, or anything by Bill Evans. If you prefer guitar jazz, check out Joe Pass and Herb Ellis comping behind Oscar Peterson, or Barney Kessel's playing behind Billie Holiday on her "Songs for Distingue Lovers."
Wes Montgomery was amazing at everything he did, and he was a virtuoso comping as well as soloing.

Final chorus

2009-02-16T10:47:00.001-08:00

The world is losing many great musicians every year -- today, the family of drummer Louie Bellson announced his death (http://louiebellson.info/news.html); David "Fathead" Newman died in January (www.davidfatheadnewman.com).
The song says if there's a rock and roll heaven, then you know they've got a hell of a band, but I'd want to see the after-hours jams the jazz guys are puttin' on!