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.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Too funny!
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"
"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
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?
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?
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Jazz calendar for Central Jersey
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
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
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.
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.
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