Happy birthday, Freddie!

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?

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

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"

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

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?