One of Israel’s best known guitarists will have the honor of performing in this year’s Ankara Music Festival. Sponsored in part by the Israeli Embassy, this will be Hoffman’s debut performance in Turkey.
Genre crossing guitarist and oudist Amos Hoffman’s newest release Carving (RazDaz 2010), makes his musical statement in two languages – guitar and oud. From the up tempo, danceable oud featured on Brown Sugar, to the scat influenced guitar on Ras, the tracks on Carving weave between instruments and moods, continuing to explore the boundaries of Jazz. His previous disk, Evolution (RazDaz 2008) features the oud that he built for himself combining Middle Eastern inspired melodies played by oud and flute, and African rhythms played by contrabass and percussion. Hoffman finds common ground and blends into the mix a jazz sensibility that combines the different styles of music, while still keeping the essence of each. Hoffman explores new musical territory with the oud, and showcases the instrument in a unique way. website: amoshoffman.com
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, FACE and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy have announced a new partnership to administer the French-American Jazz Exchange ("FAJE"). FAJE supports projects designed collaboratively by French and American professional jazz artists that encourage artistic exploration, foster intercultural dialogue, and contribute to the dynamism of the art form.
The French-American Jazz Exchange celebrates the shared passion for jazz in France and the United States. A partnership of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, FACE and Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, the program is designed to foster the creative and professional development of jazz artists from France and the United States through their collaborative investigation of artistic practice and exposure to new audiences, music concepts, and professional relationships.
FAJE supports projects jointly conceived by French and American professional jazz artists that encourage artistic exploration, foster intercultural dialogue, and contribute to the dynamism of the art form. FAJE will annually award $100,000 in grants, none to exceed $25,000, through an open, competitive application process to support projects that take place either in France or the United States and their respective territories or both, within a 16-month period. The program will support activities that may result in the creation of new work, establishment of new creative and professional partnerships, and development of new audiences for the participating artists. Projects may include jazz artists in France and the United States working together or investigating forms other than jazz with artists who work in different music genres.
Additional support will be available to artists who received funding through FAJE for touring in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Presenters in Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, and West Virginia will be eligible to receive fee-subsidy for booking selected artists funded through the program beginning in the 2012-2013 season. The French-American Jazz Exchange web site
CLARK TERRY FUNDRAISING EVENT MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2012 – 7pm
Saint Peter’s Church 619 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 212 935 2200 www.saintpeters.org/eventsGwen Terry, The Duke Ellington Society, International Women in Jazz, Jazz Foundation of America and Saint Peter’s Church – Jazz Ministry are partnering to produce a fundraiser for Clark Terry on Monday, April 23 at 7 PM at Saint Peter’s Church, 619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street, New York City.Over 30 musicians will perform for their colleague, Clark Terry, to raise funds to help defray Clark’s medical expenses. Clark Terry plans to appear at the event via Skype. Suggested donation is $25 at the door.
Checks should be written to Jazz Foundation of America with “Clark Terry account” in the memo line.Donations can also be sent to:Jazz Foundation of America, 322 W. 48th Street, New York, NY 10036. (212) 245-3999.
April 9th, 2012 Legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis and his tight-knit working band invite audiences into their world of musical cohesion with the release of Four MFs Playin’ Tunes in April 2012.
The Mighty Sword
Brews
Maestra
Teo
Whiplash
As Summer into Autumn Slips
Endymion
My Ideal
Treat It Gentle
Branford Marsalis (saxophones); Joey Calderazzo (piano); Eric Revis (bass), Justin Faulkner (drums)
Legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis and his tight-knit working band invite audiences into their world of musical cohesion with the release of Four MFs Playin’ Tunes in April 2012. This is the first recording of the Branford Marsalis Quartet with an electrifying young drummer that joined the band three years ago.
The results are a nimble and sparkling album, featuring ambitious original compositions by members of the band, a Thelonious Monk classic, and one standard dating to 1930. The record blends the beautiful and subtle ballad sounds of the 2004 release "Eternal" with the ecstatic contrasts of the critically-acclaimed "Braggtown." In other words, this just might be the Branford Marsalis Quartet’s most sublime musical achievement yet. EMARCY
Champian Fulton, Jeff Lorber, Louis Ford & His New Orleans Jazz Flairs, Linda Dachyl, Roman Street, Dan McMillion Jazz Orchestra http://jazzpensacola.com
Elastic Aspects was developed as a suite for trio, highlighting the telepathic interplay of bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Whit Dickey. It is given to vast complexities, spiked with moments of shear beauty against lightening transitions to polyphonic figures wrapped in a sonic voice that is both metaphysical and arresting. Whether it is a swing motif played inside the piano or his trademark cluster chords or a light as a feather touch barely kissing the keys, Shipp's range is effortlessly encyclopedic; probing the many energies of life. amazoncom
Other highlights include "Flow Chart," where Bisio's careering arco
comes on like a caged animal fighting to escape the confines of Dickey's
bursts of anchoring tattoo; "Raw Materials," which features a striking
passage of chiming clarion notes from the leader bursting out of a
courtly duet with Bisio's measured bass; the bassist's solo tour de
force on "Rainforest"; and the final, episodic "Elastic Eye," revolving
around a recurrent two note piano shout out. But even these peaks can be
appreciated as just some of the standout episodes of a longer, richer
whole. Shipp has waxed another winner.
(JOHN SHARPE allmusic.com)
WASHINGTON — A 20-foot, stainless steel statue of jazz legend Duke Ellington has been installed at plaza in northwest Washington. The statue, titled “Encore,” was placed in Ellington Plaza on Thursday. It depicts Ellington sitting on a giant treble clef and playing a piano whose keys swirl upward. The statue is in front of the historic and newly renovated Howard Theatre, which launched Ellington’s career. The 100-year-old theater also gave rise to the careers of Ella Fitzgerald and Marvin Gaye. The statue was created by sculptor Zachary Oxman, a native of the city. Oxman was commissioned to complete the piece by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. WASHINGTON POST
Tad Hershorn Book Talk & Signing for "Norman Granz: The Man Who Used Jazz for Justice" Wed. April 11th, 4pm Institute of Jazz Studies Dana Library, Fourth Floor Newark, NJ
Rutgers community members and the general public are invited to a free book talk and signing by Tad Hershorn, author of the critically acclaimed new book: "Norman Granz: The Man Who Used Jazz for Justice" (University of California Press, 2011). This event will be held on Wednesday April 11th, starting at 4:00 pm, in the Dana Room on the Fourth Floor of the John Cotton Dana Library, on the Rutgers-Newark campus. Also featured will be an exhibit in the Fourth Floor Gallery depicting Granz’s life and times including photographs, art, and artifacts stemming from eighteen years of research that went into the book.
Granz was a legendary figure in the jazz world and for good reason. He founded the Jazz at the Philharmonic concert series and the Verve record label; helped introduce live recordings and worldwide jazz concert tours; and served as manager and recording producer for top-flight stars such Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson. Granz was also a passionate advocate for racial equality, who insisted that the African-American jazz artists he represented be accorded full respect and equal treatment wherever they performed.
Tad Hershorn, the author of this compelling account of Granz's work, is an archivist at the Institute of Jazz Studies (IJS), based in the John Cotton Dana Library. He was the project director for "Once More Once: A Centennial Celebration of the Life and Music of Count Basie," a multimedia digital exhibit that is part of the Institute’s “Jazz Greats Digital Exhibits” series, and was posted on the IJS website in 2004. He also helped to develop digital exhibits for IJS on the life and work of Mary Lou Williams, Benny Carter, Fats Waller and another on jazz tours sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
To prepare this book, Hershorn, who first met Granz in 1980 and proposed writing his biography the following year, interviewed Granz on a few occasions and studiously reviewed his archives.
The book has received glowing reviews in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times Downbeat, Jazz Journal, Washington Independent Review of Books, Cadence Magazine, and All About Jazz.
To read an excerpt of the book, published in September in JazzTimes magazine, please click HERE
A’Capella ExpreSSS: jazz. Radio City Bar. 8 p.m.
Curtis Stigers, Dom Muzyki Svetlanov Hall. 7 p.m.
Edelweiss: Cool Train. 11 p.m.
Ivan Smirnov and band: jazz. Igor Butman Club Na Chistykh Prudakh. 8:30 p.m.
Kvartal: jazz, fusion. Shestnadtsat Tonn. 9 p.m. Oleg Butman Quartet plays Gershwin. Igor Butman Club Na Sokole. 8:30 p.m.
Sergei Manukyan: Cool Train. 9 p.m.
Sunday, April 1st
John Pizzarelli and Igor Butman Jazz Orchestra. Dom Muzyki Svetlanov Hall. 7 p.m.
This album participated to CUBADISCO award 2012 international division. This is making future of latin jazz as fusion of classic music and latin jazz. Classic themes contains like Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Chopin and so on and this musical trial is very new in Latin music history, so you will be make a part of very important history of Latin music to listen this music. Artist Nori Ogawa is known as new movement of Japanese latin music in cuba during international jazz fetival "jazz plaza 2011" and tv news, tv show, newspaper, radio program, and topic of cuban people are talking as a very hot topic in music seen in Havana. And havana city is very important city of latin jazz so many people like this music. Please check out this cd of new history of latin music. CDBaby
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and
WBGO Jazz 88.3FM announced today that they will inaugurate The James
Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival, a weeklong celebration of jazz and the
musical legacy of longtime Newarker and beloved jazz musician James
Moody. Grammy Award-winning bassist and composer Christian McBride
serves as Artistic Adviser to the Festival, which will take place
October 15-21, 2012 at the Arts Center and various community-based
venues.
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and WBGO Jazz 88.3FM announced today that they will inaugurate The James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival, a weeklong celebration of jazz and the musical legacy of longtime Newarker and beloved jazz musician James Moody. Grammy Award-winning bassist and composer Christian McBride serves as Artistic Adviser to the Festival, which will take place October 15-21, 2012 at the Arts Center and various community-based venues.
The first in a series of major new programming initiatives to be unveiled by NJPAC for its 2012-13 season, the Moody Festival is highlighted by two star-studded concerts: For Love of Moody: A Jazz Celebration featuring jazz icons George Benson, The Manhattan Transfer, David Sanborn and others, and Miles Davis and Gil Evans: Still Ahead, an all-star recreation of the landmark original Gil Evans arrangements of the classic Miles Davis recordings of Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain, and Miles Ahead featuring trumpeters Terence Blanchard and Sean Jones and others (a full roster of artists for both concerts follows below). The James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival is sponsored, in part, by The Prudential Foundation and Audible.com.
In addition to the headliner concerts, the Festival will also feature the inauguration of The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, and the world premiere of a new jazz musical for children, Magic Tree House: A Night in New Orleans based on the much beloved books by best-selling author, Mary Pope Osborne (see below for details on both events).
“This Festival will give Newark and the Arts Center the chance to take center stage in the jazz universe and pay homage to one of the great men of music,” said John Schreiber, NJPAC President and CEO, a longtime friend of the Festival’s namesake. "Jazz is the most democratic of musics: great jazz demands collaboration, respect, listening and creativity among musicians. Moody exemplified all those traits in his life and his playing. The James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival will celebrate Moody's lifelong spirit of collaboration and unconditional love for humanity."
“Newark-based WBGO Jazz 88.3FM, the metro area’s only 24 hour jazz source, is pleased to be part of the first annual James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival in Newark,” said Cephas Bowles, President and CEO of WBGO. “The Festival will showcase America’s greatest contribution to world culture - jazz - and Newark’s ongoing commitment to the art form. Because of Newark’s world class transportation system, the city and the Festival are easy-to-reach destinations. WBGO looks forward to jazz fans traveling to Newark’s multiple venues for performances by some of the world’s most outstanding jazz artists.”
“This is just very exciting for all of us,” said Linda Moody, the honoree’s widow. “Moody would be so thrilled with the whole idea. Newark was where his life was. He would also be surprised and probably would have said, 'Why do they want to name a festival after me?'”
A donation will be made by the Festival to the CFNJ James Moody Jazz Scholarship Fund for Newark Youth.
Additional community events in and around Newark, as well as complete details on The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition will be announced in May when NJPAC unveils its full 2012-13 season. To date, community partnerships include a WBGO Kids Jazz Concert at the Newark Museum, the 10th anniversary Gala for Jazz House Kids in NJPAC’s Victoria Theater, and other events at Bethany Baptist Church, the Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies and WBGO, as well as an all-star jazz brunch at NJPAC’s new destination restaurant, NICO Kitchen + Bar. The jazz brunch jam session will kick off a new monthly series at NJPAC dubbed Dorthaan’s Place, named after and curated by Newark’s First Lady of Jazz, Dorthaan Kirk, Program Coordinator at WBGO.
Tickets for the Festival, available now, may be purchased by telephone at 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722), at the NJPAC Box Office at One Center Street in downtown Newark (open Tuesday-Saturday, noon to 6pm, and Sunday, noon to 5pm), or online at http://www.njpac.org.
The James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival:
Mainstage Concerts Two all-star concerts in NJPAC’s Prudential Hall will be the headline events for The James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival – the first, on Friday, October 19, 2012 at 8pm is titled For Love of Moody: A Jazz Celebration. Moody’s legacy will be celebrated with a night featuring his favorite musicians and friends including George Benson, The Manhattan Transfer and David Sanborn, plus special guests Kenny Barron, Jon Faddis, Jimmy Heath, John Lee, Paquito D’Rivera, Christian McBride, Paul Lieberman, and Todd Coolman, Adam Nussbaum and Renee Rosnes (long time members of Moody’s group).
On Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 8pm, the Festival will feature Miles Davis and Gil Evans: Still Ahead, an all-star recreation of the landmark original Gil Evans arrangements of the classic Miles Davis recordings of Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain, and Miles Ahead. The Prudential Hall concert will feature a unique cast of jazz greats including Terence Blanchard on trumpet, bassist Christian McBride, drummer Peter Erskine, tuba master Howard Johnson (a member of the original recording sessions with Davis and Evans), trumpeter Sean Jones and a jazz orchestra under the direction of Vince Mendoza.
“It is an incredible honor to help usher in a new jazz tradition at NJPAC,” said McBride, the Festival’s Artistic Adviser. “We are assembling a spectacular group of top talent that is going to bring the house down, as well as embody the legacy of New Jersey’s own jazz icon and our friend, Mr. James Moody. I am thrilled to be part of it.”
The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition From Sarah to Whitney, Newark has been the birthplace and proving ground for great jazz vocalists. As homage to a master, NJPAC will introduce its inaugural Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. An international talent search will culminate in a special concert on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 3pm in NJPAC’s Victoria Theater by the finalists, with rare concert footage of Sarah Vaughan. Presented as part of NJPAC's Jazz Roots Series with consulting producer Larry Rosen. Details on contest entrance rules and regulations will be announced in May.
“Our whole family is very excited about the Vocal Competition,” said Paris Vaughan Courtnall, daughter of the legendary singer. “It’s amazing that Newark keeps embracing Sarah over and over again. She obviously had such a love for New Jersey and Newark in particular. She would be just thrilled.”
“It is all kind of full circle,” she added. “If not for a competition, I am not sure where my Mom’s career would have started in the first place.” At the age of eighteen, Vaughan famously wowed the Wednesday Night Amateur Contest audience at the Apollo Theater with a sizzling rendition of “Body and Soul.” The prize was ten dollars and the promise of a weeklong engagement at the Apollo.
“I think it’s wonderful that a young person can be sitting in their bedroom now, enter a contest, and have a dream to be a Sarah or Whitney or Cissy, all greats that came from Newark, New Jersey,” said Courtnall.
The Festival will make a donation in the name of Sarah Vaughan to develop an enhanced jazz vocal training program at Newark Arts High School that will commence in Fall, 2012. Sarah Vaughan was a proud graduate of Arts High.
Magic Tree House: A Night in New Orleans The Moody Festival will also feature the world premiere of a new jazz musical, Magic Tree House: A Night in New Orleans, based on A Good Night for Ghosts, book #42 in the phenomenally popular Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne.
Created by Osborne's playwright/musician husband Will Osborne in collaboration with Murray Horwitz (co-creator of the Broadway hit Ain't Misbehavin' ) and legendary New Orleans composer Allen Toussaint, the show transports the audience back to 1915 New Orleans, where the streets are filled with music -- and the night is filled with ghosts! On the eve of All Saints Day - the most haunted night of the year -- beloved Magic Tree House characters Jack and Annie must find a young Louis Armstrong and put him on the path to becoming the king of jazz. Featuring a live band, a cast of skilled performers, and a powerful message about dreams, race, and possibilities, the show introduces young audiences to the magic of music, the thrill of live theater -- and the joy of jazz.
Magic Tree House: A Night in New Orleans will play a series of free performances in the Newark Public Schools for all 4,300 of the City’s fourth grade students. Two additional performances for the public will be featured in NJPAC’s Victoria Theater on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 1pm and 4pm.
"It’s a dream come true to bring Magic Tree House and the sound of early jazz to the children of Newark,” said Mary Pope Osborne. “NJPAC and the James Moody Festival are the perfect partners to make this dream happen!"
Jazz House Kids Gala On Wednesday, October 17, 2012 the Arts Center will host Hitting the High Notes, the 10th anniversary gala event benefitting Jazz House Kids, an acclaimed community-based arts organization with a mission to provide year-round musical, educational, and cultural programs to students in grades K-12, teachers, adults, and families from diverse backgrounds.
Under the leadership of Founder and Executive Director and acclaimed jazz vocalist Melissa Walker, Jazz House Kids has become a nationally recognized organization dedicated to closing the gap in the arts and opening the window for students to cultivate the talent, discipline, skills and principles they need to play, sing, and appreciate America's original musical art form. Through music, mentoring and education, Jazz House Kids cultivates tomorrow’s community leaders and global citizens so they may build vibrant communities where they live.
“The foundation for the Jazz House Kids was built in this great city a decade ago, with the backdrop of NJPAC and the help of two key organizations, Prudential and WBGO. It is especially gratifying to come full circle and celebrate turning 10 and our shared mission with New Jersey's preeminent "Jazz House." We are honored to have been invited by John Schreiber to kick off NJPAC’s inaugural James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival with our star-studded 10th anniversary gala featuring many of our emerging musicians."
Information on the comprehensive Festival lineup will be announced as part of NJPAC’s 2012-13 season lineup in May.
James Moody Born in Savannah, Georgia and raised in Newark, James Moody (1925-2010) began his career with Dizzy Gillespie and went on to develop a distinctive style on both tenor and alto saxophone, an unusually rare accomplishment in jazz. He also played soprano saxophone. In the mid-1950s he became one of the first significant jazz flutists.
A National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and posthumous Grammy winner, Moody joined Gillespie’s big band following a stint in the Air Force. He had his first recording session in 1948 with Blue Note Records and went on to make another two dozen recordings as lead and dozens more as side man with the likes of Gillespie, Milt Jackson, Charles Mingus, Bobby Timmons, Tubby Hayes, and Roberta Gambarini.
His “Moody’s Mood for Love,” became a hit in 1952 and his signature song. In following years, he rejoined Gillespie’s band and worked for a number of years in the Las Vegas Hilton Orchestra backing up artists including Bill Cosby, Elvis Presley, Liberace, and Redd Foxx. His later years were productive, with frequent touring (well into his 80s) and recording and even an acting gig in the 1997 Clint Eastwood film, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) Located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, NJPAC is the sixth largest performing arts center in the United States. As New Jersey’s Town Square, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the State’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted over 6 million visitors (more than one million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. Visit http://www.njpac.org for more information.
Programming has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by Discover Jersey Arts.
NJPAC is a wheelchair accessible facility and provides assistive services for patrons with disabilities. For more information, call 888-GO-NJPAC.
Newark Public Radio, Inc./WBGO JazzRadio 88FM Founded in 1979, Newark Public Radio, Inc. is a publicly supported cultural institution that champions jazz at WBGO 88.3 FM in Newark, New Jersey and worldwide via wbgo.org. WBGO is the recognized world leader in jazz radio and one of the most respected jazz presenters in the country, and offers award-winning news and innovative children’s programs. Beyond reaching 350,000 weekly listeners (including 17,000 contributing members) on air, online and via mobile devices, WBGO presents live broadcasts from prestigious jazz venues and produces acclaimed programs for NPR heard by millions. WBGO is Jazz Week magazine’s 2010 Major Market Station of the Year.
The awards show is taking place at The House Of Blues on April 29.
ZANA MESSIA/Balkan Soul: Transplanted to LA from Yugoslavia, Messia brings her vision/version of Balkan music to our world and seasons it much differently than a lot of other ethnic records of the same ilk have done. Cabaret leavened with belly dance lite bakes up into quite a heady, sexy session, at least it does in Messia's hands. Fun stuff that could easily pass for Leonard Cohen's late 80 back up band, this might well be the go to after hours record when something delightfully off the beaten path is a must. Well done.
More reviews of the album: http://www.thesmoothjazzride.com/site/zana-messia-and-the-balkan-soul-orchestra-balkan-soul/ http://www.jazzworldquest.com/ http://midwestrecord.com/MWR453.html
The Vision Festival takes place from 11 to 17 June in Brooklyn, New York The slogan is This Time Freedom and the lineup includes Sonny Simmons, Kneebody, Mark Dresser, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Hamid Drake, Dave Burrell, Marshall Allen, Henry Grimes, Sheila Jordan, Pheeroan, Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille, Oliver Lake, Matthew Shipp, Joelle Leandre, Nicole Mitchell, Kidd Jordan and Charles Gayle. The indie label AUM Fidelity presents William Parker, Darius Jones, David S. Ware
Singer/Hipspokenword Artist Tony Adamo goes to the number one spot atop allaboutjazz Jazz Chart. Adamo's song 9 MILES OF BLU produced by legendary drummer Mike Clark. Is riding high on allaboutjazz.com's top MP3 downloads for the last ten days. Adamo reaches into the pre-rap turf of Gil Scott-Heron here with this seductive too-short flash memoir about how he discovered jazz and its legendary envelope-pushers—Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane, Miles Davis. There’s energy and honor and wonder in Adamo’s words, especially in the fluid alliterative syncopated way the words reflect the inspiration that jazz gave him—as an artist, as a human being. Complementing his nimble vocals are former Herbie Hancock drummer Mike Clark.
Bogui Jazz Club in Madrid will feature this week Cuban musicians living in Spain. Pico Georvis Quintet (Thursday, 29), launching its new album 'Horizonte Urbano'; the quintet of pianist Pepe Rivero (Friday, 30) and the trio of pianist Ivan "Melon" Lewis (Saturday, 31).
The cycle will continue with four new acts, the Cuban Jazz Quintet and its 'Tribute to the Masters' (Wednesday, April 4), the quartet of saxophonist Inoidel Gonzalez (Thursday, 5), the Latin jazz septet La Calle (Friday, 6) and a tribute to Cuba offered by singer Angela Cervantes and his quintet of Cuban musicians (Saturday, 7)
OC DC once again finds Get The Blessing elbowing their way out of easy categorisation. The Bristol-based four-piece have deftly ploughed their jazzy post-rock furrow since the release of their debut All Is Yes back in 2008, drawing enthusiastic comparisons to similarly inventive acts like Tortoise and Polar Bear. The follow-up, 2009's Bugs In Amber, cemented their affable rapport with critics and fans alike, and further defied the boundaries and boxes that were placed around them - the Metro claimed in its glowing review that, "Occasionally you hear a jazz album that you know would shift truckloads of units if only it weren't labelled ‘jazz'. Bugs In Amber is just such a disc."
From the upbeat rollicking title track that kicks off proceedings, to the lilting cinematic closer Pentopia, OC DC exudes energy and invention at every turn. As sax player Jake McMurchie suggests, "It's both more esoteric, more physical and more carefully crafted", whilst retaining the band's signature blend of strong melodic ideas, ferocious rhythmic hooks, tight compositional structures, and freewheeling improvisations. Trumpeter Pete Judge agrees: "It's less afraid to be itself than it used to be". A particular highlight is the unexpected guest cameo by legendary composer & musician Robert Wyatt - a delicious wordless chorale on the languid American Meccano, recorded in a Lincolnshire studio open to the sounds of birdsong and passing vehicles.
Get The Blessing wear their jazz credentials lightly but defiantly. A shared love of legendary saxophonist Ornette Coleman's early quartet inspired their boldly monophonic instrumentation. The intricate but absolutely rock-solid rhythm section forms the glue that holds Get The Blessing together, with the dual sax and trumpet frontline working with the bass to create melodies and harmonies.
Alongside their jazz roots, Get The Blessing's multiple other influences are also evident. Speaking of their 2008 BBC Jazz Award win for Best New Album with All Is Yes, bassist Jim Barr says, "We were total outsiders, the punk entry." Comparisons with punk aren't too far-fetched either, from the band's often thrashing rhythms and rocking riffs to their irreverent and mischievous attitude. At the same time, their music carries a genuine emotional punch, and is as capable of delicacy as it is of visceral power. This is not ‘difficult' music by any stretch; neither is it merely simple.
Drummer Clive Deamer and bassist Jim Barr have long provided the low-end rumbles and stuttering beats for trip-hop legends Portishead, and Deamer has recently been recruited by none other than Radiohead as their second live drummer for 2012 (he's also an established partner of Robert Plant, Roni Size, Hawkwind, Jeff Beck and several other contemporary luminaries). Not that the rest of the band are worried. "They are borrowing Clive in the hope that it will make them sound like Get The Blessing," says Barr with a smile; "No chance!"
With guest turns from Portishead guitarist Adrian Utley as well as Robert Wyatt, and influences including astronomy, psychology, Borges, and food, OC DC grabs the listener by the lapels and sets off joyously once more into the sonic wilderness. To further explore Get The Blessing's fascinating and idiosyncratic musical world...
Produced by Get The Blessing Naim Jazz
"Mary Joyce Project: Nothing to Lose" is a musical gift to Daly's father's first cousin, who made a 1,000 mile dogsled trip from Juneau to Fairbanks, AK, in 1935/36. A true pioneer and free spirit, Joyce inspired this project through the journal she kept while on the trip. Steve Hudson and Claire Daly collaborated for over 2 years to give voice to this amazing woman and her story.
"We’d like the listener to have some kind of transformational experience through the music. Mary was a joyous person, but she experienced some pretty dra- matic tragedies in her life, too. Her life informed our music. Some of the music is dark and textural, some of it is warm and beautiful.” Claire Daly, Downbeat Magazine, May 2011 __________________________________
What people are saying...
Brent Black/ digitaljazznews.blogspot "Straight ahead but accessibly eclectic.
The "Human Beat Box" of Napoleon actually adds flavor and depth at times giving the listener a Dave Matthews meets Gerry Mulligan vibe that works surprisingly well! Much in the same vain of Mary Joyce's Alaskan oddessy, Daly mixes things up with some incredible swing, touching ballads and a little World Saxophone Quartet sound tossed in for good measure but it all flows and comes together perfectly."
While baritone saxophone is her weapon of choice, I found her flute playing as good as any I have heard.
Claire Daly and the Claire Daly Quintet can play - period. An entertaining and oddly inspirational work that I am proud to enthusiastically review and support! A hidden gem! ______________________________________________________
Camden Blues, Toronto
...The slower tracks, such as “Lonely Wilderness”, evoke visions of staring up at the star filled night sky, on a cold Alaska night, no city lights blaring, brutally low temperatures, no other human beings for miles. On “Kluane” Claire’s horn vividly replicates the sound of a far north moose, yet not in a comedic way, and as a result, swings brilliantly. “Complicated Love”, my favorite track on the album, could have easily come from the song book of Dexter Gordon or Coleman Hawkins, yet is a uniquely Claire Daly composition.
Speaking of composition, one should not mention this album without mentioning the contributions of pianist Steve Hudson. Some might say he is Claire’s musical soul-mate, and contributed as much to the writing of this dramatic and emotional set of tunes as she did. His playing is subtle, swings hard when it needs to, and all the while seamlessly dancing through, and around the melodies and riffs from Claire’s horns.
A very interesting and unique addition to this studio lineup, was that of the “human beatbox” Napoleon Maddox. There are many deep musical moments where were you not listening attentively you might not notice Napoleon’s grooves melding seamlessly with the rest of the band, indispensable from the groove. Mary Anne McSweeney’s jovial bass has a few very interesting and groovy jams with just her four strings and the beatboxing. An excellent addition to this disc, they, along with Peter Grant on the drums, bring Claire and Steve’s ideas, melodies, and ultimate goals of their concept to life.
I listen to very few new artists these days. But this disc is a rare and sparkling gem, shining a light on the past, present and future of Jazz. I hightly recommend this album for any mild to serious jazz fans, as I’m sure it will go down as one of the best albums of 2011. _________________________________________________________
Chris Spector, Midwest Record 5/31/11 DALY BREAD CLAIRE DALY QUINTET/Mary Joyce Project-Nothing to Lose: A very personal project to Daly, the ins and out of the inspiration for this record will be lost on the listener who doesn't know anything about a Daly relative that broke all the rules in the 30s. The inspiration shines clear. A free spirited recording, this is first class sitting down jazz date by a bunch of pros that understand the personal nature of the project. A set that comes from the heart and gut, people that want to feel some visceral music will get this right out of the box. Well done. CDBaby
ÉQUINOX/FERNANDO MENDOZA/ WORLD KORA TRIO/HUAZZTECO/
GREG OSBY/MARIO PATRÓNDANIEL /
MADRID JAZZ QUARTET/JUAN ALZATE/
POLLOMINGUS/JOHNSON'S PROJECT/
FIL DE EITS /BLURHÉPECHA/FERNANDO GARCÍA/GUSTAVO OGARRIO/NEKTLI ROJAS/
OBJETOS VALIOSOS/ http://www.jazztival.org/
Sunset / Sunside 60 rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris, France Ramona HORVATH Trio
Ramona Horvath - piano ; Guillaume Duvignau - c.basse ; Thierry Tardieu - batterie
Le retour du concept qui cartonne chaque dimanche après midi d’octobre à avril avec de nouvelles thématiques pour cette 4ème saison; Jazz & goûter rend hommage à hommage à Walt Disney / aux comédies musicales les plus célèbres, de West Side Story au Roi Lion / aux dessins animés, de Tex Avery aux Lonely Toons / au cinéma, d'Ennio Morricone à Lalo Schiffrin / les homages jazz à Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald...). Le rendez-vous obligé des enfants et parents pour découvrir le jazz http://www.facebook.com/events/326189654111297/ http://www.myspace.com/ramonahorvath
One of themost successful Canadian jazz bands in Canada, winner of theJuno,Félix andtheOpus awards, presents the new albumIdiosyncrasy(Effendi Records)
18. April, 10 PM A-Trane, Berlin
19. April, 7 PM Thiem 20, Magdeburg
20. April, 8 PM jazzahead! Bremen
The JJA has launched its 16th annual Jazz Awards initiative and set Wednesday, June 20 as the date for a New York City Awards party at the Blue Note Jazz Club.
“Satellite” parties celebrating the Awards will be held around the same time in a number of other cities. Meanwhile, awards nominations are being tabulated and 2012 nominees will be announced on April 13 as part of the JJA’s celebration of Jazz Day.
JJA professional journalist members have now made their nominations in 40 categories of jazz and jazz journalism excellence. There’s still time to submit nominations for Short Form Jazz News Videos and Photo of the Year and anyone may nominate in these categories; deadline is April 2. To nominate a short online jazz video made in 2011, send the url to president@jazzjournalists.org. To nominate a jazz photo shot in 2012, send a JPEG of the photo to:photos@jazzjournalists.org. You must include your name as well as the name of the photographer and the subject of the photo and when and where it was shot. One submission per person, please.
The JJA’s June 20 New York event is being planned as a cocktail party, 4-6 p.m. at the Blue Note, at which winners of Lifetime Achievement in Jazz, Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Journalism and several other top honors will be announced. In a change from past years, winners of other Awards will be announced in days leading up to the NYC event. Jazz Heroes awards will also be announced in advance.
The spotlight is on jazz in local communities.
Satellite parties are also being organized across the U.S. and beyond, in which local jazz scenes will celebrate themselves, their own “jazz heroes” and continuing development of a living art form. To date, satellite parties are a’brewing in Boston, Gainesville, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Seattle, Toronto, Tucson, Washington D.C. and Aukland, New Zealand. Other communities are cordially invited to throw their own; satellite parties needn’t be fancy affairs — for further information contact Susan@JazzJournalists.org.
This year’s changes in the JJA Jazz Awards format are intended to better spotlight jazz beyond the Big Apple by encouraging and providing organizational support to people, presenters and institutions that will hold their own events, open to the public, that raise the profile of talents and audiences everywhere there’s jazz action.
Most breaking news regarding the 2012 Jazz Awards will be posted first at the new JJA Awards 2012 Facebook page, as will information about how you can participate by submitting photos, videos and blog posts about your local jazz scene. Finalists resulting from the nominations ballot will be announced there and also at JJANews on April 13, designated “Jazz Day” by the U.S. Council of Mayors, and so adopted by the Jazz Forward Coalition.
