Jazzin - March 2015 - BFM Jazz :: Home€¦ · Next, he revved up the tempo with Tadd Dameron's bop...

3/19/2015 Jazzin - March 2015 -

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Thanks for your patience.

Kudos to the Tim Faulkner Art Gallery in Portland for

promoting not only visual art, but the performing arts. On

Saturday, January 31, three bands with a jazzrock flavor

played. Opening was one of guitarist Brandon Coleman's

groups, Zvezda, with Jeff Mellott on drums and Matt Wiles on

bass. They played an entertaining set of edgy, funky music,

stretching out. Us, Today features Kristin Agee playing

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Jazzin'By Martin Z. Kasdan Jr.

PRELUDE:

RECENT

CONCERTSMarbin, Us, Today, and Zvezda at Tim FaulknerGallery

3/19/2015 Jazzin - March 2015 -


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vibraphone, keys, and electronic sounds; Joel Griggs on guitar,Theremin, and drones; and the return of drummer Jeff Mellott.They describe themselves as "Postrock/avauntgarde/experimental," and indeed, the rhythms were definitelymore rock than jazz. Much of the music was characterized bywhat I would call minimalist motifs, leading to ever morepronounced soloing. They have three albums out, including thejustreleased TenEnemies. The band's site iswww.uscommatoday.com, and information on the new disc isat www.indiegogo.com/projects/ustodaytenenemies. Chicagobased road warriors Marbin, coled by guitarist Dani Rabin andsaxophonist Danny Markovitch Slor, killed it as the closing act.The lineup has changed, with a new bassist, John Lauler, anddrummer, Greg Essig, both of whom were on top of the musicthroughout, playing with fierce intensity. Much like their livealbum, Third Set (MoonJune, reviewed here in December,2014), the focus was on the rock side of jazzrock. One piece,"Redline," was heavyhitting, and another, "Shoutdown (?),"evoked the energy of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Rabinshredded, Markovitch from time to time summoned the spirit ofOrnette Coleman, and the crowd clearly enjoyed the playing.

The 22nd Annual University of Louisville Jazz Festival tookplace the last weekend of February. Although I couldn't make itto the Saturday night concert, featuring brothers Derrick(trumpet) and Vincent (trombone) Gardner, I was delighted tosee pianist Alan Broadbent on Friday night. Between hisplaying and writing, Broadbent really should be more of ahousehold word in the jazz community. He played an openingset with Chris Fitzgerald on bass and Mike Hyman on drums,followed by a big band set with U of L's Jazz Ensemble I (JEI).Broadbent paid tribute to his former employer, Charlie Haden(with whom he played in Quartet West) with a touching versionof "Hello, My Love." Next, he revved up the tempo with TaddDameron's bop classic, "Hot House," with Fitzgerald andHyman swinging hard. Another Dameron standard, "If YouCould See Me Now," opened and closed with Broadbentsoloing beautifully; all three played with exquisite grace at avery slow tempo. The trio set closed with an early Miles Davispiece, "Solar," taken at breakneck speed, yet played withprecision. After the briefest of breaks, JEI performed MarkTaylor's "Full Count," paying tribute to Mr. Basie, with apatented Basieesque solo by pianist Kendall "Keyz" Carter.Broadbent then returned to the piano for some big band bop on"Between the Lines," based on the Bird/Dizzy version of "Allthe Things You Are." This was the first of five pieces fromBroadbent's recent collaboration with the NDR Bigband,America the Beautiful. "The Long White Cloud" was next, a

Alan Broadbent at the University of Louisville

3/19/2015 Jazzin - March 2015 -


swaying midtempo number whose title, explained Broadbent,comes from the Maori name for his native New Zealand."Sonny's Step" was a bop workout, followed by one ofBroadbent's earliest compositions, the beautiful "Love in SilentAmber." The evening closed with what Broadbent described ashis variations on "America the Beautiful," which turned out tobe intriguing and unique, not just a brassy flagwaver. It wasclear that the students had done their homework, as JEI provedup to the challenge of Broadbent's original compositions andarrangements. Kudos to Professor Jerry Tolson for hisconducting, filling in for new father Ansyn Banks. I had thepleasure of speaking with Broadbent and U of L's Mike Tracyfor my first piece for Insider Louisville; anyone interested mayfind it at http://insiderlouisville.com/lifestyle_culture/uljazzfestcontinuespulltopnotchtalent.

Sometimes high expectations can lead to a letdown. That wasemphatically not the case for the Blues at the Crossroads: TheSoul of the Blues revue at a full house in the Brown Theatre onSaturday, February 28. From the first notes of The Dynamites'opening number, this was a night of deep blues and R&B, oldschool. Guitarist Eric Krasno (Soulive, Lettuce) joined theDynamites for some numbers throughout the night, playingwith grit and restraint. Upandcoming singer Alecia Chakourjoined the band for a set which started with "You're No Good"(Linda Ronstadt's cover of Betty Everett), and stayed strongwith "What a Man," a 1968 Linda Lyndell song known to manyfrom the remake by SaltnPepa with En Vogue. Can you say"funk?" Next up was a deep rendition of Barbara Acklin's 1968song, "Am I the Same Girl," (the vocal version of YoungHoltUnlimited's "Soulful Strut"). I mean, these folks were on TOPof it. Chakour ended her segment with an Etta James medley:"Tell Mama/Security/I'd Rather Go Blind." Next up was "TheSoul Queen of New Orleans," Irma Thomas, whose set was abrilliant summation of her early years' hits, including "Hittin'on Nothing," "Ruler of My Heart," and "I Done Got Over,"with a Mardi Gras Indian second line segment including IkoIko and "Hey Pocky Way." Soul singer Lee Fields was the lastact, opening with the 1971 8th Day hit "She's Not Just AnotherWoman," doing some restrained James Brown moves andinterpolating the classic "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" intoone of his originals. Irma Thomas returned for the encore,doing her classic "Time Is on My Side," and ending with all theartists on stage for what appeared to be an impromptu versionof Bob Dylan's "Forever Young," a song which epitomizes Ms.Thomas. This was one of the most thoroughly enjoyable

Irma Thomas: Blues at the Crossroads: The Soulof the Blues at the Brown Theatre

3/19/2015 Jazzin - March 2015 -


concerts I've attended in Louisville for a long time, marred onlyby the absence of dance space. I was fortunate to have a phoneinterview with Irma Thomas and an email interview with EricKrasno to preview this concert. If you're interested in checkingit out, go to http://insiderlouisville.com/lifestyle_culture/irmathomassoulqueenneworleanssingsbluesbrowntheatre/.

New Orleans' Galactic is one of my favorite working bandsoutside of the jazz world. That said, their drummer, StantonMoore, has released several jazz side projects. They return toHeadliners,1386 Lexington Rd. Louisville, KY (5025848088), http://headlinerslouisville.com/ for a show on Thursday,March 18. Singing with them this tour is Erica Falls. Look for adayofshow interview with Rich Vogel, Galactic's keyboardplayer, in LEO Weekly.

Nobody seems to be covering reggae, so even with minimumjazz connection (think Jamaican jazz pianist Monty Alexander),I'm going to tout it here. Before the world knew "Bob Marleyand the Wailers," the band was known simply as the Wailers.Apparently bassist Aston "Family Man" Barrett is the last linkto the original lineup, but this band should still be able to be"jammin'" with some "roots, rock reggae." They're at theMercury Ballroom, 611 4th Street, on Thursday March 19; 5025834555. Ticket informationhttp://www.livenation.com/events/433771mar192015thewailers.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band (PHJB) returns to Louisvillefor a concert in the BrownForman Midnite Ramble Series, onSunday, March 29, 2015. Ticket information is available at5025847777, or 18007757777; online athttp://www.kentuckycenter.org/KentuckyCenter/1415/PreservationHallJazzBand/13131#tabshowinformationlink. Look for my interview with PHJB's Creative Director andtuba player, Ben Jaffe, in Insider Louisville before the concert.

The 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival ("Jazzfest")runs from April 2426, and April 30 May 3. I'm particularlyexcited to see some top jazz artists throughout the weekends,including Kenny Garrett, Cassandra Wilson the CharlesLloyd Quartet, Terence Blanchard ECollective, theChristian McBride Big Band with special guests Dianne

ON THE HORIZONGalactic at Headliners

The Wailers at Mercury Ballroom

Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the KentuckyCenter

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

3/19/2015 Jazzin - March 2015 -


Reeves and Jeffrey Osborne and Nicholas Payton, Butler,Bernstein & The Hot 9, and Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.Some nonjazz highlights include the TedeschiTrucks Band,"The Who," The Meters Reunion, The Word, and Lil' Edand The Blues Imperials. Details, including the full lineup,ticket information, etc., is at nojazzfest.com.

During Jazzfest, there are club and concert dates galore. The

best "1Stop Shopping" for who's playing where is

jazzfestgrids.com. San Francisco's Boom Boom Room is

presenting a series of shows at various venues with artists

including Stanton Moore and Skerik, among others

(http://www.boomboomtickets.com/evlist.php?

vstate=LA&events=search).

The Laughing Derby at The Comedy Caravan, 1250Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204, 5024590022,

http://laughingderby.com. The Don Krekel Orchestra willcontinue its gigs there on the third Monday of each month,

which will be March 16. Please contact the club for any post

deadline information.

The Decca Lounge and Restaurant (812 East Market Street,

Louisville, Kentucky 40206; 5027498128;

http://deccarestaurant.com) presents weekly jazz on Monday

nights, featuring The Buzzard, with Tim Whalen, tenor; Pete

Petersen, keys; Danny Kiely, bass; and Mike Hyman, drums.

There are also other occasional jazz events, for which the

website and Facebook page may be the best ways to keep

updated.

The Nachbar (969 Charles Street, 5026374377,

www.myspace.com/thenachbar)features "Nachbar Jazz" on

Wednesdays, with Jacob Duncan. Check the club for updatesor changes. The club also has a Facebook page with occasional

updates.

HAPPY 20th ANNIVERSARY To The Jazz Kitchen (5377N College Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46220; phone: 3172534900;

www.thejazzkitchen.com), presents nightly offerings of local

and regional jazz; check the website for the full schedule and

updates. A road trip might be advised for: saxophonist JimSnidero and the Steve Allee Trio on March 6; our Nashville

neighbor, saxophonist Rahsaan Barber & Everyday Magicon March 13; pianist Aaron Goldberg on March 15; pop/R&B

pianist Alex Bugnon on March 20; The Mike Clark/Donald

SELECTED CLUBAND OTHERLISTINGS

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Harrison Project on March 21; and a special Women in JazzMonth night, featuring Monika Herzig and New York flautistJamie Baum on March 28. The rest of the month features thebest local and regional talent. Early April brings guitaristWayne Krantz on the 4th.Please sign up for updated local jazz listings: The LouisvilleJazz Society provides weekly email updates for local jazzhappenings. Be sure to sign up for the email "Louisville JazzSociety's "Jazz Insider" at www.louisvillejazz.org. A monthlycalendar of local jazz events is at the Louisville Jazz Society'swebsite: http://louisvillejazz.org/calendar. It is both impossiblefor me to try to provide complete listings here, and it would beduplicative of the weekly listings in the CourierJournal andLEO and the Louisville Music News monthly music listings,www.louisvillemusicnews.net.

For decades, I have attended concerts presented by the artistswho teach at the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops. Inmy writing, I have made a point of emphasizing that many ofthe visiting faculty command high cover charges when theyplay elsewhere, and are respected within the jazz world. Two ofthe "regulars," bassist David Friesen and saxophonist JimSnidero, have recently released new albums on two of the topindie jazz labels, Origin and Savant (a Highnote sister label),respectively. Here are my thoughts about them.

DavidFriesen'sworking trio,with pianistGreg GoebelanddrummerCharlieDoggett, hasreleased a 2disc live set,with guestguitaristLarryKoonse onnine of the

nineteen tracks. The trio tracks are from a 2013 set in Germany

Two Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz WorkshopArtists Release Albums

David Friesen Where The Light FallsDavid Friesen Circle 3 TrioWhere the Light Falls (Origin Records, www.originarts.com)

3/19/2015 Jazzin - March 2015 -


and a 2014 set in Portland, OR, with Koonse added for a 2013

date in Tempe, AZ. On disc, the songs switch back and forth

between trio and quartet; all are composed by the leader.

Opening the first disc is the bright and airy "Playground," with

solos handed effortlessly from one musician to the next. Friesen

is nimble on "Dance With Me." Koonse takes an unusual

strummed solo on the boppish "Left Field Blues." Friesen's bass

provides a strong pulse to "Stepping Stones." Goebel and

Friesen engage in a delicate duet to open the ballad "Song For

Ben," before Doggett joins with taste and subtlety at the 2

minute mark. The closing "Tribute" begins with an almost 3

minute bass introduction, leading into a sprightly quartet.

Throughout both discs, whether the trio or quartet numbers, the

musicians convey the feeling that this is truly a group effort,

not just a showcase for Friesen's exemplary bass work.

Altoist Jim

Snidero has

reconvened

bassist Linda

Oh and

drummer

Rudy

Royston

from his

2013 release

Stream of

Consciousness, but has switched from the guitar of Paul

Bollenback to the piano of Fabian Almazan for this record. Five

of the eight songs are originals, and the closing is a Snidero

arrangement of the traditional "The Streets of Laredo," which

conjures a taste of the Sonny Rollins classic Way Out West.

Snidero takes his time on the first piece, :"Duluth at Noon,"

allowing the trio to set up a knotty groove before he enters.

"Post Time Saratoga" is the closest I can recall to hearing

Snidero in a Coltrane mode, with Royston doing an admirable

Elvin. On "Las Vegas Tango," Almazan's delicate piano

undergirds Snidero's improvisation. "Oxford Square" is updated

blues, played soulfully. The only standard here, "Autumn in

Jim Snidero Main StreetJim SnideroMain Street (Savant, www.jazzdepot.com)

3/19/2015 Jazzin - March 2015 -


New York," is given a straightforward treatment, with plenty ofroom for Oh to stretch out. Two more originals follow, before"Laredo," with a deceptively slow bass introduction, switchesto high gear, pushing the old western tune into new spaces.This marks another high point in Snidero's stillgrowingdiscography.EIGHTH NOTES

I can't helpbut thinkthat the lateJoe Zawinulwould haveliked thisband. WhereZawinulapproached"worldmusic" fromEuropeanand jazzperspectives,thisIndonesian

band seems to approach jazz from its own cultural background.This 2CD set was recorded in September of 2013 in Baltimore,and features Riza Arshad (keyboards), Tohpati (guitar), RudyZulkarnaen (electric bass), and Endang Ramdan, ErlanSuwardana and Cucu Kurnia on percussion. The percussionistscreate deep grooves, percolating and carrying the musicforward. The band plays with intensity, whether on thegrowling "Stepping Inn" or the more subtle "One Has To Be."The 18minute "This Spirit," which opens the second disc, callsto mind the early electric Miles Davis of In a Silent Way andBitches Brew. "Kemaru" follows, seemingly melding freeformand fusion, akin to the more coherent "Drumz'n'Space" of thelatter day Grateful Dead. I particularly like the flowing feel of"Disapih," with its graceful keyboard playing and subtle (forfusion) guitar work. In short, I recommend this to fans ofintelligent fusion who want to stretch their boundaries.

While thetitle refers todrummerSteve Gadd's70th birthday

simakDialog Live at Orion

simakDialogLive at Orion (www.moonjune.com)

3/19/2015 Jazzin - March 2015 -


(officiallyApril 9), itcould alsorefer to the70+ minutesof strongplaying byGadd andhiscolleagues,guitaristMichaelLandau,keyboardistLarryGoldings,trumpeterWalt Fowler

and bassist Jimmy Johnson. For those who slept through thelast halfcentury of American popular music and jazz, Gadd hasbeen the drummer for projects as disparate as Paul Simon(remember the drum intro to "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"),many Chick Corea albums, studio sessions with Steely Dan andthe Brecker Brothers, and more. This lineup has backed JamesTaylor for many years, although that wouldn't be apparent fromthe stylistic range here. Many of the tunes incorporate Gadd's"lessismore" approach to funk, including the opening "FoamHome" (a collaborative composition) and Landau's "The LongWay Home." The second song is a reimagined version of theclassic Eddie Harris piece, "Freedom Jazz Dance," with aspooky electric Miles Davis. Indeed, several of the songs havethat spooky, voodoo feel, including Goldings' "Sly Boots."Goldings also contributes "Written in Stone," a slow piece withmartial drumming and an Acadian feel. Fowler's "Duke'sAnthem," a soulful waltz, is followed by more mysterious funkon Goldings' "Elegant Squares." Johnson's ballad "Desu"provides Gadd the opportunity to use brushes on snare whileeliciting crisp cymbal tones with his sticks. Speaking of theBrecker Brothers, Gadd and company turn Jan Hammer's "Oh,Yeah?" into a workout which would have fit well on one of theBreckers' albums. They close with a slow blues, anotherLandau number entitled "Blues for . . .." No showboating here,just downhome and greasy. I had the good fortune to interviewGadd for DownBeat (September, 2013:http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=news&subsect=news_detail&nid=2208), in which he said

Steve Gadd Band 70 StrongSteve Gadd Band70 Strong (BFM Jazz, bfmjazz.com)

3/19/2015 Jazzin - March 2015 -


"I try to play whatever helps [the music] grow so it's as good asit could be." This new record provides ample evidence of howhis approach works to the benefit of the music presented.

With two nowsixteenyearold daughters, it's hard to get out asmuch as I would like to hear music. As a result, picking andchoosing which performances to catch sometimes require that Ipostpone seeing some of the local musicians and singers inorder to not miss the onenightstands from outoftown artists.Invariably, I feel guilty, so in an effort to assuage my guilt and,more positively, to provide more exposure to our community ofgreat local jazz performers, I am initiating this featurecontaining website and email contact information. I am onlyincluding those artists who have given their permission to me;some have indicated a preference for website listing only;others have only email addresses. If you wish to be included,drop a line to me with your permission and preferences, [email protected]. I reserve the right to edit and to excludethose whose connection to jazz is, in my opinion, tenuous; andthis feature may end up online if it begins to take up too muchspace in print.

MIKE TRACY: www.michaeltracy.com,[email protected], saxophonist and teacher MikeTracyUNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE JAZZ PROGRAM:www.jazz.louisville.eduBOBBY FALK: www.myspace.com/bobbyfalk, drummer andcomposer Bobby Falk;

WALKER & KAYS: www.walkerandkays.com, singer JeanetteKays and guitarist Greg Walker;JENNIFER LAULETTA: www.jenniferlauletta.com, singerJennifer Lauletta;JEFF SHERMAN: [email protected], guitarist JeffSherman;

RON JONES: www.ronjonesquartet.com,[email protected], saxophonist Ron Jones;STEVE CREWS: www.jazzcrews.com, [email protected],pianist Steve Crews.

1) I am always interested in your comments. Contact me [email protected].

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