Leni Stern, Alu Maye (Have You Heard) — An interesting five-track EP recorded in Mali in 2006. Features remarkable playing by the late Michael Brecker, in an eclectic, African-influenced pop context. Given Brecker’s death some months later, the tribute to Don Alias is almost eerie.
Randy Napoleon, Between Friends (Anzic) — About a month ago I heard the impressive vocalist Sachal Vasandani at the Tin Angel in Philly. Randy Napoleon appeared as a guest on a few numbers and sounded promising. In truth, I knew he could play when I heard him warming up. What a pleasure, then, to get a hold of this beautifully recorded CD, featuring Randy with the formidable Benny Green on piano, among others. It’s a down-the-middle standards record, but done with an expert touch. The guitar sound is huge, the playing is radiant.
Jaki Byard, Sunshine of My Soul: Live at the Keystone Korner — The late Byard, documented in 1978, solo piano. An astonishing, previously unreleased find on the HighNote label.
And a few recent live highlights:
Steely Dan at the Tower Theater, PA, May 24 — I have to admit I almost wept when they played “Babylon Sisters,” a defining song for me in the mid-’80s. The show was a blast. The sight of middle-aged white people dancing poorly didn’t diminish it in the least. Hanging afterwards with my friends Michael and Carolyn Leonhart (trumpet and backing vocals, respectively) was a treat. So was the opening set by organist Sam Yahel, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Francisco Mela.
Sam Rivers, Dave Holland, Barry Altschul, Miller Theatre, NY, May 25 —
I attended with my good friend Nate Chinen, whose review is here. The 83-year-old Rivers never fails to amaze. And what a thrill to hear Dave Holland in a context this abstract. Quite the New York jazz community event. I managed to greet a bunch of friends and colleagues during a quick one-night stay in town. Thanks to the folks at WKCR-FM for making it happen.
Bowerbird — I’ve become kind of hooked on this avant-garde concert series since I moved to Philly. They present a lively, unpredictable mix of free jazz, live electronics, contemporary classical music and who knows what else. A typical Bowerbird evening includes four relatively brief sets, in appealing, out-of-the-way venues scattered across the city. Recent highlights include the duos EKG and HZL, the Signal Quintet from Switzerland, saxophonist Jack Wright’s trio with the compelling bassist Evan Lipson, solo electronics by Vertonen and Jason Talbot … on and on. I’m particularly excited about the June 23 performance of Morton Feldman’s “Patterns in a Chromatic Field.”
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