David Adler
Six Picks: January 2010
My monthly list of recommended CDs, as published in All About Jazz-New York, January 2010: Samuel Blaser, Pieces of Old Sky (Clean Feed) Charles Evans & Neil Shah, Live at Saint Stephen’s (Hot Cup) Randy Ingram, The Road Ahead (BJU) NYNDK, The Hunting of the Snark (Jazzheads) Barry Romberg, Was, Shall, Why, Because: Music for Large & Small Ensemble (romhog)
On Matthew Shipp
My feature article on pianist Matthew Shipp, in the January/February 2010 issue of JazzTimes. The whole thing is online, but I’ll scan the print layout soon.
Christmas Time Is Here
Well, this comes a little late. But thought I’d share this beautiful Vince Guaraldi waltz from A Charlie Brown Christmas. (I never knew that Jerry Granelli plays drums on the original version!)
Village Voice annual jazz poll
I was glad to take part once again. Results here. Francis Davis’s reflections here. Individual ballots here.
On Ari Hoenig
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: Ari Hoenig’s Oscillations QuartetSat., Dec. 26, 8pm. $20. Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St. 215.568.3131 www.chrisjazzcafe.com From the physical mayhem of Ari Hoenig’s drumming — limbs flailing, face contorted in agonized delight — comes music of unsurpassed depth and control. Little wonder the Philly native has become world-renowned, with two unaccompanied drumset albums and two
Not to be overlooked
I’m not sure I’ll do another Week on Disc before the holidays are out, so I wanted to draw attention to Carla’s Christmas Carols (Watt), a seasonal gem by legendary pianist-composer-arranger Carla Bley, her longtime collaborator Steve Swallow on electric bass, and the superb Partyka Brass Quintet. Beautiful arranging and hip detours on “Away In a Manger,” “O Tannenbaum” and
The week on disc (60)
In case you missed the last one… Nobuyasu Furuya Trio, Bendowa (Clean Feed) Ben Wendel/Harish Raghavan/Nate Wood, ACT (BJU) Yulia Musayelyan Quartet, Caminos (ind.) (Another) Nuttree Quartet (Liebman/Abercrombie/Anderson/Nussbaum), Something Sentimental (Kind of Blue) Bill Dixon, Tapestries for Small Orchestra (Firehouse 12) Jeb Patton, New Strides (MaxJazz)