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The Inbetweens
In the new Philadelphia Weekly: The InbetweensThu., Jan. 21, 8pm. Free. The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St. 215.573.3234 www.arsnovaworkshop.org The Inbetweens — guitarist Mike Gamble, bassist Noah Jarrett and drummer Conor Elmes — are a ragged, rocking jazz trio that could be Brooklyn’s answer to the Nels Cline Singers. The band packs a lot into 41 minutes on their new Quantum
Of big bands, critics’ priorities, etc.
Three strong big band recordings have crossed my desk in the last few days. Abdullah Ibrahim’s Bombella, arranged by the late Steve Gray for the WDR Big Band Cologne, sheds new light on the pianist’s compositions and answers Ibrahim’s marvelous solo-piano disc Senzo from last year. Omar Sosa’s Ceremony, arranged by Jacques Morelenbaum for the NDR Bigband, offers a similar
New York @ Night: January 2010
In the current issue of All About Jazz-New York: — Michaël Attias is known for his work on alto and baritone saxophones, but on the new Clean Feed disc Renku In Coimbra he plays only alto. This was his game plan too at Barbès (Dec. 3), where he gathered together his Renku trio with bassist John Hebert and drummer Satoshi
Haiti benefit
Via my friend Matt Applebaum on Facebook, I’m obliged to cite some negative press about Wyclef Jean’s Yele charity — as well as positive press about Partners In Health. [Update: More bad on Yele here.] [Update: Wyclef responds forcefully here – h/t ?uestlove.] Click on the image for details on this Tuesday’s Haiti benefit concert.
The week on disc (62)
In case you missed the last one… Matt Slocum, Portraits (Chandra) Stéphane Spira & Giovanni Mirabassi, Spirabassi (BEE Jazz) Myra Melford’s Be Bread, The Whole Tree Gone (Firehouse 12) Mostly Other People Do the Killing, Forty Fort (Hot Cup!) Sam Sadigursky, Miniatures: Words Project III (New Amsterdam) Rodrigo Amado/Miguel Mira/Gabriel Ferrandini, Motion Trio (European Echoes)
“Work the Wound”
I watched Stew’s “Passing Strange” last night on the DVR, and while there were some aspects of it I resisted, the more that I think back on it, the more enthralled I become. I need to watch it again. This song, “Work the Wound,” comes toward the end of the show and nearly turned me to a puddle. Here’s a
Haiti relief
I have no words to describe the gravity of the situation in post-earthquake Haiti, where the populace is suffering, the institutions of government have literally collapsed and a large number of UN staff in the country are either dead or missing. Wyclef Jean has a relief effort underway: “Either you can use your cell phone to text ‘Yele’ to 501501,
Philadelphia haps, cont’d.
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: Marc-André HamelinWed., Jan. 13, 8pm. $27. Kimmel Center, 260 South Broad St. 215.731.3333 www.kimmelcenter.org Montreal-born, Boston-based Marc-André Hamelin may be a classical piano giant sitting astride the globe, with over 35 CDs and endless awards to his credit. But he studied at Temple, so Philadelphia can claim a piece of him. And the Kimmel is