Jazz

2
May

Six Picks: May 2012

My monthly list of recommended CDs, as published in The New York City Jazz Record, May 2012: Andy Clausen, The Wishbone Suite (Table & Chairs) Tomas Fujiwara & The Hook Up, The Air Is Different (482 Music) Steve Lehman, Dialect Fluorescent (Pi) Eric Reed, The Baddest Monk (Savant) Tom Tallitsch, Heads Or Tales (Posi-Tone) Yosvany Terry, Today’s Opinion (Criss Cross)

25
Apr

Center City Jazz Festival: This Saturday

My Critic’s Pick about the event, in the new Philadelphia Weekly. Plenty more info here.

20
Apr

On Randy Napoleon

In the current issue of Philadelphia Weekly: Randy Napoleon Mon., Apr. 23, 8pm. $10. Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St. 215.568.3131 www.chrisjazzcafe.com From Randy Napoleon’s boyish appearance one might think he’s just starting out. In fact, he’s one of the more accomplished and well-rounded jazz guitarists of our day. Most know him as a supremely tasteful accompanist to singers such

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12
Apr

Jazz Blogathon: Upper West Side, NYC

The following post is one of many being featured in the Jazz Journalists Association’s 2012 Jazz Day Blogathon, with a focus on jazz in local communities. Sometimes I tell friends that a key benefit of living on Manhattan’s Upper West Side is the ease of subway travel. A couple of blocks to the 1-2-3 train and I can zip down to

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12
Apr

On Steve Lehman

In the new issue of Philadelphia Weekly: Steve Lehman Trio Sun., Apr. 15, 8pm. Free. The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St. 215.573.3234 www.arsnovaworkshop.org Steve Lehman came to town last year and performed his “Nos Revi Nella” for alto sax and string quartet. That’s backwards for Allen Iverson — a man Lehman sees not just as a point guard but a great

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5
Apr

On Susan Alcorn, Paco De Lucía

In the new issue of Philadelphia Weekly: Scallion/Ember Schrag/Susan Alcorn Thu., Apr. 5, 7:30pm. $6. Highwire Gallery, 2040 Frankford Ave. 215.426.2685 www.museumfire.com/events Philly’s Darian Scatton, singer/multi-instrumentalist and founder of the tiny Edible Onion label, records under the name Scallion and makes absorbing, vulnerable music full of hazy tempos and textures. He shares this bill with labelmate Ember Schrag, a Nebraska-born

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3
Apr

On Kenny Garrett

This review appears in the April 2012 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Kenny Garrett Seeds from the Underground (Mack Avenue) By David R. Adler Alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett took an electric turn on his 2008 Mack Avenue debut Sketches of MD, a live album that harked back to his ’80s apprenticeship with Miles Davis. He ventured

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2
Apr

New York @ Night: April 2012

From the April 2012 issue of The New York City Jazz Record: — Drawing on material from his superb new Palmetto disc An Attitude for Gratitude, drummer Matt Wilson fronted his Arts and Crafts quartet in an inspired late Saturday set at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola (March 3). Wilson is a funnyman in the finest Gillespie tradition, but watching him harness the

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