Jazz
Posts, ripostes
Regarding a recent post, Chris Kelsey issues a thoroughly patronizing reply that devolves into a personal attack. That’s cool, I started it. But I plead not guilty to misconstruing the meaning of “formally conventional.” Also, note Darcy James Argue’s comment under Chris’s post, in which he also takes issue with Chris’s evaluation of Hollenbeck. Other than that, I think Chris
Prana Trio/Circulasione Totale Orchestra
In the new Philadelphia Weekly: Prana TrioWed., Jan. 27, 8pm. $10. Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St. 215.568.3131 www.chrisjazzcafe.com Led by drummer-percussionist Brian Adler (no relation), the Prana Trio arrives in Philly on the heels of its third release, Singing Image of Fire, featuring music inspired by the poetry of Hafiz, Kabir, Rumi and others. “Trio” is meant loosely —
Covers vs. standards
Regarding the need for jazz musicians to be original, Phil Freeman tweeted today: “No rock artist could expect to be taken seriously releasing a covers album as their debut.” I wouldn’t normally respond to random tweets with a blog post, but there’s an important issue at stake here. As much as they may continue to inform one another, and as
The week on disc (63)
In case you missed the last one… Dave Rempis & Frank Rosaly, Cyrillic (482 Music) Tigran Hamasyan, Red Hail (Plus Loin, 2009) Soren Moller & Dick Oatts, The Clouds Above (Audial, out February 9) Jerry Bergonzi, Three for All (Savant) Nilson Matta’s Brazilian Voyage, Copacabana (Zoho, out February 10) John Funkhouser Trio, Time (ind.)
Honoring Clark Terry, and more
Trumpet legend Clark Terry will receive this year’s Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (click on “news” from his homepage). Glad for this. About four or five years ago, Terry played one of the best shows I’d seen in a while at the Village Vanguard, wiping away all memory of a mediocre gig I caught earlier the same evening. One clarion trumpet
On Inzinzac
My feature on Philly-based trio Inzinzac (guitarist Alban Bailly, saxophonist Dan Scofield, drummer Eli Litwin), in the new Philadelphia Weekly.
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