Jazz
Philadelphia haps, cont’d.
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: Dave Liebman GroupFri., Oct. 2, 8-11:30pm. $15. Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St. 215.568.3131 www.chrisjazzcafe.com Dave Liebman grew up hearing John Coltrane in the flesh. Now in his 60s, the Poconos-based Brooklynite is a saxophone guru himself, having earned his stripes in the early ’70s with Elvin Jones and Miles Davis, appearing on Miles’ twisted
On the Fat Cat Big Band
My feature on guitarist-composer Jade Synstelien and the Fat Cat Big Band, in the October 2009 issue of Jazz Times.
Sonny Rollins front-page spread
I was finally able to scan my Sonny Rollins Inquirer feature from the other day, a nice front-page spread [pdf] in the Tuesday Magazine section. I’m not sure if Sonny has elsewhere discussed the possibility of a trio studio session with Christian McBride and Roy Haynes, so I won’t claim it’s a scoop, but let’s hope he goes that way.
On Oliver Lake
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: Oliver Lake Organ QuartetSun., Sep. 27, 8pm. $12. International House, 3701 Chestnut St. 215.895.6546 www.arsnovaworkshop.org If you think of the jazz avant-garde as insular, a world apart, consider alto saxophonist Oliver Lake, whose work with Björk, Mos Def, Meshell Ndegeocello and others has set an all-embracing example (particularly for his sons, drummer Gene and turntablist
On Sonny Rollins
My feature on Sonny Rollins, in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer.
The week on disc (53)
In case you missed the last one… Danny Grissett, Form (Criss Cross) Jason Marsalis, Music Update (Elm) Luis Bonilla, I Talking Now! (Planet Arts) Fernando Benadon, Intuitivo (Innova) Yaron Herman Trio, Muse (Sunnyside) John Beasley, Positootly! (Resonance)
Philadelphia haps, cont’d.
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: New Directions Chamber BrassWed., Sep. 16, 9pm. $5. With Elliott Levin/Charles Cohen Duo. Tritone, 1508 South St. 215.545.0475 www.tritonebar.com The Avant Ascension series eases into its second year with a set from this genre-oblivious unit, which is led by trumpeter Thomas Madeja and happens also to include AA co-curator and trombonist Larry Toft. What a
Digging Sonny
I’m interviewing Sonny Rollins later today for a Philadelphia Inquirer feature to run on Sunday, September 20. So I’ve been trawling YouTube and loving this 1963 clip in particular, with Don Cherry on cornet, Henry Grimes on bass, Billy Higgins on drums. They’re playing Monk’s “52nd Street Theme,” which is rhythm changes in C. So, high bebop meets half of