Music
“I don’t blow. I suck.”
Seemed appropriate to post this as somehow related to the discussion Darcy kicked off here. [Hat tip Phil DiPietro.]
Shows and more shows
Only good things to report about trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and his quintet at the Jazz Standard on Wednesday night, with Walter Smith III on tenor, Fabian Almazan on piano, Harish Raghavan on bass and Justin Brown on drums. Mostly one long, continuous set with unaccompanied trumpet segues. The harmonic model and band interaction recalled the second Miles quintet, but the
On Francisco Mela
My feature [pdf] on the sought-after drummer and bandleader Francisco Mela, in the December 2008 issue of Jazz Times. Because Mark Turner plays on Mela’s new recording, Cirio, I should add that my story was written before news came of Mark’s hand injury. Accounts of his recovery so far are encouraging.
Cello madness
It’s not often you get to hear two contrasting albums with cello, bass and drums. Erik Friedlander’s Broken Arm Trio (Skipstone) and Daniel Levin’s Fuhuffah (Clean Feed) are pretty far apart in terms of aesthetics — Levin’s is the more tonally abstract — but both advance the cause of the cello as a lead improvising instrument, in a role more
The week on disc (32)
In case you missed the last one… Dominique Di Piazza, Princess Sita (Sunnyside) Townhouse Orchestra, Belle Ville (Clean Feed) Ben Schachter, Omnibus (ind.) Thoth Trio, Thoth Speaks (ind.) Taylor Ho Bynum, Asphalt Flowers Forking Paths (Hatology) Joe Morris & Barre Phillips, Elm City Duets 2006 (Clean Feed)
Obama and the arts
This editor’s statement will appear in the Winter 2009 issue of Jazz Notes, the quarterly journal of the Jazz Journalists Association. — Barack Obama uniquely appreciates the role and value of creative expression. Barack Obama believes that the arts should be a central part of effective teaching and learning. Barack Obama supports increased funding for the National Endowment for the
On Enrico Pieranunzi
My review of pianist Enrico Pieranunzi at Birdland, now online at Jazz Times.
The week on disc (31)
In case you missed the last one… Mario Pavone Double Tenor Quintet, Ancestors (Playscape) Lionel Loueke, Gilfema + 2 (ObliqSound) Norbert Stein, Direct Speech (Pata Music) Peter Delano, For Dewey (Sunnyside) Javon Jackson, Once Upon a Melody (Palmetto) Harry Whitaker, One Who Sees All Things (Smalls)