Philly
Philadelphia haps, cont’d.
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: EllipsisWed., Oct. 7, 9pm. $5. With Oud Blues. Tritone, 1508 South St. 215.545.0475 www.tritonebar.com Drummer Justin Leigh and pianist John Stenger head up Ellipsis, and their continuing residency at Tritone has entailed full-album renditions of Björk, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Jeff Buckley and others (first Wednesday every month, free downloadable sets at ellipsismakesmusic.com). But Ellipsis
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
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.
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
On Dan Blacksberg/Daniel Levin
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: Daniel Blacksberg-Daniel Levin DuoSun., Sep. 13, 8:30pm. $5. Gojjo, 4540 Baltimore Ave. 215.238.1236 www.scifiphilly.com The trombone and cello can both be ungainly, but they speak with an elemental grace when played by the right people. Philly’s Daniel Blacksberg and New York’s Daniel Levin are the right people. Blacksberg is a diligent trombonist and open-eyed student
On Marlon Simon
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: Marlon Simon and the Nagual SpiritsSat., Sep. 5, 8-11:30pm. $20. Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St. 215.568.3131 www.chrisjazzcafe.com In Marlon Simon’s Nagual Spirits one hears plenty of Afro-Latin jazz heritage, but also a knife-edged post-bebop vocabulary that has long permeated New York and Philly, two of the drummer’s home bases since he came from Venezuela