My monthly list of recommended CDs, as published in The New York City Jazz Record, November 2011: The Claudia Quintet + 1, What Is the Beautiful? (Cuneiform) Amir ElSaffar, Inana (Pi) Joel Frahm Quartet, Live at Smalls (Smalls Live) Brad Mehldau, Kevin Hays & Patrick Zimmerli, Modern Music (Nonesuch) Ted Rosenthal Trio, Out of This World (Playscape) Tony Malaby’s Novela (Clean Feed)
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band Mon., Mar. 28, 8pm. $10. Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St. 215.568.3131 www.chrisjazzcafe.com Aside from being one of the most sought-after pianists in jazz, Orrin Evans is a kind of community leader and informal ambassador for the Philadelphia scene. His current project is the Captain Black Big Band, an