kh1958

April 24, 2025: Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Shemekia Copeland, Dee Dee Bridgewater with Bill Charlap, Leroy Jones, Stanton Moore Trio, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Zar Electrik, Festival Internationale de Louisiane, Lafayette April 25, 2025: Branford Marsalis, Carver Center, San Antonio Etran de L'Air, Zar Electrik, Festival Internationale de Louisiane, Lafayette Youssou N'Dour, Stanley Clarke, Lila Downs, Kenny Neal, Marimba Nandayapa, Blodie's Jazz Jam, Mahmoud Chouki, Doreen, Detroit Brooks with Dee Dee Bridgewater, New Orleans Groovemasters (Herlin Riley, Shannon Powell, Jason Marsalis), Secret Six Jazz Band, Astral Project, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival April 26, 2025: Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, Orquesta Akokan, Austin Blues Festival Chris Thomas King, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Kyle Roussell, Zar Electrik, Marimba Nandayapa, Tom McDermott and Aurora Nealand, Diana Krall, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Ud. Abir Hussain (Sarod) & Ud. Tari Khan (Tabla), ICMC, Dallas Etran de L'Air, Dobet Gnahore, Festival Internationale de Louisiane, Lafayette April 27, 2025: John Primer, Jackie Venson, Austin Blues Festival Branford Marsalis Quartet, Bill Frisell with Thomas Morgan and Brian Blade, Eric Gales, Louis Armstrong Hot Five and Hot Seven Centennial with Nicholas Payton and Dr. Michael White, Etran De L'Air, People Museum, Charlie Gabriel, Tuba Skinny, Leon Anderson, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Larry Lampkin, Fort Worth Blues Festival, Southside Preservation Hall Dobet Gnahore, Festival Internationale de Louisiane, Lafayette Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club, Houston April 30, 2025: The Boss Baritones: Gary Smulyan and Frank Basile, Parker Jazz Club, Austin May 1, 2025: Ebo Taylor, Radio/East, Austin Ronnie Baker Brooks, Cedric Burnside, George Wein Tribute with Randy Brecker, Mr. Sipp, Helen Gillet, Pasotano, Gladney, Peter Harris and Firm Roots, Louis Ford, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Tim Hagans, Parker Jazz Club, Austin May 2, 2025: Joshua Redman with Gabrielle Cavassa, Benin International Musical, Alfredo Rodriguez Trio, Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses, Trumpet Mafia, Pasotano, Steve Lands, Alexey Marti, Wesli, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Eddie Gomez Trio, Kitchen Cafe, Dallas Dobet Gnahore, Zar Electrik, African Vibrations Music Festival, University of Texas at Dallas Shelley Carrol, Scat Jazz, Fort Worth May 3, 2025: Leyla McCalla, Benin International Musical, Jason Marsalis, Joy Clark, Nicholas Payton and Triune, Yusa Cuban Soul, Victor Campbell, Jamil Sharif, Tony Dagradi and the New Orleans Saxophone Ensemble, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Zar Electrik, African Vibrations Music Festival, University of Texas at Dallas Eddie Gomez, Scat Jazz, Fort Worth May 4, 2025: Kamasi Washington, Terence Blanchard, D.K. Harrell, Jessie McBride Big Band, Stephanie and Rachel Jordan with Music Alive Ensemble, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 10, 2025: Pt. Rakesh Chaurasia, Unity Church of the Hills, Austin May 16, 2025: Bela Fleck, Edmar Castaneda, Antonio Sanchez, Fresh Grass, Bentonville, Arkansas May 17, 2025: Weary Blues Live, The Oak Cliff Assembly, Dallas Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, Fresh Grass, Bentonville, Arkansas Quamon Fowler, Scat Jazz, Fort Worth May 24, 2025: Tutu Jones, Strokers Ice House, Dallas May 28, 2025: Samara Joy, Majestic Theater, Dallas May 29, 2025: Samara Joy, Moody Theater, Austin May 30, 2025: Natalia Lafourcade, Windspear, Dallas June 2, 2025: Samara Joy, Jones Hall, Houston June 3, 2025: Chuck Redd, JazzTX, San Antonio June 6, 2025: Jackie Venson, Jo Long Theater, San Antonio June 7, 2025: Pt. Basant Kabra (sarod) and Pt. Nityanand Haldipur (flute), Unity Church of the Hills, Austin Pt. Ravi Chary (Sitar) & Amit Kavthekar (Tabla), ICMC, Dallas July 19, 2025: Eric Gales, Billy Bobs, Fort Worth September 13, 2025: Pt Sandeep Chatterjee (Santoor) & Shubhojyoti Guha (Tabla), ICMC, Dallas September 23, 2025: Mdou Moctar, White Oak Music Hall, Houston October 5, 2025: Niladri Kumar (Sitar), Unity Church of the Hills, Austin

Free Form Funky Freqs (Veron Reid, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Calvin Weston), Hymn of the 3rd Galaxy

My copy arrives later today.

De De Pierce and His New Orleans Stompers, volume 3, In Binghamton, N.Y. (American Music)

The order of billing in a festival poster is, I believe, based on the size of the fees paid to and relative negotiating power of the artists, not an evaluation of artistic merit.

April 15, 2025: Jeff Hamilton Trio, JazzTX, San Antonio Grand Flute Duo, Vid Hemanth & German, Guruvayur Temple, Carolllton April 16, 2025: Stacey Kent, Dallas Museum of Art April 18, 2025: James Brandon Lewis and Chad Taylor, Talento Bilingue de Houston April 19, 2025: Joey Alexander Trio, The Mansion, Austin Shelley Carrol Quartet, Monks Jazz Club, Austin Quamon Fowler, Scat Jazz, Fort Worth April 24, 2025: Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Shemekia Copeland, Dee Dee Bridgewater with Bill Charlap, Leroy Jones, Stanton Moore Trio, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Zar Electrik, Festival Internationale de Louisiane, Lafayette April 25, 2025: Branford Marsalis, Carver Center, San Antonio Etran de L'Air, Zar Electrik, Festival Internationale de Louisiane, Lafayette Youssou N'Dour, Stanley Clarke, Lila Downs, Kenny Neal, Marimba Nandayapa, Blodie's Jazz Jam, Mahmoud Chouki, Doreen, Detroit Brooks with Dee Dee Bridgewater, New Orleans Groovemasters (Herlin Riley, Shannon Powell, Jason Marsalis), Secret Six Jazz Band, Astral Project, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival April 26, 2025: Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, Orquesta Akokan, Austin Blues Festival Chris Thomas King, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Kyle Roussell, Zar Electrik, Marimba Nandayapa, Tom McDermott and Aurora Nealand, Diana Krall, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Ud. Abir Hussain (Sarod) & Ud. Tari Khan (Tabla), ICMC, Dallas Etran de L'Air, Dobet Gnahore, Festival Internationale de Louisiane, Lafayette April 27, 2025: John Primer, Jackie Venson, Austin Blues Festival Branford Marsalis Quartet, Bill Frisell with Thomas Morgan and Brian Blade, Eric Gales, Louis Armstrong Hot Five and Hot Seven Centennial with Nicholas Payton and Dr. Michael White, Etran De L'Air, People Museum, Charlie Gabriel, Tuba Skinny, Leon Anderson, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Larry Lampkin, Fort Worth Blues Festival, Southside Preservation Hall Dobet Gnahore, Festival Internationale de Louisiane, Lafayette April 30, 2025: The Boss Baritones: Gary Smulyan and Frank Basile, Parker Jazz Club, Austin May 1, 2025: Ebo Taylor, Radio/East, Austin Ronnie Baker Brooks, Cedric Burnside, George Wein Tribute with Randy Brecker, Mr. Sipp, Helen Gillet, Pasotano, Gladney, Peter Harris and Firm Roots, Louis Ford, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Tim Hagans, Parker Jazz Club, Austin May 2, 2025: Joshua Redman with Gabrielle Cavassa, Benin International Musical, Alfredo Rodriguez Trio, Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses, Trumpet Mafia, Pasotano, Steve Lands, Alexey Marti, Wesli, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Eddie Gomez Trio, Kitchen Cafe, Dallas Dobet Gnahore, Zar Electrik, African Vibrations Music Festival, University of Texas at Dallas May 3, 2025: Leyla McCalla, Benin International Musical, Jason Marsalis, Joy Clark, Nicholas Payton and Triune, Yusa Cuban Soul, Victor Campbell, Jamil Sharif, Tony Dagradi and the New Orleans Saxophone Ensemble, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Zar Electrik, African Vibrations Music Festival, University of Texas at Dallas May 4, 2025: Kamasi Washington, Terence Blanchard, D.K. Harrell, Jessie McBride Big Band, Stephanie and Rachel Jordan with Music Alive Ensemble, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 10, 2025: Pt. Rakesh Chaurasia, Unity Church of the Hills, Austin May 24, 2025: Tutu Jones, Strokers Ice House, Dallas May 28, 2025: Samara Joy, Majestic Theater, Dallas May 29, 2025: Samara Joy, Moody Theater, Austin May 30, 2025: Natalia Lafourcade, Windspear, Dallas June 2, 2025: Samara Joy, Jones Hall, Houston June 3, 2025: Chuck Redd, JazzTX, San Antonio June 6, 2025: Jackie Venson, Jo Long Theater, San Antonio June 7, 2025: Pt. Basant Kabra (sarod) and Pt. Nityanand Haldipur (flute), Unity Church of the Hills, Austin Pt. Ravi Chary (Sitar) & Amit Kavthekar (Tabla), ICMC, Dallas September 13, 2025: Pt Sandeep Chatterjee (Santoor) & Shubhojyoti Guha (Tabla), ICMC, Dallas October 5, 2025: Niladri Kumar (Sitar), Unity Church of the Hills, Austin

These under the radar releases, Dizzy Gillespie Quintet Live in Vegas 1963, sure are good. It's Dizzy's quintet recorded live in a top flight performance in good sound: with Leo Wright, Lalo Schrifrin, Christopher White, and Rudy Collins.

Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, Live in Vegas, 1963, volume 2 (Jazz Rewind)

https://www.louisianamusicfactory.com/product/derrick-shezbie-the-ghost-of-buddy-bolden/

Amaro Freitas, Sankofa (Far Out) Terry Gibbs Dream Band, Volume 2, The Sundown Sessions (Contemporary).

Unfortunately I missed his set at Big Ears this year, but I did pick up this CD while in Knoxville.

Alabaster DePlume, A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole (International Anthem)

ALL OF TUTU JONES FANS CATCH ME @ STROKER'S ICE HOUSE MAY/24/205 @ 1:00-5:00 P.M. @ HARRY HINES BLVD. OUTSIDE MAIN STAGE !

Indeed.

I've seen him a fair number of times live: with John Scofield, with Paul Motion and Bill Frisell at the Village Vanguard, with Tyshawn Sorey and with Dewey Redman. He is worth seeing. Not my favorite saxophonist but accomplished and capable of a worthy performance.

The concert I heard at Big Ears a couple weeks ago was excellent. Probably the same band. Julian Lage is terrific and sounds nothing like Jimi Hendrix.

Salif Keita, So Kono (No Format)

April 8, 2025: Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Antone's, Austin April 10, 2025: Jacke Venson, Main Street Arts Festival, Fort Worth April 11, 2025: Brad Mehldau Trio with Christian McBride, Cullen Theater, Houston April 12, 2025: Hiromi's SonicWonder, University of Texas at Dallas Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Lowdown Tulsa April 14, 2025: Jeff Hamilton Trio, Parker Jazz Club, Austin April 15, 2025: Jeff Hamilton Trio, JazzTX, San Antonio Grand Flute Duo, Vid Hemanth & German, Guruvayur Temple, Carolllton April 16, 2025: Stacey Kent, Dallas Museum of Art April 18, 2025: James Brandon Lewis and Chad Taylor, Talento Bilingue de Houston April 19, 2025: Joey Alexander Trio, The Mansion, Austin Shelley Carrol Quartet, Monks Jazz Club, Austin Quamon Fowler, Scat Jazz, Fort Worth April 24, 2025: Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Shemekia Copeland, Dee Dee Bridgewater with Bill Charlap, Leroy Jones, Stanton Moore Trio, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Zar Electrik, Festival Internationale de Louisiane, Lafayette April 25, 2025: Branford Marsalis, Carver Center, San Antonio Etran de L'Air, Zar Electrik, Festival Internationale de Louisiane, Lafayette Youssou N'Dour, Stanley Clarke, Lila Downs, Kenny Neal, Marimba Nandayapa, Blodie's Jazz Jam, Mahmoud Chouki, Doreen, Detroit Brooks with Dee Dee Bridgewater, New Orleans Groovemasters (Herlin Riley, Shannon Powell, Jason Marsalis), Secret Six Jazz Band, Astral Project, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival April 26, 2025: Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, Orquesta Akokan, Austin Blues Festival Chris Thomas King, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Kyle Roussell, Zar Electrik, Marimba Nandayapa, Tom McDermott and Aurora Nealand, Diana Krall, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Ud. Abir Hussain (Sarod) & Ud. Tari Khan (Tabla), ICMC, Dallas Etran de L'Air, Dobet Gnahore, Festival Internationale de Louisiane, Lafayette April 27, 2025: John Primer, Jackie Venson, Austin Blues Festival Branford Marsalis Quartet, Bill Frisell with Thomas Morgan and Brian Blade, Eric Gales, Louis Armstrong Hot Five and Hot Seven Centennial with Nicholas Payton and Dr. Michael White, Etran De L'Air, People Museum, Charlie Gabriel, Tuba Skinny, Leon Anderson, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Larry Lampkin, Fort Worth Blues Festival, Southside Preservation Hall Dobet Gnahore, Festival Internationale de Louisiane, Lafayette April 30, 2025: The Boss Baritones: Gary Smulyan and Frank Basile, Parker Jazz Club, Austin May 1, 2025: Ebo Taylor, Radio/East, Austin Ronnie Baker Brooks, Cedric Burnside, George Wein Tribute with Randy Brecker, Mr. Sipp, Thandisma Mazwai, Helen Gillet, Pasotano, Gladney, Peter Harris and Firm Roots, Louis Ford, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Tim Hagans, Parker Jazz Club, Austin May 2, 2025: Joshua Redman with Gabrielle Cavassa, Benin International Musical, Alfredo Rodriguez Trio, Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses, Trumpet Mafia, Pasotano, Steve Lands, Alexey Marti, Wesli, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Eddie Gomez Trio, Kitchen Cafe, Dallas Dobet Gnahore, Zar Electrik, African Vibrations Music Festival, University of Texas at Dallas May 3, 2025: Leyla McCalla, Benin International Musical, Jason Marsalis, Joy Clark, Las Hermanas Garcia, Nicholas Payton and Triune, Yusa Cuban Soul, Victor Campbell, Jamil Sharif, Tony Dagradi and the New Orleans Saxophone Ensemble, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Zar Electrik, African Vibrations Music Festival, University of Texas at Dallas May 4, 2025: Kamasi Washington, Terence Blanchard, Las Hermanas Garcia, D.K. Harrell, Jessie McBride Big Band, Stephanie and Rachel Jordan with Music Alive Ensemble, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 10, 2025: Pt. Rakesh Chaurasia, Unity Church of the Hills, Austin May 28, 2025: Samara Joy, Majestic Theater, Dallas May 29, 2025: Samara Joy, Moody Theater, Austin May 30, 2025: Natalia Lafourcade, Windspear, Dallas June 2, 2025: Samara Joy, Jones Hall, Houston June 3, 2025: Chuck Redd, JazzTX, San Antonio June 6, 2025: Jackie Venson, Jo Long Theater, San Antonio June 7, 2025: Pt. Basant Kabra (sarod) and Pt. Nityanand Haldipur (flute), Unity Church of the Hills, Austin Pt. Ravi Chary (Sitar) & Amit Kavthekar (Tabla), ICMC, Dallas September 13, 2025: Pt Sandeep Chatterjee (Santoor) & Shubhojyoti Guha (Tabla), ICMC, Dallas October 5, 2025: Niladri Kumar (Sitar), Unity Church of the Hills, Austin

He's appearing at Smalls this week, for anyone in the NYC area. SMALLS Wednesday 4/9 7:30 PM & 9 PM DOORS OPEN AT 7 PM ALLEN LOWE AND THE CONSTANT SORROW ORCHESTRA Allen Lowe / Tenor Sax Elijah Shiffer / Alto Sax Ray Suhy / Guitar Lewis Porter / Piano Colson Jimenez / Bass Ethan Kogan / Drums

April 4-6, 2025: Chris Thomas King, Cedric Burnside, Kenny Neal, Baton Rouge Blues Festival April 6, 2025: Vid Ramana Balachandran & Vid Patri Satish, Unity Church of Dallas April 8, 2025: Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Antone's, Austin April 10, 2025: Jacke Venson, Main Street Arts Festival, Fort Worth April 11, 2025: Brad Mehldau Trio with Christian McBride, Cullen Theater, Houston April 12, 2025: Hiromi's SonicWonder, University of Texas at Dallas Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Lowdown Tulsa April 14, 2025: Jeff Hamilton Trio, Parker Jazz Club, Austin April 15, 2025: Jeff Hamilton Trio, JazzTX, San Antonio Grand Flute Duo, Vid Hemanth & German, Guruvayur Temple, Carolllton April 16, 2025: Stacey Kent, Dallas Museum of Art April 18, 2025: James Brandon Lewis and Chad Taylor, Talento Bilingue de Houston April 19, 2025: Joey Alexander Trio, The Mansion, Austin Shelley Carrol Quartet, Monks Jazz Club, Austin Quamon Fowler, Scat Jazz, Fort Worth April 23-27, 2025: Dobet Gnahore, Etran de L'Air, Zar Electrik, Festival Internationale de Louisiane, Lafayette April 24, 2025: Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Shemekia Copeland, Dee Dee Bridgewater with Bill Charlap, Leroy Jones, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival April 25, 2025: Branford Marsalis, Carver Center, San Antonio Etran de L'Air, Austin Psych Festival Youssou N'Dour, Stanley Clarke, Lila Downs, Kenny Neal, Marimba Nandayapa, Blodie's Jazz Jam, Mahmoud Chouki, Doreen, Detroit Brooks with Dee Dee Bridgewater, New Orleans Groovemasters (Herlin Riley, Shannon Powell, Jason Marsalis), Secret Six Jazz Band, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival April 26, 2025: Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, Orquesta Akokan, Austin Blues Festival Chris Thomas King, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Kyle Rousell, Zar Electrik, Marimba Nandayapa, Tom McDermott and Aurora Nealand, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Ud. Abir Hussain (Sarod) & Ud. Tari Khan (Tabla), ICMC, Dallas April 27, 2025: John Primer, Jackie Venson, Austin Blues Festival Branford Marsalis, Bill Frisell with Thomas Morgan and Brian Blade, Eric Gales, Louis Armstrong Hot Five and Hot Seven Tribute with Nicholas Payton and Dr. Michael White, Etran De L'Air, People Museum, Charlie Gabriel, Tuba Skinny, Leon Anderson, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Larry Lampkin, Fort Worth Blues Festival, Southside Preservation Hall April 30, 2025: The Boss Baritones: Gary Smulyan and Frank Basile, Parker Jazz Club, Austin May 1, 2025: Ebo Taylor, Radio/East, Austin Ronnie Baker Brooks, Cedric Burnside, George Wein Tribute with Randy Brecker, Mr. Sipp, Thandisma Mazwai, Helen Gillet, Pasotano, Gladney, Peter Harris and Firm Roots, Louis Ford, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Tim Hagans, Parker Jazz Club, Austin May 2, 2025: Joshua Redman with Gabrielle Cavassa, Benin International Musical, Alfredo Rodriguez Trio, Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses, Trumpet Mafia, Pasotano, Steve Lands, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Eddie Gomez Trio, Kitchen Cafe, Dallas Dobet Gnahore, African Vibrations Music Festival, University of Texas at Dallas May 3, 2025: Leyla McCalla, Benin International Musical, Jason Marsalis, Joy Clark, Las Hermanas Garcia, Nicholas Payton and Triune, Yusa Cuban Soul, Victor Campbell, Jamil Sharif, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Zar Electrik, African Vibrations Music Festival, University of Texas at Dallas May 4, 2025: Kamasi Washington, Terence Blanchard, Las Hermanas Garcia, D.K. Harrell, Jessie McBride Big Band, Stephanie and Rachel Jordan, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 10, 2025: Pt. Rakesh Chaurasia, Unity Church of the Hills, Austin May 28, 2025: Samara Joy, Majestic Theater, Dallas May 29, 2025: Samara Joy, Moody Theater, Austin May 30, 2025: Natalia Lafourcade, Windspear, Dallas June 2, 2025: Samara Joy, Jones Hall, Houston June 3, 2025: Chuck Redd, JazzTX, San Antonio June 6, 2025: Jackie Venson, Jo Long Theater, San Antonio June 7, 2025: Pt. Basant Kabra (sarod) and Pt. Nityanand Haldipur (flute), Unity Church of the Hills, Austin Pt. Ravi Chary (Sitar) & Amit Kavthekar (Tabla), ICMC, Dallas September 13, 2025: Pt Sandeep Chatterjee (Santoor) & Shubhojyoti Guha (Tabla), ICMC, Dallas October 5, 2025: Niladri Kumar (Sitar), Unity Church of the Hills, Austin October [?], 2025: Pt. Rakesh Chaurasia (Flute), ICMC, Dallas

The Vijay Iyer/Wadada Leo Smith duo concert at Big Ears last weekend was really fantastic. The preceding concert, Wadada Leo Smith's Revolutionary Fire Love, was also quite good and featured Iyer in a larger group.

Jenny Scheinman, All Species Parade (Royal Potato Family)

Erroll Garner, Garnering (EmArcy) Kahil El'Zabar, A Time for Healing (Spirit Muse)

Paramount Blues Ladies (Black Swan)

I thought it was a great festival this year. Thursday: Sunny War: I enjoyed the set from this intense folk rocker/songwriter. Jackson Terminal. Charles Lloyd, Tribute to Zakir Hussain. As noted above, this set was absolutely great. Stunningly beautiful. With Eric Harland, Harish Raghavan, Ganavya, and Bill Frisell. Tennessee Theater. Bela Fleck, Antonio Sanchez, Edmar Castaneda. The unusual combination of Columbian harp, drums and banjo somehow worked, featuring miraculous harp virtuosity. Tennessee Theater. Friday: Immanuel Wilkins Blues Blood: Another outstanding set. With three vocalists. Ganavya returns and is great. Bijou Theater. Jeff Parker ETA IVtet: The quartet featured on the International Anthem release, The Way Out of Easy, performs an excellent set. Bijou Theater. Wadada Leo Smith and Red Koral Quartet: Wadada Leo Smith performs two solo pieces, then performs with a string quartet. Beautiful set. St. John's Cathedral. Steve Coleman and Five Elements: I had never seen Steve Coleman before and enjoyed this interesting set. Bijou Theater. Ambrose Akinmusure: Honey From a Winter's Stone: Mixed reactions from me. Some beautiful trumpet playing. Could have done without the rapper. Bijou Theater. Saturday: The overall best day of the festival for me. However, I did oversleep and miss the Kris Davis Trio. Wadada Leo Smith's Revolutionary Fire Love: A very interesting piece and and band. Featuring the leader, two pianos (one was Vijay Iyer), Yosvany Terry on saxophone, cello, and the great Andrew Cyrille on drums. Bijou Theater. Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith: Magnificant duet performance. Bijou Theater. Joe Lovano Paramount Quartet: I'm not that big of a Joe Lovano fan, but this was literally the best playing I'ver ever heard from him, backed by a fabulous band (Julian Lage on guitar, Santo Dibriano on bass and Will Calhoun on drums). Knoxville Civic Auditorium. Sun Ra Arkestra: Led by Knoel Scott, the Arkestra sounded great. Their 75 minute set went by in a flash, and as Mr. Scott, said near the end, we are just getting warmed up. (Marshall Allen, now 101, no longer travels with the band.). It was great to hear Michael Ray again after many years. Tennessee Theater. Tyshawn Sorey Trio: With Aaron Diehl on piano and Harish Raghavan on bass, the trio took awhile to get unleashed but was a freight train once rolling; they played an uninterrupted and inspired nearly 90 minute set, exceeding their allotted time. Bijou Theater. Jenny Scheinman's All Species Parade: this was an unexpected delight. Violinist Jenny Scheinman has a recent album filled with interesting compositions, and for this concert she had an alll star guitar section, with Bill Frisell, Julian Lage and Nels Cline. Bijou Theater. Sunday: Dan Weiss Even Odds Trio: With Miguel Zenon and Matt Michelll. The Standard. Kahil El Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. This set was fantastic. A quartet of tenor sax, trumpet (Corey Wilkes), cello and the leader/percussionist. Included the very beautiful composition, A Time for Healing. The Point. Amaro Freitas: Solo piano performance by this Brazilian jazz pianist. He's an overwhelming virtuoso, who adds some percussion and string altering effects. Closing with a favorite Milton Nascimento composition, Clube de Esquina No. 2. A perfect conclusion to the festival. St. John's Cathedral.