What live music are you going to see tonight?

[Steve Reynolds]

On 4/17/2024 at 11:08 PM, Rabshakeh said:

I agree. Too much jumping from wandering around straight into climax.

I can’t listen to him. So derivative.

[T.D.]

There's another Creative Music Studio Improvisors Orchestra event in Kingston next Sunday 4/28

https://creativemusic.org/events/

Not quite as gaudy a lineup as the last one (3/31), but I enjoyed that one so much that I'm going on the 28th.

[jazztrain]

Miguel Zenon and Luis Padermo at the Regattabar in Cambridge, MA. Beautiful set. 

[kh1958]

Jonathan Fisher Quartet with Shelley Carrol, last night the Balcony Club. Highlight for me was the performance of Mingus' Duke Ellington Sound of Love.

[RiRiIII]

Dave Holland Trio in Athens, April 25 2024.

Eric Harland, Jaleel Shaw, Dave Holland.

The end of their one month tour. An amazing set.

 

 

[ejp626]

I saw the Neil Swainson Quartet at the Rex.  He was here 4 nights, but I only managed to get out tonight, and only for the second set.  But it was still quite nice.  The Rex was packed.  In general, it's been quite busy on Friday and Sat. for the 8:30 and 10 pm sets, which is quite good news for them.  I do wish they managed to bring in more out-of-town artists, but that's fairly rare.

My copy of that live Woody Shaw set, Vim 'N' Vigor, showed up, so I brought it in and had Swainson sign it.  He said no one had contacted him and certainly not gotten him a copy or paid him anything.  I said I could try to bring him a burned copy the next time he plays the Rex, which should be in June.

[Rabshakeh]

Saw Zoh Amba at Cafe OTO, with Farida Amadou on bass and Chris Corsano on drums. 

It was a good gig. I am half and half on Amba and a bit sceptical on Corsano, but I really enjoyed it. Amadou, who I didn't know at all, played 80s harmolodic influenced electric bass, which gave the whole performance a gritty punk free jazz edge. 

I went with two civilians, who both really enjoyed it.

[mjazzg]

6 hours ago, Rabshakeh said:

Saw Zoh Amba at Cafe OTO, with Farida Amadou on bass and Chris Corsano on drums. 

It was a good gig. I am half and half on Amba and a bit sceptical on Corsano, but I really enjoyed it. Amadou, who I didn't know at all, played 80s harmolodic influenced electric bass, which gave the whole performance a gritty punk free jazz edge. 

I went with two civilians, who both really enjoyed it.

I was there for the first set only.

I agree that Amadou was the standout, I liked Corsano a lot and left with some nagging doubts about Amba. Friend I went with identified harmoldics in Amadou too.

Did Amba play flute at all in the second set?

 

[Rabshakeh]

1 hour ago, mjazzg said:

I was there for the first set only.

I agree that Amadou was the standout, I liked Corsano a lot and left with some nagging doubts about Amba. Friend I went with identified harmoldics in Amadou too.

Did Amba play flute at all in the second set?

 

No flute. Very similar to the first set, really.

Do you know Amadou in any other setting? I don't think I have ever heard of her.

[mjazzg]

26 minutes ago, Rabshakeh said:

No flute. Very similar to the first set, really.

Do you know Amadou in any other setting? I don't think I have ever heard of her.

She plays flute to good effect on an album I enjoy.  I think the sameness is one of my Amba doubts.

I came across Amadou at the Brötzmann memorial concert, she was impressive then too.  I need to look up her recordings

[Rabshakeh]

50 minutes ago, mjazzg said:

She plays flute to good effect on an album I enjoy.  I think the sameness is one of my Amba doubts.

I really came away thinking that she had about five tricks and not much more. Amadou made it good by tying it together and keeping it punky, which meant that I was less concerned by Amba's repeating herself.

[mjazzg]

27 minutes ago, Rabshakeh said:

I really came away thinking that she had about five tricks and not much more. Amadou made it good by tying it together and keeping it punky, which meant that I was less concerned by Amba's repeating herself.

Yep, the interest for me was largely from Amadou and Corsano. I wanted more variation from Amba definitely, I thought the piano interlude worked to do that.

And, Oto need to do something about their front row photographers, I'm finding them increasingly intrusive but that might be because I'm getting increasingly grumpy.

Edited April 29 by mjazzg

[Rabshakeh]

22 minutes ago, mjazzg said:

Yep, the interest for me was largely from Amadou and Corsano. I wanted more variation from Amba definitely, I thought the piano interlude worked to do that.

And, Oto need to do something about their front row photographers, I'm finding them increasingly intrusive but that might be because I'm getting increasingly grumpy.

What I would say is that it was a hearteningly young audience. Very nice to see.

[mjazzg]

19 hours ago, Rabshakeh said:

What I would say is that it was a hearteningly young audience. Very nice to see.

Yes, I feel increasingly old, "enough to be your father" at least, at Oto which is very encouraging...the performers are getting younger too!

Edited April 30 by mjazzg

[kh1958]

First weekend of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

First Thursday:

Starting off with Mokoomba from Zimbabwe in the intimate Cultural Pavilion. Great band and a thrill to hear them in good sound up close.

Next, Louis Ford and His New Orleans Flairs in Economy Hall. The very fine New Orleans clarinet player and his trumpet playing compatriot, Jamil Sharif, always sound good.

On to the Jazz Tent for Lakecia Benjamin making her festival debut. She is very intense and exuberant. A substantial part of the set consisted of Coltrane associated tunes, passionately performed on alto sax. She has a gospel edge to her sound, as well. My reaction was favorable.

Closing out the day with the Kenny Barron Trio, with Johnathan Blake on drums. It took awhile to get the sound right, as the first part of the set was marred by sound bleed from the Festival Stage. This eventually diminished, and by the time he performed a brilliant version of Sunshower, it all fell into place for the last half of the set.

First Friday:

Starting out the day at the Fais Do Do stage, which is normally reserved for zydeco bands, but for this set featured Leyla McCalla and her excellent band. It was just as good as her set at Big Ears.

Back to Economy Hall for Doreen's Jazz New Orleans. The crowd was huge, spilling out of the tent. I was a little surprised as she normally plays on the street, that is Royal Street, in the French Quarter. Apparently she was just featured on 60 Minutes. One could say about any one of her clarinet solos, "that was mean," to quote Roland Kirk. She makes just about any song sound good, in this case closing with When the Saints Go Marching In, and I'm not ashamed to say I really enjoyed it.

Next, to the Blues Tent, for the exciting Mr. Sipp. He started out in music as a gospel singer, and so sings well; he's pretty good on guitar as well.

Next up, my first time to see Oumou Sangare from Mali, at the Congo Square stage. Surprisingly (based on past experiences with this stage), this time they got the sound right. A very exciting set of music by this fantastic singer and her wonderful band.

Closing out the day back at Economy Hall for the new to me, Jason Danti and the Krewe de Bechet. This was the perfect set to follow the prior two, featuring relaxed and lyrical versions of Sidney Bechet compositions. This set was quite pleasing to the ear.

First Saturday:

The Festival this year is featuring Columbian bands in the Cultural Pavilion. Starting out with Gaita Loop, a one man band from Columbia who plays the gaita, a flute-like instrument, using looping technology. 

Next, Victor Atkins Quintet in the Jazz Tent. A long-time educator and pianist in New Orleans, apparently getting his first leader set at the festival. A solid straight ahead set, also featuring Ashlin Parker on trumpet and tenor saxophonist Derek Douget.

Followed by Jason Marsalis Quartet. With Jason on vibes, playing Lionel Hampton associated songs the first half of the set, then Ellis Marsalis compositions.

After that, a band led by Cuban pianist Victor Campbell appears. He is an amazing pianist. Very exciting set.

Then, the Charles Lloyd Quartet plays a wondrous set. One highlight, as at the Big Ears Festival, was the gorgeous Booker's Garden. This time, some classic material also surfaced, as he ended with Forest Flower and Sombrero Sam. Mr. Lloyd appeared very happy with his band throughout the set--Gerald Clayton, Larry Grenadier and Marcus Gilmore.

Finally, Nicholas Payton and the Nth Power. This was a mis-fire. The Nth Power is a pedestrian fusion band. There were a couple of songs that worked (Fela) and some nice trumpet playing, but not a successful set to my ears.

Night Show: At the 3 Keys, Mahmoud Chouki appears with the Noah Young Band, featuring Ricardo Pascal on saxophones. While not the nominal leader, Mahmoud Chouki dominated the proceedings with his amazing acoustic guitar and oud playing, and his compositions. An absolutely great set. The saxophonist is also impressive.

First Sunday:

For some reason, after three wonderful days, things were off today (or I was off). I wasn't really enjoying the bands (Yusa, followed by a jam session for the Louis Armstrong Camp, with Donald Harrison, Steve Turre and others),  Trumpet Mafia and Toronzo Cannon), even ones I previously enjoyed)  until the final set of the day with folk/blues singer/guitarist Joy Clark, who is quite uplifting.

She definitely restored my equilibrium, which carried over to the wild Nicholas Payton show at the 3 Keys that evening, with Nicholas Payton on bass, keyboards, and trumpet, Sasha Masakowski on looping machines and vocals, and Cliff Hines on guitar and a mysterious looking black box with a whole lot of wires in it. Unlike the prior day's Nicholas Payton set, this one was very interesting and compelling. Ninety minutes quickly passed and my first weekend adventure ended.

 

Edited May 8 by kh1958

[medjuck]

Thanks for the report. Wish I'd been there. 

[kh1958]

Second Weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Second Thursday (Rolling Stones day): Ho hum the Rolling Stone are playing on the big stage, and I don't care. So it's a truncated day for me.  First, Rickey Sebastian (who played with Jaco) and bassist Pat Casey presented a set of Jaco Pastorious compositions, which I enjoyed. Next, the tenor saxophonist Trevarri from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band presented his own band, in a fusion vein, but actually a pretty good set. At that point, as all but the Festival stage shuts down, I'm out of there, to hear cellist Helen Gillet at the Tigermen's Den. This proved to be a wise choice, as her set was wonderful, in the unique setting of a building built in 1830.

Second Friday: The only rainy day of the festival this year, but a light, steady rain. Starting the day in the Blues Tent with Duwayne Burnside, son of R.L. Burnside. An excellent set of Mississippi Hill Country Blues, including some signature pieces of R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. Next, to the Jazz Tent for bassist Peter Harris' Firm Roots, a hard bop style group with the groove master Herlin Riley on drums, and new to me pianist Dwight Fitch. A very excellent set including a trio performance of Poinciana (enhanced by Herlin Riley having been Ahmad Jamal's drummer for 20 years) and a smoking Song for My Father (Ashlin Parker on Trumpet and Derek Douget on tenor sax). Next, to Economy Hall for a set led by 91 years old Charlie Gabriel. Also including Louis Ford on clarinet and Kyle Roussel on piano. A highly enjoyable, swing era style set. Back to the Jazz Tent for Amina Figarova Sextet with the Matsiko World Orphan Choir. Then Terence Blanchard E Collective with Turtle Island Quartet: one of the best sets I've ever heard from him. Concluding a busy day, an excellent set from Stephon Harris and Blackout (Jaleel  Shaw on alto, Christian Sands on piano, Dezron Douglas on bass).

Second Saturday: Starting the day with Blodie's Jazz Jam, followed by the Jesse McBride Big Band. The main interest this day were the two jazz headliners. First, before a capacity overflowing crowd, Samora Joy. Her voice is very impressive in person. I liked the opening and closing songs the best (Reincarnation of a Lovebird (she has composed lyrics) and No More Blues).  Finally, I was not sure what to expect from The Wayne Shorter Legacy (Danilo Perez, John Pattituchi, Brian Blade), plus Chris Potter. What we got was an inspired, joyous set of Wayne Shorter compositions, with Chris Potter (whose playing I like) admirably filling in the difficult role of replacing Wayne Shorter. A great set of music.

Sacred Sunday: Starting with the Palm Court Jazz Band in Economy Hall. This group is really good, sounding like a working band, again including Louis Ford on clarinet and the great drummer Shannon Powell. Next, the Victor Goines Quartet (Oscar Rossignoli on piano). I had seen Victor Goines before, doing a Bird with Strings set. This time, he came out very strong on tenor saxophone--Wayne Shorter's Yes or No, followed by McCoy Tyner's Contemplation. The set was stellar, way exceeding expectations. Next to the Lagniappe Stage, for Mahmoud Chouki, a Moroccan acoustic guitarist and oud player who settled in New Orleans to play jazz a few years ago. In all honesty, his set, leading a sextet that included the exciting young saxophonist Ricardo Pascal, was astounding. Good grief, Mahmoud's Blues. Brilliant playing, inspired compositions, and a group of ferocious players. Just great. Eagerly awaiting the imminent release of his first recording. Next, off to the tiny Rhythmporium to hear the last 2/3s of the duet set by Aurora Nealand and pianist Tom McDermott. These two, closing their set with a Sidney Bechet composition, are always a joy to hear. For my last set of music for the 2024 festival, I returned to the Rhythmporium for a duet of Mahmoud Chouki and Oscar Rossignoli. This was a really incredible improvised set. Mahmoud Chouki leaves me in awe. 

Edited June 16 by kh1958

[BFrank]

Thanks for the JazzFest review. Looks like there's plenty of good music still to be seen there. I had the impression that it was overrun with pop acts.

I was there in 1989 and 1990. I'm sure it was much different then. Smaller crowds, if nothing else (not that it wasn't crowded). Saw lots of music in the clubs after festival hours, too.

Here's Sun Ra (1989) 

[kh1958]

9 hours ago, BFrank said:

Thanks for the JazzFest review. Looks like there's plenty of good music still to be seen there. I had the impression that it was overrun with pop acts.

I was there in 1989 and 1990. I'm sure it was much different then. Smaller crowds, if nothing else (not that it wasn't crowded). Saw lots of music in the clubs after festival hours, too.

Here's Sun Ra (1989) 

It is overrun with pop acts, but only on the three biggest stages (Festival, Gentilly and Congo Square) and I never go to those stages, except for Congo Square as sometimes the African bands appear there. But there are ten other stages. For jazz, every year there are 10-12 National/International headliners (two of them are always Terence Blanchard and Nicholas Payton) spread over the two weekends, with the base provided by the strong New Orleans jazz scene (generally unknown to jazz fans, I've found). Usually two or three African bands appear every year (in common with the world music festival in Lafayette), and a number of bands appear from some featured Latin country (Columbia this year). Also, incredible food is in abundance at the festival (that is not an exaggeration). Lots of interesting night shows as well, if you have the energy to do that after 8 hours at the festival (I'm not as young as I used to be, so I only did that three times this year). I missed it but the Sun Ra Arkestra was in town at the reopened Dew Drop Inn (unfortunately a late show the night before an early morning flight for me). And of course Snug Harbor is one of the best jazz clubs in existence.

Jazz Tent: Modern Jazz

Economy Hall: Traditional New Orleans Jazz.

Blues Tent.

Cultural Pavillion: World music.

Gospel Tent.

Jazz and Heritage Stage: Brass Bands and other New Orleans  bands.

Lagniappe Stage: Eclectic obscure music, including jazz.

Rhythmporium: Small stage for lesser known acts, including jazz.

Allison MIner Stage: Interview stage, including jazz.

Fais Do Do: Primarily Zydeco.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 7 by kh1958

[BFrank]

15 hours ago, kh1958 said:

It is overrun with pop acts, but only on the three biggest stages (Festival, Gentilly and Congo Square) and I never go to those stages, except for Congo Square as sometimes the African bands appear there. But there are ten other stages. For jazz, every year there are 10-12 National/International headliners (two of them are always Terence Blanchard and Nicholas Payton) spread over the two weekends, with the base provided by the strong New Orleans jazz scene (generally unknown to jazz fans, I've found). Usually two or three African bands appear every year (in common with the world music festival in Lafayette), and a number of bands appear from some featured Latin country (Columbia this year). Also, incredible food is in abundance at the festival (that is not an exaggeration). Lots of interesting night shows as well, if you have the energy to do that after 8 hours at the festival (I'm not as young as I used to be, so I only did that three times this year). I missed it but the Sun Ra Arkestra was in town at the reopened Dew Drop Inn (unfortunately a late show the night before an early morning flight for me). And of course Snug Harbor is one of the best jazz clubs in existence.

Jazz Tent: Modern Jazz

Economy Hall: Traditional New Orleans Jazz.

Blues Tent.

Cultural Pavillion: World music.

Gospel Tent.

Jazz and Heritage Stage: Brass Bands and other New Orleans  bands.

Lagniappe Stage: Eclectic obscure music, including jazz.

Rhythmporium: Small stage for lesser known acts, including jazz.

Allison MIner Stage: Interview stage, including jazz.

Fais Do Do: Primarily Zydeco.

 

 

 

 

 

Cool. A lot more stages, for sure. Glad to know that it's still "real". 

For me, I don't do large outdoor shows or festivals anymore. I've been enjoying the SXSW/Big Ears format of multiple small to mid-size indoor venues scattered around a walkable downtown area.

[mjazzg]

Elaine Mitchener at Café Oto.

From bemusing to ecstatic, visiting challenging on the way. Providing more evidence, as if it were needed, that Pat Thomas is a national bloody treasure.

Edited May 9 by mjazzg

[mjazzg]

Shabaka at The Barbican

Not entirely convinced by this presentation of his new direction

[Steve Reynolds]

Tim Berne, Brandon Seabrook, John Hebert & Ches Smith

At Lowlands in Brooklyn 

take off in about 20 minutes

Better every time. Love the rotating ace musicians. They all walk here:)

5 feet from the *great* Ches Smith

Edited May 10 by Steve Reynolds

[Steve Reynolds]

13 hours ago, Steve Reynolds said:

Tim Berne, Brandon Seabrook, John Hebert & Ches Smith

At Lowlands in Brooklyn 

take off in about 20 minutes

Better every time. Love the rotating ace musicians. They all walk here:)

5 feet from the *great* Ches Smith

60 minutes with segues about 6 of the recent batch of Berne compositions radically different than last week with Seabrook & Smith in place of Belisle-Chi & Rainey

then ended with Okey>Castor Oil another 23-24 minutes of brilliance

incredible mind blowing set. Brandon Seabrook is a genius. Hebert is maybe the best “jazz” bassist in NYC and Ches is on another planet. Not better than Rainey but the intensity is breathtaking with the floor shaking. 

[kh1958]

19 hours ago, mjazzg said:

Shabaka at The Barbican

Not entirely convinced by this presentation of his new direction

Curious what the band was there? At Big Ears he had a young Indian woman on vocals, a harp, bass guitar, drums, and a guy doing something on a computer (I wasn't sure what).