Oh Sheila!
Sheila E (right) drives her Dad Pete Escovedo's band from the drum kit during their Sunday at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. Among the players featured were Ray Vega and Steve Turrre. Pete is in the mustard coloured jacket (2nd left)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Bobby vibe
Vibist Bobby Hutcherson ends a song with a flourish during his well received set last Sunday at the Atlanta Jazz fest. My first time catching him live and it was well worth it.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
crowd
The numbers gre as afternoon gave way to evening. Good performances form thelieks of Airto and Flora (more form Airto's daughter and beat-boxing son-in-law and the Pete Escovedo Orchestra, featuring Sheila E (it's a daughter thing)
Friday, May 18, 2007
Jazz month
The merry - yet melancholy - month of May
by Michael 'Jazzofonik' Edwards
The above is extrapolated from a book (and, if memory serves, a film) by James Jones (not the Jim Jones of Guyana infamy) recounting the student riots in Paris in the late '60s, titled The Merry Month of May.
Indeed, over the years, the fifth month has seen its share of tumult and 'bittersweetness', especially for jazz enthusiasts, indeed for music lovers in general. Bob Marley left us on May 11, 1981, and in 2004, we bade final farewell to drumming great Elvin Jones (May 18) and our own Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd (May 5) within weeks of each other.
From left: Kathy Brown, Dennis Rushton and Sonny Bradshaw in a light moment from the launch of the 17th Jamaica International Jazz festival, at the Acropolis gaming lounge.
It's also the month in which trombonist/composer Don Drummond breathed his last (May 6). Elsewhere in this section, we learn from cultural historian and contributor Herbie Miller that Drummond recorded over 300 of his own compositions, while appearances on sessions backing others exceeds this count. Considering his relatively short recording career, one lasting just about five years during which it was interrupted by frequent bouts of mental illness (he died in the Bellevue Hospital under circumstances that remain a mystery), this is a remarkable achievement.
We also remember the passing one year ago of the great jazz pianist, John Hicks. And though he passed on April 20 this year, the loss of pianist Andrew Hill is still reverberating in the minds and hearts of those, like this writer, who had come to appreciate his highly idiosyncratic yet richly shaded style of playing.
But May is also a merry month, not least because it prepares us for June and the rich musical harvest that is Jazz Month. First up (not chronologically), the 17th Jamaica Ocho Rios International Jazz festival, which was launched this past Thursday at the Acropolis.
The line-up is bookended by two giants of modern saxophone: Tenor man (and a real gentle man) Houston Person headlines the closing concert on Father's Day at Shaw Park Beach Hotel, while on the opening Sunday at Morgan's Harbour, altoist Frank Morgan (fittingly) closes the show. Morgan, who came up in the mid-50s in the wake of Charlie Parker's death, sadly imitated his predecessor's penchant for heroin and thus spent many years either in prison or in recovery programmes. He has managed to overcome that addiction at long last and his last three CDs, Raising The Standard, Reflections and this year's Night In The Life have been well received.
Customarily, there's also the free concert in Kingston (venue as yet unnamed but last year's was in Emancipation Park) the South Coast Jazz festival, in Treasure Beach, as well as the renewal of the Jazz & Coffee in the Mountains showcase at Mavis Bank (June 9), and a number of satellite events at various venues.
Not a part of the Ocho Rios Jazz programme but definitely worth catching are the Griot Music/Hope United Church fund-raiser Jazz For Hope (June 2) and the Dennis Rushton/Swallowfield Chapel presentation Christ In Art and Jazz (June 8) at the Swallowfield worship centre. The latter show especially is not to be missed.
Closing out the Jazz Month on June 24 will be Jazz in the Gardens, which hardly needs any explanation. Watch this space for line-up details.
Riffin' Rundown (Week of May 14)
MON: The Riffin' week starts with strings. Guitarists, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, pianist Brad Mehldau, make beautiful music that contrasts with the Latin fire of Michael Simon and Paquito D Riviera.
TUES: Ace singer, Kurt Elling takes us through some of his "Nightmoves", his latest album of great songs which demonstrate why he's one of the best male vocalists today.
WED: Female singers, Ann Hampton Callaway and Veronica Nunn, take on classics from the American songbook.
THURS: Jobim Jazz. Brazilian musicians led by Mario Adnet present a tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim. Some of the legendary composer's songs are given a Brazilian jazz treatment.
FRID: Riffin' with Andy Palacio and the Garrifuna Collective, as well as Dub Syndicate.
by Michael 'Jazzofonik' Edwards
The above is extrapolated from a book (and, if memory serves, a film) by James Jones (not the Jim Jones of Guyana infamy) recounting the student riots in Paris in the late '60s, titled The Merry Month of May.
Indeed, over the years, the fifth month has seen its share of tumult and 'bittersweetness', especially for jazz enthusiasts, indeed for music lovers in general. Bob Marley left us on May 11, 1981, and in 2004, we bade final farewell to drumming great Elvin Jones (May 18) and our own Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd (May 5) within weeks of each other.
From left: Kathy Brown, Dennis Rushton and Sonny Bradshaw in a light moment from the launch of the 17th Jamaica International Jazz festival, at the Acropolis gaming lounge.
It's also the month in which trombonist/composer Don Drummond breathed his last (May 6). Elsewhere in this section, we learn from cultural historian and contributor Herbie Miller that Drummond recorded over 300 of his own compositions, while appearances on sessions backing others exceeds this count. Considering his relatively short recording career, one lasting just about five years during which it was interrupted by frequent bouts of mental illness (he died in the Bellevue Hospital under circumstances that remain a mystery), this is a remarkable achievement.
We also remember the passing one year ago of the great jazz pianist, John Hicks. And though he passed on April 20 this year, the loss of pianist Andrew Hill is still reverberating in the minds and hearts of those, like this writer, who had come to appreciate his highly idiosyncratic yet richly shaded style of playing.
But May is also a merry month, not least because it prepares us for June and the rich musical harvest that is Jazz Month. First up (not chronologically), the 17th Jamaica Ocho Rios International Jazz festival, which was launched this past Thursday at the Acropolis.
The line-up is bookended by two giants of modern saxophone: Tenor man (and a real gentle man) Houston Person headlines the closing concert on Father's Day at Shaw Park Beach Hotel, while on the opening Sunday at Morgan's Harbour, altoist Frank Morgan (fittingly) closes the show. Morgan, who came up in the mid-50s in the wake of Charlie Parker's death, sadly imitated his predecessor's penchant for heroin and thus spent many years either in prison or in recovery programmes. He has managed to overcome that addiction at long last and his last three CDs, Raising The Standard, Reflections and this year's Night In The Life have been well received.
Customarily, there's also the free concert in Kingston (venue as yet unnamed but last year's was in Emancipation Park) the South Coast Jazz festival, in Treasure Beach, as well as the renewal of the Jazz & Coffee in the Mountains showcase at Mavis Bank (June 9), and a number of satellite events at various venues.
Not a part of the Ocho Rios Jazz programme but definitely worth catching are the Griot Music/Hope United Church fund-raiser Jazz For Hope (June 2) and the Dennis Rushton/Swallowfield Chapel presentation Christ In Art and Jazz (June 8) at the Swallowfield worship centre. The latter show especially is not to be missed.
Closing out the Jazz Month on June 24 will be Jazz in the Gardens, which hardly needs any explanation. Watch this space for line-up details.
Riffin' Rundown (Week of May 14)
MON: The Riffin' week starts with strings. Guitarists, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, pianist Brad Mehldau, make beautiful music that contrasts with the Latin fire of Michael Simon and Paquito D Riviera.
TUES: Ace singer, Kurt Elling takes us through some of his "Nightmoves", his latest album of great songs which demonstrate why he's one of the best male vocalists today.
WED: Female singers, Ann Hampton Callaway and Veronica Nunn, take on classics from the American songbook.
THURS: Jobim Jazz. Brazilian musicians led by Mario Adnet present a tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim. Some of the legendary composer's songs are given a Brazilian jazz treatment.
FRID: Riffin' with Andy Palacio and the Garrifuna Collective, as well as Dub Syndicate.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Watch this space
Been having a hard time finding any traction with writing
things get lost and dropped between the cracks
Meanwhile other endeavours are growing I MC'd 2
shows at Christopher's Jazz cafe last week in addition
to a 2 -night stint at thecharming Palisadoes Bay
Beach Park (lots of childhood memories in that place).
Look out for reviews of the Legacy show on Saturday last
(truly a great beginning so much so that I've cancelled
plans I had to get into the show promotion business,
I just saw my own idea presented to me, and it was
as good as I envisaged it)
as well as the Chridtopher's shows and a preview
of the upcoming Ocho RIos Jazz
Trying to stay aflaot!
things get lost and dropped between the cracks
Meanwhile other endeavours are growing I MC'd 2
shows at Christopher's Jazz cafe last week in addition
to a 2 -night stint at thecharming Palisadoes Bay
Beach Park (lots of childhood memories in that place).
Look out for reviews of the Legacy show on Saturday last
(truly a great beginning so much so that I've cancelled
plans I had to get into the show promotion business,
I just saw my own idea presented to me, and it was
as good as I envisaged it)
as well as the Chridtopher's shows and a preview
of the upcoming Ocho RIos Jazz
Trying to stay aflaot!
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Zag-a-zig pt II
In a fit of near depression, I walked out of my office the other day and headed
first for the bookstore - there Icame across a 1326-pg does of tonic called
Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite, by Paul Arden (www.penguin.com)
A wonderfully refreshing, even bracing examination on the
benefits of contrarianism, of going against he conventional wisdom,
this book is not for the hopelessly ingrained 'corporate' type who sees
work as something between 9-5 and a steady paycheck as salvation.
it will make you laugh, pout, ponder, rage and most of all think.
Get it.
first for the bookstore - there Icame across a 1326-pg does of tonic called
Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite, by Paul Arden (www.penguin.com)
A wonderfully refreshing, even bracing examination on the
benefits of contrarianism, of going against he conventional wisdom,
this book is not for the hopelessly ingrained 'corporate' type who sees
work as something between 9-5 and a steady paycheck as salvation.
it will make you laugh, pout, ponder, rage and most of all think.
Get it.
Overproof music @ Christopher's
This column has already extolled the virtues of the Tuesday night experience at Christopher's Jazz Café.
On this particualr occasion, it was the Thursday Singer's Nite, and the artiste billed was the delightful
Ellan Edwards.
But namesake aside, the dulcet-toned singer had to take a back seat to a familiar tandem of musical
assassins - Akil 'Red Bull' Karram and Denver 'Guinness' Smith; Smith usually stars on percussion, but having
left his congas behind (in preparartion for a tour behind DJ Prodigal), he sat in behind the drum kit.
Between them, with able support from bassist, the newlywed Sherwin Thompson and pianist keyboardist
extraordinnaire Dr Kathy Brown (and, not to, be left out, guitarist Seretse Small, they took a Thursday night setthat was tiptoeing towards urgency right across the line. Karram in particular, having gained initial exposure through the Tuesday Night series, is a vindication of the shared vision of Small and Christopher's principal Brian 'Ribbie' Chung as a place where musicians can grow through regular gigs and audiences can have the benefit of extended exposure to artistes.
Jazz in the Gardens
It was a Sunday, so that means, essentially that it's time for Jazz in the Gardens. This time around, the quality series featured Michael Sean Harris, i na typically superb performance. Harris breathed new life into Jinji, Nature Boy and Summertime.
Before that, the aforementioned Dr Kathy Brown charged into Caravan in the openeing set and before her stint was finished, gavea rare vocal turn executing Kenny Garrett's Qing Wen (from his great CD, Beyond The Wall). June lawson' classical bent showed through to her detriment and the interval saw saxist Damon Riley and bassist Dougal Clarke entertaining with among others, Dizzy Reece in the audience.
Jazz World Database
Celebrating its 24th anniversary, Jazz World Database with 69,000 contacts is the largest source of jazz audience information in the World.
For complete JWD list click:
http://www.jazzworlddatabase.com/catalog/
On this particualr occasion, it was the Thursday Singer's Nite, and the artiste billed was the delightful
Ellan Edwards.
But namesake aside, the dulcet-toned singer had to take a back seat to a familiar tandem of musical
assassins - Akil 'Red Bull' Karram and Denver 'Guinness' Smith; Smith usually stars on percussion, but having
left his congas behind (in preparartion for a tour behind DJ Prodigal), he sat in behind the drum kit.
Between them, with able support from bassist, the newlywed Sherwin Thompson and pianist keyboardist
extraordinnaire Dr Kathy Brown (and, not to, be left out, guitarist Seretse Small, they took a Thursday night setthat was tiptoeing towards urgency right across the line. Karram in particular, having gained initial exposure through the Tuesday Night series, is a vindication of the shared vision of Small and Christopher's principal Brian 'Ribbie' Chung as a place where musicians can grow through regular gigs and audiences can have the benefit of extended exposure to artistes.
Jazz in the Gardens
It was a Sunday, so that means, essentially that it's time for Jazz in the Gardens. This time around, the quality series featured Michael Sean Harris, i na typically superb performance. Harris breathed new life into Jinji, Nature Boy and Summertime.
Before that, the aforementioned Dr Kathy Brown charged into Caravan in the openeing set and before her stint was finished, gavea rare vocal turn executing Kenny Garrett's Qing Wen (from his great CD, Beyond The Wall). June lawson' classical bent showed through to her detriment and the interval saw saxist Damon Riley and bassist Dougal Clarke entertaining with among others, Dizzy Reece in the audience.
Jazz World Database
Celebrating its 24th anniversary, Jazz World Database with 69,000 contacts is the largest source of jazz audience information in the World.
For complete JWD list click:
http://www.jazzworlddatabase.com/catalog/
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