relyles

The Rob Brown group was the highlight for me. Picked up the new RogueArt disc while I was there.

I made it to Brooklyn for Friday night at the Vision Festival. I caught: Ava Mendoza/Matt Nelson/Adam Lane/Hamid Drake Marty Ehrlich Trio Exaltation (w/ John Hebert and Nasheet Waits) Matthew Shipp/William Parker Duo Rob Brown Quartet (w/ Steve Swell, Chris Lightcap, Chad Taylor) Kris Davis Trio (w/ William Parker and Jeff Tain Watts) Although I got stuck in traffic from Hartford and it took me five hours to get to the venue (more than double the expected travel time), overall it was a very strong night of music.

Amherst is Wednesday, June 12h.

Friday night I caught Matthew Shipp/Allen Lowe/Newman Taylor Baker/Kevin Ray at Firehouse 12 in New Haven, CT. Baker was subbing for one of my favorites Gerald Cleaver, and he was a more than capable replacement. I was curious about this ensemble for a while because unlike other bands Mr. Lowe is involved with, the music is totally improvised. Overall impressive performance. Afterward I even had the pleasure of giving Shipp and Baker a ride to the train station where they surprised me somewhat with their very enthusiastic response to a Woody Shaw CD playing in car.

Very good. I have heard all of them on multiple occasions, but this was the first time hearing that quartet. I like the balance of Formanek's compositional skills and the strong individual soloists.

Michael Formanek Elusion Quartet with Tony Malaby, Kris Davis and Ches Smith at Firehouse 12 in New haven, CT

Too bad. They were grooving hard. Very intense playing by Ford. There was a good crown in Old Lyme.

They were in New Bedford Friday night and I think Dartmouth, MA before that.

I think he still lives abroad, but this is the second time I have heard him live in the past 14 months.

Saturday night I caught the Ricky Ford Quartet with John Kordaleski, Jerome Harris and Barry Altschul at the SideDoor Jazz Club in Old Lyme, CT

Debating whether to take a two hour drive to catch Chico Freeman.

I heard Boom Tic Boom live in 2012 when it was a quartet with Donny McCaslin, Myra Melford and Brad Jones. I enjoyed them live and have purchased a few more of their recordings, including the current disc (although I have not listened to it yet). I have not been as impressed with the expanded group, but I have not found them anywhere near as objectionable as those who responded negatively to the clip. I confess that my primary interest in the group is Myra Melford, which may be part of the reason that I am not as enamored with the expanded group. With that said I have actually found this discussion very interesting and would be more interested on the thoughts of this group as a representation of any issues with contemporary jazz (or I like Clifford's NPR-free Pi Jazz category).

Thanks Cliff.

Last night - Bennie Wallace Trio @ New Britain Museum of American Art.

I was also at that festival in Montclair and have a very positive memory of the Moncur Ensemble. I confess that I forgot Daniel was in that ensemble. At the same festival he also played in an ensemble conducted by James Newton.