Alexander Hawkins

Apologies...a bit late to this...have been really busy recently! Track 1: nice drummer - really driving things along. I like the arrangement - the trills, the little open section at 3'45" ish...no real idea what it is I'm afraid - not sure I recognise any of the players! Track 2: not overly fond of the chart...although very accomplished player by all, as you'd expect from the line-up! I enjoy the Eubanks solo, although Chris Potter is all a bit studied for my taste here...I'm afraid I haven't checked out too much Dave Holland from recent times...I think he spoilt himself for me with all his phenomenal work in the 70s, e.g. with Braxton and Sam Rivers! But again, that's just my taste! I imagine this was a fun gig to hear live however. Track 3: Billy Harper (gorgeous tone!!!) playing I Want to Talk About You. Great stuff! And of course, beautiful tune. Track 4: enjoyed this...not entirely sure how to relate the opening duo to the rest of the chart, but it's nice! Kind of a weird, stilted feel to the rhythm section...I like it a lot - it's just slightly odd somehow! Track 5: I actually caught a glimpse as I scrolled down the page of what this is, so won't pretend to hazard any guesses. Very enjoyable though - love the electric piano tone! Track 6: damn, I'm going to have to come back to this one - very familiar brass players...I like this one a lot - nice chart...electric bass works well for me too! Track 7: Pannonica is the tune. And that's Lacy, no doubt...no idea what it is though...I love Lacy, as always, but am not wild about the gu zheng, although it is kind of cool to play Monk like this... Track 8: that has to be Abdullah with that attack on piano...nice tune - quirky changes! Slightly odd drumming - something not quite sitting about the groove IMHO...I don't think it's a South African guy, or rather, I don't think it's someone who plays too much of this stuff. Cool all the same - just slightly strange in a way I can't lay my finger on. Wow, the tune is completely 'son of Big Alice' in the middle there...I like the trumpet player...but of a Clark Terry vibe there! Trombonist has a great tone too...love the voicings at around 7'45" onwards. Hymn at the end is beautifully played...almost too 'correctly' in some ways - none of the abandon/expressionism of the Brotherhood of Breath here!!!...makes me think these are session guys/a radio big band/classical players or something like that...so I guess this could be Abdullah with the NDR Big Band or something??? Many thanks for these - apologies not to write more!!!

Thanks everyone! Afraid these are the only dates for now, but very much hoping to get e.g. to Edinburgh, Bristol, Cardiff etc. as soon as possible! Had a beautiful gig in Derby tonight...Corey is a really incredible player!

Hi all, Just a quick notice of a short tour I'm doing with my Ensemble over the coming few days, before we go into the studio next week...It would be great to see anyone who can make it! The dates (all July – some more to come in September): 6th – Silk Hall, Radley College, Abingdon 7th – Voicebox, Derby 9th – The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle 10th – The Vortex, London 11th – Rising Sun Arts Centre, Reading The line-up is: Orphy Robinson (6th and 10th only; steel pan/electronics/tuned percussion); and for all dates: Otto Fischer (guitar); Hannah Marshall (’cello); Dominic Lash (bass); Javier Carmona (drums); and yours truly (piano). In addition, I’m really excited to have joining us the awesome Corey Mwamba (sometime poster here, but more pertinently here - incredible musician) on vibraphone on 7th and 9th. Please say hello if you can make it! Alex (p.s. and thanks as ever go to Jazz Services for their generous support.)

I'll mention this to the guys at the label...in their defence (the guy who runs Bo'Weavil is a huge admirer of Joe's, and we all got on famously on the night of the recording!!!), I'm positive it's just the wrong word which has been used, rather than any disrespect intended!

Thanks for mentioning this! It was a real privilege to play with Joe. It goes without saying that he is a wonderful, wonderful player, but it's also important to say that he's one of life's genuinely nice people too. I really hope we get to play again before too long! I notice there are some sound samples up at this page...please do check it out..!

Called 'Radebe - They Shoot To Kill', if I remember...

Great - thank you for the tip-off!

That tape sounds great! Been listening to Blue Notes for Johnny a bit recently. Dudu is awesome on this - and his sound is really well captured. Some great soprano work on 'Ntyilo, Ntyilo'. Anyone who doesn't have the Ogun box, but who has even the merest suspicion they might be into the music: please get it. It's an extraordinary document.

Really kind Bev - thank you so much! We're touring next February, so hopefully will be able to find something around your way edit to say: actually, we're playing Leeds, which I guess is not so far away!

Mark - thank you so much! It's such a pleasure to play with that band, so I'm stoked if even a small part of that comes across...Fingers crossed we can make it to the US to perform sometime!

Thanks everyone for the kind comments!

I hope no-one will mind a plug... I'm pleased to say The Convergence Quartet's new album, 'Song/Dance' is now out on Clean Feed. We recorded it in the studio after 10 or so consecutive nights' gigs last year, and I'm very proud of the results...the four of us in the band should have some copies after the weekend (when we launch the record in Coimbra, Portugal)...of course, it's also available from Clean Feed, on iTunes, at Emusic, and I'm sure elsewhere! Anyway, if anyone checks it out - please enjoy!

Just to say, for anyone in London (or the area): my Ensemble is playing a free show at the Front Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall tomorrow...please do come along if you're at a loose end! Details here. ...we then embark on a short tour in July, taking in Oxford, Derby, Newcastle, London, and Reading, before visiting the studio. On the dates in Derby and Newcastle, we'll be joined by the awesome Corey Mwamba on vibes in place of Orphy Robinson (Corey posts here occasionally, and will, I hope, be familiar to UK residents!!!). Details for the curious on this page. ...and, just in case anyone here is reading in Portugal, The Convergence Quartet meets for the first time in fractionally over a year, to launch our new album, 'Song/Dance' on Clean Feed...it's the Coimbra International Jazz Festival, for those wanting some great food and wine, quite apart from some (I hope, and we'll try) good music!

Thank you! And apologies, I didn't see this at the time. Yeah, I believe that probably was one of Paul's last shows out in the US...trio with Harris and Torsten Muller, I think? Yeah, I would love to come out to the Bay Area...must try to do something about that ASAP!

I think this is the only thing we have in France at the moment...although I don't know what's in the pipeline! BTW - beautiful music in that link!

Wow, sounds like a great gig! I love the new Mulatu record - Mulatu Steps Ahead. Hopefully the volcanic ash and planes being grounded don't disrupt the tour too much, worst places to be stuck than Athens. Let us know how things go. Have just got back from a gig in Poland with Mulatu's new band - this was our first gig...in Norway, Italy, France, Holland, and Finland soon... We're actually playing a few of the tunes from 'Mulatu Steps Ahead'...really great stuff! Have to say, this is a really fun band...and wonderful to be having the opportunity to play in some lovely places! A nice line-up too, with a kora in the mix!

I've been playing a Korg SV-1 on occasional electric piano gigs recently...I have to say, a lot of it is to do with how you set up your amp etc., but I prefer the sounds to the Nord (which I've also been playing a bit recently on some Mulatu Astatke gigs). The Nord has a lot more 'toys', but for the money...the Korg is pretty great I reckon.

I was at the 'Freedom of the City' festival in London yesterday, where Wadada was a guest performer. His trio with Louis Moholo-Moholo and Steve Noble was quite honestly some of the most incredible I've ever heard. This was the first time I'd heard Wadada live, and though I've read things about this, I'm not sure ANYTHING prepares you for that *sound* live. A truly amazing performance, and Louis and Steve, both of whom I have the privilege of working with, were perfect partners in the trio. I really hope this gets broadcast in some way - certainly it was being recorded for the BBC...

That's really kind everyone - thank you; and thanks for thinking to post this!

Just upping this for tomorrow night's gig at the Vortex...forgot to mention - for anyone on the fence - it's a celebration of Bra Louis' 70th birthday, so come down to mark the milestone!

Blimey! That could have been interesting!!!

Was beautiful, thanks! Unfortunately horrid sound on this clip, but here's an excerpt from Saturday's hit... I'm sorry to say I didn't catch the dancer's name (she 'sat in' unplanned), but I gather she's quite well known... Great to play some of Mulatu's classics...Yekermo Sew, Netsanet, Dewel, etc. Trip back was - uh - interesting. Almost precisely 56 hours door-to-door...taxi, bus, ferry, train, car, you name it...

On the road at the moment with Mulatu Astatke and the Heliocentrics. VERY cool chatting to Mulatu about Ethiopian jazz, and African music, more generally...am learning a great deal! And fun gigs too! Playing Athens tonight...although we could be here for a while if the volcanic ash doesn't shift airspaces!

Thanks Bev - yes, I must check out that recent record of Jason's! Louis' current group is beautiful - the recent Ogun record is wonderful! I really love Pule's playing - wish I'd got to hear him in person before he moved back to SA.

Given that the thread title is still valid, just thought I'd post a couple of gigs coming up! April 26 at The Vortex in London, it's the Louis Moholo-Moholo Unit: Louis (d); Jason Yarde and Ntshuks Bonga (saxophones); Francine Luce (vocals); John Edwards (b); AH (p)...a real privilege to play with this band, now that the fantastic Pule Pheto has moved back to South Africa... May 13th at Cafe Oto, London, it's the Sonny Simmons Quartet: Sonny, John Edwards, Charlie Collins (d), and myself...hugely looking forward to this, never having played with Sonny before... Please do come and say hi if you're able to make it to either!