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"It's just music. It's playing clean and looking for the pretty notes." C. Parker

Yes, Andre 3000 stole my seat. But seriously, the Shabaka concert at Big Ears was a great concert, one of the very best I heard at the Festival.

At the Shabaka Big Ears concert, my preferred seating at the Bijou Theater (a balcony above the right side of the stage) was blocked off and reserved for some "VIPs." So I went to the Balcony on the other side. I assume it was for Andre 3000 and his entourage, who also was performing at the Festival. The theater was kept very dark throughout the concert, so you could not see who it was, and at the end of the concert when the lights came up, the VIPs had been safely escorted away (whew!). Up with Donald Byrd (Verve) Lou Donaldson, Musty Rusty (Cadet) Don Byas, MIdnight at Minton's (Onyx)

Zimbo Trio My copy is supposed to arrive today.

Phineas Newborn, Fabulous Phineas (RCA Living Stereo)

Nicole Glover Plays (Savant)

The Festival has not fundamentally changed. There is still the Jazz Tent, which is all Modern Jazz, with ten to twelve National/International headliners spread out over the course of the festival (this year including Kenny Barron, Charles Lloyd, Lakecia Benjamin, Terence Blanchard, Nicholas Payton, Samara Joy, Stephon Harris, Legacy of Wayne Shorter, and Amina Figarova). There is also Economy Hall, which is all New Orleans traditional jazz. There is a Blues stage, a Gospel stage, a World music stage (this year they have three African bands and twenty (!) bands from Columbia), a stage that is mostly modern brass bands, a stage that is mostly zydeco, an interview stage (some jazz artists), a diverse obscure music stage including some jazz (Lagniappe Stage). Then three large stages that feature (though not exclusively) pop bands. The latter three are very easy to ignore, as I do. (The exception is the egomaniacal Rolling Stones, who this year are appearing and requiring all other stages to shut down when they perform.) You only need one stage at a time.

Jim Alfredson - Upcoming Spring 2024 shows April 12 - Austin, TX C-Boys Heart and Soul with Janiva Magness April 13 - Humble, TX Charles Bender Performing Arts Center with Janiva Magness April 14 - Houston, TX Dan Electro's Guitar Bar with Janiva Magness

I thought about doing it mail order, but then I decided to check the pick up myself box, as I've been on a post office losing streak lately.

I purchased two sets online; in a short time I got an email that they were ready to be picked up; when I got there they were set aside behind the counter waiting for me. No problem at all.

https://downbeat.com/news/detail/jazz-emerges-as-essential-component-of-knoxvilles-big-ears-festival?fbclid=IwAR33HRzAS9VAh-L3I_D0bIb25ft3vX7GbhNeSdZGFJzX8VHkVa_uHMocHQY_aem_ATXDFImdO9iRrmnqhSE3i1O1pQPaiwxsNFi6SzfWeb_O2fyY9ZFMViHEIV-HWgwzccbPjU6YH8EgOqUXp5Gdt4Jm

Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, Live in Vegas 1963, Volume 1 (Hindsight)

Last night, Herbie Hancock at the Winspear Opera House.

The other notables for that weekend were a version of George Wein's Newport All Stars which featured Buddy Tate and Norris Turney (a rare opportunity to hear an Ellingtonian hero live) and a trip to Snug Harbor for Mose Allison. On the other hand, I made the "wrong" choice in selecting the Donald Harrison/Terence Blanchard in the Jazz Tent (the band was good but...) over Jay McShann (at the same time in Economy Hall), who I never had another opportunity to see.

Congo Funk! Sound Madness From the Shores of the Mighty Congo River (Analog Africa)

I saw the Timeless All Stars in 1987 at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. It was the same band as on the recordings, and the only time I got to see Harold Land in concert.

Spiritualizing the Senses is a very good record; the rest of them (all the vocal recordings), no thanks.

Timeless All Stars, Timeless Heart (Timeless) Max Roach Quintet, The Many Sides of Max (Mercury)

It is the McCoy Tyner Trio from 1986 (Avery Sharpe on bass, Louis Hayes on drums); there is one trio track; one quartet track with Joe Henderson added; one quartet track with Freddie Hubbard added; and finally, the closing track with both Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson. Yes, it's the awesome Freddie Hubbard I remember from concerts during the 1980s. Lakecia Benjamin, Phoenix (Whirlwind Recordings)

This evening, the Fred Hersch Trio at the University of Texas at Dallas, whose longrunning annual series of jazz concerts has finally resumed.

April 16, 2024: Ari Hoenig Trio, Parker Jazz Club, Austin April 17, 2024: Ari Hoenig Trio, Jazz TX, San Antonio April 19-21, 2024: Charlie Musselwhite, Kenny Neal, Jackie Venson, Nikki Hill, Ally Venable, D.K. Harrell, Robert Kimbrough Sr., Baton Rouge Blues Festival April 21, 2024: Jeff Hamilton Trio, JazzTX, San Antonio April 22, 2024: Jeff Hamilton Trio, Parker Jazz Club, Austin April 25, 2024: Mokoomba, Kenny Barron Trio, Lakecia Benjamin, The Headhunters (Donald Harrison, Mike Clark, Bill Summers), Louis Ford, Alexey Marti, Gregorio Uribe, NOJFH Christian Scott, Dew Drop Inn, New Orleans April 26, 2024: Oumou Sangare, Joe Louis Walker, Naturally 7, Astral Project, Leyla McCalla, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Mr. Sipp, Tuba Skinny, Doreen, D.K. Harrell, Los Cumbia Stars, NOJHF Christian Scott, Dew Drop Inn, New Orleans Hiromi Sonicwonder, Paramount Theater, Austin April 26, 2024: Mokoomba, Festival International de Louisiane, Lafayette April 27, 2024: Charles Lloyd Quartet, Nicholas Payton, Robert Cray, Selwyn Birchwood, People Museum, Wycliffe Gordon, Jason Marsalis, Los Cumbia Stars, Gaita Loop, NOJHF Buddy Guy, Austin Blues Festival Deepsankar Bhattacharjee (sitar), Rohan Dasgupta (sitar), Subrata Bhattacharya (tabla), Allen Public Library April 27, 2024: Oumou Sangare, Mokoomba, La Dame Blanche, Festival International de Louisiane, Lafayette April 28, 2024: Patrice Rushen, Trumpet Mafia, Toronzo Cannon, Helen Gillet, Louis Armstrong Camp 30th Anniversary Celebration (Donald Harrison, Christian Scott, Wycliffe Gordon, Calvin Johnson), Yusa, Oscar Rossignoli, Joy Clark, Jontavious Willis, Gaita Loop, NOJHF Nicholas Payton, Six of Saturn Festival, 3 Keys, New Orleans Sun Ra Arkestra, Dew Drop Inn, New Orleans Christian Scott (Chief Adjuah), The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park, Houston April 28, 2024: Oumou Sangare, La Dame Blanche, Jackie Venson, Tuba Skinny, Festival International de Louisiane, Lafayette April 30, 2024: Peggy Stern, Elephant Room, Austin May 2, 2024: Rickey Sebastian and Pat Casey present the Music of Jaco Pastorious, Trevarri, Los Guiros, Joe Lastie, NOJHF May 3, 2024: Terence Blanchard: Flow, Stefon Harris and Blackout, Amina Figarova, Meschiya Lake, Duwayne Burnside, Charlie Gabriel, Guitar Slim, Jr., Jamil Sharif, Peter Harris with Herlin Riley, Bejuco, NOJHF May 4, 2024: Legacy of Wayne Shorter (Chris Potter, Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade), Samara Joy, Jessie McBride Big Band, Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses, Dr. Michael White's Tribute to Johnny Dodds, Blodie's Jazz Jam, Bejuco, Cimmaron, Lucio Feuillet, NOJHF May 5, 2024: Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Mahmoud Chouki, Tom McDermott and Aurora Nealand, Leroy Jones, Victor Goines, Cimmaron, Lusio Feuillet, NOJHF May 6, 2023: Jackie Venson, Bayou Music Center, Houston May 8, 2023: Cedric Burnside, Tulips FTW, Fort Worth Kirt Elling and Danilo Perez, Parker Jazz Club, Austin May 9, 2023: Kurt Elling and Danilo Perez, JazzTX, San Antonio Cedric Burnside, Continental Club, Houston Magos Herrera, The Nave Museum, Victoria May 10, 2024: Kurt Elling and Danilo Perez, Wortham Theater, Houston Jackie Venson, Levitt Pavilion, Arlington May 11, 2024: Cedric Burnside, Jo Long Theater, San Antonio May 12, 2024: Magos Herrera, San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio May 14, 2024: Kamasi Washington, House of Blues, Houston May 15, 2024: Kamasi Washington, House of Blues, Dallas May 16, 2024: Kamasi Washington, Empire Theater, San Antonio May 17, 2024: Kamasi Washington, Empire, Austin Aurelio Martinez, Fresh Grass Festival, Bentonville, Arkansas May 18, 2024: Pt. Ronu Majumdar & Vid. Shashank Subramanyam (Flutes), Bates Recital Hall, UT, Austin Eric Mingus, Meridian Brothers, Fresh Grass Festiville, Bentonville, Arkansas May 28, 2024: John Fedchock, Parker Jazz Club, Austin May 29, 2024: Larry McCray, Tannenhill Tavern and Music Hall, Fort Worth June 1, 2024: Samara Joy, Jo Long Theater, San Antonio Vid. Ambi Subramaniam & Vid. Pravin Godkhindi, TBD, Dallas June 2, 2024: Larry McCray, Antone's, Austin June 4, 2024: Larry McCray, Lava Cantina, The Colony June 15, 2024: Jugalbandi of Hindustani Flute By Praveen Godkindi and Carnatic Violin By Ambi Subramaniam - son of L Subramanian -Yashwant Vaishnav (Disciple of PT Yogesh Samsi) On Tabla, Sowmi Narayanan on Ghatam, Akshay Anthapadmanabhan on Mridamgam, Houston June 21, 2024: Buddy Guy, Shreveport, Lousiana June 22, 2024: Buddy Guy, Hot Springs, Arkansas June 29, 2024: Mokoomba, Thomas Mapfumo, African Vibration Festival, McKinney October 13, 2024: Branford Marsalis, UTD April 12, 2025: Hiromi's SonicWonder, UTD

There's also Live in Paris 1959 (Fremeaux), and LiveLove Series volume 2, June 1977. https://www.amazon.com/June-1977-livelove-Vol-2/dp/B00NW6KPT0 https://www.amazon.com/Live-Paris-February-Horace-Silver/dp/B01FUYRA2G/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ERPSHXU847YW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5QlLaDalu4xIyBsVwlBVk5ZkeC9LDoTrVBAMdQ757VA.XvZ2jdJTmSewmL6zxb5zu9MVkCo2y8fUjxvm8QF-NSw&dib_tag=se&keywords=Horace+Silver+Live+in+Paris+1959&qid=1712418500&s=music&sprefix=horace+silver+live+in+paris+1959%2Cpopular%2C95&sr=1-1

Lester Young, Newly Discovered Performances, volume 1 (ESP DISK)

McCoy Tyner All Star Band, Jazz Ost-West Festival in Nurnberg 1986

I saw Bassekou Kouyate last year at the Big Ears Festival--great set. This year, Fatoumata Diawara at Big Ears (another great set) and upcoming, Mokoomba and Oumou Sangare at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. And inexplicably there is an upcoming African Music Festival in McKinney, Texas (north of Dallas), which so far has three bands from Zimbabwe announced (Mokoomba and Thomas Mapfumo). It's looking like an exceptional year for the chance to see African bands live.