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The Big Sound of Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials (Alligator)

Charlie Christian and Lester Young Together 1940 (Jazz Archives)

My only live experiences with Miles Davis were post-final comeback. I'm glad I was able to hear him live three times. The last two (during the Warner era, with Kenny Garrett and Foley) were the best. His sound was still beautiful. Those were great experiences, nothing "sucked" about them.

Not for awhile: January 17, 2020.

At McCullough Theatre in Austin: Andrew Cyrille Quartet Andrew Cyrille Quartet Andrew Cyrille, drums Bill Frisell, guitar Richard Teitelbaum, keyboards Ben Street, bass Presented in partnership with KUTX’s Sunday Morning Jazz with Jay Trachtenberg Renowned avant-garde jazz drummer Andrew Cyrille, whose associations have ranged from a long, vintage collaboration with pianist Cecil Taylor to performing with legendary musicians including Rahshan Roland Kirk and Freddie Hubbard, brings his quartet to the McCullough Theatre stage. Members of this all-star quartet include guitar luminary Bill Frisell, one of the most sought-after guitar voices in contemporary music; keyboardist Richard Teitelbaum, known for bringing the first Moog Synthesizer to Europe as well as being a founding member of the seminal electronic music group Musica Elettronica Viva; and highly in-demand bassist Ben Street. A tireless workhorse in the avant-garde, Mr. Cyrille deserves substantial credit for helping to unlock a freer pulse and purpose in the music, slipping away from a metronomic framework while preserving a rigorous attention to form. – The New York Times Fun Facts: Cyrille began studying science at St. John's University, but switched his studies to The Juilliard School. His first professional engagement was as an accompanist of singer Nellie Lutcher. Guitarist Bill Frisell was also a longtime member of Paul Motian's groups from the early 1980s until Motian's death in 2011. Keyboardist Richard Teitelbaum won a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Italy in 1964 with Goffredo Petrassi, then in 1965 with Luigi Nono. Bassist Ben Street is a native of Maine and is the son of saxophonist and saxophone mouthpiece maker Bill Street.

Stan Getz Quartet Live at the Village Gate (Verve)

Duke Ellington, Piano in the Foreground

Duke Ellington, Ellington 66 (Reprise)

Gene Ammons, Brasswind (Prestige) Johnny Young's Chicago Blues Band (Arhoolie)

R.L. Burnside, Well Well Well (M.C. Records) Brandee Younger, Soul Awakening

The Jazz Scene (Clef)

Wes Montgomery, Just Walkin' (Verve) Lou Donaldson, Say It Loud (Blue Note)

There are live recordings of Mingus with Adams and Pullen; they are just not commercially released. In particular, I recall recording one myself off of a show called Jazz Wave on NPR; I listened to it a lot until the reel to reel tape recorder I used malfunctioned. The concert had an incredible half hour version of Opus 3, and a version of For Harry Carney with one of the greatest bass solos I've ever heard. I wish someone would release such material in the best possible sound.

On Saturday night at the Heights Theater in Houston (a very nice venue), Vieux Farka Toure. The opening act was a young woman based in Austin named Jackie Venson. New to me, but she is a vocalist/guitarist in a hybrid soul/blues/rock style. I thought she was terrific. Next up, Vieux Farka Toure, who traveled for 30 hours from Mali to play two concerts, one in Austin and the other in Houston. This was a stripped down set, more in the style of his father Ali Farka Toure, than in his usual electric style. So it was just acoustic guitar and vocals, accompanied by bass guitar. Very beautiful music. Masterful guitar playing. Finally, towards the end, Vieux picked up his electric guitar and invited Jackie Venson to join him. He commented that they had played together the night before in Austin for the first time and the combination was magic. He was correct. Decidedly a concert worth a trip to Houston to hear.

Here's one of them, and he's still pretty good. You can watch on the Smalls livestream. Saturday 6/15/2019 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM Neal Smith Quartet 10:30 PM - 1:00 AM Tim Armacost Quintet 1:00 AM - 4:00 AM Philip Harper Quintet

Cheikh Lo, Jamm (World Village)

The Genius of Coleman Hawkins (Verve) Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster (Verve) Coleman Hawkins and Clark Terry, Back in Bean's Bag (Columbia) Donald Byrd , Blackjack (Blue Note)

Yes that is it. And claims to be electronically re-recorded to simulate stereo, but it sounds like mono to me. Sounds great actually.

Theo Croker, Star People Nation (Sony) Tom McDermott and Even Christopher, Almost Native (Threadhead) Muddy Waters, Live at Mr. Kelly's (Chess)

Sonny Rollins, Tenor Madness (Prestige, 1969 reissue) Wynton Kelly and Wes Montgomery, Smokin' at the Half Note (Verve) Lennie Tristano, The New Tristano (Atlantic)

I've been to Snug Harbor multiple times (most recently, a month ago to see Lonnie Smith). It is the nicest venue for jazz in the city that I have been to (nice by any standard). Going there is like going to Jazz Standard, the Village Vanguard, Smoke, or the like. I've been to a few of the other clubs on Frenchman Street (La Maison and d.b.a.). There is a concentration of music clubs on Frenchman Street, but they are all more bars than anything, not refined listening rooms. Mostly, I recommended artists/groups that I've seen and liked at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival over the last six years. Your tastes may differ. Also, you should find out who is playing at Preservation Hall. If Leroy Jones, Louis Ford or Jamil Sharif, is playing, that is also a good choice.

Here are the performances that week that I would consider attending: On next Monday night: Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses are at La Maison (she is great). Also, Charmaine Neville is at Snug Harbor (she's not really a jazz singer but she is pretty good and her band members are jazz musicians). On Tuesday, clarinetist Gregory Agid is at La Maison. Also, pianist Tom McDermott is at the Starlight. Wednesday night at Snug Harbor, the Uptown Jazz Orchestra. A really swinging, riff based big band. Also, Tuba Skinny at the Starlight (features the terrific Shaye Cohn on cornet, grandchild of Al Cohn). On Thursday, Carl LeBlanc is at the Bayou Bar (guitarist from the Sun Ra Arkestra). Tom McDermott is at Three Muses. Friday, Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses are at d.b.a. And Shaye Cohn is at the Starlight. Saturday, Little Freddie King is at d.b.a. (blues not jazz). Astral Project is at Snug Harbor.

WWOZ has a live music calendar on its website. There's also an App. https://www.wwoz.org/calendar/livewire-music

In back of Wild Detectives in Bishop Arts District.

Peter Brotzmann and Heather Lee duo, last night. A modest sized venue, but it did sell out, and they were turning people away. Never saw that before for an avant garde jazz concert in Dallas.