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Last Saturday, I traveled to New York City to attend a seminar Tuesday to Thursday. So I had five consecutive evenings to hear live music. On Saturday, to the Appel Room of Jazz at Lincoln Center, for Elio Villafranca's Letters to Mother Africa. The venue is, to say the least, quite beautiful, with the stage backed by a giant wall of glass overlooking a spectacular vista of the city from a sixth floor location. I was unfamiliar with the leader, a Cuban pianist; I attended because he had Billy Harper and David Murray on tenor saxophones. Also Dezron Douglas on bass, Lewis Nash on drums, and Abdou Mdoup on percussion. The repertoire was a mixture of originals (from the leader) and African tinged classic jazz compositions (including from Billy Harper, Randy Weston, Louis Armstrong (King of the Zulus), Duke Ellington (Afrique), and Freddie Hubbard). It proved to be a thrilling concert. Billy Harper was featured a lot and sounded fantastic. Sunday night, to the Village Vanguard for Tom Harrell's Something Gold, Something Blue. This was the same group as on his new High Note recording (Charles Altura guitar, Ugonna Okegwo on bass, E.J. Strickland on drums), substituting Dave Douglas on trumpet live for Ambrose Akinmusire on the recording. The album has a number of striking compositions, coupled with its unusual two trumpet front line, and the two sets I heard included most of them. Another fine evening of music. On Monday night, early on to the Zinc Bar to hear some Brazilian music--a Brazilian singer, Sarah Cabrall, performing with piano and percussion. She sang well, performing songs by Djavan, Jobim, Joao Bosco and others. Next, to the 55 Bar to hear Mike Stern. Apparently Mike Stern is just recently returning to performance after suffering a broken shoulder, the group this night was a quartet, with Bob Francescini on tenor sax, and the amazing Kim Thompson on drums. Mike Stern and Kim Thompson are truly an electrifying combination. I do recollect the days when I was ambivalent in regard to Mike Stern--long ago hearing him with Miles Davis and another time with Micheal Brecker. But after hearing him multiple times in the tiny 55 Bar, I realized the very first time there that Miles Davis as usual knew what he was doing. This evening was really great. Tuesday, I ventured uptown to 129th Street to the Jazz Museum of Harlem. I thought I was attending a duo concert of (another Cuban) pianist David Virelles and percussionist Ramon Diaz, but it turned out to be an interview/lecture on Afro Cuban influences in jazz, with a couple of musical performance interludes. It was interesting but the performance part was the highlight, and I wanted more of that. Next, back to the 55 Bar for Leni Stern. I like her spiky guitar playing, and her combination of jazz and African music, featuring the wonderful Mamadou Ba on bass guitar. Her vocals are perhaps a bit of an acquired taste. Another excellent evening of music. Wednesday, my last night, I ventured uptown again, this time to Smoke, for my first visit there. The club reminds me a bit of Sweet Basil, only with a lot better food. This was for Ben Allison's Easy Way Trio (Ted Nash on tenor saxophone and Steve Cardenas on guitar). Some quiet music after two nights on the louder end of the spectrum. This group is patterned after Jimmy Giuffre trios and performs mostly compositions by Jim Hall and Jimmy Giuffre. It was a slow night at Smoke, so I was able to stay and hear three sets of this pleasing music. The group has a new release (Quiet Revolution), but only on vinyl and generally available from a label that has a very pricy subscription plan, so I was happy to be able to buy one at the club.

In person, I really liked Matt Garrison's playing. Some reservations about Ravi Coltrane still, but this is definitely the best playing from him that I have heard. Their live version of the Two Jimmys, much longer than on the record, was quite stirring.

I've seen Woody Witt before, but not in Dallas, in New York at Smalls. I do recollect sharing a table once with someone who was a big Woody Witt fan. I was more in the nature of, he's okay, when I saw him.

All jazz concerts in Houston on the list are in 2017. January 7, 2017: Ran Blake, Live Oak Friends Meeting House, Houston February 24, 2017: Joshua Redman, Cullen Theater, Houston March 11, 2017: Marquis Hill Blacktet, Cullen Theater, Houston April 22, 2017: Terence Blanchard, Cullen Theater, Houston May 5, 2017: Vijay Iyer, Cullen Theater, Houston I haven't been there but there is a jazz club in Houston open two nights a week (Friday and Saturday) called Cezanne. http://www.cezannejazz.com/

A quite worthwhile release. Wild Music!

Volume 13 (from the 2016 calendar) is out on a separate CD. The sound is exceptionally vivid. Really great sounding actually.

Lucky Thompson, Body and Soul (Nessa), Archie Shepp, Jazz a Confronto (Horo), and George Lewis and His New Orleans Stompers, volume 2 (Blue Note ten inch).

Not explained in their self-description... Dot-Time Records is a Jazz, Soul and World music label. Launched in 2012, Dot Time Records releases feature exciting virtuoso artists, both established and newly discovered from around the globe. The branding of Dot-Time Records can be found in the creativity, artistry, passion and energy of these artists and musicians. Our Mission Statement Our label will be successful only when our artists are successful. Our mission is therefore to work together with our artists to help them succeed in reaching their goals.

You appear to be correct--I pulled the Buck Clayton out and it sounds the same to me.

This new release, on Dot Time, is rather fine, with Joe Bushkin on piano, Buck Clayton on trumpet, Milt Hinton on bass and Jo Jones on drums. The fidelity is excellent, recorded by classical violinist David Sarser, who brought his Ampex reel-to-reel to The Embers on 54th Street in 1952. Elegant performances of various standards; you are there.

His Columbia album with Herb Ellis, Guitar/Guitar, is a really good one.

Ahmad Jamal, Extensions (Argo/Cadet)

The implied soft rock hit song exception of course applies.

Similar reaction, if you see one you don't have, buy it because it will be good.

This came yesterday and I listened several times. Fantastic!

John Klemmer, Waterfalls (Impulse), Jim Robinson, New Orleans Band (Riverside), and The Memoirs of Willie the Lion Smith (RCA).

Last night, Tutu Jones and His Twisted Soul Band at the Goat. Cruddy dive bar venue; great performance.

October 26, 2016: Noh Band (Tim Berne, David Torn, Dave King), The North Door, Austin November 10, 2016: Helen Sung Quartet, South on Main, Little Rock, Arkansas November 19, 2016: Terence Blanchard, Carver Center, San Antonio November 22, 2016: Sean Jones and One O'Clock Lab Band, Winspear, Denton December 3, 2016: R.L. Boyce and Lightnin' Malcolm, Antone's, Austin December 10, 2016: Tim Warfield's All-Star Jazzy Christmas, Starlight Club, Walton Center, Fayetteville Arkansas December 16, 2016: Stanley Clarke, One World Theater, Austin January 7, 2017: Ran Blake, Live Oak Friends Meeting House, Houston February 3, 2017: Dejohnette Coltrane Garrison, McCullough Theater, Austin February 17, 2017: Al Di Meola, One World Theater, Austin February 18, 2017: Al Di Meola, Majestic Theater, Dallas February 18, 2017: Joey Alexander, McAllister Auditorium, San Antonio College February 23, 2017: MVP Jazz Quartet (Bobby Watson, Donald Brown, Marvin Smitty Smith, Ray Drummond), Starlight Club, Walton Center, Fayetteville Arkansas February 24, 2017: Joshua Redman, Cullen Theater, Houston February 25, 2017: MVP Jazz Quartet (Bobby Watson, Donald Brown, Marvin Smitty Smith, Ray Drummond), South on Main, Little Rock, Arkansas February 25, 2017: Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Laurie Auditorium, Trinity University, San Antonio March 11, 2017: Marquis Hill Blacktet, Cullen Theater, Houston April 18, 2017: Cyrus Chestnut, Bates Recital Hall, Austin April 20, 2017: Terence Blanchard, South on Main, Little Rock, Arkansas April 21, 2017: Terence Blanchard, University of Texas at Dallas April 22, 2017: Terence Blanchard, Cullen Theater, Houston April 28, 2017: Dejohnette Coltrane Garrison, Denton Arts and Jazz Festival May 5, 2017: Vijay Iyer, Cullen Theater, Houston May 5, 2017: Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Octet, Carver Center, San Antonio

The other upcoming Nameless Sound concert (unfamiliar names to me): at 14 Pews 800 Aurora St, HOUSTON, TX 77009 Friday, December 9, 2016 8pm $13 General/$10 Student/FREE under 18 Biliana Voutchkova (Bulgaria/Berlin) - voice, violin Michael Thieke (Berlin) - clarinet

Nameless Sound.

at Live Oak Friends Meeting House1318 West 26th St, HOUSTON, TX 77008Saturday, January 7, 2017SUNSET CONCERTexact time to be determined- FREE Admission -Ran Blake (Boston, MA) - piano

Louis Ford

Gigi Gryce, Lab Band Quintet (Riverside), Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Back Door Blues (Riverside), and Miles Davis, The Sorcerer (Columbia)

September 30, 2016: Tutu Jones, The Goat, Dallas September 30, 2016: Bombino, Austin City Limits Festival October 1, 2016: Niladri Kumar and Zakir Hussain, Bates Recital Hall, Austin October 1, 2016: Rakesh Chaurasia and Aditya Kalyanpur, University of St. Thomas, Jones Hall, Houston October 1, 2016: Charlie Hunter, UtopiaFest, Utopia, Texas October 2, 2016: Rakesh Chaurasia and Aditya Kalyanpur, Allen Public Library October 7, 2016: Jason Moran, Monk at Town Hall, Cullen Theater, Houston October 7, 2016: Bombino, Austin City Limits Festival October 7, 2016: Benny Golson, Laurie Auditorium, Trinity University, San Antonio October 14, 2016: Ronnie Baker Brooks, Mud Morganfield, Billy Branch (The Songs of Willie Dixon), Granada Theater, Dallas October 15-16, 2016: Cedric Burnside Project, Walter Wolfman Washington, Little Freddie King, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Benny Turner, Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival, New Orleans October 19, 2016: Buddy Guy, House of Blues, Houston October 20, 2016: Buddy Guy, Moody Theater, Austin October 21, 2016: Buddy Guy, Aztec Theater, San Antonio October 22, 2016: Vivilda Dula, World African Music and Arts Festival, Kenny Dorham's Backyard, Austin October 22, 2016: Danish String Quartet, Wolfe Recital Hall, Corpus Christi October 23, 2016: Danish String Quartet, Temple Beth-El, San Antonio October 23, 2016: Cedric Burnside, Shreveport House Concerts October 26, 2016: Noh Band (Tim Berne, David Torn, Dave King), Austin November 10, 2016: Helen Sung Quartet, South on Main, Little Rock, Arkansas November 19, 2016: Terence Blanchard, Carver Center, San Antonio November 22, 2016: Sean Jones and One O'Clock Lab Band, Winspear, Denton December 10, 2016: Tim Warfield's All-Star Jazzy Christmas, Starlight Club, Walton Center, Fayetteville Arkansas December 16, 2016: Stanley Clarke, One World Theater, Austin January 7, 2017: Ran Blake, Live Oak Friends Meeting House, Houston February 3, 2017: Dejohnette Coltrane Garrison, McCullough Theater, Austin February 18, 2017: Joey Alexander, McAllister Auditorium, San Antonio College February 23, 2017: MVP Jazz Quartet (Bobby Watson, Donald Brown, Marvin Smitty Smith, Ray Drummond), Starlight Club, Walton Center, Fayetteville Arkansas February 24, 2017: Joshua Redman, Cullen Theater, Houston February 25, 2017: MVP Jazz Quartet (Bobby Watson, Donald Brown, Marvin Smitty Smith, Ray Drummond), South on Main, Little Rock, Arkansas February 25, 2017: Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Laurie Auditorium, Trinity University, San Antonio March 11, 2017: Marquis Hill Blacktet, Cullen Theater, Houston April 18, 2017: Cyrus Chestnut, Bates Recital Hall, Austin April 20, 2017: Terence Blanchard, South on Main, Little Rock, Arkansas April 21, 2017: Terence Blanchard, University of Texas at Dallas April 22, 2017: Terence Blanchard, Cullen Theater, Houston May 5, 2017: Vijay Iyer, Cullen Theater, Houston May 5, 2017: Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Octet, Carver Center, San Antonio

Count Basie and His Orchestra (Mercury ten inch), and Duke Ellington, Ellington Indigoes (Columbia)