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Ghana Special 2, Electronic Sounds and Highlife in the Diaspora 1980-93 (Soundway)

The Trumpet of Pete Condoli, Blues, When Your Lover Has Gone (Somerset) Duke Ellington, Up in Duke's Workshop (Pablo)

Miles Davis, Porgy and Bess (Columbia) Roland Hanna, Impressions Billy Ver Planck Orchestra, Jazz for PlayGirls (Savoy)

I saw him only once, two years ago at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. It was basically a straight ahead jazz set, with an alto/trombone frontline and Geoff Keezer on keyboards. Favorite solo by David Sanborn for me is on Billy Harper's Priestess, on the Gil Evans album of the same name.

June 14, 2024: Billy Harper Quintet, Eldorado Ballroom, Houston June 15, 2024: Jugalbandi of Hindustani Flute By Praveen Godkindi and Carnatic Violin By Ambi Subramaniam - son of L Subramaniam -Yashwant Vaishnav (Disciple of PT Yogesh Samsi) On Tabla, Sowmi Narayanan on Ghatam, Akshay Anthapadmanabhan on Mridamgam, Durga Bari Auditorium, Houston Billy Harper Quintet, Steve's Wine Bar, Denton June 16, 2024: Billy Harper Quintet, Stateside Theater, Austin June 18, 2024: Peggy Stern, Monk's Jazz Club, Austin June 21, 2024: Buddy Guy, Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, Lousiana June 22, 2024: Buddy Guy, Oaklawn Event Center, Hot Springs, Arkansas June 29, 2024: Mokoomba, Thomas Mapfumo, African Vibration Festival, District 121, McKinney July 3, 2024: Mokoomba, Antone's, Austin July 18, 2024: John Primer, Antone's, Austin August 24, 2024: Bobby Rush, Arlington Music Hall September 14, 2024: Abhishek Borkar (Sarod) and Yashwant Vaishnav (Tabla), Allen (?) September 20, 2024: Aba Diop Trio, Cullen Theater, Houston September 21, 2024: Mandolin Rajesh (mandolin) and Rajhesh Vaidya (veena), Frisco September 28, 2024: Abhishek Borkar (Sarod), Yashwant Vaishnav (tabla), Cullen Hall, Unverisy of Saint Thomas, Houston October 4, 2024: Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Cullen Theater, Houston Bombino, Lowdown, Tulsa October 6, 2024: Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Antone's, Austin October 11, 2024: Branford Marsalis, Bates Recital Hall, Austin October 13, 2024: Branford Marsalis, UTD October 17, 2024: Buena Vista Social Orchestra, Majestic Theater, Dallas October 19, 2024: Manas Kumar (violin), S. Akash (flue), Amit Kavthekar (tabla), Allen (?) October 22, 2024: Joel Frahm Trio, JazzTX, San Antonio October 24, 2024: Ebo Taylor, Radio/East, Austin November 16, 2024: Matthew Whitaker, Eisemann Center, Richardson December 6, 2024: Shemekia Copeland, Sam's Burger Joint, San Antonio Terri Lynne Carrington's New Standards, Cullen Theater, Houston December 7, 2024: Shemekia Copeland, Kessler Theater, Dallas January 25, 2025: Lakecia Benjamin, Cullent Theater, Houston February 14, 2025: Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, Zika Hall, Houston March 1, 2025: Vijay Iyer Trio, Cullen Theater, Houston March 15, 2025: Fort Worth African American Roots Music Festival March 18, 2025: Anoushka Shankar, Eisemann Center, Richardson March 27-30, 2025: Big Ears Festival, Knoxville, Tennessee March 28, 2025: Jason Moran's Duke Ellington Project, Cullen Theater, Houston April 11, 2025: Brad Mehldau Trio with Christian McBride, Cullen Theater, Houston April 12, 2025: Hiromi's SonicWonder, UTD April 24-27, May 1-4, 2025: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Morana Mesic 18h · In 2022 I took a photo of Billy Harper in front of his childhood home in Houston, TX (the most important one). It was that night I felt I need to get him home to Houston to perform his own music with his own band under his own name. Many personal reasons why it would make sense, but it was not a rational contemplation followed by a decision. It was just one of those lightning bolts that Universe strikes your brain with. And we never know why. Of course, I do know what passed between those Houston days and the present time. And if you knew what I know, you'd know how and why this is so very special. Talking about the ”inside scoop” about Third Ward, Little Man, Truxillo, Eldorado, E.E. Worthing, Vernell, UNT, and all the dramatic twists that unfolded up till this moment. Honestly, I have rarely had to work SO hard on something as I did on this Texas homecoming for BHQ. But I have rarely felt SO passionate and determined to make a dream of mine into reality. The lightning bolt really left a mark And I'm so sorry to all my loves (you know who you are) for being MIA (I know I have a bunch of missed emails/ texts), but putting this tour together took every second of my day. And to the generous folks who helped me / us - I love y'all and I can't thank you enough!! You have zero skin in the game here, and I know the only thing guiding you is sincere love for Billy Harper and his music... You are all deserving of a big long loud standing ovation: Bob Morgan, Rich Scheinin, David Dove, Gerri Seay, Barbara Rivetta Hendrix, Blanche McDaniel Valentine... Thank you for seeing how important it is to get Billy ”home” with his group and for doing so much to help make it happen, and engaging great people ”on the ground” I never even met before, but who rolled up their sleeves and went above and beyond to make this happen. Talking about Eddy Hobizal, Elias Haslanger, David Detweiler, Chris Knight, Jesse McBride, Shelley Carroll... Fantastic people making great music happen! And the band, omg the band - no words suffice. I am so friggin lucky I get to represent these five music masters Francesca, Aaron, Freddie, Dezron and Billy who happen to also be the most terrific human beings. Of course, there is ginormous credit that goes to all the venues, but they each warrant a separate post further down the line. I just felt I had to give thanks and acknowledge all these heroes who worked so hard to make my dream of Billy's ”homecoming” a reality. And what I really mean when I say ”Billy Harper”, is the ”Billy Harper Quintet”, of course. Don't tell anyone I said this, but.. it's not the real (BH) deal without them. The cikela does NOT come out for just anyone.

Billy Harper alert! Three concerts upcoming in June, in Houston and Austin. June 14, 2024: Billy Harper Quintet, Eldorado Ballroom, Houston June 15, 2024: Billy Harper Quintet, Monk's Jazz Club, Austin June 16, 2024: Billy Harper Quintet, Stateside Theater, Austin Epistrophy Arts & The State Theatre present BILLY HARPER QUINTET The State Theatre Sunday, June 16, 2024 Doors: 6pm Show: 7pm In his early recordings and performances with leaders such as Art Blakey, Lee Morgan, Max Roach, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Randy Weston and Gil Evans, during the 60s and 70s, Billy Harper already had a massive sound on the tenor saxophone, combining John Coltrane’s spiraling intensity with a bluesy brawn that pointed back to his Texas origins. Harper’s authority has only grown with age: a half-century on, he stands as one of the most commanding horn men on the planet, a pillar of stirring post-bop jazz whose robust back catalog seems long overdue for rediscovery. For half a century he has been performing his original music with the renowned Billy Harper Quintet all over the globe, and recording over a dozen albums as a leader and prolific composer. After a pandemic induced hiatus, the Quintet sprung back into action, starting 2023 off with a series of #CapraBlackIsBack performances, marking a year long celebration of Billy Harper's 80th birthday, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the group's official inception and their historic debut album Capra Black, the impact of which still lingers among jazz listeners worldwide. Francesca Tanksley has been the pianist in this group for more than 40 years – a clear attestation of the wide ranging concensus that her extraordinary musicality cannot be matched nor replaced when it comes to Billy Harper’s opus. Renowned master drummer Aaron Scott, a longtime member of McCoy Tyner’s band, has also been in the group for decades and is a rare find among jazz drummers who can meet and surpass the challenge of doing Harper’s music justice. Freddie Hendrix, one of the most in-demand jazz trumpeters of today, coveted for his uniquely soulful and exciting improvisations is also a longstanding member. Finally, a newer but nevertheless perfectly matched addition to the group is the award-winning bassist Dezron Douglas whose artistry on the strings brings Harper’s compositions to a whole new level.

Shelly Manne & His Men, Jazz From the Pacific Northwest (Reel to Real)

And at the Village Vanguard May 21-26.

Big Ears 2025 Dates: March 27-March 30, 2025.

Ron Carter on facebook on Freddie Hubbard: Ron Carter. Another #FlashbackFriday this week brings us to May of 1970, when my longtime musical collaborator Freddie Hubbard released his famous album Red Clay. The album featured Yours Truly, alongside such talents as Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, The Lenny White, and for the 6th track only, Stanley Turrentine, Johnny "Hammond" Smith, George Benson, Billy Cobham, and Airto Moreira. Freddie was a good friend of mine, and I thought the world of him as a musician. I heard Freddie play stuff that was so far off the trumpet it just astounded me.

Sunday night at the Balcony Club with Shelley Carrol, Johnathan Fisher, Peter Rioux and Andrew Griffith.

Buddy Tate Meets Dollar Brand

All three of her CDs are very good as well. https://sonajobarteh.com/pre-order/ols/categories/cds

Mdou Moctar, Funeral For Justice (Matador)

Sasha Masakowski, Live at the 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Victor Atkins Quintet, Live at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Leyla McCalla, Live at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Jason Marsalis, Live at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Pat Martino, Consciousness (Muse)

Last night, Jackie Venson at Levitt Pavilion in Arlington.

Yes, I've seen her twice, at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (in the Blues Tent) and at the Big Ears Festival. She is wonderful.

Curious what the band was there? At Big Ears he had a young Indian woman on vocals, a harp, bass guitar, drums, and a guy doing something on a computer (I wasn't sure what).

Palm Court Jazz Cafe Announces Closure After 35 Years MAY 8, 2024by: OFFBEAT STAFF0 COMMENTS In a heartfelt press release issued by Nina Buck, owner of Palm Court Jazz Cafe, the iconic New Orleans establishment has announced its permanent closure on June 2, marking the end of an era in the city’s music and dining scene. Founded by Nina Buck and supported by her late husband George Buck, the Palm Court Jazz Cafe aimed to recreate the nostalgic ambiance of a bygone era, where music and dining intertwined seamlessly. George Buck’s dedication to preserving American music through the Jazzology/GHB Jazz Foundation was instrumental in the creation of Palm Court, with Jazzology/GHB residing in the same building, ensuring his legacy lives on. Over its 35-year history, Palm Court has hosted some of New Orleans’ greatest musicians and vocalists, providing a platform for their talents in a room inspired by the golden ages of the 1930s and 1940s. With its mahogany bar, Steinway piano, and historic collection of photos, the venue exuded a unique charm that captivated patrons. https://www.offbeat.com/news/palm-court-jazz-cafe-announces-closure-after-35-years/

It is overrun with pop acts, but only on the three biggest stages (Festival, Gentilly and Congo Square) and I never go to those stages, except for Congo Square as sometimes the African bands appear there. But there are ten other stages. For jazz, every year there are 10-12 National/International headliners (two of them are always Terence Blanchard and Nicholas Payton) spread over the two weekends, with the base provided by the strong New Orleans jazz scene (generally unknown to jazz fans, I've found). Usually two or three African bands appear every year (in common with the world music festival in Lafayette), and a number of bands appear from some featured Latin country (Columbia this year). Also, incredible food is in abundance at the festival (that is not an exaggeration). Lots of interesting night shows as well, if you have the energy to do that after 8 hours at the festival (I'm not as young as I used to be, so I only did that three times this year). I missed it but the Sun Ra Arkestra was in town at the reopened Dew Drop Inn (unfortunately a late show the night before an early morning flight for me). And of course Snug Harbor is one of the best jazz clubs in existence. Jazz Tent: Modern Jazz Economy Hall: Traditional New Orleans Jazz. Blues Tent. Cultural Pavillion: World music. Gospel Tent. Jazz and Heritage Stage: Brass Bands and other New Orleans bands. Lagniappe Stage: Eclectic obscure music, including jazz. Rhythmporium: Small stage for lesser known acts, including jazz. Allison MIner Stage: Interview stage, including jazz. Fais Do Do: Primarily Zydeco.

Second Weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Second Thursday (Rolling Stones day): Ho hum the Rolling Stone are playing on the big stage, and I don't care. So it's a truncated day for me. First, Rickey Sebastian (who played with Jaco) and bassist Pat Casey presented a set of Jaco Pastorious compositions, which I enjoyed. Next, the tenor saxophonist Trevarri from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band presented his own band, in a fusion vein, but actually a pretty good set. At that point, as all but the Festival stage shuts down, I'm out of there, to hear cellist Helen Gillet at the Tigermen's Den. This proved to be a wise choice, as her set was wonderful, in the unique setting of a building built in 1830. Second Friday: The only rainy day of the festival this year, but a light, steady rain. Starting the day in the Blues Tent with Duwayne Burnside, son of R.L. Burnside. An excellent set of Mississippi Hill Country Blues, including some signature pieces of R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. Next, to the Jazz Tent for bassist Peter Harris' Firm Roots, a hard bop style group with the groove master Herlin Riley on drums, and new to me pianist Dwight Fitch. A very excellent set including a trio performance of Poinciana (enhanced by Herlin Riley having been Ahmad Jamal's drummer for 20 years) and a smoking Song for My Father (Ashlin Parker on Trumpet and Derek Douget on tenor sax). Next, to Economy Hall for a set led by 91 years old Charlie Gabriel. Also including Louis Ford on clarinet and Kyle Roussel on piano. A highly enjoyable, swing era style set. Back to the Jazz Tent for Amina Figarova Sextet with the Matsiko World Orphan Choir. Then Terence Blanchard E Collective with Turtle Island Quartet: one of the best sets I've ever heard from him. Concluding a busy day, an excellent set from Stephon Harris and Blackout (Jaleel Shaw on alto, Christian Sands on piano, Dezron Douglas on bass). Second Saturday: Starting the day with Blodie's Jazz Jam, followed by the Jesse McBride Big Band. The main interest this day were the two jazz headliners. First, before a capacity overflowing crowd, Samora Joy. Her voice is very impressive in person. I liked the opening and closing songs the best (Reincarnation of a Lovebird (she has composed lyrics) and No More Blues). Finally, I was not sure what to expect from The Wayne Shorter Legacy (Danilo Perez, John Pattituchi, Brian Blade), plus Chris Potter. What we got was an inspired, joyous set of Wayne Shorter compositions, with Chris Potter (whose playing I like) admirably filling in the difficult role of replacing Wayne Shorter. A great set of music. Sacred Sunday: Starting with the Palm Court Jazz Band in Economy Hall. This group is really good, sounding like a working band, again including Louis Ford on clarinet and the great drummer Shannon Powell. Next, the Victor Goines Quartet (Oscar Rossignoli on piano). I had seen Victor Goines before, doing a Bird with Strings set. This time, he came out very strong on tenor saxophone--Wayne Shorter's Yes or No, followed by McCoy Tyner's Contemplation. The set was stellar, way exceeding expectations. Next to the Lagniappe Stage, for Mahmoud Chouki, a Moroccan acoustic guitarist and oud player who settled in New Orleans to play jazz a few years ago. In all honesty, his set, leading a sextet that included the exciting young saxophonist Ricardo Pascal, was astounding. Good grief, Mahmoud's Blues. Brilliant playing, inspired compositions, and a group of ferocious players. Just great. Eagerly awaiting the imminent release of his first recording. Next, off to the tiny Rhythmporium to hear the last 2/3s of the duet set by Aurora Nealand and pianist Tom McDermott. These two, closing their set with a Sidney Bechet composition, are always a joy to hear. For my last set of music for the 2024 festival, I returned to the Rhythmporium for a duet of Mahmoud Chouki and Oscar Rossignoli. This was a really incredible improvised set. Mahmoud Chouki leaves me in awe.

Completely agree.

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 Tutu Jones, The Goat, Dallas May 28, 2024: John Fedchock, Parker Jazz Club, Austin May 29, 2024: Larry McCray, Tannenhill Tavern and Music Hall, Fort Worth May 31, 2024: Samara Joy, Miller Outdoor Theater, Houston Larry McCray, Gruene Hall, New Braunfels 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 6, 2024: Bill Frisell Trio, Lowdown, Tulsa June 14, 2024: Billy Harper Quintet, Eldorado Ballroom, Houston 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 Billy Harper Quintet, Monk's Jazz Club, Austin June 16, 2024: Billy Harper Quintet, Stateside Theater, Austin 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\ July 3, 2024: Mokoomba, Antone's, Austin July 18, 2024: John Primer, Antone's, Austin August 24, 2024: Bobby Rush, Arlington Music Hall September 1, 2024: Cassandra Wilson, Stanley Jordan, Riverfront Jazz Festival, Dallas October 13, 2024: Branford Marsalis, UTD October 17, 2024: Buena Vista Social Orchestra, Majestic Theater, Dallas December 7, 2024: Shemekia Copeland, Kessler Theater, Dallas April 12, 2025: Hiromi's SonicWonder, UTD