BFrank

JJ Johnson Small Group Sessions

I went this year - it was AMAZING. And next year looks as good, or maybe BETTER. If you can afford to get the VIP pass, it's worth it. You get priority entrance to the venues and some of them have reserved, close-up seating, too. You won't be sorry any way you get there. It's very well run, and Knoxville is a nice, walkable small city.

All of Tolliver's Strata East output is great.

Tomorrow: Cyrus Chestnut w/Buster Williams & Lenny White in SFJAZZ's intimate Joe Henderson Lab UPDATE: It was a nice show. Not especially "exciting," but well worth spending an hour+ with this group in such a small venue.

Saw them last night. Excellent!

Saw "Still Dreaming" w/Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, Scott Colley and Brian Blade. Outstanding show. See them if you can.

Shampoo is a great film. I've seen it LOTS of times!

I was only able to catch the Louis Hayes show which was very good, but too short (not their fault, I'm sure). Abraham Burton's tenor was on fire, as was Steve Nelson's vibes work.

The final night of John Zorn's residency over the past weekend: John Zorn's 65th Birthday Celebration: Masada and Bagatelles

Code Girl is on the schedule for next year's Big Ears Festival. It's described as her ... "imaginative new band, Code Girl."

I'm looking at Nicole Mitchell, Matthew Shipp/Ivo Perelman, Chris Speed Trio, Muhal Tribute, Louis Hayes "Serenade for Horace" and Amina Claudine Myers Trio. Also, possibly "Dog/Day #6" Friday: Chris Speed Trio (@Hungry Brain), Kidd Jordan, M. Shipp, Wm Parker & Alvin Fielder (@Constellation) I have a ticket for Red Bull's "Round Robin @ Thalia Hall" on Thursday. Definitely will NOT get to all of them.

Chicago Jazz Fest 2018 Anybody going? Have recommendations? I've had this trip planned for a while, but didn't realize it coincided with the Festival. I won't have a lot of time to spend there, so I'm trying to pick and choose - preferably daytime shows.

He's having a sit-down discussion on Dec 17 at SFJAZZ. The Big Ears Festival in Knoxville was an eye-opening experience for me this year. They really stretch the boundaries of "new music" especially those from the jazz side. And it wasn't specifically focused on younger players.

I'm seeing Still Dreaming at SFJAZZ next month. Really looking forward to it NOW!

I still have the LP, but can't play records anymore. They're in storage.

THAT'S a good one! I have a Rova t-shirt I picked up a year or two ago at an Electric Ascension show. Not to mention a "NESSA" shirt that Chuck sent out with his Lester Bowie "Numbers 1 & 2" reissue a while back.

Rocket Science w/Craig Taborn, Evan Parker, Peter Evans, Sam Pluta at the Big Ears Festival in March.

I picked up the album recently, but haven't delved into it yet. I saw Parker, Taborn and Smith at the Big Ears Festival last March, but not Holland who was at SFJAZZ that week. Parker & Taborn played in a couple of different ensembles, and Smith with other groupings.

For some free neighborhood local jazz and book readings, this is a nice little shop: Bird & Beckett Books

Thanks - will look for it!

Coming this Wednesday, Aug 8 to The Chapel in SF: Peter Brötzmann / Keiji Haino Duo

Recently finished reading this. She led a pretty amazing life - not all of it good. Although born into extreme wealth it was a very dysfunctional family, which is what most of the first half of the book covers. After that it gets into her life in NYC and associations with Monk and other jazz icons of the day.

I don't know his music very well, but saw him at SFJAZZ a few years ago for the first time. Glad I did. RIP.

I've had some good discussions with David Weiss over the past couple of years. Met Nessa at the Big Ears Festival earlier this year.