What live music are you going to see tonight?

[Van Basten II]

Saw a gig called Saxes in the city, that took place in St-James church 5 of our finest sax players (André Leroux, Rémi Bolduc, Jean Fréchette, Jean-Pierre Zanella and Chet Doxas ) with a rhythm section played pieces popularized by Charlie Parker and Coltrane. Fine music, interesting arrangements, highlight of the night was a beautiful version of Ruby my dear only played by the 5 sax players à la World Saxophone Quartet.

Edited June 1, 2010 by Van Basten II

[kh1958]

Robert Cray and Buddy Guy at Winstar Casino, Oklahoma. It was a very pleasant surprise that the sound was excellent--clear and well-balanced and not excessively loud. Robert Cray opened and played a 45 minute set--I hadn't seen him live before--I enjoyed his set quite a bit. Buddy Guy played second and was feeling pretty good this night--I would have liked to hear more than two songs from his new album, but still, it was the best concert I've seen from him in a number of years, certainly the best sound by far (compared to the atrocious House of Blues where he has recently played in Dallas).

[sidewinder]

Booker T. at the Bath International Jazz Festival earlier tonight. Great show !

[BillF]

Saw Simon Spillett with the Vinnie Parker Trio this afternoon. An excellent bop quartet, but playing under adverse conditions - in an acoustically dreadful pub room in Leyland Lancs. during a beer festival! Simon models himself on Tubby Hayes and I used to see Hayes playing in conditions like that in the 60s, but this is carrying the Tubbs re-creation too far!

[jeffcrom]

Just got back from a concert at Atlanta's Eyedrum - a show that I only found out about at 5:00 PM today. Urs Leimgruber, Charlotte Hug, and Jacques Demierre played an hour of excellent free improvisation. Leimbruber was the only one of the three I was familiar with; he played only soprano, and got an amazing range of sound out of the horn. (As a saxophonist, I winced when he banged his metal mouthpiece cap against the keys and body of the instrument, though.) Demierre is an good pianist (and toy pianist), but the real surprise was violist Charlotte Hug, whom I had never even heard of. She used an even wider palette of sound than Leimgruber, using two bows at once at times, and employing the old Joe Venuti trick of detaching the hair of the bow, then inverting the bow around the instrument so that the hair activates all four strings at once.

Unfortunately, there were less than a dozen people in the audience. Like I said, I only found out about the concert a few hours ago. But I'm glad I went.

[Van Basten II]

Saw a very fine show last night as Hamid Drake and William Parker combined their forces to play a Kidd Jordan who was in great form to deliver a near 2 hour show of two sets of near an hour of continuous music. For those interested you can find it easily.

[BFrank]

Saw the Sadies on Wednesday night. VERY intense. See them if you get a chance. Kind of a Byrds/Burrito Bros/surf instro/spaghetti western/psychedelic band from Toronto. They also have played supporting roles with Jon Langford, Neko Case and John Doe.

Sunday: The Jack DeJohnette Group at Yoshi's with Jerome Harris, David Fiuczynski, Rudresh Mahanthappa and

George Colligan

[ejp626]

Last night: Bassekou Kouyate and his group Ngoni Ba. They played for an hour at a free concert in Millennium Park. Then they were joined by blues artists Otis Taylor and Eddie Shaw. It wasn't the most polished jam session, but it was fun. I left a little bit early.

Next Thursday: Tinariwen!!! Also for free in the park! I saw them for the first time earlier this year, and they are incredible.

[LWayne]

I was in Chicago on business yesterday and caught both sets of the Dave Holland Quintet at the new location (former Dearborn Station on Plymouth Court) of the Jazz Showcase. I will post a more detailed review soon, but needless to say that the music was transcendent!

LWayne

[BFrank]

Next Thursday: Tinariwen!!! Also for free in the park! I saw them for the first time earlier this year, and they are incredible.

I'd like to see them. They're coming to Yoshi's soon - I might have to check that out.

[jlhoots]

Dave Alvin & The Guilty Women

[marcello]

At the Rochester Jazz Festival ( not my photos, by the way):

Last Night I heard Torben Waldorff, who had a top nothch band : Waldorff - giutar, Herny Hey - piano, Seamus Blake - tenor, Matt Clohesy - bass and Gary Ritchie - drums. Really nice original compositions held together by the strong contribution of Clohsey. Henry Hey is always a joy to hear. also.

Friday:

Jeremy Pelt was much better that the last time I heard him or even his last recording. He really played inspiring trumpet and flugelhorn. The sub drummer, Darrell Green, was a improvement to my ears, but Pelt really laid it down in fine trumpet/warrior tradition.

Hearing Stan Tracey was a treat in spite of a sound man who made the piano sound like a honky tonk instrument. He played in a decidedly Ellington/Monk style.

Tonight: Tommy Smith/Brian Kellock duo.

Edited June 13, 2010 by marcello

[ejp626]

I was in Chicago on business yesterday and caught both sets of the Dave Holland Quintet at the new location (former Dearborn Station on Plymouth Court) of the Jazz Showcase. I will post a more detailed review soon, but needless to say that the music was transcendent!

LWayne

Going to catch the matinee this afternoon. Really looking forward to it. I believe sheldonm will be there also.

[BFrank]

Dave Alvin & The Guilty Women

Saw that group last year in Austin. Good show!

Currently listening to Dave's "Ashgrove" album which I'm really enjoying.

[ejp626]

I was in Chicago on business yesterday and caught both sets of the Dave Holland Quintet at the new location (former Dearborn Station on Plymouth Court) of the Jazz Showcase. I will post a more detailed review soon, but needless to say that the music was transcendent!

LWayne

Going to catch the matinee this afternoon. Really looking forward to it. I believe sheldonm will be there also.

Well, I did not see Sheldonm at the matinee. It was pretty full, not quite standing room only, but close. A very talented group: trombonist Robin Eubanks, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, saxophonist Chris Potter and drummer Nate Smith. Aside from Dave himself of course, I think I was most interested in the vibes. I'll definitely see if Steve Nelson is on record, aside from the Holland recordings which I already have*. The group played a number of tracks, including one or two big band cuts rescored for quintet. I think they did a total of 7 songs; I recall Metamorphoses, Fly a Kite, something called A Rio? and I believe he ended with Free For All. Very enjoyable. After the set, Dave Holland was very nice and took a few moments to talk to several children in line, including my son, saying that he had started played music at age 6 (on ukelele!). He also mentioned that he now has a special traveling bass where the top part actually detaches, since the airlines mostly won't allow full upright basses anymore. What a really nice guy.

* Looks like he mostly played with Fathead Newman and Mulgrew Miller. Don't have that many of his sideman appearances, but he is on Jackie McLean's Rhythm of the Earth. Maybe I'll see if I can dig that out tonight.

Edited June 14, 2010 by ejp626

[Larry Kart]

Probably:

10:00PM

at the Hungry Brain, 2319 W Belmont, 773.709.1401

Kyle Bruckmann's WRACK, with Jen Clare Paulson, Jason Stein, Anton Hatwich, Tim Daisy

Last night at Heaven Gallery, two fine sets: the Keefe Jackson Trio (with Jason Roebke and Jeb Bishop) and the drum duo of Frank Rosaly and Marc Riordan.

BTW, I'm going to (or should) post shortly about Jackson and Bishop's recent albums, both excellent.

[BeBop]

With any luck, James Carter Organ Trio at Yoshi's SF on the 17th. I've got 12 hours in town. Skip sleep and work efficiently, it just might happen.

[Van Basten II]

Saw this lovely singer tonight

Her name is Bia, she sang spanish versions of Brassens, Salvador and adaptations of Vladimir Vissotsky's somgs in French. By the way it also reminds me to post in the sexy album thread.

Edited June 14, 2010 by Van Basten II

[Van Basten II]

Trio Matthew Shipp with Whit Dickey & Mike Bisio. Shipp was in a fine form despite the horrible piano, did not think much of the rhythm section though.

[kh1958]

Michael Burks at Pearl. A modest crowd at the best music venue in town--I quite enjoyed the previously unfamiliar to me blues guitarist leading a tight quartet (organ, bass and drums). Also featuring the usual show of women in scanty outfits and superhigh heels tottering by to go to the dance club down the block.

[jlhoots]

Giacomo Gates Sunday afternoon.

[Van Basten II]

Saw Globe Unity Orchestra last night

[Ken Dryden]

My recent travels led me to hear:

6/10 Bobby Watson & Curtis Lundy

Two days later I was in NYC:

6/12 Dave Brubeck Quartet

6/13 Junior Mance

6/14 Ayako Shirasaki at the JJA Awards

(I left to go to dinner, so I missed the remaining acts following the awards)

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra

6/15 Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band (featuring Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath and

Roberta Gambarini, among others)

Now its back to months of no live jazz...

[Guest Bill Barton]

Last night it was Femi Kuti at the Showbox in downtown Seattle. Some sweaty dancing and righteous grooves... The show was much slicker and more Las Vegas-y than I expected but - damn! - what a TIGHT band. A very good time was had by all.

[BillF]

Mark Nightingale/Nigel Hitchcock Quintet at the Wigan Jazz Festival this afternoon

Saw virtuoso trombonist Nightingale last year when he was leading a Jay & Kai style two-trombone band, so didn't expect that this year he'd be heading a fusion outfit! Have to concede, though, that the level of musicianship was very high.