What live music are you going to see tonight?

[Steve Reynolds]

Tomorrow night I should be attending

8:00:

Evan Parker with Mat Maneri and Lucien Ban

10:00:

Evan Parker with Sylvie Courvoisier

Will miss Saturday which is two sets with Milford Graves

[ejp626]

Saw Miguel Zenon at the Jazz Showcase in a quartet with bass, drums and percussion (no piano). It was a good set, drawing a fair bit from his recent live album, Oye. He's got several more shows for those in Chicagoland.

[Steve Reynolds]

More later but last night - especially the second set Evan with Sylvie Courvoisier - was one of the singular nights of improvisation in the history of such things.

Half way through the second set Evan picks up the straight horn and it goes - thin to the thickest rich circular breathing excursion that exists in this world. Sylvie gets in through the inside of the piano and by the time the 20 minute piece ends, Evan pinched, finessed the tiniest and most direct and precise sounds out if that horn.

Best I've ever heard him. And that pianist.....Lordy Lordy

And my wife loved it so for those not ready, give yourself a break and listen

[Steve Reynolds]

My wife asks me. Do they prepare? How do they know what to play?

Well we all will never know.

Evan was almost Ben Webster at the end if the first set and then he is beyond Evan or Trane on the tenor during other portions effortlessly going from circular to that shit he plays that is unplayable by all other tenor players and its all of a piece. And the second set he plays 50 minutes straight except for a two minute coda by the pianist half way through the four piece set. And yet none of it is for show. Extreme intensity and energy levels beyond fucking realistic.

How do they prepare?

Music played like this is prepared through a lifetime. Life lived. Wisdom through dedication and love.

Btw Mat was gorgeous with no pick up and just enough of his sound came through. No ego yet no deference to great man - just respect and beauty.

Edited September 21, 2013 by Steve Reynolds

[medjuck]

Dr. John last night. Best he's been of the 5 or 6 times I've seen him. Knocked me out by doing Charles Brown's "Tell Me YOu'll Wait for Me".

[ejp626]

It looks like Harold Mabern is in town in Vancouver for a 3 or 4 day residency. I've seen him before (usually with Eric Alexander) and he's always been great, so I'll try to make it to one of the shows, perhaps on Friday.

Oh, as Gilda Radner/Emily Litella would say "Never mind." Too bad. The club where they are playing has only one option for standard tickets -- a $60 cover including a two-course meal (which, as a vegetarian, I'm quite sure I would find not worth it). Just not going to pay that kind of money and be forced into a situation where I will be resentful all evening...

Edited September 23, 2013 by ejp626

[relyles]

Last night I traveled three hours in rush hour traffic to Shapeshifter Lab in Brooklyn to catch the premier performance of bassist Michael Formanek's Ensemble Kolossus. This big band featured a lot of heavy hitters. The trumpet section included Dave Ballou, Jonathan Finlayson, Ralph Alessi and Shane Endsley. The trombones were Alan Ferber, Jacob Garchik, Ben Gerstein and Jeff Nelson. The reed section was Chris Speed, Oscar Noriega, Loren Stillman, Brian Settles and Tim Berne. Finally, in addition to Formanek in the rhythm section was Kris Davis, Mary Halvorson, Tomas Fujiwara and Patricia Franceschy on vibes and marimba. In both sets the ensemble performed Formanek's extended piece written for the ensemble titled Exoskeleton if I recall correctly. It is an eight part composition that evolves through a variety of moods, tempos and textures. It was a very structured piece with tight ensemble parts – which I appreciated a lot, but at the same time there were opportunities for expressive solos by just about all of the musicians. Very interesting. Hope they have the opportunity to continue to develop as a band and ultimately record.

Forgot to mention that last Friday I caught David Binney’s quartet at Firehouse 12 with Jacob Sacks, Eivind Opsvik and Nasheet Waits. I have been a fan of Binney’s music for a few years, but this was my first opportunity to hear him live. They did not disappoint. Binney was as to be expected – “heady”, but with a lot of fire when needed. I had never really paid attention to Sacks before, but he was impressive Friday night – kind of quirky like I like, but still swinging. Nasheet Waits may have been the star of the night. I have heard him live a few times and as always the rhythms he conjured and the manner in which he engaged with and pushed soloists was mesmerizing.

The final update on my live adventures is that last Saturday I caught Cyrus Chestnut’s Trio at the Artists Collective in Hartford. To be honest, although I appreciate Chestnut’s playing, he is not someone I would normally go out of my way to hear. On this occasion since it was five minutes from my home and free, I felt like I had to go. No real surprises on this night, but nonetheless some enjoyable, bluesy, swinging piano trio music.

Now my big decision after getting home at 2:00 am last night from my Brooklyn excursion is whether I venture back out tonight to Firehouse 12 to hear Larry Ochs and Donald Robinson?

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Last night I caught Gary Burton at Scullers. What a great show. Gary lived in the Boston area and played regularly for many years. I took that for granted and somehow never managed to catch him. When the e-mail came in advertising this as his 70th birthday tour, I figured I'd better get off my ass and see him.

I am very glad I did.

EDIT: He is doing two more shows tonight so for those of you in the Boston area, you still have an opportunity to see it yourself.

Edited September 28, 2013 by Kevin Bresnahan

[BillF]

Gary Smulyan with the Nigel Price Organ Trio at Portsmouth Jazz last night. Well worth going 300 miles to hear!

http://www.londonjazznews.com/2013/08/news-gary-smulyan-uk-tour-with-nigel.html

[sidewinder]

Glad to hear that it was a good one with the Smulyan !

[relyles]

Wednesday, October 2, 2013 – 7pm - $15 / $12 members
IMPROVISATIONS – CELEBRATING FREE MUSIC - Interview
FEATURING: KEN VANDERMARK - reeds AND NATE WOOLEY - trumpet
WITH CURATORS: JOE MORRIS - guitar ǀ STEPHEN HAYNES - cornet
Real Art Ways - 56 Arbor Street – Hartford
Improvisations is a monthly, artist-curated series of performances centering on freely improvised music. Featured musicians are placed in combinations ranging from duo to quartet and, often, have never worked together as an ensemble prior to the performance. There is no rehearsal. The music is created in the moment, held by the listener. The aim is to create a listening environment that will allow the audience intimate and deep contact with the music and those who make it. Come early and stay late, listen to and speak with the performing artists. “You know you’re doing something right when the musicians come out to hear you.” – Stephen Haynes

[jlhoots]

Boom Tic Boom tomorrow night.

[Steve Reynolds]

thinking of going to see the following on Sunday night - Ben Gerstein is a wonderful unique trombonist who I have really enjoyed in the past live and Angelica Sanchez is an excellent pianist. I've never heard Jeremy Viner. It looks like a free improvisation group so I'm leaning towards checking it out.

Plus Tyshawn Sorey was a huge surprise for me when I saw him a couple of weeks ago with Evan Parker.

Sunday, Oct 06 - 8:30PM - Cornelia Street Cafe
TYSHAWN SOREY QUARTET
Dan Weiss, host
Angelica Sanchez, piano; Jeremy Viner, clarinet, alto saxophone; Ben Gerstein, trombone; Tyshawn Sorey, drums

Edited October 3, 2013 by Steve Reynolds

[relyles]

Last night I caught the Hartford leg of the Ken Vandermark Nate Wooley tour. Vandermark and Wooley performed as part of the Improvisations series curated by Joe Morris and Stephen Haynes at Real Art Ways in Hartford. Also in the audience was fellow Organissimo board member Cliff Peterson, who it is always a pleasure to see. The first set was the Vandermark-Wooley duo. Inspired by the great John Carter-Bobby Bradford tandem, the two played a couple of compositions by Carter and Bradford and then the rest was all original compositions. Even without a rhythm section the duo worked. The compositions added a welcome structure and the two were inspired throughout. After the first set the two were joined by Morris on bass and Haynes on cornet for an approximately 35 minute improvisation. Things got a little wilder at times, but never too far out and at times Morris played with a bit more foundation/groove that kept things somewhat grounded.


Up next Friday night:

Friday, October 4, 2013 - 8:30 pm ($18 and 10 pm ($12)
THE CLAUDIA QUINTET
Firehouse 12 - 45 Crown Street - New Haven

Edited October 3, 2013 by relyles

[Justin V]

I caught Mundell Lowe in a duo with guitarist Mike Magnelli last night. I went to the duo set last night because I planned on watching the entire Browns game tonight. However, I couldn't resist the quartet set (with bassist Peter Dominguez and drummer N. Glenn Davis) tonight. It had been over 4 years since Lowe last came to town (also with Mike Magnelli), and he sounds and looks great at 91. I've been impressed with Mike Magnelli, who is a fine guitarist and complements Lowe quite well.

[BillF]

I caught Mundell Lowe ... last night .... he sounds and looks great at 91.

Wow! Played with Charlie Parker!

[JohnS]

Gary Smulyan with the Nigel Price Organ Trio at Portsmouth Jazz last night. Well worth going 300 miles to hear!

http://www.londonjazznews.com/2013/08/news-gary-smulyan-uk-tour-with-nigel.html

Yep, a great gig, maybe our very best. Nice routines, nothing casual about the gig. Good choice of material and some unusual tempos. Very nice guy too.. Gald you could get down Bill and had a good time.

[BillF]

Gary Smulyan with the Nigel Price Organ Trio at Portsmouth Jazz last night. Well worth going 300 miles to hear!

http://www.londonjazznews.com/2013/08/news-gary-smulyan-uk-tour-with-nigel.html

Yep, a great gig, maybe our very best. Nice routines, nothing casual about the gig. Good choice of material and some unusual tempos. Very nice guy too.. Gald you could get down Bill and had a good time.

Thanks for making it possible, John!

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

great wk, saw keith jarrett + the pet shop boys

[king ubu]

saw keith jarrett + the pet shop boys

The mind boggles!

Tonight will see the Convergence Quartet.

[sidewinder]

saw keith jarrett + the pet shop boys

The mind boggles!

"West-End Girls Blouses..."

[king ubu]

saw keith jarrett + the pet shop boys

The mind boggles!

"West-End Girls Blouses..."

I wonder if Darlene Edwards joined the fun,too?

[king ubu]

Tonight will see the Convergence Quartet.

Hilariously fun concert, even though Darlene Edwards was a no show

Thanks so much to the guys, Alexander, Taylor, Harris, and Dominic!

Really enjoyed the music and had a great time having dinner with you afterwards :tup

What I totally love about your music is how it allows composition and improvisation to morph into and out of each other seemlessly, how you mingle structure with freedom - and fill that freedom with, if I might quote that record title (a favourite title and a very good record, too!), inspired abandon. Love how you all let loose and still never lose ground. Also - of course! - love the african stuff you're adding, Ghana, ZA, whatever - the warmth really permeates your playing. And no grooves or simple riffs ever do restrict you, even though you don't have a problem to stick with it for as long as it's good.

There's some qualities in that that are way too rare in contemporary jazz! You got a good thing goin'

Edited October 6, 2013 by king ubu

[medjuck]

Just came from seeing Sheila Jordan. She turns 85 next month and the local pianist accompanying her with his trio is 83. They were both great. Gives me hope.

[king ubu]

Saw Sheila in Vienna some six or seven years ago and she was magnificient ... doing three sets with the late Fritz Pauer's trio, and at the end, when I went to say thanks and shook hands quickly, she was astonished to hear someone remembered her Blue Note album (one very dear to me). Would love to hear her again!