What live music are you going to see tonight?

[kh1958]

Nice, kh, you made the most of your time!

Yes, this was the first time I had been there since last October, so I had to take advantage. I also visited the Jazz Record Center and two Academy Records stores.

The proximity of jazz clubs in Greenwich Village is amazing--the Village Vanguard, Smalls, Fat Cat, 55 Bar, Why Not (a fairly new club), Mezzrow (a brand new piano/bass club), Zinc Bar, Cornelia Street Cafe, the Blue Note--nine alternatives where you can walk from any one to the other in five minutes or less.

I did notice an ominous development--construction cranes engaged in erecting what appeared to be luxury apartments in Greenwich Village. One sizable construction project was across the street and down one block from the Village Vanguard.

Edited September 4, 2014 by kh1958

[Steve Reynolds]

Ches Smith Trio with Craig Taborn & Mat Maneri

I've been fortunate to see them the first two times they have played together and I believe this will be their third show.

Improvisation at the highest most unpredictable level. Who would think that this would make sense? Hopefully it works again.

8:00 @ Greenwich House 46 Barrow Street NYC

[BillF]

Saw the great Don Weller at Wilmslow on Tuesday.

[kh1958]

Across the bridge to nowhere, except it led to Babb Bros., an unlikely music venue where Tutu Jones performed tonight, and he was really feeling it by the third set, ending with a very intense pair of instrumentals that nobody, including him, wanted to end.

[Leeway]

The concert hiatus is over. Managed to catch the Ingrid Laubrock Quintet at Bohemian Caverns, DC, before I depart for the Evan Parker Residency in NYC.

The Quintet is Laubrock on tenor, Tim Berne on alto, Ben Gerstein on trombone, Dan Peck on tuba, and Tom Rainey on drums. A wealth of brass for sure, and obviously some top-flight musicians. Rather funny when Rainey was introduced as Tom Murphy. Rainey startled, said, "Tom who?!"

Two sets, although the second was truncated a bit. Most of the music was through-composed, or at lease part-composed. Started slow and low and continued to build in volume and complexity, although it remained very much controlled. I'll pretty much come out to watch any ensemble Berne or Laubrock is in, since I enjoy the playing so much. So this was a good night. I will acknowledge, for all that, this is not my favorite Laubrock ensemble. Still, definitely worth catching, especially if you like a strong brass performance.

[sidewinder]

Saw the great Don Weller at Wilmslow on Tuesday.

[BFrank]

Tonight:

The Baseball Project (Scott McCaughey, Steve Wynn, Linda Pitmon & Mike Mills)

Always entertaining!

[BillF]

Gilad Atzmon at Wilmslow last night. Wow, he is one sensational altoist!

[Leeway]

Up in NYC for the Evan Parker residency, but I had a chance to catch the Sylvie Courvoisier Trio at Roulette Monday night. The trio is Sylvie on piano, Drew Gress on bass, Kenny Wollesen on drums.

In person, Sylvie has this charisma that's hard to explain, a sort of verve mixed with directness. I really enjoy her piano playing. Great touch, a tendency to blend classical elements into her compositions, sort of Debussy/Ravel meets Cecil Taylor, and one of the few who can smoothly mix playing inside the piano with playing the keyboard.

Alas, the other trio members were not quite that interesting or satisfying. Gress seemed as if he really didn't know the music, appeared tentative at times, and simply wasn't much of a presence. Wollesen did rather better, trying to bring the rhythm section to life, but in the end, nothing special. Compared to Tyshawn Sorey the next night (perhaps an unfair comparison since the circumstances were different, but still....), Wolleson looked especially meager; there was a Grand Canyon of difference in terms of artistry.

[colinmce]

Huh. I haven't yet heard the new trio, but the reviewer at Point of Departure said the opposite: that Gress & Wolleson knew the music inside & out. FWIW, though, I've never been a big fan of Gress' playing. Don't know Wolleson.

[Leeway]

The CD might be better (performance or production), or the POD guy might be blowing smoke (never a discouraging word heard, although the articles are great), or maybe the trio was having an off-night. There's no hiding in a live performance, and as much as I like Sylvie (and have seen her a bunch of times), this trio didn't click for me in concert. YMMV as we say

[colinmce]

We'll see! I'm going to check the record out. I like her, but don't cotton to piano trios very much, so...

[A Lark Ascending]

Gilad Atzmon at Wilmslow last night. Wow, he is one sensational altoist!

Due in Sheffield next month. Not seen him for a few years so might well go.

[BFrank]

SFJAZZ

Brian Blade Fellowship, 9/18

The Cookers, 9/26

[kh1958]

Last night, getting to Longview for the first day of the T Bone Walker Blues Fesival proved to be more difficult than anticipated, but ultimately I made it just in time to hear a long set by the Lurie Bell Chicago Blues Band with Eddie Clearwater. It's not usual to hear a working Chicago blues band in these parts, and they were good. Best of the lot was harmonica player Russ Green. Worth the drive.

Next, the Eric Gales Trio followed. More rock than I normally go for, and I was wishing for his brother, the late Little Jimmy King; but despite a fair amount of absurd posturing, it was a pretty good group.

Edited September 13, 2014 by kh1958

[Steve Reynolds]

Mat Maneri/Lucien Ban Quintet @ Cornelia Street Cafe

With Tony Malaby, Bob Stewart and Billy Mintz

[Steve Reynolds]

Mat Maneri/Lucien Ban Quintet @ Cornelia Street Cafe

With Tony Malaby, Bob Stewart and Billy Mintz

Well my wife gave me the Tony Malaby fashion critique on the ride home:

Same shirt untucked but she was pleased that he was wearing a nice grey sweater. Pants too short with a bad tailoring job with socks not pulled up far enough.

Her comments about the band:

Better than the last time as the two new Lucien Ban tunes played during the second set were extraordinary -"Rapture" which opened the second set is her favorite jazz composition ever. She said as far as the playing of the tenor saxophone, that Malaby is the greatest.

For me I know that if I'm thinking every time I see Mat Maneri he was even better than the last time, then something really special is happening.

This band is the most accessible of any band with these two monster improvisors and it is due to Ban and the great Bob Stewart on tuba setting the tempos (as my wife also pointed out to me)

Two wonderous 60 minute sets

Can't wait to hear the "New Band" ,as Mat called them a couple of times, the next time. In a better world, this music is on the radio.

[relyles]

Mark Turner Quartet @ Regattabar, Cambridge, MA

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Mark Turner Quartet @ Regattabar, Cambridge, MA

I was there last night. Some "CD Release Party", huh? You would think that announcing a show as a "CD Release Party" you might want to have the CD available for sale? Nope. No CDs for sale at all.

Start 20 minutes late? No problem. Leave after an hour and 10 minutes ignoring the crowd (hint: your fans) asking for an encore? No problem. Hang around to sign your new CD at your "CD Release Party"? Huh? What do you mean, "hang around"? We high-tailied it outta there and disappeared. We don't do no stinkin' autographs.

[relyles]

Mark Turner Quartet @ Regattabar, Cambridge, MA

I was there last night. Some "CD Release Party", huh? You would think that announcing a show as a "CD Release Party" you might want to have the CD available for sale? Nope. No CDs for sale at all.

Start 20 minutes late? No problem. Leave after an hour and 10 minutes ignoring the crowd (hint: your fans) asking for an encore? No problem. Hang around to sign your new CD at your "CD Release Party"? Huh? What do you mean, "hang around"? We high-tailied it outta there and disappeared. We don't do no stinkin' autographs.

All that is true, but the music they did perform was superb IMO. I picked up the CD a couple weeks ago and like it alot. I have heard Mark Turner live many times over the years and he has never been a real "people person". He is far from outgoing. I spoke to him once or twice and and get the sense that he just wants to play his music and nothing else. Nothing mean spirited or necessarily rude. He just seems a bit uncomfortable engaging with strangers. One of my favorite musicians nonetheless.

[Steve Reynolds]

Mark Turner Quartet @ Regattabar, Cambridge, MA

I was there last night. Some "CD Release Party", huh? You would think that announcing a show as a "CD Release Party" you might want to have the CD available for sale? Nope. No CDs for sale at all.

Start 20 minutes late? No problem. Leave after an hour and 10 minutes ignoring the crowd (hint: your fans) asking for an encore? No problem. Hang around to sign your new CD at your "CD Release Party"? Huh? What do you mean, "hang around"? We high-tailied it outta there and disappeared. We don't do no stinkin' autographs.

I have a problem when the audience is all set and ready and the band is way too slow in starting. One night Tony Malaby had his "Reading Band" with Billy Drummond on drums and they were very late for the first set and much too slow getting back to the stage for the second set. The music was still very good but I was irritated, my wife was very irritated and there was no reason for any of it. They were at the back of the room messing around rather than getting to the business that we were all there for.

My wife noted that with Tamarindo with William Parker and Nasheet Waits that Tony was much more serious, on time and focused. She thinks it's because of William Parker and his serious vibe and I tend to agree.

This past Tuesday Evan Parker started at 8:05 and 10:07 and gave us 70 minutes for each set. Room was packed and ready to go and he obliged in a very professional manner. Very nice was to start the sets eliminating the given "start 15-20 minutes late" standard that seems to exists. I know in the past it was worse but starting promptly for me leads to a better atmosphere and better reception/interaction with the audience.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

All that is true, but the music they did perform was superb IMO. I picked up the CD a couple weeks ago and like it alot. I have heard Mark Turner live many times over the years and he has never been a real "people person". He is far from outgoing. I spoke to him once or twice and and get the sense that he just wants to play his music and nothing else. Nothing mean spirited or necessarily rude. He just seems a bit uncomfortable engaging with strangers. One of my favorite musicians nonetheless.

But he is billing this as a "CD Release Tour" and the Regattabar advertised it as a "CD Release Show": As such, attendees should expect the artist to have that CD available for purchase or at least offer to personalize this new CD for fans that have already bought it. Like you, I have seen him many times, including a few times as a leader. I have never tried getting him to sign anything before so I don't know his personality quirks but when you are there specifically to push your new CD, you should at least make yourself available to the people who came because of that new CD.

I mean, maybe he doesn't have access to any stock of this new CD? Well, tell us that. But if people like you already have it, why not personalize it or at least accept our thanks in person? What's the big deal (for him)? He can say, "no autographs". Several artists have said that lately. But to basically run off the stage and down the hall into a closed room? That's actually a bit rude for a Jazz artist. I expect that with rock bands but not Jazz guys.

And why do you think the band ignored the audience's encore request? What Mark Turner personality trait caused that?

BTW, I thought Avishai stole the show. His solos were fun and inventive. I was really digging him.

[relyles]

Not really disagreeing with you. I drove two hours from CT to attend and was hoping for at least an equal amount of music. I am just saying the quirks did not bother me as much as they understandably did you.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I have a problem when the audience is all set and ready and the band is way too slow in starting. One night Tony Malaby had his "Reading Band" with Billy Drummond on drums and they were very late for the first set and much too slow getting back to the stage for the second set. The music was still very good but I was irritated, my wife was very irritated and there was no reason for any of it. They were at the back of the room messing around rather than getting to the business that we were all there for.

My wife noted that with Tamarindo with William Parker and Nasheet Waits that Tony was much more serious, on time and focused. She thinks it's because of William Parker and his serious vibe and I tend to agree.

This past Tuesday Evan Parker started at 8:05 and 10:07 and gave us 70 minutes for each set. Room was packed and ready to go and he obliged in a very professional manner. Very nice was to start the sets eliminating the given "start 15-20 minutes late" standard that seems to exists. I know in the past it was worse but starting promptly for me leads to a better atmosphere and better reception/interaction with the audience.

Some nights, delays don't bother me much but last night's delay effectively doubled my ride home. It turns out that the Mass DOT guys decided to pave route 93 North last night and they started closing lanes about a half hour before I got there. I had to detour into the side roads. Ugh.

No matter, I wasn't as bummed out by this delay as I was by Turner's seeming lack of interest in interacting with the people who paid $35 to see him.

[relyles]

I fear my man crush on Turner is starting to make me sound like an apologist, but I would not call it a lack of interest. Instead it is a discomfort bordering on social awkwardness. Indeed another musician who did a tour with Turner a few years back told me that Turner is extremely shy. It does not excuse it by any means, but perhaps it adds some explanation? For what it is worth, I was seated next to a bunch of music students and did see them talking to Turner after the show.

I only paid $25.

In any event, this was my first visit to Regattabar and I generally have a favorable first impression of the venue. Will go back another time when something else of interest is on the calendar. Kevin perhaps next time we can make plans to connect.