What live music are you going to see tonight?

[JSngry]

2 hours ago, Steve Reynolds said:

Last night at Roulette

Gerry Hemingway: drums, marimba, etc.

Earl Howard: alto saxophone, saxello & electronics 

Anthony Davis: grand piano 

Kyle Motl: double bass

2 sets 45 & 50 minutes

disparate, brilliant & organic improvisations. Each set 2 pieces. 
 

stunned by two of the four saxophone sections / each was maybe 7-8 minutes of each piece interspersed with the group which played from short solo through duos, trios and the full quartet. WAY beyond my high expectations.

 

 

 

THE Anthony Davis?

[Steve Reynolds]

10 minutes ago, JSngry said:

THE Anthony Davis?

Yes / great to see him live. Amazing. 

[JSngry]

Wish I could have been there!

Not sure how often he plays out these days?

[Steve Reynolds]

10 minutes ago, JSngry said:

Wish I could have been there!

Not sure how often he plays out these days?

I’ve not seen him listed in years. Great to see him say hello to Marty Ehrlich. Seems like they had seen each other in years. 
 

my guess is with Hemingway being in town prompted the gig. Gerry hasn’t been here in almost 2 years. He lives in Switzerland. Summer 2023 he played with Marilyn Crispell & Mark Dresser on 7/1. Played with BassDrumBone a couple of days earlier with Ray Anderson & Mark Helias. Was hoping for a reprise this trip but alas, not happening. 

[BFrank]

Two drummer-centric shows at SFJAZZ this weekend - both with Joe Warner & Tarus Mateen:

Give the Drummer Some: Nasheet Waits
Give the Drummer Some: Marvin 'Smitty' Smith

Unfortunately I couldn't go on Thursday for Billy Hart

[Steve Reynolds]

Tyshawn Sorey & Roscoe Mitchell

Solar Myth

front row 8-9 feet from Roscoe:)

[mjazzg]

9 hours ago, Steve Reynolds said:

Tyshawn Sorey & Roscoe Mitchell

Solar Myth

front row 8-9 feet from Roscoe:)

Wow!

[Rabshakeh]

19 hours ago, Steve Reynolds said:

Tyshawn Sorey & Roscoe Mitchell

Solar Myth

front row 8-9 feet from Roscoe:)

I'm incredibly jealous of this one. 

[Steve Reynolds]

Tyshawn beyond great. Roscoe played mostly bass sax with small percussion with a little sopranino. His last solo on the bass saxophone was a work of genius. Brought tears to my eyes. 

44 minutes with 2 very short encores.

A very moving experience for me. 

 

[BFrank]

On 4/20/2025 at 3:43 PM, Steve Reynolds said:

Tyshawn beyond great. Roscoe played mostly bass sax with small percussion with a little sopranino. His last solo on the bass saxophone was a work of genius. Brought tears to my eyes. 

44 minutes with 2 very short encores.

A very moving experience for me. 

 

A friend of mine saw Tyshawn/ Roscoe in Philly. Would have liked to see the two of THEM for sure!

I got a good dose of Tyshawn at Big Ears this year. He was all over the place. He's an amazing talent in many settings.

[ejp626]

Possibly tonight but more likely tomorrow: Peter Bernstein and Lorne Lofsky w/ Neil Swainson at the Rex.

[Pim]

 

Anouar Brahem, Dave Holland, Anja Lechner and Django Bates. It was a magical experience. The addition of Lechner on cello was an excellent choice and the interaction between Brahem and Holland was highly enjoyable. Immediately bought the cd and had it signed by them, standing in a queue like a Belieber for Justin Bieber. 

[mjazzg]

44 minutes ago, Pim said:

 

Anouar Brahem, Dave Holland, Anja Lechner and Django Bates. It was a magical experience. The addition of Lechner on cello was an excellent choice and the interaction between Brahem and Holland was highly enjoyable. Immediately bought the cd and had it signed by them, standing in a queue like a Belieber for Justin Bieber. 

Nice, they're not playing the UK. I think the album is really strong, I'm surprised you didn't buy the LP.

[Pim]

12 minutes ago, mjazzg said:

Nice, they're not playing the UK. I think the album is really strong, I'm surprised you didn't buy the LP.

Ah that’s a shame (and probably a missed opportunity). 
 

Well there’s a few explanations for that choice though I am not sure any of them make sense… see them as a reflection of my seriously  twisted personality 😜

1. when it’s not recorded analog but digital I do not necessarily want it on vinyl. I do know from experience (Vijay Iyer LP) that the ECM vinyl sounds great. 
2. The music runs only 60 minutes but that means 2 LPs and standing up after every two songs… this kind of music makes me want to stay in my chair.

3. I own all of his other works on cd which leads to a weird neurotic satisfaction when it looks like this:

 

oh and theirs a fourth reason as well: they didn’t bring enough vinyl copies which I found rather silly. It’s no secret vinyl is popular and I saw tens of potential customers walk away dissapointed.

[mjazzg]

6 hours ago, Pim said:

Ah that’s a shame (and probably a missed opportunity). 
 

Well there’s a few explanations for that choice though I am not sure any of them make sense… see them as a reflection of my seriously  twisted personality 😜

1. when it’s not recorded analog but digital I do not necessarily want it on vinyl. I do know from experience (Vijay Iyer LP) that the ECM vinyl sounds great. 
2. The music runs only 60 minutes but that means 2 LPs and standing up after every two songs… this kind of music makes me want to stay in my chair.

3. I own all of his other works on cd which leads to a weird neurotic satisfaction when it looks like this:

 

oh and theirs a fourth reason as well: they didn’t bring enough vinyl copies which I found rather silly. It’s no secret vinyl is popular and I saw tens of potential customers walk away dissapointed.

Admirable reasoning there @Pim

1. I tend to agree but do buy LPs of new releases of artists that I really like or that the music sounds like it should be on LP (please don't ask me to explain this one, I can't!)

2. This has never bothered me perhaps because I'm old enough to have grown up with LPs so getting up is natural. I can get fidgety with a 70+minute CD these days

3. Completely agree about this. I have CD artists and LP artists for much the same reason. Interestingly I have Brahem's complete catalogue on CD so he's a CD artist in my head. So why did I buy the LP this time, see reason 1 above...

4. that was silly

And as for them not touring here, I still blame f@@##£g Brexit, definite drop in European acts visiting (and who can blame them really)

Edited April 25 by mjazzg

[kh1958]

First Weekend of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Day 1:

Starting off with Mixantena de Santa Cecelia, a horn and drum based folk group from Mexico.

Economy Hall: Leroy Jones and New Orleans' Finest. Elegant and swinging New Orleans trumpet master.

Blues Tent: Little Freddie King Blues Band. Per his website, he's been shot, stabbed, electrocuted, and nearly drowned by Hurricane Katrina. Real deal blues player and cousin of Lightnin' Hopkins. No actual resemblance to the great Freddie King.

Jazz Tent: Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap duo. Not my cup of tea.

Congo Square Stage: Seun Kuti and Egypt 80. Fantastic set.

Day 2:

Economy Hall: Shake 'Em Up Jazz Band: All girl band in the vein of Tuba Skinny. Enjoyable.

Lagniappe Stage: Mahmoud Chouki New World Ensemble. With Stephen Gladney on tenor sax and Oscar Rossignoli on piano. Outstanding and thrilling performance by the charismatic Moroccan guitarist/oud player.

Congo Square: Youssou N'Dour. Exciting set from Senegalese master.

Economy Hall: Secret Six Jazz Band. Another pleasing group in a similar vein to Tuba Skinny.

Day 3:

Jazz Tent; Kyle Roussel. Outstanding young New Orleans based jazz pianist.

Lagniappe Stage: Marimba Nandayapa. Masterful Marimba band from Chiapas, Mexico.

Lagniappe Stage: Zar Electrik. From North Africa via France. Music of the Maghreb.

Evening:  Noah Young Trio with Mahmoud Chouki at NOLA Brewing Company. Great band.

Day 4:

Jazz Tent: Leon Anderson Quintet. Sold mainstream band led by drummer Leon Anderson. Ricardo Pasqual on saxophones, John Michal Bradford on trumpet and Oscar Rossignolli on piano.

Blues Tent: Etran de L'Air. Great live band from Niger. The two guitarists and bass guitarist exchanged instruments twice, each playing both guitars and the bass.

Jazz Tent: Bill Frisell Trio with Brian Blade and Thomas Morgan. Set featured two lengthy improvisatios--40 minutes and 20 minutes apiece. Ending with What the World Needs Now is Love...

Jazz Tent: Branford Marsalis Quartet. Branford is certainly playing with a lot of authority and  swagger these days. Strong, long running band. Excellent.

Evening: Mahmoud Chouki Handmade Instruments Ensemble with Yusa. At Snug Harbor. Such a great set. Seeing Mahnoud in three different bands over the weekend was so great. 

[HutchFan]

51 minutes ago, kh1958 said:

First Weekend of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Thanks for the report, @kh1958!   

 

 

On 4/25/2025 at 5:13 AM, Pim said:

I own all of his other works on cd which leads to a weird neurotic satisfaction when it looks like this:

This particular habit -- collecting a given artist's output solely in either digital or analog -- isn't one of mine.  But I love discussing these sorts of idiosyncrasies.  We've all got our weird habits -- the rules of our inner collector -- that guide us.  And they're OFTEN strangely irrational.  Even so, these "neurotic" habits are definitely part of the equation that makes the whole collection-building process so damn enjoyable.   

 

Edited April 30 by HutchFan

[jlhoots]

Gary Smulyan / Frank Basile: The Boss Baritones

[ejp626]

On 5/1/2025 at 10:27 AM, jlhoots said:

Gary Smulyan / Frank Basile: The Boss Baritones

Nice!  I saw Smulyan for the first time about a month ago when he was passing through Toronto.

I'm planning on seeing Michael Sarian on Monday (he's playing The Rex Sunday and Monday).  I assume he'll be promoting this project and will likely have some CDs for sale, so I'll try to be ready (with some cash).

https://michaelsarian.bandcamp.com/album/esquina

[Steve Reynolds]

Among other gigs I saw Tyshawn Sorey in duet with Angelika Niescier last Wednesday at Zurcher Gallery on Bleecker Street. SO great to see all the dedicated listeners, old & new. Especially seeing the wonderful people who treated my wife so great when we went to the shows. Roberta & Richard top the list:)

Tyshawn on snare & bass drum w/ 2 cymbals 

40 minute set. Maybe the best drumming I’ve ever witnessed. Brought EVERYTHING out of the wonderful alto saxophonist. Brilliant concise focused improvising. 
 

also saw an amazing gig with Ada Rave, Chuck Roth, Michael Vatcher, Elisabeth Coudoux, Michael Foster & Sean Ali.

duo with Chuck & Elisabeth which was awe inspiring. Quartet with the others which might have been even better. 

Ada is one of the greatest tenor saxophonists I’ve seen over the past 2-3 years. 

Edited May 3 by Steve Reynolds

[ejp626]

On 5/3/2025 at 12:00 AM, ejp626 said:

I'm planning on seeing Michael Sarian on Monday (he's playing The Rex Sunday and Monday).  I assume he'll be promoting this project and will likely have some CDs for sale, so I'll try to be ready (with some cash).

https://michaelsarian.bandcamp.com/album/esquina

This was fun.  It was an awful lot like seeing Bitches Brew played live, though not as elaborate on the percussion.  Anyway, Sarian is continuing to tour this new album.  He said he would be heading to Detroit and also Chicago (where he is playing Elastic).

[kh1958]

Second Weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Day 1:

Lagniappe Stage: Starting off with the wonderful Helen Gillet, Solo cello with looping, and vocals. One of the most outstanding musicians based on New Orleans.

Blues Tent: Cedric Burnside. He's a very good blues drummer and vocalist and an adequate guitar player. Usually he only plays guitar for a few songs, but this time, the whole set.

Jazz Tent: Peter Harris Presents Firm Roots. Bassist Peter Harris presides over various jazz groups at the Bayou Bar most nights of the week.  This band plays weekly and is a solid, hard swinging mainstream jazz group, with Herlin Riley on drums, Derek Douget on saxophones, Ashlin Parker on trumpet, and Dwight Fitch on piano.

Jazz Tent: George Wein Tribute Band featuring Randy Brecker. Randy Brecker leads a band of New Orleans jazz musicians in what is announced as an annual tribute to the late George Wein, the pianist. An excellent band featuring Amina Scott on bass, Victor Campbell on piano, Stephen Walker on trombone and Trevarri on saxophone.

Blues Tent: Mr. Sipp. High energy set from Mississippi singer/guitarist Castro Coleman.

Day 2:

Jazz Tent: Steve Lands. The New Orleans trumpeter performs material from his new recording, Reimagining the Planets. This set was superb and the band featured Stephen Gladney on tenor saxophone and Shea Pierre on piano.

Jazz Tent: Cuban conga player/bandleader Alexey Marti leads an exciting set of Latin jazz, featuring a multinational group (Cuba, Colombia, Spain, United States, Dominican Republic...).

Jazz Tent: Ashlin Parker's Trumpet Mafia. Fantastic set from the trumpet based big band. Only about a dozen trumpets this year, plus three saxophones and three trombones, with rhythm section. Featured guest trumpets were by Maurice Brown and Marquise Hill.

Jazz Tent: Alfredo Rodriquez Trio. Magnificent set by the Cuban virtuoso pianist.

Jazz Tent: Joshua Redman with Gabrielle Cavassa. I think it has been 30 years since I last saw Joshua Redman. This was announced as this particular group's last concert. The rhythm section with Philip Norris on bass is very good.. The set was okay but I'm not really sold on Joshua Redman. Same for the vocalist. The four preceding sets in the Jazz Tent this day were all better.

Evening set: At Good Measure in the Barnett Hotel, Nicholas Payton with drummer Karriem Riggins. This proved to be a trio, with Sasha Masakowski on looping. I found the set to be quite interesting. Nicolas Payton alternated between keyboards, bass and trumpet, with Sasha looping his lines. The trumpet playing was quite excellent.

Day 3:

Economy Hall: Jamil Sharif, with group including Louis Ford on clarinet and  Richard Moten on bass. This was the best set of traditional New Orleans jazz I heard this year. As far as compositions performed, equal time was given to Jabbo Smith as to Louis Armstrong. Guest appearance by Dr. Michael White. The elderly gentleman bass player shows up alot in Economy Hall--any relation to Benny Moten?

Lagniappe Stage: Joy Clark The very fine New Orleans based folk/blues singer/guitarist.

Jazz Tent: Only heard the last two songs of pianist Victor Campbell's leader set.

Jazz Tent: Nicholas Payton Triune with Karriem Riggins and Esperanza Spalding. In contrast to the previous evening, I did not much care for this set. Too little trumpet playing from Nic Payton. Esperanza Spalding plays the acoustic bsss well, but I don't care for her vocals.

Cultural Pavilion: Benin International Muisical. I caught the last half of their set. An exciting afro-rock band from Benin.

Day 4: 

Jazz Tent: Stephanie Jordan with Rachel Jordan Music Alive Ensemble. Kidd Jordan's two musician daughters lead a first rate band also including Marlon Jordan on trumpet and a string quartet. Stephanie is an excellent jazz vocalist and Rachel plays violin. In the spiritual jazz vein.

Jazz tent: Terence Blanchard's Flow. Electric jazz group featuring Charles Altura on guitar. A fine set highlighted but the closing song, Prism.

Jazz Tent: Kamasi Washington. Very loud group. High volume pseudo-spiritual jazz, with Pharoah Sanders' ghost making an appearance in Kamasi's opening solo. He does feature his father on soprano and flute, and his father is good. Also a trombone player gets solos. Keyboards player and turntablist were very loud and irritating. I bailed about 3/4s of the way through the set. The Jordan Family set was vastly better.

Evening set: Herlin Riley at Snug Harbor. Fantastic as usual, with David Torkanowsky on piano, Derek Douget on saxophones, and Tanya Boyd Cannon on vocals..

 

 

 

Edited May 7 by kh1958

[Dub Modal]

24 minutes ago, kh1958 said:

Second Weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Day 1:

Lagniappe Stage: Starting off with the wonderful Helen Gillet, Solo cello with looping, and vocals. One of the most outstanding musicians based on New Orleans.

Blues Tent: Cedric Burnside. He's a very good blues drummer and vocalist and an adequate guitar player. Usually he only plays guitar for a few songs, but this time, the whole set.

Jazz Tent: Peter Harris Presents Firm Roots. Bassist Peter Harris presides over various jazz groups at the Bayou Bar most nights of the week.  This band plays weekly and is a solid, hard swinging mainstream jazz group, with Herlin Riley on drums, Derek Douget on saxophones, Ashlin Parker on trumpet, and Dwight Fitch on piano.

Jazz Tent: George Wein Tribute Band featuring Randy Brecker. Randy Brecker leads a band of New Orleans jazz musicians in what is announced as an annual tribute to the late George Wein, the pianist. An excellent band featuring Amina Scott on bass, Victor Campbell on piano, Stephen Walker on trombone and Trevarri on saxophone.

Blues Tent: Mr. Sipp. High energy set from Mississippi singer/guitarist Castro Coleman.

Day 2:

Jazz Tent: Steve Lands. The New Orleans trumpeter performs material from his new recording, Reimagining the Planets. This set was superb and the band featured Stephen Gladney on tenor saxophone and Shea Pierre on piano.

Jazz Tent: Cuban conga player/bandleader Alexey Marti leads an exciting set of Latin jazz, featuring a multinational group (Cuba, Colombia, Spain, United States, Dominican Republic...).

Jazz Tent: Ashlin Parker's Trumpet Mafia. Fantastic set from the trumpet based big band. Only about a dozen trumpets this year, plus three saxophones and three trombones, with rhythm section. Featured guest trumpets were by Maurice Brown and Marquise Hill.

Jazz Tent: Alfredo Rodriquez Trio. Magnificent set by the Cuban virtuoso pianist.

Jazz Tent: Joshua Redman with Gabrielle Cavassa. I think it has been 30 years since I last saw Joshua Redman. This was announced as this particular group's last concert. The rhythm section with Philip Norris on bass is very good.. The set was okay but I'm not really sold on Joshua Redman. Same for the vocalist. The four preceding sets in the Jazz Tent this day were all better.

Evening set: At Good Measure in the Barnett Hotel, Nicholas Payton with drummer Karriem Riggins. This proved to be a trio, with Sasha Masakowski on looping. I found the set to be quite interesting. Nicolas Payton alternated between keyboards, bass and trumpet, with Sasha looping his lines. The trumpet playing was quite excellent.

Day 3:

Economy Hall: Jamil Sharif, with group including Louis Ford on clarinet and  Richard Moten on bass. This was the best set of traditional New Orleans jazz I heard this year. As far as compositions performed, equal time was given to Jabbo Smith as to Louis Armstrong. Guest appearance by Dr. Michael White. The elderly gentleman bass player shows up alot in Economy Hall--any relation to Benny Moten?

Lagniappe Stage: Joy Clark The very fine New Orleans based folk/blues singer/guitarist.

Jazz Tent: Only heard the last two songs of pianist Victor Campbell's leader set.

Jazz Tent: Nicholas Payton Triune with Karriem Riggins and Esperanza Spalding. In contrast to the previous evening, I did not much care for this set. Too little trumpet playing from Nic Payton. Esperanza Spalding plays the acoustic bsss well, but I don't care for her vocals.

Cultural Pavilion: Benin International Muisical. I caught the last half of their set. An exciting afro-rock band from Benin.

Day 4: 

Jazz Tent: Stephanie Jordan with Rachel Jordan Music Alive Ensemble. Kidd Jordan's two musician daughters lead a first rate band also including Marlon Jordan on trumpet and a string quartet. Stephanie is an excellent jazz vocalist and Rachel plays violin. In the spiritual jazz vein.

Jazz tent: Terence Blanchard's Flow. Electric jazz group featuring Charles Altura on guitar. A fine set highlighted but the closing song, Prism.

Jazz Tent: Kamasi Washington. Very loud group. High volume pseudo-spiritual jazz, with Pharoah Sanders' ghost making an appearance in Kamasi's opening solo. He does feature his father on soprano and flute, and his father is good. Also a trombone player gets solos. Keyboards player and turntablist were very loud and irritating. I bailed about 3/4s of the way through the set. The Jordan Family set was vastly better.

Evening set: Herlin Riley at Snug Harbor. Fantastic as usual, with David Torkanowsky on piano, Derek Douget on saxophones, and Tanya Boyd Cannon on vocals..

 

 

 

Thanks for the summary and reviews for those of us that can't attend. 

[Steve Reynolds]

First show since 4/30

Ned Rothenberg, Sylvie Courvoisier & Nasheet Waits

At The Stone last night. Front row center:)

52 minute improv with a 7-8 minute coda/encore

Ned does lots of circular breathing but only when he picked up the alto did he really match the incredible energy & force of the great pianist & drummer. He lacks grit & fire but he’s a very good technician on his horns. He never gets to the next level like the great ones. 
 

Sylvie as great as I’ve ever seen her & Nasheet is a force of nature. A great listener & a master of sound. He creates grooves that we didn’t know existed. His dynamics are otherworldly. Sylvie is the best improvising pianist in New York. 

Edited May 16 by Steve Reynolds

[T.D.]

Bark Culture (+ Blue Lake + Ezra Feinberg) at Tubby's, Kingston NY.

I don't go to bars very often. Sometimes feel weird at classical / Indian concerts because of the senior demographics.

Last night I was the oldest person in the house.

Don't know which is weirder. 🥴