What live music are you going to see tonight?

[JSngry]

You would have, if only to tell the tale!

[Steve Reynolds]

Ballister>>>>>>>>>>>>any game 

As great as Rempis is, Fred Lonberg-Holm is one of the greatest true improvisors on the planet.  

Edited April 10 by Steve Reynolds

[JSngry]

8 minutes ago, Steve Reynolds said:

Ballister>>>>>>>>>>>>any game 

So...are steaks better than Venetian blinds?

Are clothespins better than lightbulbs?

Are aquariums better than grocery stores?

Are day games better than banjo picks?

[Steve Reynolds]

Ballister is more rare! No improvising trio sound remotely like them. The opportunity to see them up close is very very special to those of us interested in this type of music. Grand Masters at play/work. 

 

I do understand the idea of a dude from England seeing a game at Wrigley. Maybe once in a lifetime.  I love games/sports too.

But I’m a music guy. Avant-garde guy. I go to over a hundred shows a year. 

plus I’m an objectavist (if that’s a valid term) as are most of my music friends & the few close musician friends I have. What’s great is great. When my musician friend is chatting with Mark Helias the other night we both agreed it’s not our opinion that he’s a master, it’s the truth. We both don’t “think” Randy Peterson & Nasheet Waits are genius level drummers, it’s obvious to those of us who witness it. 
 

The performance a week ago tomorrow was better than any game, save for Boston championship victories. 
 

Among the best 10–15 shows I’ve seen the last couple of years. They are great. 

Edited April 10 by Steve Reynolds

[JSngry]

Mark Helias is certainly a master, but so is Corey Seager. And he had a pretty good game this afternoon!

But don't be fooled - it's baseball and bass playing, so direct comparisons are really kinda silly.

 

[Rabshakeh]

Look, it was indoors. I was able to wear a tee shirt. Chicago is, it turns out, very cold. Have some mercy.

Good gig. A different feel to your average Wednesday night OTO crowd or my comparatively limited NY experiences. 

[Steve Reynolds]

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.

 

 

 

[colinmce]

Sounds great. I will have to look up the livestream of that one.

[Ken Dryden]

I saw Dweezil Zappa last night, his band was tight and they had a sense of the absurd. Especially the new guy, who insisted that they play "Punky's Whips." Even funnier was a cover of Lionel Richie's "Hello," with a duck call in place of the vocal.

 

[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 Friday at 03:47 PM 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.