David Newman in Concert

[kh1958]

David Newman appeared at the University of Texas at Dallas last night, in a small concert hall.

It was a fine, well-attended (300 people or so) concert.

The backup band was local musicians, Kelly Durbin on piano, James Gilyard on bass, and Andrew Griffith on drums. They acquited themselves quite well. Mr. Newman's son Dino sat in on vocals for a couple of songs each set.

Mr. Newman appeared in good health (the earlier scheduled concert last October was cancelled when he broke his hip), except once between songs he looked a trifle winded and said he was having a "senior moment."

His sound on his instruments was utterly gorgeous (Tenor, alto and flute)--truly beautiful, soulful, profound. It always has been, but if I noticed one slight change from prior appearances I've seen, it was an even stronger focus on the pure sound of his instruments, with the harder, blues type blowing being in less evidence this time.

Among other songs, he played Sunrise, Delilah, Hard Times, Cousin Essau, Duke Pearson's Cristo Redenter, Hank Mobley's This I Dig of You, and Herbie Mann's Passin' Through (the latter three with a bit of commentary on the composers). The vocal's were Hit the Road Jack, Georgia on My Mind, Caravan, and Red Top.

It was heartening to see the table where his High Note CDs were being sold literallly mobbed with people, who virtually bought out all the boxes of CDs he had brought. I picked up the new one, I don't think released officially yet--Cityscape, with Howard Johnson, Winston Byrd, Benny Powell, David Leonhardt, John Menegon and Yoron Israel.

It was a very happy experience to see David Newman perform in person once again.

[Dan Gould]

David Newman appeared at the University of Texas at Dallas last night, in a small concert hall.

It was a fine, well-attended (300 people or so) concert.

The backup band was local musicians, Kelly Durbin on piano, James Gilyard on bass, and Andrew Griffith on drums. They acquited themselves quite well. Mr. Newman's son Dino sat in on vocals for a couple of songs each set.

Mr. Newman appeared in good health (the earlier scheduled concert last October was cancelled when he broke his hip), except once between songs he looked a trifle winded and said he was having a "senior moment."

His sound on his instruments was utterly gorgeous (Tenor, alto and flute)--truly beautiful, soulful, profound. It always has been, but if I noticed one slight change from prior appearances I've seen, it was an even stronger focus on the pure sound of his instruments, with the harder, blues type blowing being in less evidence this time.

Among other songs, he played Sunrise, Delilah, Hard Times, Cousin Essau, Duke Pearson's Cristo Redenter, Hank Mobley's This I Dig of You, and Herbie Mann's Passin' Through (the latter three with a bit of commentary on the composers). The vocal's were Hit the Road Jack, Georgia on My Mind, Caravan, and Red Top.

It was heartening to see the table where his High Note CDs were being sold literallly mobbed with people, who virtually bought out all the boxes of CDs he had brought. I picked up the new one, I don't think released officially yet--Cityscape, with Howard Johnson, Winston Byrd, Benny Powell, David Leonhardt, John Menegon and Yoron Israel.

It was a very happy experience to see David Newman perform in person once again.

Congratulations. Apparently it was this gig that he preferred to take rather than the one in South Florida he had previously committed to. And now I have it from the head of the jazz society he screwed around with that he is "not worth the trouble" so there won't be any future attempt to bring him here.

[kh1958]

I don't know what you are talking about, but he was scheduled to play the same concert in Dallas last October, cancelled for health reasons, and it was immediately rescheduled for January 14. This appearance has been on his website since October. He also appears, from my observations over many years, to be a very pleasant, refined gentleman.

David Newman appeared at the University of Texas at Dallas last night, in a small concert hall.

It was a fine, well-attended (300 people or so) concert.

The backup band was local musicians, Kelly Durbin on piano, James Gilyard on bass, and Andrew Griffith on drums. They acquited themselves quite well. Mr. Newman's son Dino sat in on vocals for a couple of songs each set.

Mr. Newman appeared in good health (the earlier scheduled concert last October was cancelled when he broke his hip), except once between songs he looked a trifle winded and said he was having a "senior moment."

His sound on his instruments was utterly gorgeous (Tenor, alto and flute)--truly beautiful, soulful, profound. It always has been, but if I noticed one slight change from prior appearances I've seen, it was an even stronger focus on the pure sound of his instruments, with the harder, blues type blowing being in less evidence this time.

Among other songs, he played Sunrise, Delilah, Hard Times, Cousin Essau, Duke Pearson's Cristo Redenter, Hank Mobley's This I Dig of You, and Herbie Mann's Passin' Through (the latter three with a bit of commentary on the composers). The vocal's were Hit the Road Jack, Georgia on My Mind, Caravan, and Red Top.

It was heartening to see the table where his High Note CDs were being sold literallly mobbed with people, who virtually bought out all the boxes of CDs he had brought. I picked up the new one, I don't think released officially yet--Cityscape, with Howard Johnson, Winston Byrd, Benny Powell, David Leonhardt, John Menegon and Yoron Israel.

It was a very happy experience to see David Newman perform in person once again.

Congratulations. Apparently it was this gig that he preferred to take rather than the one in South Florida he had previously committed to. And now I have it from the head of the jazz society he screwed around with that he is "not worth the trouble" so there won't be any future attempt to bring him here.

[Dan Gould]

And January 14th was announced in September as the date for his Fort Lauderdale appearance. As I understand it, he double-booked and ultimately gave the shaft to Fort Lauderdale.

[kh1958]

David Newman's concert schedule from his website.

Concert Schedule

2006

January 14

University of Texas at Dallas

Richardson, Texas

January 20-22

Jazz At Pearls

San Francisco, California

February 1-2

East Stroudsberg University Jazz Masters Series

East Stroudsberg, Pa.

February 3-4

Twins Jazz

Washington, DC

February 11

Arts Maplewood On Stage

Burgdoff Cultural Center

Maplewood, NJ

February 12

East Coast Festival

Rockville, Maryland

February 14

University of Utah Black History Celebration

Salt Lake City, Utah

February 16

President's Cultural Series at Bryant University

Smithfield, Rhode Island

February 19

Academy of Music

North Hampton, Massachusetts

February 25

Ft. Pierce Jazz Society

Ft. Pierce, Florida

February 26

Twin Cities Winter Jazz Festival

Double Tree Hotel, St. Louis Park

Minneapolis, Minnesota

March 3-4

Ellingtons

Sanibel Island, Florida

March 13-20

Radisson Luxury Jazz Cruise

departs Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

April 6

NY Community College Theater Jazz Series

NYC

April 7

La Guardia College Jazz Concert Series

LI City, NY

April 19-21

Duke University

North Carolina

[kh1958]

Uh, this is a 72 year od man who broke his hip and had to cancel all of his concerts for a couple of months.

Maybe your Jazz Society should be a bit flexible. It's not really surprising that he would give preference to what amounts to his home town, is it?

And January 14th was announced in September as the date for his Fort Lauderdale appearance. As I understand it, he double-booked and ultimately gave the shaft to Fort Lauderdale.

Edited January 15, 2006 by kh1958