JAZZ FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE
Friday, June 19, 2020
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Jazz Birthdays
Jimmy Cheatham b. June 18,
1924, d. January 12, 2007
A
trombonist and arranger best remembered for stints in support of Chico Hamilton and Duke Ellington, Jimmy Cheatham was also a jazz educator and
bandleader, with wife Jeannie helming the Sweet Baby Blues Band for close to half
a century.
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Jazz Birthdays
Clarence
Eugene “Gene” Shaw b. Detroit, MI 6/16/1926, d. Los Angeles,
CA 8/17/1973 – trumpet
One of the true “Forgotten Heroes of Hard Bop”, Shaw
played with Lucky Millender, Lester Young and Wardell Gray before joining the
Charles Mingus group in 1957. Had star making performances on Mingus classics, Tijuana Moods and East Coasting. Recorded as leader, for Argo in 1960’s. His session Breakthrough, recorded in Chicago 1962,
is one of the hidden gems from the hard bop era. The title is well worth
seeking. – Breakthrough (1962) Argo
Eli
“Lucky” Thompson – b. Columbia, S.C.6/16/1924. d. Seattle,
WA 7/30/2005 –tenor, soprano sax
Raised in Detroit,Thompson was outspoken critic
of dishonesty and under handed music
business practices.. Played with own band at Savoy Ballroom, went to Europe in
1950’s because of his dislike of music
business practices and joined Stan Kenton for French tour in 1956. Returned to
States in 1962. – Lucky Strikes (1964)
Prestige
Monday, September 17, 2018
39th DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL 2018 words by Calvin Neal, photos by Calvin Neal & Greg Lewis
OPENING NIGHT
Terri Lyne Carrington/Esperanza Spalding; Tribute To Geri Allen, “Open On All Sides” (creative music side of Geri)
Esperanza Spalding – bass
Terri Lyne Carrington - drums
Kris Davis – piano
Ravi Coltrane – saxophones
David McMurray – flute
Carrington, Spalding and pianist Kris Davis began the set
with some fiery trio play in a set wholly comprised of Geri Allen
compositions. Then, the trio was joined
by saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and David McMurray on flute plus tap artist Maurice
Chestnut (performed in Europe with Geri Allen as tap soloist) Spalding was
bouncy, energetic and absolutely fierce during the tribute. With sunglasses
keeping the glare of the evening sun out of her eyes, Carrington was the
epitome me of cool. And boy did she jam! Pianist Davis was a revelation and
more than did justice to the Allen compositions. McMurray played beautiful in
and out flute and Coltrane, who is a dead ringer for his father, (and also much
underrated) shone very bright. A marvelous way to kickoff DJF 2018.
A brief interlude from Mack Avenue Records artists the Julian Lage Trio
lead to a rousing session from this year’s Artist-In-Residence, Chick Corea Along with DJF mainstay bassist John Patitucci and longtime Corea collaborator, drummer Dave Weckl, the performed as The Akoustic Band. At 77, Corea looked youthful and healthy and as nimble fingered as ever. Patitucci may be the best jazz bassist in the business right now (in my humble estimation) and on this night he did not disappoint. His solos were strong and definitive. And he is also a wizard with the bow. The propulsive Weckl sounded as if he could have played all night. Through an array of Akoustic Band music , old and new, Chick and friends sounded as fresh as the did on the 1989 album named for the band.
David McMurray, Esperanza Spalding, Ravi Coltrane |
David McMurray |
A brief interlude from Mack Avenue Records artists the Julian Lage Trio
Julian Lage Trio |
lead to a rousing session from this year’s Artist-In-Residence, Chick Corea Along with DJF mainstay bassist John Patitucci and longtime Corea collaborator, drummer Dave Weckl, the performed as The Akoustic Band. At 77, Corea looked youthful and healthy and as nimble fingered as ever. Patitucci may be the best jazz bassist in the business right now (in my humble estimation) and on this night he did not disappoint. His solos were strong and definitive. And he is also a wizard with the bow. The propulsive Weckl sounded as if he could have played all night. Through an array of Akoustic Band music , old and new, Chick and friends sounded as fresh as the did on the 1989 album named for the band.
Chick Corea |
DAY 2
Straight Ahead –
Carhartt Amphitheatre
Regina Carter – violin
Alina Moor – piano
Marion Hayden – bass
Gayelynn McKinney – drums
Kymberli Wright – vocals
Yancyy – saxophone
The 25th
reunion of Straight Ahead was all we expected and more. The core of Straight
Ahead, violinist Regina Carter, pianist Alina Moor, bassist Marion Hayden and
Gayelynn McKinney on drums were in rare form. Their 50-minute set was a
treasure trove of the groups long list of compositions. Joined for one tune by
Detroiters, vocalist Kymberli Wright and saxophonist Yancyy, with amazing scat
vocalese from Ms. Wright. Carter displayed her world class skills and rocked
the house. Moor, with her inside/outside playing, added to the weekend of
outstanding pianists (see Kris Davis in Opening Night article), while Hayden and McKinney, as always, keeping the groove.
Alina Moor |
Marion Hayden |
Regina Carter, Gayelynn McKinney |
Regina Carter, Marion Hayden, Kymberli Wright |
Louis Hayes Quintet – Carhartt Amphitheatre
Louis Hayes – drums
Abraham Burton – tenor sax
Steve Nelson – vibes
David Bryant – piano
Dezron Douglas – bass
Though
Dr. Lonnie Smith and his trio were scheduled for the time slot, Louis Hayes and
his quintet were more than worthy alternates. Hayes at 81, is still one of the
hardest driving drummers around. Accompanied by Abraham Burton on tenor sax, vibraphonist
Steve Nelson, David Bryant on piano and on bass, Dezron Douglas. The set was
entitled “Serenade for Horace”, Hayes’ tribute to his mentor and former
bandleader the legendary Horace Silver. Throughout the 50-minute set, Hayes and
company helped me believe that my beloved hard bop is not dead. Veteran vibist
and educator Nelson, longtime member bassist Dave Holland’s groups, was fiery
and original. Abraham Burton was a welcome voice with his own hard bop voice.
The boyish looking Bryant was just another of the magnificent pianists heard
during this festival. Douglas, on up-tempo and slower, held it down with his
thumping bassline. Expecting Dr. Lonnie Smith and instead seeing Louis Hayes
was like wanting a Play Station and getting an Xbox, fantastic either way.
Louis Hayes Quintet |
Abraham Burton |
Louis Hayes |
Steve Nelson |
David Bryant |
Dezron Douglas |
DAY 3
Randy Brecker – trumpet
Nicolas Payton – trumpet
David Weiss – trumpet
Jeremy Pelt – trumpet
The 80th
birthday celebration for the late, great trumpeter Freddie Hubbard entitled
Hubtones, was absolutely amazing. Four of the top trumpeters in jazz, the
highly decorated Nicholas Payton, Randy Brecker, who during his illustrious career
has been a member of Blood, Sweat and Tears and both the Horace Silver Quintet
and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the young firebrand Jeremy Pelt and David
Weiss, who recorded with Hubbard on his final session.
Nicholas Payton |
Randy Brecker |
Jeremy Pelt |
Jeremy Pelt, Randy Brecker, Nicholas Payton |
David Weiss |
Roy McCurdy |
Asaba Trio – Absopure
Waterfront Stage
Hirofumi Asaba – guitar
Yuhei Honkawa – bass
Toshihiro Fujita – drums
This
year’s representative of the Yokohama Jazz Promenade was the winner of its
Grand Prix competition, The Asaba Trio. Lead by guitarist Hirofumi Asaba, the
trio, bassist Yuhei Honkawa and drummer Toshihiro Fujita were, as previous Yokohama
winners, tremendous. Asaba, who’s style pays tribute to Barney Kessel, was a
nimble finger magician. “Sweet and Lovely, “In Your Own Special Way” and “Asaba
Blues” were standouts. Honkawa reminded of the bassists of legend like Oscar
Pettiford, as he mouthed every thump of his bass, it was great! And drummer was
a cool, unassuming dynamo.
Asaba Trio |
Hirofumi Asaba |
Toshihiro Fujita |
Yuhei Tonkawa |
#DetroitJazzFestiva! #Jazz #DJF2018
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Thursday, November 23, 2017
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