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186777_HH_Nov_0 10/25/17 10:53 AM Page 1 The only jazz magazine in NY in print, online THE LATIN SIDE and on apps! OF HOT HOUSE P29 November 2017 www.hothousejazz.com Blue Note Page 10 Mezzrow Page 19 Dee Dee Bridgewater Todd Coolman Gregory Porter Sheila Jordan Exit Zero Festival & NJPAC Page 10 Iridium Page 15 Where To Go & Who To See Since 1982 186777_HH_Nov_0 10/25/17 10:53 AM Page 2 2 186777_HH_Nov_0 10/25/17 10:53 AM Page 3 3 186777_HH_Nov_0 10/25/17 10:53 AM Page 4 4 186777_HH_Nov_0 10/25/17 10:53 AM Page 5 5 186777_HH_Nov_0 10/25/17 10:53 AM Page 6 6 186777_HH_Nov_0 10/25/17 10:53 AM Page 7 7 186777_HH_Nov_0 10/25/17 10:53 AM Page 8 8 186777_HH_Nov_0 10/25/17 10:53 AM Page 9 9 186777_HH_Nov_0 10/25/17 10:53 AM Page 10 WINNING SPINS By George Kanzler ECORDINGS FROM THE MIDDLE mold of Nat's Capitol orchestral recordings. of the last century, as heard on LPs For a more personal take on the past, andR on the radio, are the inspiration and though still heavy into homage, we turn to template for recording by a couple of our Memphis…Yes I'm Ready, Dee Dee best jazz singers from two generations. Bridgewater (OKeh). While Dee Dee Although they were born 21 years apart, sometimes faithfully follows the original the songs they perform on this month's template of the soul records she heard on Winning Spins were first heard during WDIA, even going to the Royal Studio in their youth and teen years. Memphis that produced many of the Stax Gregory Porter, the younger singer, label hits featured here and recording with heard Nat "King" Cole courtesy of his a core of Memphis-based musicians with mother's phonograph. Dee Dee classic soul organ-keyboards-electric bass Bridgewater, then in Flint, Mich., heard groundings, she also puts her own spin on southern soul and R&B as a teen listening some of the songs. late at night to WDIA, a Memphis station Her "Don't Be Cruel" conjures up a very that was the first to program for African different rhythm from the famous Elvis Americans. Presley version, with a smack backbeat Nat "King" Cole & Me, Gregory Porter and with musical director of the project (Blue Note), is a full-scale homage to the Kirk Whalum to the fore on tenor sax. A singer who dominated the pop charts in shuffle beat and rolling groove change the the decade-plus before the British rock in- dynamic of "Hound Dog," Dee Dee's vocal vasion. This album centers on Nat's pop evoking the title with a growl, her ending a career, largely ignoring his pioneering long, improvised talk-sung coda. work as a modern jazz pianist and leader Dee Dee says she heard all the music on of The Nat "King" Cole Trio. the album while listening to late night The only song from his pre-pop chart radio as a teen and some songs adhere clos- days here is "Sweet Lorraine," featuring er to the original recordings, incorporating the trio of Christian Sands, piano; Reuben a chorus, sometimes heard first, answered Rogers, bass, and Ulysses Owens, drums, by Dee Dee's vocals, as on Barbara Ma- but taken at a slower tempo than Nat's son's 1972 hit "Yes, I'm Ready." The cho- original. His trio is augmented, often over- rus, a gospel-inspired component appro- whelmingly, by Vince Mendoza's arrange- priated by soul music, is an integral part of ments for the string-laden London Studio this album, enhancing such Motown hits Orchestra, modeled on, and often more as "Giving It Up" and "I Can't Get Next to lush than, the original recordings featur- You" as well as Stax classics like "B-A-B-Y" ing Nat and orchestra on Capitol Records. and "The Sweeter He Is." Gregory, the trio and Vince have fash- One of the pleasures of this album is ioned a fond, affectionate tribute with hearing so many soul classics revived with Gregory channeling the late singer's such passion by a veteran jazz singer. She urbanity and natural suavity and emulat- also records some classic blues including ing his careful, clear diction. Gregory's rich the 1940s standard, "Going Down Slow," baritone voice is more than adequate to pared down to just vocal and keyboard and revisit Nat's songs, at times sounding more guitar, as well as B.B. King's signature classically polished than the original's song, "The Thrill Is Gone," with Dee Dee slightly more casual tone. fully unfurling her powerful voice. She also This is a sumptuous, gorgeous homage channels Otis Redding's emotional heft on to one of the great jazz-pop singers of the "Try A Little Tenderness" and caps it all 20th Century and fans of Nat "King" Cole off with her own tenderness on the spiritu- will appreciate it. But in the process, al "Take My Hand Precious Lord." Gregory has subjugated his own distinctive voice, choosing to mirror the original ver- Gregory Porter appears at the Cape sions rather than put his own stamp on the May's Exit Zero Jazz Festival on Nov. material. From "Mona Lisa" and "Smile" to 11 and at the Ella and Dizzy "For All We Know" and "The Christmas Centennial celebration at NJPAC in Song," this is more loving imitation than Newark on Nov. 12. Dee Dee original interpretation. Even Gregory's Bridgewater sings with the Memphis own "When Love Was King" is wrapped by Soulphony at the Blue Note, Nov. 21- Vince in an orchestral blanket fitting the 26. 10 Bridgewater cover photo by Fran Kaufman, Coolman by John Abbott, Jordan by Fran Kaufman, Porter by Erik Umphery. 186777_HH_Nov_0 10/25/17 10:53 AM Page 11 Sign-up for our E-ALERT at www.hothousejazz.com and be the 1st to know when the latest Hot House is available on line PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR: For advertising requests and Gwen Kelley (formerly Calvier) listing info contact Gwen Kelley [email protected] Toll Free Phone: COPY EDITOR: Yvonne Ervin 888-899-8007/[email protected] [email protected] Hot House Jazz Magazine is published monthly and all PRODUCTION & ART DIRECTOR: copyrights are the property of Gwen Kelley. All rights Karen Pica [email protected] reserved. No material may be reproduced without written permission of the President. No unsolicited manuscripts CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: will be returned unless enclosed with a self addressed Ken Dryden, Nick Dunston, Yvonne Ervin, stamped envelope. Domestic subscriptions areavailable for Ken Franckling, Seton Hawkins, $37 annually (sent first class). For Canada $39 and Eugene Holley Jr., Stephanie Jones, international $50. George Kanzler, Elzy Kolb, PUBLISHER EMERITUS: Dave N Dittmann Michael G. Nastos, Tomas Peña, CO-FOUNDERS: Gene Kalbacher, Cary Tone, Gary Walker, Eric Wendell Lynn Taterka & Jeff Levenson For press releases and CD revues send a copy to Fran Kaufman CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Gwen Kelley: PO Box 20212 - New York, NY 10025 11 186777_HH_Nov_0 10/25/17 10:53 AM Page 12 CLUBS & HALLS UPPER MANHATTAN (Above 70th Street) 449 LA: 449 Lenox Av (bet 132nd & 133rd Sts). 212-234-3298. Sun: 4-7pm Patio Jazz; Thurs: 1-3:30pm Jazz & Dessert; Fri-Sat: 8:30pm. AARON DAVIS HALL: At City College. 138 Convent Av at W133rd St. www.citycollege centerforthearts.org. 212-650-6900. Nov 3: 7:30pm $35/25 adm Shades of Afro Blue feat music of Mongo Santamaría. BILL’S PLACE: 148W 133rd St (bet Lenox & 7th Avs). www.billsplaceharlem.com. 212-281- 0777. Fri-Sat: 8&10pm $20 don Bill Saxton Bebop Band. CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE: 2485 Bway (bet 92nd & 93rd Sts). www.cleopatrasneedleny. com. 212-769-6969. Sets: Early (E), Late (L); Sun E 4-8pm, L 9pm-1am; Mon-Tues E 8- 9pm, L 10pm-1am; Wed-Thurs E 7-11pm, L 11:30pm-2:30am; Fri-Sat E 8pm-12am, L 12:30-3am. Free adm/$10 min. Trios except Mon&Thurs Duets, unless otherwise noted. L Jam. Residencies: Sun E Open mic w/Keith Ingham, L Kelly Green Duet; Mon Nathan Brown; Tues Marc Devine; Wed E Open mic w/Les Kurtz, L Nathan Brown; Thurs L Kazu; Fri L Ben Zweig; Sat L T. Kash. Nov 2: Joe Bonacci; 3: Carol Sudhalter Duet; 4: Justin Lees; 9: Robert Rocker; 10: Dan Furman; 11: Clifford Barbaro; 16: Uri Zelig; 17: Kate Cosco; 18: Alan Rosenthal; 23: tba; 24: Art Lillard; 25: Michika Fukumori; 30: Sonelius Smith. GINNY’S SUPPER CLUB: At Red Rooster. 310 Lenox Av (bet 125th & 126th Sts). www.ginnyssupperclub.com. 212-792-9001. Sets: 7:30&9:30pm. Nov 3: $15-20 adm Evan Sherman Big Band; 4: $20/25 Damien Sneed; 9-11: $20 Brianna Thomas; 16: $20 Johnny O'Neal; 24: $15 “King” Solomon Hicks; 25: $15-20 Chris Turner. LUCA’S JAZZ CORNER: At Cavatappo. 1712 1st Av (bet 88th & 89th Sts). 212-987-9260. www.lucasjazzcorner.com. Sets/adm: Mon 7- 10pm free adm Roger Lent Solo; Tues 8- 10pm $10; Thurs 9-11pm $10; Sun 8-11pm Vocal Jam by Jocelyn Medina. Nov 2: Sam Raderman Trio; 7: Jason Tiemann Trio; 9: “King” Solomon Hicks Trio; 14: 6-10pm Bucky Pizzarelli Trio; 16: Charlie Apicella & Iron City feat Madame Pat Tandy; 21: Jam w/Mike Sailors; 23: closed; 28: Dennis Joseph Qrt; 30: John Dokes Qnt. MINTON’S: 206W 118th St (bet St. Nicholas Av & Adam Clayton Powell Blvd). 212-243-2222. www.mintonsharlem.com.