Steve Turre Reggie Watkins Randy Brecker Catherine Russell
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173192_HH_September_0 8/24/16 5:43 PM Page 1 The only jazz magazine in NY in print, online and on apps! September 2016 www.hothousejazz.com Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola Page 17 J. Owen Grundy Pier Page 21 Catherine Russell Randy Brecker Reggie Watkins Steve Turre Cornelia Street Café Page 10 Smoke Page 10 Where To Go & Who To See Since 1982 173192_HH_September_0 8/24/16 5:43 PM Page 2 2 173192_HH_September_0 8/24/16 5:43 PM Page 3 3 173192_HH_September_0 8/24/16 5:43 PM Page 4 4 173192_HH_September_0 8/24/16 5:43 PM Page 5 5 173192_HH_September_0 8/24/16 5:43 PM Page 6 6 173192_HH_September_0 8/24/16 5:43 PM Page 7 7 173192_HH_September_0 8/24/16 5:43 PM Page 8 8 173192_HH_September_0 8/24/16 5:43 PM Page 9 9 173192_HH_September_0 8/24/16 5:43 PM Page 10 WINNING SPINS By George Kanzler SENSE OF JAZZ HISTORY AND ty avoiding clichés and predictable phras- Atradition permeates the two albums es—in an entirely distinctive trombone that are this month's Winning Spins. style. His playing and the constantly Trombonists Steve Turre and Reggie engaging repertoire, as well as the first- Watkins organize their albums around rate band, make this a welcome album as homages to rich heritages. In Reggie's well as a fitting tribute. case: a whole CD dedicated to a legendary Colors for the Masters, Steve Turre trombonist of the mid-to-late 20th (Smoke Sessions), comes from a musician Century, Jimmy Knepper; in Steve's CD: a a full generation older than Reggie, one desire to honor those who influenced him, who has become among the most distin- both the leaders he worked with and the guished trombonists on the jazz scene players who came before him and helped today. Here, for the first time, Steve works shape his conception of the instrument. with a super rhythm section of genuine Additionally, Steve enlists the help of giants and NEA Jazz Masters: pianist those he calls "three grandmasters" of jazz Kenny Barron, bassist Ron Carter and for his rhythm section. drummer Jimmy Cobb. Avid Admirer: The Jimmy Knepper Joining them on four of the ten tracks to Project, Reggie Watkins (BYNK form a hard bop-like quintet, is tenor saxo- Records), features Reggie in a quintet set- phonist Javon Jackson, channeling strains ting with tenor and soprano saxophonist of early John Coltrane in his sound. Matt Parker, pianists Orrin Evans (6 One of Steve's originals helpfully con- tracks) and Tuomo Uusitalo (3 tracks), firms this impression: "JoCo Blues," a bassist Steve Whipple and drummer mid-tempo blues with wide, modal-like, Reggie Quinerly. The album's closer is intervals suggestive of Coltrane and Gordon Jenkins's standard, "Goodbye," but McCoy Tyner, culminating in the horns the other eight selections are all composi- trading fours. tions by the late trombonist, probably best Besides demonstrating his masterful known for his extensive big band work and command of the trombone at varied tem- stints with Charles Mingus' bands. pos, Steve also pays tribute to his men- Now in his mid-40s, Reggie only met tors/early leaders and trombone influences. Jimmy, who died at 75 in 2003, once. But Among the former is Art Blakey, whose Jimmy's daughter was so impressed with Jazz Messengers are invoked in the quin- his interest that she gave Reggie her tet original, "Taylor Made," with its funky father's trombone. Jimmy's tunes, in smart tune and stop-times; Rahsaan Roland arrangements by Reggie, are among the Kirk, who recommended Steve play sea many pleasures of this album, along with a shells, which he does here brilliantly on scintillating rhythm section and engaging the bossa standard "Corcovado;" and trum- solos by the leader and the saxophonist. peter Woody Shaw, with whom he first Among Jimmy's obsessions was Charlie recorded Wayne Shorter's "United," done Parker, whose solos the trombonist spent here in a brisk, catchy quartet version. many hours transcribing and analyzing; so In what has become a tradition on his it's surprising that his compositions here albums, Steve includes a tune by pioneer- show more Mingus influence. ing bebop trombonist J. J. Johnson, "Coffee "Cunningbird," which might allude to Pot," a boppish contrafact of "All God's Parker's sobriquet, is ethereal with the Chillun Got Rhythm." In a nod to his theme by trombone and soprano sax in sus- Caribbean roots, his title tune swings in pended time, sans rhythm, and with solos and out of 4/4 and an Afro-Latin montuno over an implied 6/8 beat, with Orrin get- rhythm. ting Monkish in his solo. Steve also honors the rich tradition of Most of Jimmy's pieces are mid-to-up muting the trombone, an art largely lost swingers, cast in the 32-bar, AABA song among modern players. He uses a Harmon form with the performances enlivened by mute on Monk's "Reflections," a subtle cup arrangements fleshed out with contrapun- mute on his Cedar Walton influenced tal horn introductions and theme choruses. "Mellow D for R.C.," and an Ellingtonian The Mingus strategy of changing tempos, plunger-muted open bell on "When Sunny and contrasting A and B sections, shows Gets Blue." Throughout, Steve and the up on the funky blues with a smoother B truly grandmaster rhythm section make section, "Ogling Ogre." this a stellar album. The perky, boppish "Primrose Path," highlights the interaction of bass and Reggie Watkins Quintet showcases drums in a series of on-the-money fours his new CD at Cornelia Street Café on trades. Reggie, like Jimmy, manages to Sept. 1. Steve Turre celebrates his improvise with an originality and creativi- new CD at Smoke, Sept. 9-11. 10 Russell cover photo by Sandrine Lee, Watkins by Sienna Watkins, Brecker by Fran Kaufman, Turre by John Abbott. 173192_HH_September_0 8/24/16 5:43 PM 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 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: permission of the President. No unsolicited manuscripts Ken Dryden, Yvonne Ervin, Ken Franckling, will be returned unless enclosed with a self addressed Seton Hawkins, Eugene Holley Jr., stamped envelope. Domestic subscriptions areavailable for Stephanie Jones, Nathan Kamal, $37 annually (sent first class). For Canada $39 and international $50. George Kanzler, Elzy Kolb, Ralph A. Miriello, PUBLISHER EMERITUS: Dave N Dittmann Michael G. Nastos, Emilie Pons, CO-FOUNDERS: Gene Kalbacher, Cary Tone, Gary Walker, Eric Wendell Lynn Taterka & Jeff Levenson PROOF READER: Robert Abel For press releases and CD revues send a copy to CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Fran Kaufman Gwen Kelley: PO Box 20212 - New York, NY 10025 11 173192_HH_September_0 8/25/16 10:45 AM Page 12 CLUBS & HALLS UPPER MANHATTAN (Above 70th Street) CAVATAPPO: 1712 1st Av (bet 88th & 89th Sts). www.cavatappo.com. 212-987-9260. Mon: 7-10pm free adm Roger Lent. Thurs: 9- 11pm $8 adm/$10 min. Sep 8: Gabrielle Stravelli; 15: Nick Myers Qrt; 22: Ralph Lalama Qrt; 29: Robert Edwards Qrt. 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. L Jam. Residencies: Sun E Open mic w/Keith Ingham, L Kelly Green Duet; Mon Jon Weiss; Tues Marc Devine; Wed E Open mic w/Les Kurtz, L Nathan Brown; Thurs L Kazu; Sat L T. Kash. Sep 1: Lluis Capdevila; 2: Rudi Mwongozi; 3: Walter Williams & Cohost Gitesha; 8: Kuni Mikami; 9: Emanuele Basentini; 10: Kayo Hiraki; 15: Ray Parker; 16: Libby Richman; 17: Sonelius Smith; 22: Joel Forrester; 23: Alan Rosenthal; 24: Sharif Zaben; 29: Matt Baker; 30: Oscar Williams. 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 $15 adm unless other- wise noted. Thurs: Marc Cary & The Harlem Sessions. Sep 2: 8&10pm $20 Gregorio Uribe Big Band; 3: Evan Sherman Big Band; 9: $20 Brianna Thomas; 10: $30 Norman Connors & the Starship Orch. MINTON’S: 206W 118th St (bet St. Nicholas Av & Adam Clayton Powell Blvd). 212-243-2222. www.mintonsharlem.com. Sets: Sun 7:30& 9pm, Fri-Sat 7&9:30pm, Sat except 09/2 11pm Jam w/Don Palmer. Sep 2: Tomohiro Mori; 3: Mike Casey Trio; 4: Emily Braden; 10: Eva Cortés; 11: Kristina Koller Qrt; 16: Kassa Overall Trio; 17: Tom Tallitsch; 23: Eric Wyatts; 24: Tobias Meinhart; 25: Lorens Chuno; 30: King Solomon Hicks. MIST HARLEM: 46W 116th St (bet Lenox & 5th Av). www.mistharlem.com. 212-828-MIST. 1st Mon: 10am-12pm Open meeting by Harlem Arts Alliance www.harlemaa.org 347- 735-4280. Sep 18: 4-8pm $25 adm/20 min Sunday Serenade series 917-882-9539/ www.vtyjazz.com feat Louis Hayes & the Jazz Communicators. NATIONAL JAZZ MUSEUM IN HARLEM: 58W 129th St at Malcolm X Blvd.