Vol. II, Number 3 1221 Wendell Ave., Sche 12308 Butch Conn. Editor Sweet S,ummer of Jazz Smash Fall Line-tlp ! Great JsLz Nl Over In the FaIl of 1991 we'll present first-class musicians/compos- There'll be a small orgr of Jazz ers in a festival of Jaz-z that lasts for two months. You'Il not only over the Summer which should be able to see and hear these musicians in concerts, but you'll please the palates of almost have a chance to audit or take Master Classes with some of the every Jaz-zfan. world's truly great Jazz Musicians. You'll also have a chance to hear them talk about new ideas inJaz-z and the History of Jazz,. Of course there's the well- known and well advertised Great instrumentalists comlng thls season lnelude ) Jazz Festival at SPAC Drummers : Akira Tana (whose played with almost everybody), (which has many fine musi- Marvin Smith (who is the favorite of many for dmmmer on re- cians. You'llreally love Geoff cordirrg dates), Portinho (one of the great BraziJiar: Drummers); Keezer and several ofthe other Brass players: Jay Ashby (trombonist with Claudio Rodlti, Tania less prominent acts) Maria and much in demand in Brazilian and Latin groups) Jimmy Owens (trumpet and one of the world's best kept secrets. There's lots of other activity as He's worked with Mingus, Dbzy.Kenny Baron, Hubert Laws, well. There's the Skip Parsons Shirley Scott, Herbie Mann and Archie Shepp and is in constant boat ride (mentioned in the last demand all over Europe); issue) of course. Then there's Bass Players: Rufus Reid (The master professional ln constant the Lake George program...... demand as well as a leader of his own group), Ray Drummond and the Skidmore concerts (maybe the bass player most in demand for recordings and connected with the Jazzlnsti- performances); tute as well as the Burlington Planlsts: John Hicks(considered to be one of the top Jazz pian- Jazz Festival. There's the Jazz ists and teachers in the country), Bill O'Connell(A master of series in Utica and the Iron Brazilian and Latin styles), Rob Schneiderman( a mainstay of Horse Cafe in Northampton. Tanareid and hailed for his brilliant compositions) Visitors to the area will include Reed players: Jesse Davis, Ralph Moore( in demand almost eve- Eliane Elias, Cassandra rywhere and widely hailed as the next generation of great reed Wilson, Doc Cheatam , Ken players) Peplowski, Lou Donaldson and :Guitarists: Peter Leitch(This Canadian player has recorded with Max Roach, to name a few. Oscar Peterson and now leads his own quarlet. A master with a strong blues element) and Romero lobrito (One of the best Our old standbyes Justin's and Samba/Jazz guitar players currently on the scene) the Van Dyck (still here despite the rumors). No Jazz at Peggr's e during the summer but there will be many programs at local p.2 Two Hundred Words p.7 Radio Jazz parks and outdoor festivals p.3 Order form for series p.7 Our Members which have not notified us, p.4 My p.8 Form Solo Membership Check Out our Calendar p.5-6 Jazz Calendar on page 5. You'll be AIVIAZED! TWo Hundred lVords On Strings Glyn T. Evans A truism trt)azz is that one cannot write for strings such that they swhg. A curious anomaly given the dynamo bass players w}:o drlve Jazz. Even more curious as one contemplates the violinists Stuff Smith, Venuti, Grapelli, who melted icecaps.
Charlie Parker was not the first, or only, Jaz.zvlrtuoso who enjoyed the stimulus of a string cholr. (One of the truly happy pictures of Bird shows him conducting strings, alto strung around his neck.) Artie Shaw had successful stringsi but do you recall all those other stingr, stringr anUclimaxes?
One is told that string fingering and phrasing ts anti-thetical to the collecUve swtng that could be attained by Kenton's Brass, or Duke and Basle's breathing. More likely this condition is from the lack of informed, concerned teachers.
Well, no more, it seems. In 1984 the Kronos Quartet, (respected in the classical repetoire) recorded (with Ron Carter, bass) an album of Monk transcriptions, which does swing. Recently the Turtle Island Stfrng Quartet performed j az-2, at the Albany Egg. Both quartet's arrange- ments and compositions were fine; better, the players had skills to play and chops to s',Idng.
lanning a one week 'Swing String Seminar' for string players at Stanford University, Californta this year. Someone is trying.
W '"n':,ylii5,coor [Justin's June is GRP Records Month ldeol Gifis for Foiher's Doy
From lhe newesl in Fusion to Trodilionol Gionls, we hove lhe finest selection of Jozz Compoct Discs ond Cosseltes in lhe oreo!
Our new Stuyvesont Plozo locolion hos on exclusive Jozz Room with 4-compocl disc "lislening slolions." Good Food, Spirits, Jazz
Voted Melrolond Mogozine's Best and Local Art Record Siore" overoll -losl four yeors!
301 Lark St.,Albany 436-7008 Our Gala Fall Line-rlp r/ a restival orutir"frf.ilSl3?X' t*o ,',orrt-rrr. r/world-class muslclans in concert. {Master Classes \rith great Jazz Artists.
September 2O: Kenia and her Brazilian Jazz Sextet featuring Jay Ashby(trombone) and the Brazilian Drummer Portinho
October 4: Jimmy Owens and his quartet fresh from their European tour.
October 18: TanaReid w/ Rufus Reid, Akira Tana, Ralph Moore, Rob Schnei- derman and Jesse Davis.
November 8: Peter Leitch Quartet! featuring John Hicks, Ray Drummond and Marvin "Smitt5/" Smith.
These stars will also be available for Master Classes with a lirnited number of students on the
,IAIIIIIIIIITIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII\ I Order now! (We sold 88o/o of our tlckets last year.) I II I I T t I I I ! Name: t T Address: T I 11/g Leitch t I Tel:( ) Completeseries I I Member: Yes No I I Master Classes I I T I Concerts are on Friday nights at 8:00pm Ash Owens I T at the First Unitarian Society. Tickets are I I $12.00 each. A complete series can be Reid I I bought for $42.00. Tana I I Master Classes will involve a2112hour Moore I I session with a leading Jazz artist. These Leitch T I classes will take place at the College of St. I Hicks $s0.00 I Rose on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 9pm. I I Drummond They are limited to 6 musicians who are at I I Smith I r the professional or near professional level. I I There will be a l07o discount for members Membershi I and a limited number I of auditors, members T I anbt. allowed. 4udit fee $10. I J I ' i Make checks to JazzJFtJSS and mait to l22l Wendelt Ave., Schenectady, Ny 1230g I \T IIIIIIITIII IIIIIIII IIIII II IIIIIII ..J
- My Solo possibility of us getting back into our old duos. About three APFJ and this Newsletter are Listening to a Sonny Stitt solo years ago, after much agornz- supported in part, by the First "Groovin on High" brought ing, he started aetually Unitarian Society of Schenec- back some very fond memories tady, SCIP, and membership studylng and playlng the contributions. Programs of playing some very tough 'air saxophone! horn" solos with my cousin include concerts, public work- shops, school-based Scott. A complete failure of the clinics and general support of you Jazz and its musicians. We tror the uninitiated, 'air horn" imagination if ask me! are alliliated with the National was a way that excited young Jazzfans would play along Jazz Educators. We welcome rvith musical heroes like I have p failure of imagina- Sonny Stitt, John Coltrane and announcements and com- tion. I just have a failure of ments. Deadlines are thelSth Charlie Rouse. Ail it took was get figuring out how to the of every odd month {7 / 15 /91, a broom handle or a baseball money to bring my imagination 9/ 15/91, etc.) bat placed to the lips like it into reality. The following ls was a saxophone(the most a llst of programs we want to Editor B.Conn macho of all the Jazz instru- brtng to the area but can't A Place for Jazz, 1221 Wendell ments for young males) and a afford yet. Ideas your con- Ave, Schenectady, NY 12308 very rich imagination. tributiuons could underwrite. o Tito Puente, Max Roach and We definitiely had imagination. Olatunji in a sacred drum We'd stand up for incredibly concert. long solos imagining quite dra- matically that it was us playing o Kenny Davis doing a Chil- Want Ads the solos and that all it took dren's Concerts and residency (We Want. You Add) was wanting to play Jazz Xt in local elementary and middle +++ Hospitality hosts for order for it to happen. Sort of schools like like the kid standing in the musicians. You'll have a mirror imitating a great base- o A great Jazz pianist series chance to meet these ball pitcher or a great orches- folks, spend time with tra conductor. o A Fletcher Henderson them and accompany Revival Band . Sometimes we'd play for hours, them to their workshops completely in the world of o A Latin Jazz series that and concerts. Requires being talented, famous and would include Tito Puente, organizauon and charm. applauded. (We couldn't actu- Dave Valentin, Claudio Roditi, ally go= see musicians these Tania Maria,telia Ct:"rz, a +++ Writers for APFJ because they played in bars revival of Batakumbele and as Newsletter. Record Re- and we were way below the many Fania All-stars as could drinking age.) Many times I fit in RPI Field House. viewsand help with Jazz played so long and with such Calendar. enthusiasm that my jaw ached Who would be in your fantasy and my lips were bruised. series? Drop us a line and let +++ Someone to Chair a us know. It may have been only'air Membership Committee. horn" but we were seriousl Being editor, I get to read Requires someone with everyone else's copy. Our tact, the ability to write We laugh about it now. In fond wonderful'T\ro Hundred and lots of imagination. memory. Words" columnist, Glyn Evans left out an important focus of (in Even now the privacy of my the "String Jaz-z: rnovement, +++ t hour ofproofread- study), I'll few sneak a whiffs at The Uptown String Quartet. ing every other month. the air horn. Especially if it's a Their concert with Max Roach good a- solo. Unfortunately my last year in Washington, D.C. t Call Butch if you'd like cousin has destroyed the was a WOW!(= to 6 stars). ("_h"tp. :T:?r3 Jazz Calendar. .. . Thelistingsbelowweresentto14-t5HalMillerw/J.R.cont@ us by the clubs listed. It's best Monterose programs Eg+-Eooo for to check by telephone before further lnformation. going because there may be JulY: iast minute changes. The clubs 5--6 Jazz Caucus w/Dave Lake George Arts proJect have a cover (or music charge) !3t}co July 24- Laurel vrassl (origl- or a minimum purchase (food f 2-13 Nick Brignola Quartet naimember of the Manhat-- or drink). Frequently they have 19 Plus 24 tan Transfer) both. Resewations are advis_ 2O Theresa Broadwell euar- able (especially for the better- te1 August 2l- Strlng Trio of New known groups) as many of the ?6-27 Hal Miller with Hugh yoit(Ctramber Jizzl. clubs seat less than 1oo. Brodie Both Free in Sheperd park in Lake George The Van Dyck 237 Union Street Schenectady. Music Fountaln Restaurant llger's begins at 9pm, 3 sets. 283 New Scotland Ave., Albany Clifton park Mall June: Sklp parsons and his Riverboat 3ZI-9}6Z 7:8 Jack Fragomeni Duo Jaz- Band 2nd Weekend every June lO Bllly Cobham Trlo 14-15 l,ee Shaw duo month lopm-2am and his Call (a master drummer) Show 19-20 Mike Flannigan and for details. starts at 8pm. Advance tickets Rennie Crain ,. at the Club and at Strawber_ (Call for other listings in June Burlington Jazz Festlval , ries. and July) June 5-9 Cassandra Wilson, George Cables, Dave Holland Iron Horse Cafe On The Shelf In the DeWitt Quartet with Steve Coleman, 2O Centre St., Northampton, clinton Building, 39 Eagle St., Frank Morgan and New or- Mass. 4+8-584-0610 Albany. LIve Jazz on Sundays. lSans'Rebirth Brass Band and There's a muslc charge and Music starts at 7pm. 3 sets. No dozens of others. Call Flynn most concerts are Theatre Listings. 8O2- 863-5966 for ticketed(about g1O) 1_BOO_ further lnformation THE-TICK for advanced ticket sales. Seats about I7O Pegryrs Restaurant 426 State The Skidmore Jazz Instttute St., Schenectady (entrance in June 23, Sunday 8pm Ellane June: back of the restaurant) Music Ellas 2 BuddyGuy starts at 9pm. 3 sets. June 25 Tues Bpm Nestor 13 Hermeto Pascoal(one of No Jaz,z during the Summer. Torres Brazil's leadlng keyboard Check them out in the Fall June 27 Thursday Facutty players) and his group. Sextet(Ed Shaughnessy, Dick 17 Steve Lacy Band(sopr sax) Justin Mc Neill's 3O1 Lark St., Ifatz, Mtlt Hlnton, pat La 25 Mark WhitIletd(guitar) Albany Music music has been Barbera(Tenor),-Vlnce Dl 29 Vance Gllbert(vocals some pushed up to to:3opm, but Marttno(tumpet) Buddy what llke Bobby McFerrln) still 3 sets. Very small. Excel- Baker(Trombone) lent food. Reservations a must. July: Cover and minimum. The July 2 Tues 8 Lou Donaldson 13 Strang and Farrah (world Jazz Brunch on Sundays muslc) contlnues.They open at July 4 Faculty Educators, 16 Tom McClung (key- 1lam. Music begins at I2noon Vlnce DiMartlno, Buddy boards) Baker Chrls Vldala, Don 19 Llz Story June: Freidman on plino, Todd 7-8 Jaz. Caucus w/ Dave Coolman(Bass) Bright Moments Jazz Calarco and lValter All in the Sarah Bernhard Festival at the U. Mass IYhtte(tum p et)* 2 t -22 Nick 2 I _ Theatre and all Free! Campus in Amherst. This 2l-22 Nick Brignola euartet There are also student festival is one of the bargains 28-29 Erika Lindsay concerts Friday Afternoon at of the surlmer. (Conflnued Ipm(Jul5 and June 28) on next page) Jazz Calendar {Conttnued) Newport Jazz Festlval- Midnight Tickets are only $5 and may be Take a Listen! saratoga. Noon to reserved by calling the Box- on June 29-30. $SZ.SO for Office. The concerts take Place to the piano and- adults, 22.5O for chtldren on the Fine Arts Center Cam- Jazz vocals of under 12. Lawn seats 21.5O for pus Pond Lawn. Reservcations adults $12.OO for chfldren if are a good idea because if it Paul Mastriani purchased before June 28. rains, they move indoors and Tickets available from Ttcket- you are guaranteed a seat. and Bobby KellY ron and at the Box Office. Call CalI 413-545-2511 to make L2 518-587-3330 reservations. The Programs June June 29: Amphltheatre: David take place on Thursdays. Sanborn, Neville Brothers, 8:15Pm Spyro Gyra, Take 6, Terence July: at Blanchard, John Mclaughltn, 11 Poncho Sanchez and hls Schenectady CountY Jtmmy McGriIf, Dave Brubeck, Latln Jazz Band; and Orch- Slddmore Jazz Sextet. Ga- estre Chalns Community College zebo: Terry Waldos Hot Ftve, 18 Btlly Taylor Ttlo wlth Buclry P lzzar elll, Holme s Max Roach and Shella Jor- In the Begley Bldg. Brothers, Jordan Sandke dan Quintet, Oliver Jackson SuXe- Thls ls a beneflt for the 25 Fela Anlkulapo Kutl tet. Schenectady CountY Arts (This ls a very rare appearance June 3O: Amphttheatre: RaY Councll of this West African muslcian Charles, Regina Belle, AndY A donatlon ls suggested who qrnthesizes $3 Summers with Bfll Evans, Jazz, , traditional Afrtcan music DarrylJones, Omar Hakim and a number of other inJlu- Call 374-3,32L and Michael Forman, Bob ences). Also performatng wtll for information James, Carmen McCrae, Jaz,z be Thull Demakube Futures featuring Mark Whit- field,'Marlon Jordan, Roy Muns on-Itr'llllams-Proctor Hargrove, Tim Warfield, TonY Instltute Hart, Benny Green, Carl Allen 31O Genesee Street, Utica and Chris McBride, Buck These performances take Place Plozo PosIer Clayton's Swtng Band featur- as a part of their Summer Arts Gollery ing Ed Thtgpen, DirtY Dozen Festival. Both perfornances Brass Band, Arturo Sandoval. are free to the public. Gazebo: Erlc Ross with Oliver Jozz Ju1y: Lake and Andrew Cyrllle, Poslcords 6 John ltratklns(Chlcago Poslers, Colendors, Sherrie Maricle Quartet, Greg Bluea Gultartst( and hls ond Dotebooks Abate Quintet, Geof Keezer ond band Quintet, Multi-Cultural Americon Arls ond Sonny Constanzo Jazz Alricon Ensemble. 7 Artilocts' Orchestra aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa i I Schenectady CountY Com- ttre Jazz Calendar munlty College This concert 2Ol" Discount for I is orre of the many I comes at the end of the Annu- Members of A Plqce I tnings you get : all Meeting of the Schenectady tot Jozz r County Arts Council. It;s a . when you support great chance to hear these two r fl Place for Jazz . fine musicians. We hove exlensive Jozz Postet I other Things are tne I June 12, 8pm. An evening of Colologues 1r*o presenzation We Jazz '. Jazz Standards wlth Paul ! of o ln area and a tax de- . Mastrianl and BobbY KellY the Moil Order Also Avoiloble This concert is free to the : ductlon!) : Locoted in the center of the EmPire 1O public, but contributions to Plozo Complex in Albqny the SCAC are welcome. 434-13M : Join us! : or r a a a a a a a a a o I o I o o' terrlfic artist and "lnvented" Radio Jazz Our Members the Hamilton Hill Arts Center over 2O years ago. Radto ls one of our primary Some of members are new methods of enjoying our Jazz. Mike Chiusano is another Because it's "free", we often to Jazr. They took a chance, came to one of our concerts long-ttme supporter. Mike overlook thelr need for our and fell in love with this won- llves up in Ballston Lake but support. It's simple. t,et them derful muslc. travels down the road to llsten know you like tt. Call when to Jaz.z. And he often brings a they ask for requests, send Mike and Fran Ross flt in that frtend along in tow. He's also them money when they ask for category. They're both writers always ready to help. More it and write letters about what and have helped us out with than once he's shown up early you like and what you don't. writing for the newsletter, and helped us wlth pre-concert putting on labels and making chores. One of the great things WIICR 88.3rM Cutting edge good suggestions. Every once- about Mike is that he's always Afro-Am Pop w/ occ asTonal J az.z in-a-while they call us to willing to try something new in flavor. thank us for the introduction Jaz-2. E..r,en when we do some- to Jarz. (They're now series thing that ts a little "way-out", WMHT 89:1FM l,aurence ticket buyers and come to a lot he keeps on coming back. Boylan's Show on Saturdav of the workshops as well). Night. Nick Brignola is a nice guy. Glyn Evans is also a writer, Nick also is one of about WRUC 89.7FM I-ate night play though that's not his profes- twenty of our members who is ts good. sion (he writes the column also a musician. He's a terrific "Ttvo Hundred Words" in this Jazz musician with an interna- Uf'AMC g0.3flt[ Great mlx. newsletter.) But hgls gertajnly tional reputation who is also a Somethteg for almost every not new to Jazz. He's one of great Jazz educator. Nick "flavor' of Jqzzfan. those folks who knows more shows up at our concerts even about Jaz.zthan most of us when he isn't scheduled to WSPN 91.1FM Listen to Gafl wlll ever know. If you call his play (but of course he brings Mattison's show on Wed's 12 to house you might get a tape- his horn with the ldea thatJust 3pm;Mondays 3-6pm Dave recording of Glyn picking out a mavbe he might be able to "sit Casner. Thelonious Monk tune on the ln." He's also got some great piano. And lf you invtte him to ideas for doing a Jazo history WCDB 9O.9FM Wonderful a meeting where he's asked to series. Show on Sat. & Sun Mornings bring a dessert, you'll be very plus l1amto lpm daily. pleasantly surprised. He and Evie Currie ls a retired music Ann Marie give great moral teacher and very active in the WRPI 91.5FM Kevtn Roberts support for the idea of making arts community. ( She is on Thurs. nights from 7 to A Place for Jazz. always there for monetary and lo.Presents lmportant Jazz moral support and gets a great musicians in great depth. Jim and Margaret Cunning- kick out of our programming ham have been supporters and even though her interests in WIIRL 1O3.1fMA Mix of Jazz members from the very begin- music are not exclusively in and'other" kinds of music. ning. Jim has a terrific collec- t}:e Jaz.z area. Davtd Sanborn Show on tion of Ellington and Basie and Sunday ls an interesting mix. has a strong partiality for When you call Norm Ainslie on Lawrence Brown, Jack the phone, you'll probably get WPY]( 1O6.7FM Jazz Brunch Teagarden and other Tfombon- Coltrane on his tape. Norm on Sunday. ists. He was thrilled with Jay also helps with the lighting for Ashby's play last year( we're the Jazz Concerts and has WMIII 1 16OAM Robin eutnn bringing him backJim). Mar- done a greatJob improving the Jazz Show from 3pm tp 7pm garet is one ofthose people aesthetics of how our perform- on SundayAfternoon. who loves all kinds of muslc. ers appear in public. Light on Her music collection ranges Norm! IIABY I4OOAM Edwardsen from Sweet Honey in the Rock (6am to loam) in Morning . to Willie Nelson. She's also a Our New Members Paul McDermott trllie Prakken Marthat Waterman Waldo Margulis David Casner Lee & Stan Shaw James&Margaret Cun- Beverly Stewart Sonny & Lucille Rollins ningham Scott Spencer Irene Jacobsohn Thomas&Rochelle Min- Robert & Genevieve Ireton James A. Schermer nick Dr. & Mrs. Peter Scudera Evelyn and Bob Currie Karole A. Deianey Joe & Marilyn Boyd Mary and Steve Yolan Noah & Anne Van Ira & Jeanette Rosen David Ray Denburgh Nick Brignola Marcia Adam Norman & Mary Zyra Paul Cowan Gerald & Ruth Morrison John Smolensl Non-Profit A Place for Jazz Organization First Unitarian Society of Schenectady PAID 1221 Wendell Ave., Permit 348 Schenctady, NY t23OB Schenctady, NY