The Latin Side of Hot House
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181183_HH_May_0 4/24/17 10:35 AM Page 1 The only jazz magazine THE LATIN SIDE in NY in print, online and on apps! OF HOT HOUSE P31 May 2017 www.hothousejazz.com Jazz Standard Page 17 Village Vanguard Page 4 Anat Cohen Gerald Clayton Christian Sands T.K. Blue The Side Door Page 4 Dino’s Page 21 Where To Go & Who To See Since 1982 181183_HH_May_0 4/24/17 10:37 AM Page 2 2 181183_HH_May_0 4/24/17 10:35 AM Page 3 3 181183_HH_May_0 4/24/17 10:35 AM Page 4 Sponsored by Dot Time Records WINNING SPINS By George Kanzler MBITIOUS ALBUMS FROM A PAIR depths of his piano's range on his own exot- of talented young pianists, Christian ic, expressionistic "Sign of the Rainbow ASands and Gerald Clayton, comprise this People," and closes the album with a lush month's Winning Spins. Both have had the evocation of romanticism on the Oscar-win- benefit of working in the bands of two of ning song, "Somewhere Out There," from today's best bassists: Christian as a mem- the animated movie An American Tail. ber of Christian McBride's trio, Gerald in Adding percussionist Cristian Rivera, the bands of his father, John Clayton. the quartet dances through an Afro-Cuban Christian, who turns 28 this year, cele- groove on the leader's "Oyeme!" his com- brates his debut with a CD spotlighting mand of scintillating montuno rhythms the full range of his pianistic and compos- reflecting his time in Bobby Sanabria's ing talents, while Gerald, 32, expands his band. One of the stylistic shifts in 21st scope beyond the trio to showcase his com- Century jazz has been the additional free- positions and arrangements with a band dom afforded drummers and both of these ranging from quintet to septet, plus occa- Winning Spins reflect that change. No sional voices. longer is the drummer a timekeeper, or Reach, Christian Sands (Mack even a steady swinger, leaving much of the Avenue), features a core piano trio with time feel in the hands of the bassist. bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Marcus ranges freely, expanding the Marcus Baylor, which appears on four of rhythms with off-beat accents. the ten tracks. Christian explores some of When Marcus Strickland adds his tenor his influences and heroes with the trio, sax to the band on "Pointing West," the paying homage to Chick Corea on drummer weaves a twisty, stuttering "Armando's Song," with its dazzling, cross- rhythm under the theme, then initiates a hand lines, and "Bud's Tune," a tribute to fast swing beneath sax and piano solos, in early modern jazz piano masters Bud a track reminiscent of John Coltrane. Powell and Herbie Nichols. He plumbs the Saxophonist Marcus also doubles in dubbed bass clarinet with his tenor sax on the leader's foray into wider soundscapes, "Freefall," with synthesizer and keyboard overdubs for a futuristic vibe. Joining the trio on three tracks is Gilad Hekselman, whose polished, clean tone on electric guitar blends perfectly with Christian's precise touch. Two Christian originals range from the Latin groove of "Reaching for the Sun" to the rocking back- beat of "Gangstalude," bracketing a cre- ative version of Bill Withers' "Use Me," stretching the melody almost beyond recognition and ending with a guest cameo solo from Christian McBride's arco bass. Tributary Tales, Gerald Clayton (Motéma), features a pair of saxophonists and pieces with shifting time signatures and tempos—both recalling early Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop bands. Like Mingus, Gerald is an ambitious composer who creates expansive aural soundscapes with a small ensemble. A less eclectic, more spare and focused pianist than Christian, Gerald lets his piano take a backseat to his composing, arranging and band leading duties on this album. He shares or cedes improvised solo space with alto saxophonist Logan Richardson and tenor saxophonist Ben Wendel, and makes his music largely accompanying back- ground on two tracks featuring the richly ritualistic spoken word recitations of Aja Monet and Carl Hancock Rux. The CD kicks off with an intricate quin- continued on page 29 4 Clayton cover photo by Fran Kaufman, Cohen by Shervin Lainez, Sands by Fran Kaufman. 181183_HH_May_0 4/24/17 10:35 AM Page 5 5 181183_HH_May_0 4/24/17 10:35 AM Page 6 6 181183_HH_May_0 4/24/17 10:35 AM Page 7 7 181183_HH_May_0 4/24/17 10:35 AM Page 8 8 181183_HH_May_0 4/24/17 10:35 AM Page 9 9 181183_HH_May_0 4/24/17 10:35 AM Page 10 10 181183_HH_May_0 4/24/17 4:32 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 George Kanzler, Elzy Kolb, Ralph A. Miriello, international $50. Michael G. Nastos, Emilie Pons, PUBLISHER EMERITUS: Dave N Dittmann Cary Tone, Gary Walker, Eric Wendell CO-FOUNDERS: Gene Kalbacher, PROOF READER: Robert Abel Lynn Taterka & Jeff Levenson For press releases and CD revues send a copy to CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Fran Kaufman Gwen Kelley: PO Box 20212 - New York, NY 10025 11 181183_HH_May_0 4/24/17 10:35 AM Page 12 CLUBS & HALLS UPPER MANHATTAN (Above 70th Street) 92Y: 1395 Lexington Av at 92nd St. 212-415- 5500. www.92y.org. May 9-11: 10&11:30am Christian McBride & Tip City. AARON DAVIS HALL: At City College. 138 Convent Av at W133rd St. www.adhat ccny.org. 212-650-6900. May 4-5: CUNY Jazz Festival feat 05/4 12pm CCNY Faculty Jazz Ens + master class by Jon Gordon, 7:30pm Dr. Lonnie Smith w/CCNY Large Jazz Ens + Jam, 05/5 12pm student performances + master class by René Marie, 7:30pm Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio. APOLLO THEATER: 253W 125th St. 212-531- 5300. www.apollotheater.org. May 6: 8pm $33.50-128.50 adm Abbey Lincoln Tribute feat Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves, Esperanza Spalding & Terri Lyne Carrington; 16: 8pm $43 Homage to Billie Holiday by Michael Dorf. 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. CAVATAPPO: 1712 1st Av (bet 88th & 89th Sts). www.cavatappo.com. 212-987-9260. Sets/adm: Mon 7-10pm free adm Roger Lent Solo; Tues 8-10pm $10; Thurs 9-11pm $10; Sat Brunch 12:30-3:30pm free feat Gabrielle Stravelli. May 2: Pasquale Grasso Qrt; 4: Nick Myers & the Varitones; 9: 6-8pm $15 Bucky Pizzarelli Trio; 11: Ralph Lalama Qrt; 16: $5 Jam w/Mike Sailors; 18: Matthew Fries Trio; 23: Marianne Solivan Qrt; 25: Dave Gibson/Shenel Jones; 30: Dennis Joseph 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 E Jon Weiss, L 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. May 4: Ken Simon; 5: Denton Darien; 6: Kayo Hiraki; 11: Yvonnick Prene; 12: Walter Williams feat Gitesha; 13: Michika Fukumori; 18: Dan Furman; 19: Dona Carter; 20: Alan Rosenthal; 25: Sonelius Smith; 26: Art Lillard; 27: Fuku & Chihiro. DINOSAUR BAR-B-QUE: 700W 125th St. www.dinosaurbarbque.com. 212-694-1777. May 15: 8&10pm T.K. Blue Sxt; 19: 10pm- 12:30am Dakota Macleod & The Brooklyn Soul Train; 22&29: 8&10pm Salsa Meets Jazz series feat T.K. Blue/Chembo Corniel Gp & spec guests. FARAFINA CAFÉ & LOUNGE HARLEM: 1813 Amsterdam Av (bet 149th & 150th Sts). www.farafinacafeloungeharlem.com. 212- 281-2445. Mon: 7:30&9:30pm $10 adm. Fri- Sat: 11pm-4am Keyed Up series. May 1: Shirazette Tinnin & Sonic Wallpaper; 8: Sounds of A&R; 13: 8:30-11pm Jazz In The 12 For comprehensive daily updated listings with sort-by options—by artist, location, day or time—go to www.hothousejazz.com. 181183_HH_May_0 4/24/17 10:35 AM Page 13 Heightzz; 15: Peter & Will Anderson; 22: Jesus on the Mainline; 23: 8:30-11pm Jazz In The Heightzz; 29: The Le Boeuf Brothers. 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. May 4: King Solomon Hicks; 5-6: $20 Theo Croker. MINTON’S: 206W 118th St (bet St. Nicholas Av & Adam Clayton Powell Blvd). 212-243-2222. www.mintonsharlem.com. Sets: Sun 6:30- 10pm, Fri-Sat 7-10:30pm, Sat-Sun 12-3pm Brunch (B).