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NOVEMBER 2017 VOLUME 84 / NUMBER 11 President Kevin Maher Publisher Frank Alkyer Editor Bobby Reed Managing Editor Brian Zimmerman Contributing Editor Ed Enright Creative Director ŽanetaÎuntová Design Assistant Markus Stuckey Assistant to the Publisher Sue Mahal Bookkeeper Evelyn Hawkins Editorial Intern Izzy Yellen ADVERTISING SALES Record Companies & Schools Jennifer Ruban-Gentile 630-941-2030 [email protected] Musical Instruments & East Coast Schools Ritche Deraney 201-445-6260 [email protected] Advertising Sales Associate Kevin R. Maher 630-941-2030 [email protected] OFFICES 102 N. Haven Road, Elmhurst, IL 60126–2970 630-941-2030 / Fax: 630-941-3210 http://downbeat.com [email protected] CUSTOMER SERVICE 877-904-5299 / [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS Senior Contributors: Michael Bourne, Aaron Cohen, Howard Mandel, John McDonough Atlanta: Jon Ross; Austin: Kevin Whitehead; Boston: Fred Bouchard, Frank- John Hadley; Chicago: John Corbett, Alain Drouot, Michael Jackson, Peter Margasak, Bill Meyer, Mitch Myers, Paul Natkin, Howard Reich; Denver: Norman Provizer; Indiana: Mark Sheldon; Iowa: Will Smith; Los Angeles: Earl Gibson, Todd Jenkins, Kirk Silsbee, Chris Walker, Joe Woodard; Michigan: John Ephland; Minneapolis: Robin James; Nashville: Bob Doerschuk; New Orleans: Erika Goldring, David Kunian, Jennifer Odell; New York: Alan Bergman, Herb Boyd, Bill Douthart, Ira Gitler, Eugene Gologursky, Norm Harris, D.D. Jackson, Jimmy Katz, Jim Macnie, Ken Micallef, Dan Ouellette, Ted Panken, Richard Seidel, Tom Staudter, Jack Vartoogian, Michael Weintrob; North Carolina: Robin Tolleson; Philadelphia: David Adler, Shaun Brady, Eric Fine; San Francisco: Mars Breslow, Forrest Bryant, Clayton Call, Yoshi Kato; Seattle: Paul de Barros; Tampa Bay: Philip Booth; Washington, D.C.: Willard Jenkins, John Murph, Michael Wilderman; Canada: Greg Buium, James Hale, Diane Moon; Denmark: Jan Persson; France: Jean Szlamowicz; Germany: Detlev Schilke, Hyou Vielz; Great Britain: Brian Priestley; Japan: Kiyoshi Koyama; Portugal: Antonio Rubio; Romania: Virgil Mihaiu; Russia: Cyril Moshkow; South Africa: Don Albert. Jack Maher, President 1970-2003 John Maher, President 1950-1969 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: Send orders and address changes to: DOWNBEAT, P.O. Box 11688, St. Paul, MN 55111–0688. Inquiries: U.S.A. and Canada (877) 904-5299; Foreign (651) 251-9682. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please allow six weeks for your change to become effective. When notifying us of your new address, include current DOWN- BEAT label showing old address. DOWNBEAT (issn 0012-5768) Volume 84, Number 11 is published monthly by Maher Publications, 102 N. Haven, Elmhurst, IL 60126-2970. Copyright 2017 Maher Publica- tions. All rights reserved. Trademark registered U.S. Patent Office. Great Britain regis- tered trademark No. 719.407. Periodicals postage paid at Elmhurst, IL and at additional mailing offices. Subscription rates: $34.95 for one year, $59.95 for two years. Foreign subscriptions rates: $56.95 for one year, $103.95 for two years. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, photos, or artwork. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from publisher. MAHER PUBLICATIONS: DOWNBEAT magazine, MUSIC INC. maga- zine, UpBeat Daily. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: DownBeat, P.O. Box 11688, St. Paul, MN 55111–0688. CABLE ADDRESS: DownBeat (on sale October 17, 2017) Magazine Publishers Association. Á 4 DOWNBEAT NOVEMBER 2017 NOVEMBER 2017 ON THE COVER 30 Rudresh Mahanthappa STEVEN SUSSMAN Finding Affirmation BY PHILLIP LUTZ The alto saxophonist discusses his trio album Agrima, which he recorded with the Indo-Pak Coalition (guitarist Rez Abbasi and drummer/percussionist Dan Weiss). Mahanthappa’s ambitious new work reflects his decision to work with a broader sonic palette while merging multiple musical styles. 74 FEATURES 36 John McLaughlin Mark Guiliana performs at the North Sea Jazz Festival on July 10, 2016. Stateside Farewell Cover photo of Rudresh Mahanthappa shot by Jimmy & Dena Katz in New York City on Aug. 17. BY BILL MILKOWSKI 42 Tyshawn Sorey Maximum Intensity BY KEN MICALLEF 5-Star Review 5-Star Review 5-Star Review +++++ +++++ +++++ 48 Cory Henry ‘Uninhibited Sound’ BY DAN OUELLETTE 91 Fall/Winter Jazz Festival Guide 56 Blue Note All-Stars 57 Terry/Trotignon 58 Lizz Wright 62 Dee Dee Bridgewater DRUM SCHOOL DEPARTMENTS 74 The Space Between 82 Pro Session the Notes BY BILLY JONES 8 First Take 53 Reviews BY MARK GUILIANA 84 Transcription 10 Chords & Discords 110 Jazz On Campus 80 Master Class Roy Haynes Drum Solo BY JEROME JENNINGS 86 Toolshed 13 The Beat 114 Blindfold Test Odean Pope 26 Players 6 DOWNBEAT NOVEMBER 2017 First Take BY BOBBY REED PHIL AVELLO Mercedes Abal (left), A.J. Hill and Chad Bernstein of the Spam Allstars perform in Bayfront Park on Feb. 25 during the Miami Downtown Jazz Festival. Helping Artists in Need THERE WAS MUCH JOY AND SORROW had so that they can pay their rent and feed during the production cycle for this issue of their families.” DownBeat. We loved assembling our Fall/ Right after Harvey, the JFA staff began Winter Festival Guide, but during the weeks helping victims of Irma. Music venues, record- leading up to press time, Mother Nature ing studios and thousands of homes have been heaped misery on millions. damaged. Much work needs to be done, and When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas and many musicians need your help. On page 72 Louisiana, our immediate concern was for the of this issue, you’ll see a public service ad for health and safety of all our contacts in the line JFA. The organization helps musicians over- of the storm—musicians, educators, schools, come problems related to housing, food, instru- retailers and business associates, as well as our ment repair and other essential needs. To make own friends and relatives. As the cleanup and a donation, go to jazzfoundation.org. (There’s recovery efforts for Harvey continued, anoth- also a link to the site in Ouellette’s web article.) er natural disaster happened when Hurricane After our initial shock regarding these hur- Irma struck Florida. Again, our immediate ricanes, we thought, “How will these storms concern was for people’s safety. and flooding affect the scheduled events that New York-based journalist Dan Ouellette are described in our Fall/Winter Festival wrote an excellent article that we posted on our Guide?” So we reached out to industry profes- website Sept. 7, titled “Educators, Aid Workers sionals in Texas, Louisiana and Florida. We Gauge Harvey’s Impact on Musicians.” For heard from many who had suffered a variety that article Ouellette interviewed a few peo- of setbacks. But we also heard some good news. ple, including Houston-based jazz educa- Steve Weinberger, CEO of Clearwater Jazz tor José Diaz (a member of the DownBeat Holiday Foundation, said, “Our thoughts are Jazz Education Hall of Fame) and Wendy with all those who suffered loss. We were very Oxenhorn, executive director of the New York- fortunate. Clearwater Jazz Holiday’s home in based nonprofit organization Jazz Foundation beautiful Coachman Park surfaced with min- of America. JFA helps musicians year-round, imal impact. We should be in great shape for but it always faces a flurry of requests for aid Clearwater Jazz Holiday on Oct. 19–22.” when a natural disaster hits. We hope that all the events listed in our Oxenhorn was in touch with numerous Festival Guide will go on as planned. The world musicians immediately after Harvey. “We’re needs a big dose of that joy that is so abundant hearing that all they’ve owned has been washed at a jazz festival. But without working musi- away,” she said. “That alone will take its toll, but cians, there wouldn’t even be any festivals. So we need a whole different set of funding to put let’s all get together to help musicians in need them back to work and replace the [gigs] they by making a donation to JFA. Thanks. DB 8 DOWNBEAT NOVEMBER 2017 Chords Discords Thoughts & Words I just read journalist Yoshi Kato’s cover story What are those terms referring to? There is noth- on Ambrose Akinmusire in your September issue. ing in the article that substantiates or even refers I’m a bit perplexed by the blurb “Intellectual to any sort of intellectual adventurism. Renegade” on the cover of the issue, as well as the CLAY HAGEN title of the accompanying article, “The Thinker.” MINNEAPOLIS Rest Assured Larry Elgart & His Manhattan Swing Orchestra. I have been a DownBeat subscriber for The song, which reached No. 31 on the Billboard more than 50 years, and I still look forward to pop charts, was a medley of swing tunes, in- each issue. In the past few issues, I’ve noticed cluding “In the Mood,” “Cherokee,” “American that one of my favorite writers, Hot Box critic Patrol,” “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “Don’t Be That Way,” John McDonough, has been appearing less “Little Brown Jug,” “Opus #1,” “Zing Went The frequently. McDonough’s reviews and articles Strings Of My Heart” and “String Of Pearls.” are informed by his knowledge, insight and KATHY D. HANKENSON, VP CRAIG HANKENSON, PRES. dry wit. I hope his work will not disappear from PRODUCERS, INC. the pages of DownBeat. TAMPA, FLORIDA BOB HOFFHEINS YORK, PENNSYLVANIA Editor’s note: John McDonough contributes to The Hot Box in Corrections this issue (see pages 54–55). As we explained in the First Take section of the October issue, DownBeat has added some new In the October print edi- voices to The Hot Box. This means that McDonough won’t be tion, a combined review in The Hot Box for every single issue, but his work will certainly not disappear from our pages. We love his writing just as of Mario Pavone’s Vertical much as you do. (Clean Feed) and the Ma- rio Pavone Dialect Trio’s Chrome (Playscape) was Remembering Elgart illustrated with the wrong album cover.