A Successful Season--So Far a P a PLACE for JAZZ O R
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A P A PLACE FOR JAZZ O R J Website: http://www.timesunion.com/communities/jazz/—Updated daily A Successful Season--so far by Tim Coakley The 2005 season is rolling Dan Levinson and his along, and so far the con- Summa cum Laude Or- certs have been as suc- chestra re-created some cessful as they have been Bud Freeman Chicago- Inside this issue: varied. In addition, we style classics with verve attracted reviewers from and precision. Dan played Metroland and the Times both clarinet and sax, and M and M’s 3 Union, as well as The Daily Randy Reinhart led the Gazette. Here's a brief run- way with some sparkling down of the series to date: Calendar 4-5 cornet. Features 9 & 11 Dynamic pianist Hilton Ruiz and his Quintet pro- vided a mixture of Latin Jazz Times 6-7 music and bebop that got some members of the audi- Who IS this youthful drum- ence mer? (see page 3 for his dancing. Drummer Sylvia identity) Cuenca captured every- one's attention with her percussionistic pyrotech- nics. John Bailey & Gregg August VOLUNTEER HELP with kids at HHAC WANTED Hilton also worked with (photo by Jody Shayne) student musicians at SCCC, and showed We need help: Hamilton Hill youngsters Labeling newsletters (1 hour every how different styles of jazz 3 months…can be done at home) Bassist Gregg August and his sextet challenged us piano sounded. Musician John Bailey shows his Writing music reviews horn to young people at HHAC with some original and pro- Working on a young people’s (photo by Jody Shayne) project at the Hamilton Hill Art vocative compositions, At press time, we were get- Center along with fiery solos by ting ready to enjoy the vo- Check out our update monthly saxophonists Myron Wal- cal stylings of Roseanna calendar. Check out our web- den and Greg Tardy, and If you can help, please call Tim Vitro, and taking ticket or- site at http:// Coakley at trumpeter John Bailey. ders for our swinging final www.timesunion.com/ Gregg and John also gave 518-393-4011 concert with pianist Steve communities/jazz/. The cal- a clinic at Schenectady Kuhn's trio. It's not too late endar is updated weekly and or e-mail him at County Community Col- to get tickets and warm includes links to Jazz Festi- [email protected] lege, and charmed the kids yourself at the jazz hearth. vals, clubs and concert series. at the Hamilton Hill Arts Center. A P l a c e f o r J a z z Page 2 The 11th Annual West Coast Jazz Party By Tim Coakley This year's event got off Eleven.” Actually, Gibbs is and pianist Llew Mathews, to a nifty start on the after- not ageless: He turned 80 Nancy Wilson's musical noon of Sept. 2. Out at the in October. director, got a chance to pool of the Irvine Marriott, That night in the Grand show off his rich, chordal baritone saxophonist Ballroom, Harry Allen style as well as emulating Roger Neumann assem- played a bossa nova set. It the delicate Basie key- bled a small group to play was a relaxed, soothing board approach. some of his arrangements set, although all the tunes The festival ended with in a set titled Salute to the were beautiful, and he var- Terry Gibbs and fellow Baritone Players. Neu- ied the tempos from slow vibraphonist Peter Ap- mann is obviously not a to fast, some people got a pleyard in a tribute to Ken Peplowski strict constructionist, since little restive at an entire set Lionel Hampton. Gibbs had some of his choices had of bossa novas. worked out some Hampton nothing to do with baritone The evening was climaxed staples for a small group players, though he did offer by Gordon Goodwin's Big that included Peplowski a nice version of Gerry Phat Band, a powerful col- and organist Joe Bagg, Mulligan's "Walkin' lection of players that gave along with Cohn and late Shoes.” He also reached Goodwin's distinctive, sitters-in Harry Allen, Troy way back for a Harry somewhat demand- Andrews and Byron Strip- James tune called “Ultra.” ing arrangements a thor- ling. It all wound up with a “The highlight of Friday night That evening saw the ough workout. The purists roaring “Flyin' Home,” of was a quartet led by tenor introduction of 19-year-old got a treat at the end in course, and producer Joe saxophonist Harry Allen, who trombonist Troy Andrews, Goodwin's long arrange- Rothman, who had la- played several swinging who has a powerful, rug- ment that alluded to or mented not winding things selections abetted by ged style of playing. He quoted just about every big up with a big band as guitarist Joe Cohn, bassist appeared several times band hit from the Swing usual, had nothing to com- Joel forbes and drummer Jeff during the weekend, and Era. plain about. Hamilton.” —T.C. since he is from New Or- Sunday afternoon was The festival bills its music leans, promoter Joe cruise day, when the musi- policy as “straight ahead Rothman said that a cer- cians assemble for a lazy and right down the mid- tain percentage of the three hours up Newport dle,” and this one certainly money being collected for Beach Harbor and back. lived up to that policy. victims of Hurricane There is constant music on There's another one in Katrina would go to An- three decks, and it's impos- February if anyone cares to drews. sible to hear it all, so I set- make the cross-country The highlight of Friday tled for the bottom deck, flight. I'll settle for my Terry night was a quartet led by where Ken Peplowski and Gibbs and Jeff Hamilton tenor saxophonist Harry drummer Jeff Hamilton CDs as I put the air fare Allen, who played several played a memorable last into heating bills. swinging selections abet- set as we gently docked. ted by guitarist Joe Cohn, Sunday night is the last bassist Joel Forbes and night, and usually has at drummer Jeff Hamilton. least one set that breaks On Saturday afternoon by everyone up. Tonight there the pool, under a blazing were two: a Count Basie California sun, Ken type group led by Basie Peplowski and the age- drummer Butch Miles, less vibraphonist Terry which got the spirit of the Gibbs played a fast- Count going and never let moving Benny Goodman up. Trumpeter Byron set, capped off by their ver- Stripling led the way with sion of “Seven Come some powerful brass work A P l a c e f o r J a z z Page 3 M & M’s M e m b e r s a n d M u s i c i a n s On Jay Street series this or high-school students. summer, with Leo Russo This is an enjoyable way to on sax, Ron Partch on pass along the history of bass and Tim Coakley on this great music. Teachers drums. Paul left for Florida and anyone else interested in mid-September and so can give Skip a call at 768- wasn't able to attend our 2310 or email him at first concert. He sent this [email protected]. message from the South: "I In September, area musi- wish I could have been- cians and their friends held there, but I was still pack- a benefit at Revolution Hall It’s Tim Coakley at the drums! Roswell Rudd ing and was knocked out. in Troy for accordionist Al (Did you guess the cover picture?) But we just arrived in Flor- Colessessano and his (Courtesy ofWAMC.com) ida to a nice thunderstorm. wife, whose home was de- The Hudson Valley They love me here." Friends of Jazz will present stroyed by fire. The event the second concert in their Skip Parsons and his raised about $3,000 for fall season featuring trom- Riverboat Jazz Band will the Colessessanos. The bonist Roswell Rudd and team up with Doc Spring music community turned pianist Lafayette Harris on and his Rehabilitated Dixie- out in force for this one, Saturday, Nov. 5 at the land Band for a joint con- and it was heartening to North Pointe Cultural Arts cert to benefit the victims of see so many musicians Center in Kinderhook. A Hurricane Katrina on Sun- and fans together. day, Nov. 6 at the Holiday key transitional figure of Performers included Mo Inn on Nott Terrace in the 1960s, Rudd will mix Rancourt and his Dixie Schenectady. Admission his original compositions Sweet Hots, Linda Brown will be a donation of at with music by Fats Waller, and her group, Colleen least $20. There will be Duke Ellington and Thelo- Pratt, Lee Shaw, Peg and nious Monk. snack foods available. For Bill DelaneyRoswell and Rudd a host of The final fall concert will be information and reserva- others, including the Adi- on Saturday, Dec. 3, fea- tions call 768-2310. rondack Saxophone Quar- turing saxophonist Steve Speaking of Skip, last tet, which wowed every- Wilson and drummer- month he and the River- body. But the real percussionist Lewis Nash. boat Jazz Band tried out show-stopper was Dale North Pointe is on Route 9 their new program on the Foster's rendition of "Old in Kinderhook. The con- history of early jazz at the Folks." certs are held at 8 p.m. A O'Neill High School in pre-concert talk by the art- Walton, N.Y. The program ists will be presented consists of a narration on at 7 p.m.