Jazz and Boston: a True Combo a Look at the Live-Music Scene, from Traditional Trios to Experimental Student Performers by Jacob Sweet
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EXPLORATIONS Jazz and Boston: A True Combo A look at the live-music scene, from traditional trios to experimental student performers by jacoB sweet t’s a Friday night at The Mad Monkfish in Cambridge’s Central Square and Yoko Miwa I and her trio are performing their weekly set. The lights are dim and the Asian-fusion dishes are plated Clockwise from upper left: Sheila Jordan performs with the with style. For many, it’s date night, Yoko Miwa Trio at The Mad Monkfish, in Cambridge; a low-key evening at Wally’s, in Boston; Alita Moses and and although it costs $10 to sit in the Steven Feifke at the Shalin Liu Performance Center, in Jazz Baroness Room—where the Rockport; Ravi Coltrane has also made his way to Rockport. live performances take place—not everyone is completely tuned in. roll into one rhythms into the street. Some people stand For some, music is part of the atmo- another like and listen; others have somewhere else to be. sphere, akin to the lipstick-red lami- waves puls- A not-insignificant number are musicians, nated seats; for others, it’s the reason ing along the who—juggling guitars, keyboards, saxo- they came. Miwa, a Berklee associ- shore, inspir- phones, sound equipment, and even an up- ate professor of piano whose trio is ing some din- right bass or two—are off to their own gigs. a staple in Boston, plays with unpretentious ers to turn away from their food and watch. On any given weekend in Boston, there’s grace and fluidity. The sound reaches the Jazz is in the air. plenty of jazz to be heard. This might sur- back of the room, but the closer you get to The plate-glass storefront window be- prise those who think jazz hubs mean New the ankle-high stage, the more the nuances hind the stage gives passersby a view of the Orleans and New York City. “Boston doesn’t CLOCKWISE FROM TOP STU RIGHT: ROSNER; ACADIA MEZZOFANTI; stand out. Her breezy, articulate phrases trio, as external loudspeakers send Miwa’s have the reputation of being a great jazz ERIN SMITHERS; JANICE TSAI 16j NovemBer - DecemBer 2019 Reprinted from Harvard Magazine. For more information, contact Harvard Magazine, Inc. at 617-495-5746 HARVARD SQUARED Drummer Lenny White leads his band at the intimate Regattabar; percussionist Manolo Badrena performs at the same venue. ies made contributions as well, but Boston was unique in that it made major contributions to all of them.” Proximity to New York City was a blessing and a curse. Posi- tively, many of the world’s best artists frequently visited: Diz- zy Gillespie, Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Thelo- nious Monk. Negatively, they COURTESY OF THE REGATTABAR (2) REGATTABAR THE OF COURTESY often went home with some of Document1Document1 11/20/03 11/20/03 11:51 11:51 AM AM Page Page 1 1 city,” says Pauline Bilsky, president of the schools: the New England Conservatory Boston’s most promising young musicians advocacy group JazzBoston. “It’s really not of Music (NEC), Schillinger House (now in tow. Other cities may have had a bigger recognized—even here.” But those on the Berklee College of Music), and The Boston pool, but Boston musicians could outschool lookout know that Boston certainly has a Conservatory (now Boston Conservatory anyone. “We sort of looked down on the mu- part to play. at Berklee). As Richard Vacca details in The sical knowledge of the New York musicians The local jazz scene began in the early Boston Jazz Chronicles, Boston was not just a because they were all there before they were twentieth century and took off in the late hotbed of musical talent, but also “a training ready,” said prominent avant-garde jazz art- 1940s, as American soldiers returned from ground for jazz journalists, a magnet for mu- ist and Boston Conservatory graduate Sam war. With support from the GI Bill, service- sic education, and a proving ground for new Rivers, according to Vacca. “They got on-the- men flocked to Boston’s three major music approaches in jazz presentation. Other cit- job training. We waited and got ourselves to- ASSISTEDASSISTEDLIVINGLIVINGRETIREMENTRETIREMENTCOMMUNITYCOMMUNITY Independent and Assisted Living Here’sSpecializedHere’s what what Memory people people Care are are Whatsayingsaying do Harvard about about us. alumni us. have in common? Cadbury Commons A Remarkable Senior Residence Name:Name:MiltonMilton R. R. Occupation:Occupation:PostalPostal Supervisor, Supervisor, Retired Retired Hobbies:Hobbies:Reading,Reading, Walking, Walking, Exercising Exercising Lifestyle:Lifestyle:Independent,Independent, Active Active ChoiceChoice of Senior/Assisted of Senior/Assisted Living: Living: CadburyCadbury Commons Commons The Harvard alumni who chose “There“There is a isstable a stable and andgentle gentle atmosphere atmosphere of Cadburyhelpof help and and Commonsempathy empathy throughout throughoutmay havethe the community.retiredcommunity. from I feel Iwork, feelassured assured but that not thatI am fromI partam part oflife. of others’others’ lives, lives, as they as they are ofare mine. of mine. For Formyself, myself, I feelIMuseum feelthat thatCadbury CadburyVisits Commons • CommonsPlay Readingprovides provides a a wellSymphonywell trained trained and andcaring Selections caring group group of •people ofLecture people who who are interestedare interested in my in welfare.”my welfare.” Series • Yoga • Organic Gardening CallCall (617) (617) 868-0575 868-0575 to arrange to arrange a personal a personal tour,Calltour, (617) or visit or 868-0575 visit www.cadburycommons.com www.cadburycommons.com to arrange a personal tour, WhereWhereor visitThe www.cadburycommons.comThe Emphasis Emphasis Is On Is OnLiving Living 66 Sherman6666 Sherman Sherman Street, Street, Street, Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridge, EQUAL EQUAL MA 02140◆ ◆ (617) 868-0575 HOUSING HOUSING MAMA 02140 02140 (617)• (617)868-0575 868-0575 OPPTY OPPTY 16L NovemBer - DecemBer 2019 Reprinted from Harvard Magazine. For more information, contact Harvard Magazine, Inc. at 617-495-5746 HARVARD SQUARED gether first and then we went to New York.” of the ocean, the Shalin Liu stage provides Mike Rivard, strumming a North African Many of Boston’s most storied jazz insti- a pristine visual, as well as auditory, experi- sintir, leads Club D’Elf at the rose-tinted Lizard Lounge; Rachael Price sings with tutions have faded away, but others have ence, and features widely recognized artists the Boston-based group Lake Street Dive. popped up. And although very few clubs who might also perform at Lincoln Center and restaurants feature jazz exclusively, or Symphony Hall. Branford Marsalis visited ra Club, set in a nondescript brown build- JazzBoston tallied 150 venues in the Great- this September, and Grammy Award-win- ing on a suburban Methuen street: it offers er Boston area (extending to Worcester ners Ulysses Owens Jr. and Jack DeJohnette Tuesday-night jazz series, featuring an array COURTESY OF THE LIZARD LOUNGE and the North Shore) that book jazz acts are on this season’s docket. Chianti is a hom- of crowd-pleasing, mostly local musicians, with some regularity. Bilsky points in par- ier venue, with entertainment six nights a food and bar service, and cabaret seating. ticular to the Shalin Liu Performance Cen- week, and solid Italian food. Guest artists Moving into Boston’s South End, one clas- ter in Rockport, and Chianti Restaurant tend to be of more regional than national sic club does remain: Wally’s Café, which & Lounge in Beverly. Framed by floor-to- acclaim, but there is plenty of talent—and has been plugging away for more than 75 ceiling glass windows and a stunning view no cover charge. Also of note is The Saha- years. Even today, its audience skews young. Zachary specializes in helping Buyers, Sellers and Investors in all of Greater Boston’s unique neighborhoods and communities. ZACHARY FRIEDMAN [email protected] 617.877.0582 compass.com 220 WEST SPRINGFIELD STREET UNIT 4 South End $1,499,000 2 BD 1F 1H BA 1,492 SF Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Harvard Magazine 16m Reprinted from Harvard Magazine. For more information, contact Harvard Magazine, Inc. at 617-495-5746 HARVARD SQUARED On a Saturday night, an unbridled impro- sion of the crowd or the performers. Solos properly, and watch as the bassist takes con- visatory energy hits you just as you enter are rewarded with instant applause, and riffs trol during the bandleader’s bathroom break. through the club’s distinctive red door. are extemporized emphatically, with mini- Some 80 people can pack inside this airtight About the width of two bowling lanes, the mal breaks in the action. You can get close jazz haven, seven nights a week. Stepping venue lacks much room to stretch out, but enough to observe the tenor sax player’s mi- back onto the street, you wonder how such the restrictions do nothing to curb the pas- nor annoyance when a reed doesn’t respond a little room could contain so much verve. Jazz Photographer whom he traveled between 1989 and 1992). There are Frank Stewart, at Harvard numerous unposed por- Capturing the energy and spirit of jazz traits of revered jazz he- through still-image photography is a little roes: Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny like trying to bottle a tornado.