Pianist Emmet Cohen ‘Fills in the Gaps’ Between Traditional and Modern Jazz New Release Follows Months of Weekly Online Concerts
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THE MAGAZINE OF THE APRIL 2021 NEW JERSEY JAZZ SOCIETY JerseyJazz VOLUME 49 ISSUE 04 EMMET COHEN’S Future Stride TRANSFORMING TRADITION IN THIS ISSUE ARTICLES/REVIEWS COLUMNS 08 Saturdays with 03 All That’s Jazz Ramsey Lewis 05 Editor’s Choice 13 Emmet Cohen’s Future Stride 36 From the Crow’s Nest 17 Jazz History: Scott LaFaro 22 Talking Jazz: John Lee 29 Rising Star: Jocelyn Gould 33 Remembering CORRECTION The bassist who played with Renee Rosnes Carol Fredette at the Paris Philharmonie and the Luxembourg Philharmonie in 2016 was Linda May Han Oh. Her name was misstated on page 14 of the ON THE COVER _ Emmet Cohen. ALL PHOTOS OF COHEN BY TAILI SONG ROTH 38 Other Views March 2021 issue of Jersey Jazz. NJJS.ORG JERSEY JAZZ APRIL • 2021 02 ALL THAT’S JAZZ BY CYDNEY HALPIN pril is Jazz Appreciation it’s potential, summed up and sanc- please contact me at [email protected]. lease join me on Saturday, April Month (JAM). Originally in- tified and accessible to anybody who 17 at 7 p.m. as we present our A tended as a catalyst to encour- learns to listen” — WYNTON MARSALIS osaic™ Box Sets for Sale. P Virtual Social featuring Chris- age people of all ages to actively NJJS has received two in- tian Fabian, Lance Bryant and Ja- participate in jazz, JAM heralds and ersey Jazz magazine is a wonder- M credibly generous dona- son Marsalis in a “conversation and celebrates the extraordinary heri- ful benefit of NJJS membership tions of used Mosaic™ Limited clips” presentation highlighting the tage and history of jazz. I encour- J and starting in May, it will be Edition Box Sets, one from Robin legacy of Lionel Hampton and the age you to celebrate and do some- password protected with full access Sinkway, the niece of the late, de- New Lionel Hampton Big Band. thing “jazz-centric” this month by available to NJJS members only. voted NJJS member Jack Sink- For more information please attending a virtual or live concert Each month, you’ll receive a way, and the other from Jean see page 5 or visit our website www. event or lecture, reading a book new password when you receive Field. We thank both families for njjs.org/News. This informative devoted to a jazz great; purchasing the eBlast containing the link to their kindness and stewardship. and swingin’ streaming event can be a CD or LP, Googling an artist or the current month’s issue. You’ll be Prized by collectors for their viewed on our website homepage and song you’re interested in finding prompted to input the password af- superior audio quality, most of these on our New Jersey Jazz Society Face- out more about … the possibilities ter you click on the “View Digital CD sets are in mint to very good book page. I hope to “see” you there. and opportunities are endless. Issue” tab. Once you’ve accessed the condition and would make a great This program has been proudly However you chose to celebrate, magazine, you’ll be able to down- addition to your music collection, supported by a grant from Investors actively take part in the preser- load it to your computer or other with proceeds helping NJJS Foundation. vation and promotion of jazz and personal device for ease of access continue to promote and present share your interest and enthusiasm throughout the month. If you pre- jazz. For more information on the elebrate JAM and help fund our of America’s great art form with fer not to download the issue, keep titles for sale and prices, please programming! Along with our someone else—perhaps introduc- the monthly password handy so you visit our website www.njjs.org/ C newly acquired treasure trove ing them to jazz for the first time. can continue to access the issue Donate/Merchandise or contact via of Mosaic™ merchandise, we also “Jazz music is America’s past and online. If you have any questions, email [email protected]. have a very extensive collection of NJJS.ORG JERSEY JAZZ APRIL • 2021 03 ALL THAT’S JAZZ used CDs, LPs and books for sale. Social, please contact me at and more, with today’s finest jazz of the AmazonSmile Gives program Thanks to the ongoing and hercu- [email protected]. musicians and educators of early jazz. where 0.5% of the price of you eligi- lean efforts of board members James Weekend, one day, single session ble purchases goes directly to NJJS! Pansulla, Dave Dilzell, Jay Dougherty f you’re craving live music in a and student passes are available. For It’s the same Amazon you and Pete Grice, you can find the avail- beautiful and safe setting, the more information or to sign up/reg- know but a separate website. able inventory lists on our website I Morris Museum kicks off their ister visit www.nyhotjazzcamp.com. Same products, same service www.njjs,org/Donate/Merchandise. outdoor “Concerts on the Back - but to generate financial dona- Deck” series Thursday, April 15 at he circumstances of the past tions to NJJS, you must ALWAYS ’m delighted to announce that 7:00 p.m. with a pre-season show year have necessitated chang- SHOP AT smile.amazon,com. for the fifth consecutive year, the with Amani featuring Stephen T es to every aspect of the way I New Jersey Jazz Society has been Fuller, Clarence Conover, Kenny NJJS carries out its mission to pro- awarded a grant from Morris Arts Robinson, Larry Greenberg and mote, present and preserve jazz. to help in part fund our Jazz Socials. Marty Eigen. Bring your dancing I’d like to thank Christine Vaindirl- We’re proud to be one of 28 arts or- shoes! For more information and is who’s provided guidance and techni- ganizations helped by this funding, tickets www.morrismuseum.org. cal expertise as we’ve tackled present- made possible through the Local Arts ing online programming and expanded Program of the New Jersey State he Second NY Hot Jazz Camp our website to include homepage Log on to www.smile.amazon. Council on the Arts/Department of Virtual Weekend Workshop will streaming and video enhanced News com and select New Jersey Jazz State, a partner agency of the Na- T take place April 16-18, 2021. stories. She’s been a “game chang- Society as your beneficiary, then tional Endowment for the Arts. Founded and co-directed by Molly er” for NJJS and we’re very grateful. shop as your normally do. Please The board of directors and I Ryan and Bria Skonberg, this jam- tell your friends and family wish to thank Morris Arts for their packed weekend workshop will con- f you’ve used Amazon this past members about this amazing continued support of NJJS. sist of interactive workshops, master year for in-home shopping, I’d like opportunity for NJJS and thank If you’d like to sponsor an NJJS classes, presentations, song studies I to remind you that NJJS is part you in advance for your support. NJJS.ORG JERSEY JAZZ APRIL • 2021 04 EDITOR’S CHOICE BY SANFORD JOSEPHSON ories of You.” At the Social, Fabian, gomery, guitarist Wes Montgomery’s The Energy and Excitement Bryant, and Marsalis will be showing older brother, played in Hampton’s of Lionel Hampton video highlights from Hampton per- band in the early 1950s, and Hampton formances as well as footage of the convinced him to shift to the electric current Lionel Hampton Big Band. bass, which had recently been intro- No other single performer special guest, vibraphonist Jason By 1934, Hampton was leading duced by instrument manufactur- in American jazz has so Marsalis, will be celebrating Hamp- his own band at LA’s Sebastian’s er Leo Fender. In a September 1977 consistently and joyously incited ton’s life and music at the New Jer- Cotton Club. He was noticed by Guitar Player Magazine interview, and inspired his fellow musicians sey Jazz Society’s Virtual Social on Goodman, who invited him to join Montgomery recalled what happened. and listening audiences.” That’s how Saturday, April 17 from 7-8 p.m. his trio, with pianist Teddy Wilson “Hamp handed me the Fender,” he George T. Simon described Lionel Fabian and Bryant played with and drummer Gene Krupa. The said, “and told me he wanted the elec- Hampton in his book, The Big Bands Hampton and will be telling some per- importance of that collaboration, tric instrument sound in the band ... (Macmillan Publishing: 1967). sonal stories about those days. Marsa- according to The New York Times’ At first, I freaked out because I was in Hampton, who passed away in lis will talk about Hampton’s influence Peter Watrous (September 1, 2002) love with my upright bass, but I made 2002 at the age of 94, received a Gram- on him as a vibraphonist and what “cannot be overstated, on both musical up my mind to do it and did it well.” my Lifetime Achievement Award last motivated him to try to fill the master’s and social grounds. Not only did Mr. The Virtual Social on Lionel month. (Jersey Jazz, March, 2021). shoes in the current edition of the band. Hampton and Mr. Goodman make Hampton will be streamed on the New He was nominated for the award In 1927, Hampton was the drum- exceptional music, but they, along with Jersey Jazz Society website, www.njjs. by the co-leaders of the current Li- mer for Les Hite’s Orchestra in Los the pianist Teddy Wilson, presented org as well as on the NJJS Facebook onel Hampton Big Band, created in Angeles.