Dianne Reeves Beautiful Life
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FEBRUARY 2015—ISSUE 154 YOUR FREE GUIDE TO THE NYC JAZZ SCENE NYCJAZZRECORD.COM Dianne Reeves beautiful life VOCALS ISSUE CATHERINE ANDREAS LINDA HELEN RUSSELL SCHAERER SHARROCK HUMES Managing Editor: Laurence Donohue-Greene Editorial Director & Production Manager: Andrey Henkin To Contact: The New York City Jazz Record 116 Pinehurst Avenue, Ste. J41 FEBRUARY 2015—ISSUE 154 New York, NY 10033 United States New York@Night 4 Laurence Donohue-Greene: [email protected] Interview : Catherine Russell by katie bull Andrey Henkin: 6 [email protected] General Inquiries: Artist Feature : Andreas Schaerer 7 by alex henderson [email protected] Advertising: On The Cover : Dianne Reeves 8 by suzanne lorge [email protected] Editorial: [email protected] Encore : Linda Sharrock 10 by clifford allen Calendar: [email protected] Lest We Forget : helen humes 10 by george kanzler VOXNews: [email protected] Letters to the Editor: LAbel Spotlight : Red Piano 11 by ken waxman [email protected] VOXNEWS 11 by katie bull US Subscription rates: 12 issues, $35 International Subscription rates: 12 issues, $45 For subscription assistance, send check, cash or money order to the address above In Memoriam 12 by andrey henkin or email [email protected] CD Reviews Staff Writers 14 David R. Adler, Clifford Allen, Fred Bouchard, Stuart Broomer, Miscellany 37 Katie Bull, Tom Conrad, Ken Dryden, Donald Elfman, Brad Farberman, Sean Fitzell, Event Calendar 38 Kurt Gottschalk, Tom Greenland, Alex Henderson, Marcia Hillman, Terrell Holmes, Robert Iannapollo, 43 Suzanne Lorge, Marc Medwin, Robert Milburn, Russ Musto, 44 Sean J. O’Connell, Joel Roberts, John Sharpe, Elliott Simon, Andrew Vélez, Ken Waxman Everyone sings. But not everyone is a singer. And fewer few are real jazz singers. But that Contributing Writers term is as inclusive as jazz itself. There are, of course, the totems of jazz singing, the Ellas and Duck Baker, Brian Charette, Sarahs and Billies to go with the Birds, Tranes and Monks, but the range of music created Brad Cohan, Phil Freeman, under the vocal jazz banner is vast and varied. Dianne Reeves (On The Cover) may be the jazz George Kanzler, Mark Keresman, Ken Micallef diva of her generation; find out for yourself over Valentine’s Day weekend at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater. Catherine Russell (Interview) was literally born into jazz via her Contributing Photographers musical parents but has an impressive resumé of her own; she performs this month at Zankel Reto Andreoli, Jacob Blickenstaff, Hall, Tribeca Performing Arts Center and The Rainbow Room. And while Swiss experimental Marv Goldschmitt, Erika Kapin, vocalist Andreas Schaerer (Artist Feature) won’t be on this side of the pond, we hope that his Jerris Madison, Alan Nahigian, Jack Vartoogian fans increase, fueled by his already-prolific discography, and that he’ll hit The Big Apple soon. Two sides of the jazz vocal coin are represented by avant garde songstress Linda Sharrock (Encore) and the late singer Helen Humes (Lest We Forget). And while it is only a part of its output, local record label Red Piano is making its own mark on vocal jazz. And our CD Reviews are front-loaded with a wide swath of new vocal releases (pg. 14-19). nycjazzrecord.com The voice was the first instrument but, like the bodies in which it resides, continues to evolve. On The Cover: Dianne Reeves (photo by Jerris Madison) All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission strictly prohibited. All material copyrights property of the authors. 2 FEBRUARY 2015 | THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD FEBRUARY 20l5 VALENTINE’S WEEK WITH KIRK WHALUM NICOLE HENRY RACHELLE FERRELL KERMIT RUFFINS & THE BBQ SWINGERS- FEB 3-8 FEB 10 & 11 FEB 12-15 FAT TUESDAY/MARDI GRAS WEEK CELEBRATION First NYC Appearance as Leader in 10 Years! FEB 17-22 GATO BARBIERI FEB 24 • MS. LAURYN HILL - SMALL AXE: Acoustic Performance Series FEB 25 • TBA FEB 26 - MARCH 1 GORDON CHAMBERS FEB 2 • VINX RHYTHM NOMADS (8PM) / S.W.I.S.S. PRESENTS “POETRY OF RIDDIM” (10:30PM) FEB 9 EVA CORTES - CD RELEASE (8PM) / JOHN ELLIS QUARTET (10:30PM) FEB 16 • JJ SANSAVERINO & FRIENDS FEB 23 SUNDAY BRUNCH MARLENE VERPLANCK TRIO FEB 1 • OSCAR PEÑAS QUARTET FEB 8 NEW ORLEANS MARDI GRAS BRUNCH FEAT. “HOT LIPS” JOEY MORANT & CATFISH STEW FEB 15 ($35.00) • BRAD SHEPIK AND HIS NYU JAZZ ENSEMBLE FEB 22 LATE NIGHT GROOVE SERIES MARK SHINE - BOB MARLEY BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE FEB 6 • SPANGLISH FLY FEB 7 • S.A. - CD RELEASE SHOW FEB 13 NICKEL & DIME OPS FEB 14 • MATT DICKEY & TRY THIS AT HOME FEB 20 • UNDERGROUND HORNS FEB 21 • TBA FEB 27 • WILL BERNARD FEB 28 bluenotenyc l3l WEST 3RD STREET NEW YORK CITY • 2l2.475.8595 • WWW.BLUENOTEJAZZ.COM @bluenotenyc TWO SHOWS NIGHTLY FRIDAY & SATURDAY SUNDAY BRUNCH ll:30AM & l:30PM TELECHARGE.COM 8PM & l0:30PM LATE NIGHTS: l2:30AM TERMS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS APPLY @bluenotenyc $29.50 INCLUDES BRUNCH MUSIC AND DRINK 2751 Broadway NYC, NY (btw 105th & 106th Streets) www.smokejazz.com 212.864.6662 FEBRUARY 2015 FEBRUARY WEEKENDS FEBRUARY WEEKNIGHTS FEBRUARY ’ROUND MIDNIGHT 2/6, 2/7 & 2/8 “COLLECTIVE PORTRAIT” CD RELEASE M 2/2 THE CAPTAIN BLACK BIG BAND F PATIENCE HIGGINS’ SUGAR HILL QUARTET EDDIE HENDERSON QUINTET Tu 2/3 MIKE LEDONNE’S GROOVER QUARTET Sa JOHNNY O’NEAL & FRIENDS Eddie Henderson [tp] Gary Bartz [as] W 2/4 GEORGE COLEMAN, JR. QUARTET George Cables [p] Doug Weiss [b] Billy Drummond [d] Th 2/5 BRIANNA THOMAS JAM SESSION 2/13, 2/14 & 2/15 M JAM SESSION HOSTED BY THE BAYLOR PROJECT M 2/9 THE CAPTAIN BLACK BIG BAND THE CAPTAIN BLACK BIG BAND FEATURING JEAN & MARCUS BAYLOR Tu 2/10 MIKE LEDONNE’S GROOVER QUARTET PLUS SPECIAL GUEST CYRUS CHESTNUT W 2/11 ADAM BIRNBAUM TRIO - CD RELEASE Jean Baylor [vox] Keyon Harrold [tp] Keith Loftis [sax] SUNDAY JAZZ BRUNCH Cyrus Chestnut [p, Fri & Sun ONLY] FEATURING AL FOSTER Sullivan Fortner [p, Sat ONLY] Su ANNETTE ST. JOHN & HER TRIO Dezron Douglas [b] Marcus Baylor [d] Th 2/12 SARON CRENSHAW BAND 2/20, 2/21 & 2/22 M 2/16 THE CAPTAIN BLACK BIG BAND Sets at 7, 9 & 10:30pm THE NEW DRUM BATTLE Tu 2/17 MIKE LEDONNE’S GROOVER QUARTET JOE FARNSWORTH VS. KENNY WASHINGTON FRI & SAT ’ROUND MIDNIGHT SETS Joe Farnsworth [d] & Kenny Washington [d] W 2/18 BRUCE HARRIS SEXTET also at 11:45PM Seamus Blake [sax] Jeremy Pelt [tp] Harold Mabern [p] John Webber [b] Th 2/19 BRANDON BAIN SEXTET 2/27, 2/28 & 3/1 MON at 7 & 9pm only M 2/23 THE CAPTAIN BLACK BIG BAND MON Jam Session starts at 10:30pm THE NEW YORK STANDARDS QUARTET Tu 2/24 MIKE LEDONNE’S GROOVER QUARTET + SPECIAL GUESTS ROBIN EUBANKS & STEVE WILSON Tim Armacost [ts] David Berkman [p] W 2/25 BILL CANTRALL & AXIOM SUN Brunch sets at 11:30am, Ray Drummond [b] Gene Jackson [d] 1:00pm & 2:30pm Robin Eubanks [tb, Fri & Sat] & Steve Wilson [sax, Sun] Th 2/26 CAROLYN LEONHART QUINTET NEW YORK @ NIGHT The late John Carter’s quartet Clarinet Summit was a When the Village Vanguard’s Lorraine Gordon first remarkable, if now largely forgotten, reimagining of hired The Bad Plus, she was chastised by purists who the jazz formula. Without rhythm section or heavy- wondered why a group that covered ABBA and Blondie hitting solo instrument, it demonstrated that clarinets was allowed to play in her hallowed club. But for most can swing on their own and pack a punch when needed. of a decade now the trio has been a top draw there on Carter’s group reached across generations, uniting his New Year’s Eve. They opened their first set of 2015 protégé David Murray (who was already active with (Jan. 1st) with three new pieces: a plodding “Gold his World Saxophone Quartet) and Ellington sideman Prisms, Inc.”, followed by “Self Serve” and “Reveille”, Jimmy Hamilton. Murray paid tribute to his mentor at the latter two moving between swing and rock feels BMC CD 207 BMC CD 192 Michael Schiefel Michael Schiefel the Minetta Theater with a summit of his own (Jan. with accelerating tempos and uncanny accent patterns. Platypus Trio The Cool Running Orchestra Tribute To Marley 9th), borrowing Carter’s band name and adding bass Although many such trios are led by the pianist and and drums. Murray assembled an impressive line of certainly Ethan Iverson is a maestro’s maestro, The reedplayers for the set (one of his three Winter Jazz Bad Plus is a true collective, cushioned by Reid Festival appearances): his WSQ bandmate Hamiet Anderson’s incisive but never repetitive basslines (he Bluiett along with Don Byron and David Krakauer. is also a skilled raconteur, emceeing with impromptu With strong charts and proper rehearsal they wouldn’t witticisms) and fired by drummer Dave King’s restless have needed bassist Jaribu Shahid and drummer but empathetic style. All originally from the Upper Nasheet Waits but whether or not the charts and Midwest, they seem to have an intuitive understanding rehearsal were there, the short set didn’t do justice to its of each other’s playing, which allows them to flow in forebear. They remembered a couple other losses by and out of dense, polyrhythmic sections with relaxed dedicating Murray’s own “The Long March to Freedom” precision, astounding audiences with their pinpoint to poet Amiri Baraka on the one-year anniversary of his landings after turbulent, seemingly chaotic, improvised death and playing two compositions by Butch Morris, flights. By the time they performed “Rhinoceros Is My BMC CD 173 BMC CD 216 Michael Schiefel Andreas Schaerer meets Murray’s longtime collaborator.