DECEMBER 2019 VOLUME 86 / NUMBER 12 President Kevin Maher Publisher Frank Alkyer Editor Bobby Reed Reviews Editor Dave Cantor Contributing Editor Ed Enright Creative Director ŽanetaÎuntová Design Assistant Will Dutton Assistant to the Publisher Sue Mahal Bookkeeper Evelyn Oakes ADVERTISING SALES Record Companies & Schools Jennifer Ruban-Gentile Vice President of Sales 630-359-9345 [email protected] Musical Instruments & East Coast Schools Ritche Deraney Vice President of Sales 201-445-6260 [email protected] Advertising Sales Associate Grace Blackford 630-359-9358 [email protected] OFFICES 102 N. 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POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: DownBeat, P.O. Box 11688, St. Paul, MN 55111–0688. CABLE ADDRESS: DownBeat (on sale November 12, 2019) Magazine Publishers Association. Á 4 DOWNBEAT DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 ON THE COVER 24 Hiromi Playing Dangerously MAKOTO HIROSE BY PHILLIP LUTZ Few pianists exploit the potential of the instrument with the range of skills that global superstar Hiromi has at her disposal, as evidenced on her new solo album, Spectrum. FEATURES 30 Jane Bunnett & Maqueque Simpatico Syncopation BY J.D. CONSIDINE 24 READERS POLL Hiromi’s masterful use of a piano’s pedals is displayed on her new album, Spectrum. 36 Hank Mobley Cover photo of Hiromi by Muga Muyaha DownBeat Hall of Fame BY AARON COHEN 40 Wayne Shorter Jazz Artist of the Year Jazz Album of the Year Soprano Saxophonist of the Year BY J.D. CONSIDINE 42 Top Jazz Albums 44 Top Historical Albums 59 e.s.t. 60 Davis/Clearfield 63 Roberto Fonseca 65 Mette Juul 46 Roy Hargrove Trumpeter of the Year BY MATTHEW KASSEL 47 Dr. John DEPARTMENTS Beyond Artist of the Year BY CREE MCCREE 8 First Take 96 Pro Session BY MARCOS SILVA 48 Complete Poll Results 10 Chords & Discords 98 Transcription Victor Wooten Bass Solo JAZZ FESTIVAL SPECIAL SECTION 13 The Beat 100 Toolshed ©JAMES KNOX/MONTEREY 75 Holiday 55 Reviews 102 Jazz On Campus Gift Guide 90 Master Class 106 Blindfold Test Antonio Sánchez BY ANTONIO J. GARCÍA Antonio Sánchez 6 DOWNBEAT DECEMBER 2019 First Take BY BOBBY REED MIRA FILM This image from Sophie Huber’s documentary Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes depicts, from right to left, Ambrose Akinmusire (foreground), Wayne Shorter, Marcus Strickland and Herbie Hancock. Kaleidoscopic Parade IT’S QUITE A PARADE: HANK MOBLEY, ists-in-residence this year were Miller and Wayne Shorter, Hiromi, Antonio Sánchez, Hodge (see page 14 in The Beat). Miller, a drum- Allison Miller and Derrick Hodge are all march- mer, and Hodge, a bassist, both enjoy the dual ing by, and we’ve got a terrific vantage point. status of being an in-demand headliner and yet When readers praise or criticize DownBeat, still a rising star, as more fans discover their tre- their motivation often involves questions regard- mendous work each year. ing which artists get covered in the magazine— Our Holiday Gift Guide focuses on releases and why. With each issue, our editorial team documenting musical titans who are no longer strives to present an intriguing, colorful mixture with us, including Miles Davis, Nat “King” Cole, of timeless icons, living legends, current headlin- Erroll Garner, Art Pepper and Gregg Allman. ers and rising stars, as well as students and edu- The gift guide also has an article on Sophie cational institutions, which are highlighted in Huber’s compelling documentary Blue Note our Jazz On Campus column. Records: Beyond the Notes. The photo above, In this issue of DownBeat, readers will which depicts a scene from the film, includes encounter a kaleidoscopic parade of accom- Shorter and Herbie Hancock—two legends who plished musicians. The results of the 84th annual each have recorded timeless leader dates for Blue Readers Poll are the centerpiece, with saxophon- Note, and who both were in Miles’ “Second ist Hank Mobley (1930–’86) being voted into the Great Quintet” in the mid-to-late 1960s. They Hall of Fame. We’re proud to present a tribute to are shown in the studio collaborating with this gifted, somewhat underappreciated musi- trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and saxophon- cian, whose induction was a long time coming, ist Marcus Strickland, two of the most exciting but certainly is well deserved. young jazz musicians working today. Additionally, we’ve got an interview with When musicians from different generations perhaps the most revered living jazz compos- meet on the bandstand, sparks often fly. Just ask er, Wayne Shorter, who topped three catego- Jane Bunnett. The Canadian reedist has entered ries in the poll: Jazz Artist, Jazz Album (for his one of the most fruitful chapters of her long ambitious, intricate Emanon) and Soprano career by collaborating with the young, wildly Saxophone. Congrats to Wayne, who continues talented Cuban composers who are in her band, to surprise and astound us. Maqueque (see page 30). The subject of our cover story is global super- Each issue of DownBeat is a smorgasbord, star Hiromi, a pianist who can fill concert halls cooked with a variety of ingredients that repre- and clubs in dozens of countries around the sent different musical styles, different genera- world. She describes, among other things, her tions and different countries. plan to record a solo piano album every 10 years. We hope you enjoy this musical feast. If it On page 106, our Blindfold Test documents a satisfies you, let us know. If it gives you indiges- live event at the Monterey Jazz Festival with tion, we want to hear about that, too. Send your thoughtful drummer Antonio Sánchez, a four- comments to [email protected] and be sure time Grammy winner. The festival’s co-art- to include your city. Bon appétit. DB 8 DOWNBEAT DECEMBERJULY 2019 2019 Chords Discords Truly Unique Mouthpiece I’m writing about the October issue’s First Take CREDIT column, which talked about J.J. Babbitt making a reed mouthpiece for a trumpet—at the re- quest of Eddie Harris (1934–’96). EDWIN DAUGHERTY I have had a long career as a working saxophonist, playing blues, r&b and jazz. I’ve played every imaginable kind of gig, and I am very familiar with the search for the perfect mouthpiece. I was a good friend of Eddie Har- ris—hanging out and practicing together. I en- Saxophonist Edwin Daugherty uses this joyed the fact that he was always experiment- mouthpiece, which has the previous owner’s ing: drilling holes in his mouthpieces for various name inscribed on it: Eddie Harris. electronic pickups, attaching mouthpieces to get me to try it, and eventually he just gave it to lengths of garden hose, etc. me. I still have it and play it from time to time. At one point he started talking to me about EDWIN DAUGHERTY his reed-trumpet mouthpiece. He kept trying to CHICAGO erans Committee—was a great musician. I love his work with Bill Evans. However, Green and Mobley deserve a better look. Also, it’s obvious that the magazine has a disconnect between swing/melody-driven jazz and the stuff that is “out.” Look at the top albums. Look at your Reviews section. There needs to be a balance, especially in the Re- views section. KEVIN MCINTOSH STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN Editor’s Note: Hank Mobley has been voted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame via the Readers Poll. See page 36. Appropriate Superlatives Tommy Smith, founder of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, with Queen Elizabeth on July 2 In his 4½-star review of pianist Ahmad Jamal’s Ballades (November), writer Gary Royal Treatment Fukushima uses the following adjectives: I was one of 17 civilians who were honored with “impeccable,” “astonishing,” “hypnotic,” “gor- an OBE during an Investiture at the Palace of geous,” “poignant,” “powerful” and “brilliant.” Holyroodhouse presented by Her Majesty the Amen! Queen on July 2.