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APRIL 2014 U.K. £3.50 DOWNBEAT.COM APRIL 2014 VOLUME 81 / NUMBER 4 President Kevin Maher Publisher Frank Alkyer Editor Bobby Reed Associate Editor Davis Inman Contributing Editors Ed Enright Kathleen Costanza Designer Ara Tirado Design Associate LoriAnne Nelson Bookkeeper Margaret Stevens Circulation Manager Sue Mahal Circulation Assistant Evelyn Oakes ADVERTISING SALES Record Companies & Schools Jennifer Ruban-Gentile 630-941-2030 [email protected] Musical Instruments & East Coast Schools Ritche Deraney 201-445-6260 [email protected] Advertising Sales Associate Pete Fenech 630-941-2030 [email protected] OFFICES 102 N. Haven Road, Elmhurst, IL 60126–2970 630-941-2030 / Fax: 630-941-3210 http://downbeat.com [email protected] CUSTOMER SERVICE 877-904-5299 / [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS Senior Contributors: Michael Bourne, Aaron Cohen, John McDonough Atlanta: Jon Ross; Austin: Kevin Whitehead; Boston: Fred Bouchard, Frank- John Hadley; Chicago: John Corbett, Alain Drouot, Michael Jackson, Peter Margasak, Bill Meyer, Mitch Myers, Paul Natkin, Howard Reich; Denver: Norman Provizer; Indiana: Mark Sheldon; Iowa: Will Smith; Los Angeles: Earl Gibson, Todd Jenkins, Kirk Silsbee, Chris Walker, Joe Woodard; Michigan: John Ephland; Minneapolis: Robin James; Nashville: Bob Doerschuk; New Orleans: Erika Goldring, David Kunian, Jennifer Odell; New York: Alan Bergman, Herb Boyd, Bill Douthart, Ira Gitler, Eugene Gologursky, Norm Harris, D.D. 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Box 11688, St. Paul, MN 55111–0688. CABLE ADDRESS: DownBeat (on sale March 18, 2014) Magazine Publishers Association. Á APRIL 2014 On the Cover 26 Ambrose Akinmusire Life Beyond Ego BY JOSEF WOODARD One of the primary voices in 21st century jazz, the 32-year- old trumpeter has been zeroing in on the next phase of his development as an artist: exploring and expanding his work as a composer. Features 26 32 Billy Hart Overdue Recognition BY PHILLIP LUTZ Cover photo of Ambrose Akinmusire (and image above) shot by Paul Wellman in Los Angeles 36 Allen Toussaint Driving Solo BY DAVIS INMAN 5-Star Review 42 Steven Bernstein +++++ Spontaneous Arranging BY BILL MILKOWSKI SPECIAL SECTION 70 Musicians’ Gear Guide 50 Catherine Russell 52 Sarah Manning 55 James Brandon Lewis 58 Adrian Raso Best of The NAMM Show 81 BRASS SCHOOL Departments 82 The Art of Lead Trumpet Playing BY MIKE WILLIAMS 10 First Take 22 Players 47 Reviews 86 Master Class Steve Davis 94 Jazz On 12 Chords & Discords BY DAVID TAYLOR Shawn Maxwell Campus 88 Pro Session 15 The Beat Kris Bowers 98 Blindfold Test BY KIRK GARRISON Anton Schwartz Eric Harland 90 Transcription Roy Hargrove Trumpet Solo 92 Toolshed 6 DOWNBEAT APRIL 2014 First Take BY BOBBY REED Steven Bernstein STEVEN SUSSMAN Honorable Profession HERE ARE A FEW TERMS THAT I AVOID: “sellout,” maintains a distinctive artistic voice. “artistic whore,” “gig slut,” “nonselective musician” and Our Jazz On Campus feature looks at the Lamont “integrity deficiency.” I don’t begrudge other journal- School of Music at the University of Denver, which has ists for using such terms or for criticizing an artist for three big bands and 12 jazz combos. The school trains chasing a payday. But here’s an understatement: It’s students to be great jazz musicians, but it also gives difficult to make a living as a jazz musician. So if a them the tools to play other genres of music. In short, musician wants to play a wedding or record a jingle it’s training them to make a living. for a radio advertisement, I’m not one to judge. Our cover subject, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmu- Players play. Dancers dance. Painters paint. Actors sire, has proven onstage that he can gracefully play act. It’s what they do. Across the heartland of America, in a variety of settings and genres. His credentials as talented thespians who were once highly paid movie a jazz player are unquestioned. He won the categories stars or TV actors are now doing dinner theater for Rising Star–Jazz Artist and Rising Star–Trumpet in the small crowds, living in budget hotels and dealing with 2011 DownBeat Critics Poll. A year later, he topped the the drudgery of travel during the winter months. That’s Trumpet category in the DownBeat Critics Poll. their choice. They’re working. In a fascinating interview that journalist Josef At the opposite end of the spectrum is British actor Woodard conducted in Los Angeles, Akinmusire said, Michael Caine. At press time, his filmography on the In- “I know that my goal is to create a style or an expres- ternet Movie Database listed 160 acting credits, includ- sion that can be used in any arena. I was going to say ing three films in post-production. This fellow doesn’t ‘genre,’ but I don’t even know if I believe in that.” act because he’s worried about getting his next meal. Some people reading this column didn’t make it He acts because he’s an actor. to this paragraph because they stopped to write an For a Hollywood star, the temptation to “sell out” angry Chords & Discords email, accusing the editor of and do a mindless action movie is quite real, and the DownBeat of being the new champion of selling out. paycheck is lucrative. But for a working jazz musician Let me assure you that nothing about the preceding living in Brooklyn and trying to make rent, what, exact- comments applies to what we do as an editorial staff. ly, constitutes “selling out,” versus taking a gig because When it comes to deciding which artists and albums you need the money? to cover in this magazine, the quality of the music is Most fans have heard hundreds of comments our paramount concern. That’s true whether we’re lis- from musicians about art versus commerce. Want to tening to a jazz star on a major label or an obscure, DIY hear a blunt take on that? Check out our feature on musician’s self-released album. trumpeter Steven Bernstein (page 42). After recount- Aspiring jazz musicians need to figure out a way ing the influence of his mentor Jimmy Maxwell, Bern- to make a living as a player. Otherwise, they’ll make a stein told journalist Bill Milkowski, “Anytime that you’re living doing something else, and their art will suffer, out there playing your trumpet, you are practicing an or worse, wither. This generation’s John Coltrane and honorable profession. And that’s why I love getting Mary Lou Williams might be working in a coffee shop calls and why I say yes to every gig that comes my way. right now. It would be a damn shame if the world nev- I love working. It’s why I can own a house.” er got to hear these youngsters’ music because they Bernstein is an example of a musician who works became overly discouraged or blindly devoted to the constantly, and is incredibly versatile, but who also notion of artistic principles. Players should play. DB 10 DOWNBEAT APRIL 2014 Chords Discords Best Blue Feeling Tierney Sutton I want to thank Allen Morrison for his fine 4½-star review of singer Tierney Sutton’s latest CD, After Blue, in your January issue. The review prompted me to go get the CD, and it is beauti- ful, indeed. I can’t get enough of this music and Sutton’s lovely interpre- tations. As a jazz fan and a longtime Joni Mitchell fan (her Blue is one of my favorite records), I also want to compliment Ms. Sutton on the most beautiful and moving collection of Mitchell songs that I have heard since the originals. I love the way the Turtle Island Quartet sounds, creatively taking the place of Mitchell’s dulcimer in the original version of “All I Want.” Larry Goldings’ piano, particularly on “April In Paris/Free Man In Paris” is also wonderful, as are Hubert Laws’ flute improvisations on “The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines.” What an incredible treat all around! Please, Ms.