August 2016 VOLUME 83 / NUMBER 8 President Kevin Maher Publisher Frank Alkyer Editor Bobby Reed Managing Editor Brian Zimmerman Contributing Editor Ed Enright Creative Director ŽanetaÎuntová Circulation Manager Kevin R. Maher Assistant to the Publisher Sue Mahal Bookkeeper Evelyn Oakes Editorial Intern Izzy Yellen 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 Sam Horn 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, Howard Mandel, 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 July 19, 2016) Magazine Publishers Association. Á 4 DOWNBEAT AUGUST 2016 AUGUST 2016 ON THE COVER 20 Randy Weston Hall of Fame AUGUSTA SAGNELLI BY TED PANKEN On the occasion of his induction into the DownBeat Hall of Fame, and about a month after his 90th birthday, the pianist spoke of his life and career while following his usual practice of stating a central motif, then fleshing it out with theme-and-variations of increasing complexity and depth. 50 FEATURES Anat Cohen tops the Clairnet category of the 64th Annual Critics Poll. See page 50 for a complete listing of this year’s results. 26 Hoagy Carmichael Cover photo of Randy Weston shot by Jimmy and Dena Katz at The New School in New York City on April 27. Veterans Committee Hall of Fame BY JOHN MCDONOUGH 5-Star Review 5-Star Review 30 Vijay Iyer +++++ +++++ Jazz Artist BY DAN OUELLETTE 34 Robert Glasper Keyboard BY DAN OUELLETTE 36 Top Jazz Albums 68 Carla Bley 68 Eli Degibri 70 Warren Wolf 74 Hilary Kole 38 Top Historical Albums 40 Kamasi Washington Jazz Album, Rising Star Jazz 47 Grace Kelly DEPARTMENTS Artist, Rising Star Tenor Rising Star Alto Saxophone BY PHILLIP LUTZ 8 First Take 86 Pro Session Saxophone By Romain Collin BY JOSEF WOODARD 48 Luques Curtis 10 Chords & Discords 88 Transcription 44 Christine Jensen Rising Star Bass Jeff Coffin Tenor BY TED PANKEN Rising Star Arranger, Rising 13 The Beat Saxophone Solo Star Big Band 49 Liberty Ellman 90 Toolshed BY PHILLIP LUTZ Rising Star Guitar 65 Reviews 94 Jazz On Campus 46 Marquis Hill BY BILL MILKOWSKI Rising Star Trumpet 50 Complete Critics 84 Master Class 98 Blindfold Test By Caroline Davis Dan Weiss BY JAMES HALE Poll Results 6 DOWNBEAT AUGUST 2016 First Take BY BOBBY REED TED WILLIAMS/ICONIC IMAGES DownBeat Hall of Famer Randy Weston in a recording studio, circa 1957 Enshrining the Giants WITH THIS ISSUE, WE PROUDLY WELCOME RANDY WESTON AND Hoagy Carmichael (1899–1981) into the DownBeat Hall of Fame. As longtime readers of our magazine know, there are three ways that an artist can gain entry into the hallowed Hall: via the Readers Poll, the Critics Poll or the DownBeat Veterans Committee, whose job is to honor elite musicians who, for various reasons, have little chance of being elect- ed by the readers or by the general Critics Poll. Weston, a pianist who stands tall in both the figurative and literal sense, was voted in via the Critics Poll. (Complete results in all catego- ries begin on page 50.) For more than 60 years, Weston has traveled the world, playing innovative, expressive music that illustrates the connec- tions between jazz and older musical forms that originated in Africa. Weston has expanded the boundaries for jazz, and he remains a popular draw on the festival circuit. This summer he will play the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland (July 2) and the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in New York City (August 27). At the youthful age of 90, Weston continues to make music that entertains, inspires and educates listeners. Our other inductee, songwriter Hoagland Howard “Hoagy” Carmichael, was elected by the Veterans Committee. See John McDonough’s insightful essay on page 26 to learn more about the com- poser of such standards as “Stardust,” “Georgia On My Mind,” “Rockin’ Chair” and “Lazy River.” The history of “Skylark” (composed by Carmichael with lyrics by Johnny Mercer) reveals the enduring quality of his compositions. That tune has been recorded by everyone from Anita O’Day to Glenn Miller to Bob Dylan, who croons it on his latest album, Fallen Angels. If you want to see a fine example of Hoagy’s work as an actor and musician in a compelling film, check out 1950’s Young Man with a Horn. There’s a haunting, unforgettable scene of Hoagy’s character (“Smoke”) glancing back at the depot as his train pulls out of the station. That scene gets to me every time. On film, on record, and now as a member of the DownBeat Hall of Fame, Hoagy Carmichael will live forever. DB 8 DOWNBEAT AUGUST 2016 Chords Discords Miles’ Enduring Aura rection of jazz—from the mediocre state it’s in I recently purchased a copy of The Miles now to the glory and magic that it was when Davis Reader and on page 301 I read Fred people like Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Lester Bouchard’s review of Miles’ album Aura, orig- Young and John Coltrane thrilled thousands inally published in the February 1990 issue of of listeners with music that was almost part of DownBeat. I read the review while I was listen- another dimension. ing to the album. RAMAKUMAR JONES Would you consider writing a new review FAIRFAX, CALIFORNIA for this album? Aura is one of my favorite Miles Davis albums. I read in his autobiography that Miles called it a masterpiece, and I agree. The album is influenced by contemporary classical O’Day’s Day? music, and it holds a unique position in Miles’ Congratulations, critics: You finally pulled discography. your heads out of the sand and elected Lee Unfortunately, the DownBeat review is Konitz into the DownBeat Hall of Fame in the really negative and the album received only August 2015 issue. The honor was 25 years 2½-stars. This album deserves more. late, but what the hell. Please, write a new review of Aura and update its rating. We all change some of our opinions in time. It’s always great to read a re- view that totally captures the soul of an album. DR. BILGEHAN BOZKURT ISTANBUL, TURKEY DOWNBEAT ARCHIVES Shoulders of Giants Luis Perdomo LOUIS WALTHALL I have some thoughts on the growth, histo- Perdomo’s View ry and progress of jazz. I was a teenager when my father, a good Reviews, good and bad, are a matter of amateur jazz pianist, began hiring jazz greats personal taste, and they don’t define an art- like Hank Jones, Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge Jimmy McPartland (left) and Anita O’Day ist’s path or musicianship. However, I would and many others to perform at my family’s like to comment on the 2½-star review of my For an encore, you should do the same home in Connecticut for special parties. Many CD Montage (Hot Tone Music) in your July is- for Anita O’Day, an artistic peer of Billie, Sar- neighbors were invited to these concert-like sue. The reviewer, Bob Doerschuk, completely ah, Ella and Carmen. Anita sang her butt off jazz parties, and the atmosphere and energy missed the point of the CD and dismissed it her entire career, always in a jazz setting, nev- was quite exciting and definitely inspiring.