AUGUST 2018 VOLUME 85 / NUMBER 8 President Kevin Maher Publisher Frank Alkyer Editor Bobby Reed Reviews Editor Dave Cantor Contributing Editor Ed Enright Creative Director ŽanetaÎuntová Design Assistant Markus Stuckey Assistant to the Publisher Sue Mahal Bookkeeper Evelyn Hawkins 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. 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. Jackson, Jimmy Katz, Jim Macnie, Ken Micallef, Dan Ouellette, Ted Panken, Richard Seidel, Tom Staudter, Jack Vartoogian, Michael Weintrob; North Carolina: Robin Tolleson; Philadelphia: David Adler, Shaun Brady, Eric Fine; San Francisco: Mars Breslow, Forrest Bryant, Clayton Call, Yoshi Kato; Seattle: Paul de Barros; Tampa Bay: Philip Booth; Washington, D.C.: Willard Jenkins, John Murph, Michael Wilderman; Canada: Greg Buium, James Hale, Diane Moon; Denmark: Jan Persson; France: Jean Szlamowicz; Germany: Detlev Schilke, Hyou Vielz; Great Britain: Brian Priestley; Japan: Kiyoshi Koyama; Portugal: Antonio Rubio; Romania: Virgil Mihaiu; Russia: Cyril Moshkow; South Africa: Don Albert. Jack Maher, President 1970-2003 John Maher, President 1950-1969 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: Send orders and address changes to: DOWNBEAT, P.O. Box 11688, St. Paul, MN 55111–0688. Inquiries: U.S.A. and Canada (877) 904-5299; Foreign (651) 251-9682. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please allow six weeks for your change to become effective. When notifying us of your new address, include current DOWN- BEAT label showing old address. DOWNBEAT (issn 0012-5768) Volume 85, Number 8 is published monthly by Maher Publications, 102 N. Haven, Elmhurst, IL 60126-2970. Copyright 2018 Maher Publica- tions. All rights reserved. Trademark registered U.S. Patent Office. Great Britain regis- tered trademark No. 719.407. Periodicals postage paid at Elmhurst, IL and at additional mailing offices. Subscription rates: $29.99 for one year, $54.99 for two years. Foreign subscriptions rates: $56.99 for one year, $106.99 for two years. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, photos, or artwork. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from publisher. MAHER PUBLICATIONS: DOWNBEAT magazine, MUSIC INC. maga- zine, UpBeat Daily. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: DownBeat, P.O. Box 11688, St. Paul, MN 55111–0688. CABLE ADDRESS: DownBeat (on sale July 17, 2018) Magazine Pub- lishers Association. Á 4 DOWNBEAT AUGUST 2018 AUGUST 2018 ON THE COVER 24 Vijay Iyer Jazz Artist, Jazz Group BY JON GARELICK Iyer, one of the top pianists of his generation, won two categories in this year’s Critics ©JIM MARSHALL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC Poll. DownBeat’s Jazz Artist of the Year discusses his artistic vision, his approach to improvisation and his role as an educator at Harvard University. FEATURES 16 30 Top Jazz Albums The album Both Directions At Once contains previously unreleased studio 32 Benny Golson recordings by John Coltrane (left), Elvin Jones, Jimmy Garrison and McCoy Tyner. Hall of Fame Cover photo of Vijay Iyer shot by Jimmy & Dena Katz in Brooklyn on May 5. BY TED PANKEN 36 Marian McPartland Hall of Fame BY PAUL DE BARROS 38 Top Historical Albums 40 Cécile McLorin Salvant Jazz Album, Female Vocalist BY DAN OUELLETTE 42 Nicole Mitchell 68 JD Allen 71 Dayramir Gonzalez 75 Dave Holland 77 Kait Dunton Flute, Rising Star–Jazz Group BY J.D. CONSIDINE 44 Julian Lage Rising Star–Jazz Artist 49 Ingrid Laubrock DEPARTMENTS BY DAN OUELLETTE Rising Star–Tenor Saxophone 45 Kris Davis BY BILL MILKOWSKI 8 First Take 84 Pro Session By Sandy Cressman Rising Star–Jazz Artist 50 Geri Allen BY PHILLIP LUTZ Piano 10 Chords & Discords 88 Transcription BY JAMES HALE Rudresh Mahanthappa 46 Amir ElSaffar Alto Saxophone Solo Rising Star–Trumpet, 13 The Beat 51 Muhal Richard Abrams Rising Star–Arranger 90 Toolshed Composer BY HOWARD MANDEL 65 Reviews BY TED PANKEN 94 Jazz On Campus 48 Jakob Bro 52 Complete Critics 82 Master Class 98 Blindfold Test Rising Star–Guitar By Mark Wade Marcus Printup BY JOSEF WOODARD Poll Results 6 DOWNBEAT AUGUST 2018 First Take BY ED ENRIGHT DOWNBEAT ARCHIVES DownBeat Hall of Famer Paul Motian has inspired musicians like guitarist Jakob Bro to push boundaries. Jazz’s Ripple Effect EVERY MUSICIAN NAMED IN THIS YEAR’S of Paul Motian—assembled by his archivist and DownBeat Critics Poll—the winners, the Rising niece, Cynthia McGuirl. The second volume, Stars and hundreds of runners-up—was influ- which contains all of Motian’s written works enced by the work of his or her predecessors. from the years 1990–2011, is highlighted in this Sometimes, these musicians are inspired by month’s Gear Box column (see page 92). entire movements within the jazz genre. Other Presented in Motian’s own script, the collec- times, it comes down to a particular individual tion is a work of art unto itself. McGuirl, a visual or mentor. artist, notes in her introduction to Volume 2 that In the case of Jakob Bro, the Danish guitarist she was struck by the beauty of her uncle’s hand- who won the Rising Star–Guitar category of writing. “He conveyed a lot with his writing style this year’s poll, that influential individual is the and notations that would be lost with a mecha- drummer/composer/bandleader Paul Motian nized rendering,” she wrote. “The connection (1931–2011), who was posthumously induct- that will be made between listening to the record- ed into the DownBeat Hall of Fame in 2012. In ings and seeing the written music is an education his interview with Josef Woodard on page 48 that I think is worthwhile. Because Paul’s music of this issue, Bro discusses how, as a member of can be interpreted in an infinite number of indi- Motian’s Electric Bebop Band in the early ’00s, vidualized ways, I believe this music can help his experience playing the leader’s original tunes musicians to push their own boundaries.” helped set him on the path to his own person- This year’s Critics Poll winners include al development as an improviser and composer. numerous boundary-pushers—Jazz Artist of Motian—who established himself on the the Year Vijay Iyer and Jazz Album of the Year New York scene playing with the likes of Bill winner (and Female Jazz Vocalist winner) Cécile Evans, Charles Lloyd, Lee Konitz and Keith McLorin Salvant among them. Jarrett during the 1950s and ’60s—didn’t start Entering the DownBeat Hall of Fame this composing in earnest until he was in his 40s and year are jazz legends Benny Golson and Marian leading his own groups. Starting in 1973 with McPartland (1918–2013). And Muhal Richard Conception Vessel, his debut album as a leader, Abrams (1930–2017), one of jazz’s groundbreak- Motian gradually built a body of highly original ing improvisers, is honored as Composer of work that is well-suited to improvisation. the Year for the brilliant oeuvre he left behind. Motian was known to share his compositions Like Motian, each of them has produced ripple freely with his fellow musicians. Now, his com- effects, destined to touch future generations of plete collection of copyrighted songs is official- jazz musicians and guarantee the perpetuation, ly available in two volumes—The Compositions and continued evolution, of the art form. DB 8 DOWNBEAT AUGUST 2016 Chords Discords GULNARA KHAMATOVA Monika Herzig (left), Jamie Baum, Reut Regev, Amanda Ruzza, Ingrid Jensen, Karina Coli and Leni Stern perform at The New School in New York on April 4. Applauding Herzig (most of whom are female) in a clinic with the I was very happy to see the review of Mon- SHEROES band before opening for them at a ika Herzig’s album SHEROES in the July issue. gig in Clarksburg, West Virginia. I found Mon- I have been a fan of Monika’s work since her ika and the band members to be incredibly days with BeebleBrox and I’m glad this album gracious educators and mentors, as well as was on DownBeat’s radar. unbelievable live performers. I’ve had the good fortune of working with JASON P. BARR, M.M. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MUSIC Dr. Herzig and her band a few times in the past DIRECTOR OF JAZZ AND COMMERCIAL MUSIC GLENVILLE STATE COLLEGE and was thrilled to include my jazz students GLENVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA Females First Minds Were Blown In your June issue, I was disappointed with Stunning! In the Chords & Discords section the placement of the review of Roxy Coss’ of the July issue, Mr. Iriana’s letter (“Treatment album The Future Is Female. As we all know, for TDS”) really blew my mind. During all the this is a pivotal time for gender equality. For years that I have been listening to jazz, not this album to not be in The Hot Box (or at least many things were as clear to my poor mind as the first review after The Hot Box) just doesn’t the notion that right-wing politics and “our” seem right.