Where to Go & Who to See Since 1982
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198948_HH_Feb_0 1/24/19 6:34 PM Page 1 The only jazz magazine THE LATIN SIDE in NY in print, online and on apps! OF HOT HOUSE P30 February 2019 www.hothousejazz.com Jazz Standard Jazz at Kitano and Highlights in Jazz Page 10 Page 21 Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martinez Daryl Sherman Page 19 Page 10 Catherine Russell Justin Kauflin Birdland The Side Door and Jazz Forum Where To Go & Who To See Since 1982 198948_HH_Feb_0 1/24/19 6:34 PM Page 2 2 198948_HH_Feb_0 1/24/19 6:34 PM Page 3 3 198948_HH_Feb_0 1/24/19 6:34 PM Page 4 4 198948_HH_Feb_0 1/24/19 6:34 PM Page 5 5 198948_HH_Feb_0 1/24/19 6:34 PM Page 6 6 198948_HH_Feb_0 1/24/19 6:35 PM Page 7 7 198948_HH_Feb_0 1/24/19 6:35 PM Page 8 8 198948_HH_Feb_0 1/24/19 6:35 PM Page 9 9 198948_HH_Feb_0 1/24/19 6:35 PM Page 10 WINNING SPINS By George Kanzler HIS EDITION OF WINNING SPINS Alfredo's virtuoso piano chops. There's a focuses two albums featuring young contagious, almost giggling joy to the fun Tpianists who share an executive producer, the pair have with the video game jingle, Quincy Jones. The legendary producer is including calliope-like keyboards and credited with originally signing and shep- snare drum and bass lines into their play- herding the careers of both Alfredo ful elaborations. The closest the two come Rodriguez, who defected from Cuba in to Cuban pop song sensibilities is on the 2007, and Justin Kauflin, who was men- original "Jardin Soñador," featuring duo tored earlier by the late Clark Terry, as harmony/unison singing over gently rolling memorably documented in the film Keep piano and hand drums. On Keepin' On. Aside from sharing Quincy Coming Home, Justin Kauflin as executive producer, with the attendant (Qwest), aims to "paint a picture with precise and polished production one would sound," according to Justin, who lost his expect, the two pianists and albums don't sight more than a decade ago. His palette have much in common. Alfredo teams up in here includes synth-keyboards as well as a duo with a fellow Cuban, percussionist acoustic piano and the accompaniment of Pedrito Martinez, in a program heavily electric and acoustic guitarist Alan Parker, weighted toward the island's deep musical bassist Chris Smith and drummer-percus- traditions. Justin, with the help of elec- sionist Corey Fonville. Some tunes, includ- tronic keyboards and synths as well as ing the title track, seem overly preoccupied acoustic piano, explores a panoply of jazz- with atmosphere, Justin's attempt to pop-rock strategies. "paint" sonic colors overwhelming his jazz Duologue, Alfredo Rodriguez/ sense, creating music that is more mood Pedrito Martinez (Mack Avenue), high- than substance, more smooth jazz than lights Alfredo's electric keyboard-synth as real jazz. But be assured, it is pleasant well as acoustic piano playing. But the enough, even the pieces most heavy on album's opening number begins with mood and keyboard EFX; some pieces, Spanish-language vocals (possibly over- such as the sonic wind-suggesting dubbed through multitracking) from the "Pendulum" and pulsating with radio-like twosome, over hand claps, and a continu- waves "Transition," are captivating in ous choral chant of the title, "Africa," their own right. throughout. The piece expands to include a Of his originals or co-compositions, smorgasbord of percussion from Pedrito, which account for 9 of the 13 tracks, the plus Alfredo's piano and keyboards. All but most successful are the least atmospheric/ 3 of the CD's 11 tracks are compositions by impressionistic. "Country Fried," reminis- the pair, many deeply rooted in Cuban cent of Oliver Nelson's "Hoe-Down," mar- folkloric and religious ritual traditions. shals country-soul rhythms from snare Most feature vocals that comprise chants, drums and hand clapping, around an exu- choral-like sections and lead solo singing berant acoustic piano centerpiece solo. in the semi-improvised son Latin "Looking Forward" employs the slow rock American style. Originals range from the ballad 6/8 rhythm and backbeat behind chanting and delicate acoustic piano another ardent piano solo. But Justin’s improvisations of "Estamos Llegando" to excellent covers of substantial songs are the florid ballad "Flor," with its choral more rewarding than his own composi- vocal and rich mix of acoustic piano over tions. Particularly lovely is his gentle but electric keyboard sonic cushions. They run supremely memorable solo acoustic piano the gamut from the simplicity of the version of Sufjan Stevens' "John My piano/congas "Duologue" to the aurally and Beloved." His rendition of the ballad "The atmospherically dense layering of voices, Carousel," by the late Mulgrew Miller (one percussion and keyboards on the anthemic of his teachers at William Paterson "Yo Volveré." University) is heartfelt. And the Beatles' Two of the covers are surprising. "Strawberry Fields" is treated to both a Besides doing the Cuban standard "El quartet with synths and acoustic piano Punto Cubano" replete with traditional expanded excursion and a solo piano medi- lead son vocal and kinetic Afro-Cuban per- tation that serves as the album's coda. cussion, they also do versions of Michael Jackson's signature hit "Thriller," and the Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito theme from the video game "Super Mario Martinez appear at Jazz Standard Bros 3." "Thriller" displays the duo's abili- Feb. 28-March 3. Justin Kauflin leads ty to subsume a pop hit into the Afro-Latin a trio at The Side Door in the Old jazz universe, while also highlighting Lyme Inn Feb. 2 and a quartet at Jazz Forum Feb. 22-23. 10 Kauflin cover photo by Adam Hart, Russell by Sandrine Lee, Sherman by Chris Drukker. 198948_HH_Feb_0 1/24/19 6:35 PM Page 11 Sign-up for our E-ALERT at www.hothousejazz.com and be the 1st to know when the latest Hot House is available on line PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR: For advertising requests and listing Gwen Kelley (formerly Calvier) information contact Gwen Kelley [email protected] 203-434-4646/[email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Elzy Kolb Hot House Jazz Magazine is published monthly and all [email protected] copyrights are the property of Gwen Kelley. All rights PRODUCTION & ART DIRECTOR: reserved. No material may be reproduced without written Karen Pica [email protected] permission of the President. Domestic subscriptions CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: areavailable for $37 annually (sent first class). For Canada Ken Dryden, Nick Dunston, $39 and international $50. Ken Franckling, Raul da Gama, PUBLISHER EMERITUS: Dave N Dittmann Seton Hawkins, Eugene Holley Jr., CO-FOUNDERS: Gene Kalbacher, Stephanie Jones, George Kanzler, Lynn Taterka & Jeff Levenson Elzy Kolb, Michael G. Nastos, COPY EDITOR: Yvonne Ervin 2012-2019 Don Jay Smith, Eric Wendell For press releases and CD revues send a copy to CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Fran Kaufman Gwen Kelley: PO Box 20212 - New York, NY 10025 11 198948_HH_Feb_0 1/24/19 6:35 PM Page 12 CLUBS & HALLS UPPER MANHATTAN (Above 70th Street) 92Y: 1395 Lexington Av at 92nd St. 212-415- 5500. www.92y.org. Feb 14: 7:30pm Dee Dee Bridgewater Trio. 449 LA: 449 Lenox Av (bet 132nd & 133rd Sts). 212-234-3298. Sun: 4-7pm Patio Jazz; Thurs: 1-3:30pm Jazz & Dessert; Fri-Sat: 8:30pm. AARON DAVIS HALL: At City College. 138 Convent Av at W133rd St. www.citycollege centerforthearts.org. 212-650-6900. Feb 7-8: 7pm $20/10 adm Oscar Peñas Qrt w/Mivos Qrt. BEACON THEATER: 2130 Bway at W75th St. 212-496-7070. www.beacontheatre.com. Feb 14: 8pm Gregory Porter. BILL’S PLACE: 148W 133rd St (bet Lenox & 7th Avs). www.billsplaceharlem.com. 212-281- 0777. Fri-Sat: 8&10pm $20 don Bill Saxton Bebop Band. CAFÉ CARLYLE: At Carlyle Hotel. 35E 76th St at Madison. www.thecarlyle.com. 212-744- 1600. Mon: 8:45pm Woody Allen & Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band. CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE: 2485 Bway (bet 92nd & 93rd Sts). www.cleopatrasneedleny. com. 212-769-6969. Sets: Early (E), Late (L); Sun E 4-8pm, L 9pm-1am; Mon-Tues E 8- 9pm, L 10pm-1am; Wed-Thurs E 7-11pm, L 11:30pm-2:30am; Fri-Sat E 8pm-12am, L 12:30-3am. Free adm/$10 min. Trios except Mon&Thurs Duets. L Jam. Residencies: Sun E Open mic w/Keith Ingham, L Benno Marmur; Mon Mark Hagan; Tues Marc Devine; Wed E Open mic w/Les Kurtz, L Nathan Brown; Thurs L Nathan Brown; Fri L Robbie Lee; Sat L T. Kash. Feb 1: Isaac Raz; 2: Patrick Polaeian; 7: Kuni Mikami; 8: Jesse Crawford; 9: Carol Sudhalter; 14: Margo Insambles; 15: Light House All Stars; 16: Jazz Mix; 21: David Janeway; 22: Art Lillard; 23: Walter Williams feat Gitesha; 28: Joel Forrester. GIN FIZZ: 308 Malcolm X Blvd at 125th St. 2nd Fl. www.ginfizzharlem.com. 212-289-5550. Fri: 7-8&8:30-9:30pm. Feb 1: Annette St. John Band; 8: Deborah Davis Band; 15: tba; 22: Seydurah Avecmoi. GINNY’S SUPPER CLUB: At Red Rooster. 310 Lenox Av (bet 125th & 126th Sts). www.ginnyssupperclub.com. 212-792-9001. Sets/adm: 7&9pm $15/20. Feb 1: Jesse Fischer; 2: Corcoran Holt; 15: Jordan Pettay; 21: Pedrito Martinez; 22: Chris Turner. HARLEM STAGE: At Aaron Davis Hall. 150 Convent Av at W135th St. 212-281-9240. www.harlemstage.org. Feb 13: 7:30pm $25 adm Sarah Elizabeth Charles & SCOPE. LENOX SAPHIRE: 341 Lenox Av at 127th St. Thurs: 11pm-4am Keyed Up series w/Phil Young Oct. MILLER THEATRE: At Columbia University. 2960 Bway at 116th St.