03 5 $4.99 DownBeat.com 09281 01493 0 MARCH 2010MARCH U.K. £3.50 DB1003_001_COVER.qxd 1/11/10 10:53 AM Page 1 DOWNBEAT AHMAD JAMAL // HIROMI // MICHAEL MOORE // JAZZ CAMP GUIDE MARCH 2010 DB1003_002-025_FRONT.qxd 1/11/10 9:39 AM Page 2 DB1003_002-025_FRONT.qxd 1/11/10 9:40 AM Page 3 DB1003_002-025_FRONT.qxd 1/11/10 9:40 AM Page 4 March 2010 VOLUME 77 – NUMBER 3 President Kevin Maher Publisher Frank Alkyer Editor Ed Enright Associate Editor Aaron Cohen Art Director Ara Tirado Production Associate Andy Williams Bookkeeper Margaret Stevens Circulation Manager Kelly Grosser 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] Classified Advertising Sales Sue Mahal 630-941-2030 [email protected] OFFICES 102 N. Haven Road Elmhurst, IL 60126–2970 630-941-2030 Fax: 630-941-3210 www.downbeat.com [email protected] CUSTOMER SERVICE 877-904-5299 [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS Senior Contributors: Michael Bourne, John McDonough, Howard Mandel Austin: Michael Point; 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: Robert Doerschuk; New Orleans: Erika Goldring, David Kunian; New York: Alan Bergman, Herb Boyd, Bill Douthart, Ira Gitler, Eugene Gologursky, Norm Harris, D.D. Jackson, Jimmy Katz, Jim Macnie, Ken Micallef, Jennifer Odell, Dan Ouellette, Ted Panken, Richard Seidel, Tom Staudter, Jack Vartoogian, Michael Weintrob, Kevin Whitehead; 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, Bill Shoemaker, Michael Wilderman; Belgium: Jos Knaepen; 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 DOWNBEAT label showing old address. DOWNBEAT (ISSN 0012-5768) Volume 77, Number 3 is published monthly by Maher Publications, 102 N. Haven, Elmhurst, IL 60126-3379. Copyright 2010 Maher Publications. All rights reserved. Trademark registered U.S. Patent Office. Great Britain registered trademark No. 719.407. Periodicals postage paid at Elmhurst, IL and at additional mailing offices. Subscription rates: $34.95 for one year, $59.95 for two years. Foreign subscriptions rates: $56.95 for one year, $103.95 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. Microfilm of all issues of DOWNBEAT are available from University Microfilm, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106. MAHER PUBLICATIONS: DOWNBEAT magazine, MUSIC INC. magazine, UpBeat Daily. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: DownBeat, P.O. Box 11688, St. Paul, MN 55111–0688. CABLE ADDRESS: DownBeat (on sale February 16, 2010) Magazine Publishers Association Á DB1003_002-025_FRONT.qxd 1/11/10 9:40 AM Page 5 DB1003_002-025_FRONT.qxd 1/11/10 3:52 PM Page 6 DB Inside 36 Departments 8 First Take 10 Chords & Discords 13 The Beat 16 Vinyl Freak 19 The Question 20 Caught Michael Moore COURTESY OF RAMBOY RECORDINGS 22 Players Leonardo Cioglia Benny Reid 26 Ahmad Jamal Robby Ameen Intricacy & Groove | By Jim Macnie The Tiptons Jazz fans are probably used to seeing Ahmad Jamal looking regal at his instru- ment. A big chunk of the pianist’s art is based on milking his music for all the 69 Reviews dynamics possible, and his posture helps the creativity by bolstering the power. So it’s revealing to spend time with the 79-year-old master when he’s away from the instrument, and even more novel to catch him in the relaxed atmos- 86 Pro Session phere of the rural Massachusetts village that he calls home. Surrounded by clas- by Marian McPartland sic New England totems, Jamal exuded a sense of ease—like a guy who knew the answers to a lot of life’s questions. 88 Transcription 90 Toolshed Features 94 Jazz On Campus 32 Hiromi 40 Jazz Producers Exposes Her Inner Self A New Reality 98 Blindfold Test By Dan Ouellette By Nate Chinen Chano Domínguez 36 Michael Moore 45 Blazing Blue Notes! Inside/Outside Amsterdam DownBeat Summer By Kevin Whitehead Jazz Camp Guide 64 INDIEINDIE Spotlight To reser e o r space in f t re Indie Spotlight ad ertising sections 72 Miguel Zenón 75 Terry Clarke 84 Paul Wertico 6 DOWNBEAT March 2010 Cover photography by Jimmy Katz DB1003_002-025_FRONT.qxd 1/11/10 9:40 AM Page 7 DB1003_002-025_FRONT.qxd 1/12/10 1:09 PM Page 8 First Take by Ed Enright Sacramento State Summer Jazz Camp Jazz Camp: Not Just For Kids Here at DownBeat, we love music students. We value them as readers and admire their ambition. The very thought of some of them growing up to become professional artists, and having their performances and recordings covered in these pages, thrills us. Music students with an appetite for jazz are our future, in more ways than one. That’s why we’re always publish- ing comprehensive jazz school guides and hosting our own annual Student Music Awards, not to mention covering campus jazz news in every issue of the magazine. But the study of jazz isn’t limited to young players who are currently enrolled in school music programs. Many instrumentalists, vocalists and composers among us are eternal jazz students. Although we finished our formal schooling years ago, we try to keep up our practice routines and check out new instructional books and play-alongs to keep our chops strong and our ears keen. Some of us grownups have even sent ourselves to summer jazz camp, the ultimate environment for learning creative new ways to improvise and interplay with others. Camp, it turns out, isn’t just for kids—at least not when it comes to jazz. In this issue of DownBeat, we present our annual Summer Jazz Camp Guide, which includes vital information on more than 60 different jazz camps offered across the country and beyond. Aspiring jazz musicians young and old will be in attendence at these summertime gatherings, so if you have the resources and the time, don’t let age be a barrier: Just sign up and go. The jazz camp experience is probably the best schooling available for anyone who’s not currently enrolled in an institution of higher learn- ing. It will give you the chance to really be a student again and will pro- vide you the inspiration to play. Several summers ago, when I attended Jamey Aebersold’s Summer Jazz Workshop (one of the best and most popular jazz camps going), I found myself in the company of peers—not just adults in their thirties, forties and fifties, but teenagers who were easily as accomplished as the rest of us. It was the most fun I’d had woodshedding in years, and the amount of knowledge I gained—about jazz and about my own ability— was staggering. Jazz camp is a blast. Take a look through this year’s guide, which begins on page 45. Give camp a try—you know you’ve always wanted to. It will challenge you in ways you can’t imagine and give you the opportu- nity to make new friends and form lifelong connections. It will renew your interest and recharge your creative muse. And it will let you feel just like a kid again. DB 8 DOWNBEAT March 2010 DB1003_002-025_FRONT.qxd 1/11/10 9:42 AM Page 9 DB1003_002-025_FRONT.qxd 1/12/10 11:10 AM Page 10 Chords & Discords Nostalgia Addition I enjoyed this year’s DownBeat Readers Poll (December ’09) winners and I’d like to suggest adding another category: a “Nostalgia” page that would honor the big band years that gave us such great musicians and vocalists. For those of us able to recall those wonderful years, it would be a nice gesture on the part of DownBeat to make this addition. Two vocalists (who are still performing these days)—Peggy King and Harry Prime—immediately come to mind, and I’ll bet many of us would be happy to vote for all the other artists who are gone or still with us. It’s something to think about for next time around. Herb Stark Massapequa, N.Y. No Flamenco I am writing in regards of the review of my album Calima, written by Chris DownBeat In The House Robinson (“Reviews,” November ’09). I had the second-by-second thrill of being pre- I appreciate Mr. Robinson for taking sent at WBGO’s “Champions Of Jazz” benefit the time to listen to my album and at New York’s Frederick P. Rose Hall (“The write about it in such a well-respected Beat,” January). And was DownBeat ever in magazine. While I absolutely respect the house! That night will have eternal swing his opinion about Calima, I would like in my memory just as DownBeat does so well to point to two technical mistakes.