APRIL 2018 VOLUME 85 / NUMBER 4 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 630-941-2030 [email protected] Musical Instruments & East Coast Schools Ritche Deraney 201-445-6260 [email protected] Advertising Sales Associate Kevin R. Maher 630-941-2030 [email protected] OFFICES 102 N. 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Box 11688, St. Paul, MN 55111–0688. CABLE ADDRESS: Down- Beat (on sale March 13, 2018) Magazine Publishers Association. Á 4 DOWNBEAT APRIL 2018 APRIL 2018 ON THE COVER 30 The Bad Plus ‘Everybody Took Off Their Mask’ JIMMY & DENA KATZ BY PHILLIP LUTZ The members of The Bad Plus discuss the trio’s new lineup, which includes acclaimed pianist Orrin Evans, and their new album, Never Stop II. Evans, bassist Reid Anderson and drummer Dave King reflect on why they collectively wanted to launch a new chapter for the veteran band. 30 FEATURES 36 Miles Davis & John Coltrane ‘Display of Different Minds’ BY JAMES HALE Orrin Evans (left), Reid Anderson and Dave King of The Bad Plus Cover photo and above image of The Bad Plus shot by Jimmy & Dena Katz in New York at The Jazz Gallery on 40 Walter Smith III Dec. 28. On the cover, from left: Reid Anderson, Orrin Evans and Dave King. Expanding the Foundation BY YOSHI KATO 44 Jason Marsalis Mentor & Musical ‘Maniac’ BY JENNIFER ODELL JOS L. KNAEPEN 70 Musicians’ Gear Guide Best of The NAMM Show SPECIAL SECTION 53 Laila Biali 54 Nate Birkey 57 Chris Dave 68 Stephane Wrembel 79 Brass School 80 Time & Tone BY KIRK KNUFFKE DEPARTMENTS 84 Master Class BY RYAN KEBERLE 8 First Take Takaaki Otomo Robert Finley 86 Pro Session 10 Chords & Discords BY JOHN RAYMOND 49 Reviews ALYSSE GAFKJEN 90 Transcription 13 The Beat Steve Turre Trombone Solo 94 Jazz On Campus 24 Players 92 Toolshed Jodi Proznick 98 Blindfold Test Other Animal Jason Moran Robert Finley 6 DOWNBEAT APRIL 2018 First Take BY FRANK ALKYER Ndugu Chancler (1952–2018) SUZETTE NIESS A Great Day with Ndugu THE GREAT LEON “NDUGU” CHANCLER Adderley and Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. passed away on Feb. 3 from undisclosed causes. and Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs and Sly Stone He was 65. and James Brown and Motown.” You might not recognize his name, but I guar- Mr. Chancler was not only a brilliant drum- antee that you’ve heard his work. Chancler has mer, but also a caring, giving soul who felt his been called the most-heard drummer in histo- career was the result of wonderful connections ry—a claim that would be difficult to deny. and coincidences. Because of his good luck, he He drummed for Herbie Hancock, Freddie wanted to “pay it forward” to the next generation. Hubbard and Miles Davis; Joe Henderson, “He’s an amazing musician; he’s incredible,” Thelonious Monk and Eddie Harris; Alice said legendary jazz educator José Diaz in intro- Coltrane, Harold Land and John Carter; Carlos ducing Chancler that day in 2014. “As amazing Santana, Weather Report and Marvin Gaye; Hugh a musician as he is, he’s an even more amazing Masekela, Jean-Luc Ponty and Frank Sinatra; human being. He helped me get my music pro- Lionel Richie, Tina Turner and James Brown; Eric gram together, my jazz ensembles, as I was start- Clapton, George Benson and Donna Summer. ing out teaching. And he took an interest with the That’s the short list. But he might be best known students and kept up with them.” for the drumbeat he laid down on “Billie Jean” “I couldn’t have gotten any of this on my own,” from Michael Jackson’s album Thriller, which has Chancler said. “Stix [Hooper], Shelly Manne, Earl sold a mere 120 million copies. Palmer, Clarence Johnston: Those are the guys In December 2014, I enjoyed one of the best that gave me the tools that I needed on a day-to- days of my DownBeat career. I had the oppor- day basis. The drummers. tunity to interview Mr. Chancler onstage at the “We’re talking about this magical, mystical Midwest Band Clinic, an annual music educa- connection. All the guys around the country were tion gathering in Chicago that attracts more than starting to hear about me through all the other 20,000 educators and students. guys that were coming through town.” Ndugu took this appearance very seriously. Those connections included Miles Davis, He insisted that we have lunch together before the Quincy Jones and concert producer Bill interview. He wanted to go over the topics that he Graham—three icons he looked up to as mentors. wanted to convey; in short, his “set list.” With all “Those three guys turned my thinking around of his success, Ndugu wanted people to know he and opened me up to just put your heart into it, was, first and foremost, ajazz drummer. and it will happen,” Chancler said. “The attraction for me playing music wasn’t Now that his story is complete, we can enjoy the blues, wasn’t the church gospel music,” he the river of music that came from that heart. said. “It was jazz. It was jazz that I heard on the At downbeat.com, we have posted a feature on radio not being called ‘jazz,’ because on the radio Chancler from our June 2015 edition, along with stations I listened to at the time, they just played the audio file from our Midwest Band Clinic music. They played Horace Silver and Cannonball interview. We hope you check it out. DB 8 DOWNBEAT APRIL 2018 Chords Discords Jazz in the Poconos On a recent snowy Saturday evening, the quartet of guitarist Vic Juris, vocalist Kate Baker, bassist Harvie S and drummer Anthony Pinciotti served up Beatles and Jobim classics, PETER SYLVESTER and original tunes, to a sparse yet attentive audience at the Deer Head Inn (which is listed in the International Jazz Venue Guide of your February issue). This is a homey club perched near the Appalachian Trail in the idyllic Pocono Moun- tains of Pennsylvania. The walls are adorned with portraits of revered, deceased musicians Deer Head Inn in Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania like saxophonist Phil Woods and pianist Mul- grew Miller, whose tunes are played on the club in the country.” It’s a great hang that sound system between the live sets. serves up comfort food and comforting jazz. On its website, the Deer Head Inn claims ROB STEVENS to be “the oldest continuously running jazz [email protected] United Jazz Kingdom hldau and Joshua Redman. In your February issue, in the Interna- DownBeat readers traveling to Shang- tional Jazz Venue Guide, I was disappointed hai should know about the JZ Club. It has to see that the only venues listed in England presented shows by David Binney, Wayne are all located in London. Capital city, yes, Krantz, Nir Felder and Sinne Eeg. The venue’s but just about every other large city in the operators are passionate about, and dedicat- United Kingdom has clubs and pubs that of- ed to, jazz.