Chucho Valdes and Norman Berman Music Foundation Hedman Norman Hedman's tropical jazz to warm Spring 2001 the Heartland Vol. 6, Number 3 By Tom Ineck . out for concerts, Hedman noted in a orman Hedman's Tropique phone interview from his home in New performs March 24 at the lied York City. Ii> N e Center for Performing Arts, arriving "It gives the band credibility for like a warm, tropical breeze after a long, bookings, and bookings mean sales," In this issue of Jazz .. .. frigid Midwestern winter. Hedman said in his typically straight­ Hedman to Heartland ........... ,.1 At the time of this writing, the forward manner. New York City-based Recent perfor­ The Prez Sez ....................... 2 band's current release, mances bear out Jazz in the Venues ............. 2 TakenBySUJprlse, is " ... Taken By Surprise, Hedman's assertion NJO ............ : .............. 3 is riding high on the riding high on the that heavy airplay Tomfoolery .................... .4 Gavin jazz charts, at Gavin jazz charts, at the has an indirect effect the No.6 position. No.6 position." on sales, at least Milt Hinton .......................... .4 Recorded in Au­ among those who Jazz on Disc. ...................... S gust 1999 at Eastside hear the band in the Discorama ......................... 7 Sound in Manhattan and released last flesh. Hedman said the popular re­ Blues Corner ....................... 7 November on Palmetto Records, Taken sponse at Tropique concerts is heart­ By Sutprise is the second Tropique CD ening in the very competitive world Unsung Hero ....................... 8 funded by the Berman Music Foun­ of music. Blues on Disc. .................... 9 dation. The fIrst, One Step Closer, was "It's been excellent," he said. "The Summit Jazz ..................... 10 release on Arabesque Records in 1999. show that we did at the Jazz Standard The BMF also is providing major (a Nov. 6 CD release party at the New funding for the Lied Center perfor­ York City jazz club) we sold the club mance. out, and we sold about 130 to 140 CDs While the Gavin airplay barometer that night." is not a gauge of record sales, it does Appearances outside the group's mean people are hearing the CD. In hometown have been just as success­ turn, that means more fans of ful, Hedman reports. Tropique's light and lively, "When we were in Barbados polyrhythmic music are likely to tum (Hedman continued on pg. 6) Page 2 Berman Music Foundation Jazz •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Prez Sez Hedman/Fort Apache--THE Jazz Show of 2001 By Butch Berman· . bone as Charlie Parker to his alto In closing, and on an entirely - a Jazz Giant that touched all afi­ different note, I want to happily cionados worldwide. report that my all-time fave band - Also, after building you all up -Charlie Burton & Rock Therapy-­ in our past issue I'm sorry to have not only had a ball reuniting at the called off the Valentine's Day show Rock 2000: Rock and Roll Hall of with Kendra Shank and Frank Fame Pla-Mor extravaganza, but Kimbrough. Kendra's agent took have rebanded again to cut a demo solong trying to block book that of four (of many) new Bur-Toons. the cost of air fare had tripled, If my taste in rock and roll making, on paper anyway, no (whether I'm playing on it or not) D ear Readers, Friends, & Foes, chance at all of even breaking even is just - I feel that Charlie Burton's as our budget was destroyed. Any­ new stuff could propel CB & RT Spring has sprung, Fall has fell, how - we fulfilled our part of the to another level of rockdom. No jazz is cool, so what the heck. One contract as Kendra and Frank still shit - we got along, had a ball, and thing for sure - at least for us Mid­ got paid - and they promised to sounded great. More news of this westerners - Wmter sucks! We, at least, play here someday soon (we hope) continuing odyssey - as well as all have our music to keep us warm - as when they're in the area. Subse­ the skinny of our jazz Babylon to well as a big thanx to Ken Burns for quently, no hard feelings were di­ follow in our Summer issue. his great (no matter what critics may rected towards the artists at all. By the way, you'll receive all the say) 20-hour jazz marathon. Just to Taken by Swprise, the new Palmetto info you'll need to attend the best jazz educate the public with that much release by Norman Hedman's party in the USA - I'm talkin' 'bout prime-time coverage and info on jazz Tropique, has now climbed to #6 on the Topeka Jazz Festival- set for Me­ is incredible the GavinJazz Chart. He's thrilled and morial Day Weekend in Topeka, Kan­ I was shocked and saddened to we're very proud. His success only sas. See the ad for the marvi cast of hear ofJJ. Johnson's untimely passing. whets the appetite for his upcoming characters. Guess he was suffering from cancer, show at the Lied Center in lincoln with and at 77 maybe he felt he'd done enuff Jerry Gonzales & the Fort Apache - man, he did it ail, revolutionizing the Band. This will probably be 1HE jazz way he applied bebop to the trom- show of 2001. Not to be missed! Butch Berman ing the second and third sets. The Jazz at The Five Reasons Jazz in the cover charge is still $4, $3 for stu­ On Friday and Saturday eve­ dents. nings from 8 to 11 p.m. at The venues For more information, call 402- Five Reasons Lounge in the th Compiled by Dave Hughes. 477-8008. Cornhusker Hotel, 333 S. 13 St Monday Night Big Band continues in Lincoln, pianist John Carlini Jazz at The Oven The Monday Night Big Band is (occasionally with saxophonist On Thursday and Sunday evenings still playing every Monday night at Bill Wimmer) continues to play. at The Oven, 201K 8th St. in Lincoln, P.O. Pears, 322 S. 9th St in Lincoln. Ca11402-474-7474 for more infor­ you can still hear the duos of either: Every week features a different mation. Dave Novak & Dennis Taylor; Steve music director that leads the group Hanson & Nancy Marshall; John in three sets from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Brazilian Music Jam Carlini & Andy Hall; or Peter Bouffard Audience members are still en­ The Brazilian Music Jam at 4 &John Carlini. Ca11402-475-6118 for couraged to bring their own instru­ Friends has been cancelled until more inforn1ation. ments and sit in with the band dur- further notice according to the co- Page 3 t ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••• • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Jazz is usually published six times Veteran Benny Powell a year by The Berman Music Foundation, 719 P St., Studio G, shares talents with NJO Lincoln, NE 68508. By Tom [neck . trumpet, Todd Thatcher on trombone Editor: Dave Hughes eteran trombonist and world and a furious tenor saxophone duel Newsletter and computer con­ sultant: Rebecca Kaiser traveler Benny Powell brought between Rich Burrows and Stan V Contributing writers: Butch more than 50 years of playing experi­ Harper. Nat Adderly's "Work Song" Berman, Rich Hoover, Dave ence to the stage Jan. 25 when he made was a great vehicle for Tom Harvill's Hughes, Tom Ineck, & Bill Wimmer. a guest appearance with the Nebraska probing, blues-inflected piano and Ed Photographers: Butch Berman, Jazz Orchestra. Love's versatile alto sax. Rich Hoover; and Tom Ineck. But for the program "Learning Powell returned to the stage to From the Master," the local musicians front a combo with Scott Vicroy on For inclusion of any jazz or blues more than held their own in Powell's baritone sax, backed by a rhythm sec­ related events, letters to the editor; esteemed company, skillfullyentertain­ tion. They nailed a swinging, midtempo or suggested articles, you can ei­ ing an audience of nearly 400 in the rendition of the standard "There Is No ther mail them to the office, phone us at 402-476-3112, fax us at 402- ballroom of The Cornhusker Hotel. Greater Love." 475-3136, or e-mail us at: Learning the most during the The full band rejoined Powell and <[email protected]>. Our evening performance were this year's the rest for several Powell-penned website address is: crop of musicians in the NJO's Young works, beginning with a lurching ca­ www.bermanmusicfoundation.org Lions All Star Band, the group of lypso composition written for the handpicked area high school students trombonist's "Aunt Babe." Mark For advertising information, con­ that opened the concert. Under the di­ Benson on alto sax and Harvill on pi­ tact Butch Berman at 402-488- rection of NJO saxophonist Scott ano gave the catchy tune some inter­ 1398. A business card sized ad for Vic roy , the band began with Miles esting twists. one issue is $25, a half-page ad for Davis' "Four," continued with "You Are With Me," a slow blues one issue is $ 100. Discounts ap­ Thelonious Monk's ballad '''Round tune, was dedicated to Count Basie, in ply for six month or one year rates. Midnight," featuring Bryan Ewing on whose brdSS section Powell worked for If you would like to be added to flugelhorn, and followed up with the 12 illustrious years. Trombonists our mailing list, call us at 402-476- bluesy Count Basie tune "Front Thatcher and Bryant Scott expertly 3112, fax us at 402-475-3136, or Burner." traded phrases with Powell. e-mail us at: Like a natural-born teacher, Powell But the Powell compositions <[email protected]>.