SEPTEMBER 2019 VOLUME 86 / NUMBER 9 President Kevin Maher Publisher Frank Alkyer Editor Bobby Reed Reviews Editor Dave Cantor Contributing Editor Ed Enright Creative Director ŽanetaÎuntová Design Assistant Will Dutton Assistant to the Publisher Sue Mahal Bookkeeper Evelyn Oakes 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. 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POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: DownBeat, P.O. Box 11688, St. Paul, MN 55111–0688. CABLE ADDRESS: DownBeat (on sale August 13, 2019) Magazine Publishers Association. Á 4 DOWNBEAT SEPTEMBER 2019 SEPTEMBER 2019 ON THE COVER 28 James Carter EMMANUEL AFOLABI Chasing Django BY PHILLIP LUTZ 42 The perpetually searching saxophonist discusses his deep admiration for the work of innovative guitarist Django Reinhardt, which served as inspiration for the new album James Carter Organ Trio: Live From Newport Jazz. FEATURES 34 Nat “King” Cole Transformative Power Vocalist Jazzmeia Horn’s new album, Love And Liberation, includes eight of her original compositions. BY JOHN MCDONOUGH Cover photo of James Carter shot by Jimmy & Dena Katz at the D’Addario Woodwinds Showroom in Manhattan on June 11. 38 Abdullah Ibrahim ‘The Profundity of Simplicity’ BY DAN OUELLETTE 5-Star Review +++++ 42 Jazzmeia Horn ‘I’m Never Lying’ BY SUZANNE LORGE 46 Indie Life Barrett Martin 58 Eliane Elias 63 Chick Corea 64 William Parker 67 Scheinman/Miller Céline Rudolph Delmark Records KEYBOARD SCHOOL DEPARTMENTS 72 Jazz Organ 80 Transcription 8 First Take Bass Lines Vijay Iyer Piano Solo BY JOEY DEFRANCESCO 10 Chords & Discords 82 Toolshed 76 Master Class 13 The Beat BY LUKE GILLESPIE 55 Reviews 78 Pro Session 86 Jazz On Campus BY ANNE SAJDERA 90 Blindfold Test Korg minilogue XD Ralph Peterson Ralph Peterson 6 DOWNBEAT SEPTEMBER 2019 First Take BY FRANK ALKYER MICHAEL JACKSON André Ménard and Alain Simard André & Alain, Merci Beaucoup The 40th edition of the Festival International York’s jazz radio station. “This was the birth de Jazz de Montreal was another work of beauty. of jazz-rock fusion, Latin jazz, world beat. My During its closing days alone, fans could choose dream of doing a pop festival became a jazz fes- from hundreds of free and ticketed concerts. It tival. I thought it would fit Montreal … and be was blissfully too much music to consume, but a port of entry for musicians from all over the well worth trying a deep dive. world playing that form of musical expression.” There were killer sets from The Django “First and foremost, Alain and I are music Festival All Stars, the Christine Jensen New York fans,” Ménard said. “And this [festival] has been Quartet, pianist Kris Davis, Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin, put on for music fans with the greatest musicians pianist Bobo Stenson, bassist Larry Grenadier in the world—those we could connect with and and one of Canada’s treasures: masterful pia- those who would come to Montreal. The rest was nist Wray Downes, a Toronto native. And those a bit of magic. You don’t really prepare for it. It shows were all at Gesù, one of the coolest places just happens.” on Earth to hear improvised music. But Montreal doesn’t just happen. Ménard If you were in the mood for some soul music, and Simard have skillfully guided a team that the brilliant PJ Morton cooked up a mind-blow- now exceeds 2,000 employees. WBGO announc- ing set at L’Astral, while Hamilton star Leslie er Michael Bourne, who moderated the inter- Odom Jr. elicited oohs and aahs with his suave view, often has said that the festival staff “could sophistication at Théâtre Maisonneuve. run small countries.” And he’s right. On the rock side, Peter Frampton, who is on This epic festival’s longevity is a tribute to his final tour due to a rare muscular degenera- tremendous vision and unflagging tenacity. tive disease, had one critic commenting on how During a press conference on the festival’s much jazz influence there is in the British gui- final day, both Ménard and Simard were visi- tarist’s playing. And young Australian rocker bly moved. Each had trouble finding the words Courtney Barnett brought the attitude—and the to describe his pride in the festival and its staff. guitar chops—with lots of flair and a big smile. And they are leaving the organization in Granted, with its diverse programming, good hands. Jacques-André DuPont, the presi- Montreal is not just a jazz festival. But most fans dent and director general, started at the festival embrace the beauty of pitching such a big tent for 30 years ago as an intern; he knows every nook music from around the globe. and cranny. Laurant Saulnier, the vice president The festival is no less than the realization of a of programming, has been with the festival for dream by two local guys who have become leg- 20 years. “I’ll be here for 20 more,” he quipped. ends: André Ménard and Alain Simard, who When people say jazz has seen better days, both retired at the end of this edition. send them to Montreal. Send them to the little “I dreamed of a jazz festival for Montreal festival André and Alain built. It’s a place that because jazz then, in the ’70s, had no language; will lift your spirits and where a dream came it was mostly instrumental,” Simard said during true. Congratulations to Messrs. Ménard and a live interview produced by WBGO, metro New Simard. Merci beaucoup. DB 8 DOWNBEAT SEPTEMBER 2019 Chords Discords Big Umbrella Approach In the past, DownBeat always seemed to Editor’s Note: In those three cases, we publish reviews for the albums that won poll published a story focused on the artist— categories. Yet, I did not see a review for The rather than a review of the album—in Chick Corea & Steve Gadd Band’s Chinese But- order to shine a spotlight on a greater terfly (Jazz Album of the Year in the 2018 Read- number of releases within that issue. Our ers Poll), Wayne Shorter’s Emanon (Jazz Album March 2018 issue featured a conversation of the Year in the 2019 Critics Poll) or John Col- between Chick Corea and guitarist Lionel trane’s Both Directions At Once: The Lost Album Loueke, who plays on Chinese Butterfly. (Historical Album of the Year in the 2019 Crit- We published an interview with Wayne ics Poll). What gives? All three of these records Shorter, discussing Emanon, in our should have been in The Hot Box. September 2018 issue. And our August 2018 issue included an article on the “lost” ALVIN STAN DAVIS [email protected] John Coltrane album. Long-term Loyalty azine—something I should have done long There was great glee for me in 2008 ago. What a great publication. Thank you for when the DownBeat Veterans Committee presenting so much great information on the was established for the purpose of electing current and historical jazz scene. into the Hall of Fame great musicians who As I sit down with each issue, as I’m doing had been overlooked. That year, the com- now with the August issue, I grab my iPad mittee inducted Jo Jones, Jimmie Lunceford, and make a Spotify playlist of new recordings Erroll Garner, Harry Carney and Jimmy Blan- to check out.