SPRING 2019 INSIDE THIS EDITION BALTIMORE JAZZ ALLIANCE Jam Sessions .................................................................. 2 Transitions: A Contrarian’s Delight.................................... 6 Remembering Baltimore’s First Lady of Jazz.................... 8 John Thomas Quartet: Hotel Indigo’s Poet’s .................. 10 BJA Presents Father’s Day Jazz .................................... 12 BJA Member Benefits...................................................... 12 VOLUME FIFTEEN • ISSUE TWO • THE BJA NEWSLETTER • WWW.BALTIMOREJAZZ.COM BRANDON WOODY Rising Trumpet Star By Mitch Mirkin I first encountered trum- peter Brandon Woody, now aged 20, last August, when he led an open-mic jam ses- sion at the Motor House on North Avenue with his PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXANDER JARMAN group, Upendo (Swahili for “love”). I then caught one of Baltimore Kissa Society his monthly gigs at An die Musik on North Charles. At By Bob Jacobson both performances, three Since 2016, BJA member Alexander Jarman has hosted the monthly jazz things about the trumpeter record listening sessions of the Baltimore Kissa Society (BKS). Named for impressed me. the cafés (kissa) where people in over 600 Japanese cities and towns gath- One was his fiery, intense ered in the 1950s-’70s to hear jazz recordings, BKS has afforded its mem- yet lyrical and fluid style. bers listening opportunities of everyone from Django Reinhardt to Sun Ra; PHOTO CREDIT: MITCH MIRKIN He reminded me of Freddie themed sessions have included the jazz influence on Steely Dan and Afro- Hubbard, who once described his own playing as “very futurism. loose, elastic.” Woody played blazes of short, repeated, Jarman, 36, is the Walters Art Museum’s manager of community pro- melodically complex riffs that grew in intensity, driven by grams and contemporary art initiatives. He began listening to jazz in his the funky, pumping keyboard and drums behind him. But teens in Cincinnati. Before coming to Baltimore in 2014 he curated a jazz he also blew longer, sweet melodic lines reminiscent of Clif- series at the San Diego Museum of Art. He has had DJ residencies at Disko- ford Brown. bar and The Elephant. The second thing was the dynamic variation in Woody’s Bob Jacobson interviewed Jarman on January 26th, 2019 at his gallery, playing. There were soft, quiet interludes and dramatic Cardinal. crescendos. I’ve been to too many live-music events where the volume was painfully and relentlessly loud—and yes, BJ: How did the Baltimore Kissa Society start? I’m talking about jazz and not heavy metal. AJ: In San Diego a lot of musicians would invite others to lis- The third quality that impressed me about this young, tening sessions at their houses. Not long after moving to Bal- congenial brass man was his stage presence. There was an timore I had an opportunity to use Maryland Art Place for one night. I decided to host a jazz record listening session. I (continued on page 4) was new to the city and wanted to find other people. I put it BJA Presents Father’s Day Jazz on Facebook and thirty people showed up, mostly strangers. See page 12 I thought, “Okay, this is a thing. I think people are into it.” (continued on page 5) The Baltimore Jazz Alliance is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. JAZZ JAM SESSIONS Where the cats congregate The Baltimore Jazz Alliance (BJA) is a grass-roots organization of jazz to groove and grow! aficionados, musicians and venues dedicated to enhancing and promoting jazz in Baltimore and the surrounding areas. New members sharing this * NOTE: As these events may be subject to change, it’s always a passion are always welcome as the BJA good idea to CALL AHEAD FOR CONFIRMATION! continues its efforts to build a stronger and better networked jazz scene. SUNDAYS Together we can help this music thrive Marie Louise Bisro – 8-11 in the region and reward listeners and Germano’s – 7-10 111 West Centre Street. Hosted by Tom Lagana. musicians alike. Weekly jazz jam hosted by Mike ‘n’ Ike. No keyboard at this session. 904 N. Charles Instrumentalists and vocalists are welcome. 300 Street, 410-385-9946. BJA Priorities South High Street. 410-752-4515. • To develop new audiences for jazz • To strengthen communication WEDNESDAYS within the jazz community MONDAYS 49 West Café – 7-10 • To improve media relations on An die Musik Live! – 7:30-9:30 49 West Street, Annapolis. Hosted by John Starr behalf of the jazz community 409 N. Charles Street. Jam sessions SECOND and house band. FIRST & THIRD Wednesdays. and FOURTH Mondays co-hosted by Alex Musicians and singers very welcome! Delicious • To bring greater visibility to the Meadow and Christian Hizon. $5 for musicians and entire array of jazz offerings in the and reasonably priced food and drink available! $8 for others. Baltimore region $10 cover. Reservations 410-626-9796 • To provide greater access to performance opportunities for The Avenue Kitchen – 7-10 HOMEslyce – 8-11 Baltimore-area jazz musicians 911 W 36th Street. Hosted by guitarist Michael 336 N. Charles Street. Todd Marcus leads jazz jam Joseph Harris, featuring the music of Django sessions FIRST Wednesdays. 443-501-4000 Visit www.baltimorejazz.com Reinhardt, Gypsy jazz, swing, trad, Dixieland, for information about our blues, standards, bossa nova, Gypsy rumba, THURSDAYS accomplishments and future goals. musette waltz, and bebop. Room for dancing. Full bar with extensive draft beer selection and The Place Lounge – 7:00-10:00 315 W. Franklin Street. Jam session/open mic is Baltimore Jazz Alliance food menu. No cover. 443-961-8515 hosted by Spice every THIRD THURSDAY. 847 North Howard Street Musicians and vocalists are welcome. Baltimore, Maryland 21201 Terra Cafe – 8:30-11:30 410-547-2722 101 E 25th Street. Clarence Ward III presents Please direct your The Session. All are welcome to come out and questions and comments to: express themselves. No cover, one drink [email protected] minimum. Come on in and swing with us. If you know of local jam 410-777-5277 sessions, or if any of the jazz jam sessions listed are BJA BOARD TUESDAYS discontinued, please inform Tyrone Crawley Randallstown Community Center – 6-8 the editor at: Alice Downs 3505 Resource Drive, Randallstown. Sponsored [email protected] Liz Fixsen, Secretary by BJA. Hosted by Derrick Amin. Jam sessions/ Vernard Gray book and poetry live reading. Musicians and vocalists are welcome. 410-887-0698 Robin Houston, Treasurer Ian Rashkin, President Theresa Sise The Judge’s Bench – 8:30-Midnight Rená Sweetwine, Vice President 8385 Main Street, Ellicott City. Charlie Schueller Barry Glassman, Founder and Emeritus leads informal jam sessions on the FIRST TUESDAY of each month. 410-465-3497 Camay Calloway Murphy, Emerita Mark Osteen, President Emeritus . NEWSLETTER Gail Marten, Jazz Palette Editor/Designer www.baltimorejazz.com PAGE 2 / SPRING 2019 BALTIMORE JAZZ ALLIANCE 28th Baltimore Chamber Jazz Society Year BILL O’CONNELL’S LATIN JAZZ ALL-STARS Sunday, April 7, 2019 | 5 pm Bill O’Connell, piano; Gary Smulyan, baritone saxophone; Ralph Bowen, tenor saxophone; Craig Handy, alto saxophone; Conrad Herwig, trombone; Alex Sipiagin, trumpet; Andrea Brachfeld, flute; Lincoln Goines, bass; Robby Ameen, drums $45 General Admission | $43 BMA Members/Seniors www.billoconnell.net CHRISTIAN SANDS TRIO Sunday, May 5, 2019 | 5 pm Christian Sands, piano; Jerome Jennings, drums; Eric Wheeler, bass $45 General Admission | $43 BMA Members/Seniors www.christiansandsjazz.com Please note: Programming is subject to change. Student tickets ($10) will be sold only on day of concert, subject to availability, with valid student ID. Buy Tickets Online:http://www.instantseats.com THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART BJA Members receive $2 discount off general admission price! 10 Art Museum Drive Just indicate your affiliation when ordering tickets. Baltimore, MD 21218 The Baltimore Chamber Jazz Society is a non-profit organization and is supported by a grant from the BALTIMORE CHAMBER JAZZ SOCIETY Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to P.O. Box 16097 Baltimore, MD 21218 cultivating a vibrant cultural community (410) 385-5888 where the arts thrive. www.baltimorechamberjazz.org Support jazz in Baltimore. Join BJA! Details on page 15 BALTIMORE JAZZ ALLIANCE PAGE 3 /SPRING 2019 BRANDON WOODY Center, on North Howard Street. “He taught us about the history, he talked about his ex- Rising Trumpet Star periences with very notable jazz musicians. He taught us about the scene,” recalls Woody. (continued from first page) An alumnus of the Baltimore School for the Arts and uninhibited joy, a sheer PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDON WOODY Peabody Youth Orchestra, Woody built his chops partly exuberance, about the through playing classical works, winning concerto compe- music that you don’t titions along the way. After stints at the Brubeck Institute and often see with jazz play- Manhattan School of Music, he returned to Baltimore last ers. Woody is no sullen, spring. He now has a monthly gig at An die Musik, and a brooding type—and any- CD of original music coming out this spring. On May 18th, thing but wooden—when he will be starting a monthly series at Eubie Blake. he’s up on stage. He’s a Baltimore trumpeter Theljon Allen continues to be a key physical player, moving mentor for him, and while Woody’s talent and ambition are about the stage, his knees likely to propel him toward wider acclaim, he is enthusiastic bending, upper body turning and twisting as he coaxes ex- about the musical opportunities that lie ahead for him right pressive lines and exquisite high notes out of his Bach in Charm City. Stradivarius trumpet. “I grew up here, went through all these programs and Check out the YouTube video of tenor man George Adams schools here, and now I’m playing at some of the venues I’ve playing “You Don’t Know What Love Is” at the 1989 Mt.