DB1208_001_COVER.qxd 10/28/08 9:38 AM Page 1 DOWNBEAT 73RD ANNUAL READERS POLL KEITH JARRETT SONNY ROLLINS ORNETTE COLEMAN READERS POLL KEITH JARRETT SONNY ROLLINS 73RD ANNUAL DownBeat.com $4.99 12 DECEMBER 2008 0 09281 01493 5 DECEMBER 2008 U.K. £3.50 DB1208_002-005_MAST.qxd 10/28/08 9:44 AM Page 2 DB1208_002-005_MAST.qxd 10/28/08 9:44 AM Page 3 DB1208_002-005_MAST.qxd 10/28/08 9:45 AM Page 4 December 2008 VOLUME 75 – NUMBER 12 President Kevin Maher Publisher Frank Alkyer Editor Jason Koransky Associate Editor Aaron Cohen Art Director Ara Tirado Production Associate Andy Williams Bookkeeper Margaret Stevens Circulation Manager Kelly Grosser Intern Mary Wilcop 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 800-554-7470 [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: Forrest Bryant, Clayton Call, Jerry Karp, 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: Hugh Gregory, Brian Priestley; Israel: Barry Davis; Japan: Kiyoshi Koyama; Netherlands: Jaap Lüdeke; 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 906, Elmhurst, IL 60126–0906. Inquiries: U.S.A. and Canada (800) 554-7470; Foreign (630) 941-2030. 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 75, Number 12 is published monthly by Maher Publications, 102 N. Haven, Elmhurst, IL 60126-3379. Copyright 2008 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 906, Elmhurst, IL 60126–0906. CABLE ADDRESS: DOWNBEAT (on sale November 18, 2008) MAGAZINE PUBLISHERSÁ ASSOCIATION DB1208_002-005_MAST.qxd 10/28/08 9:45 AM Page 5 DB1208_006-007_INSIDE.qxd 10/28/08 9:47 AM Page 6 DB Inside 42 Departments 8 First Take 10 Chords & Discords 13 The Beat 14 Backstage With ... Evan Parker 19 European Scene 22 Caught Phil Woods, 24 Players alto saxophonist of the year Sophie Milman JIMMY KATZ Grant Stewart Curtis Brothers & 32 Keith Jarrett Albert Rivera ‘What Am I Doing?’ | HALL OF FAME | By Ted Panken Johnathan Blake The newest inductee into the DownBeat Hall of Fame is 63 years old, and is still cre- 71 Reviews ating new chapters in a career of timeless music. In the middle of his fall concert schedule celebrating the 25th anniversary of his trio with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette, the pianist reminisced about some of the highlights and turning points 94 Toolshed in his career, and what directions he envisions his art going in the next decade. 98 Transcription Features 100 Master Class 102 Jazz on Campus RD 46 Ornette Coleman Doing Is Believing 106 Blindfold Test By John Corbett Enrico Rava & 73 54 Tim Ries Stefano Bollani 38 Sonny Rollins Salt Of The Earth Deep Are The Roots By Ken Micallef JAZZ ARTIST AND TENOR SAXOPHONIST 60 Special Section OF THE YEAR By Benny Golson HOLIDAY 40 Wynton Marsalis Bandstand Democracy TRUMPETER OF THE YEAR GUIDE By Jennifer Odell 42 Complete Readers Poll Results 71 Dave Holland Sextet 6 DOWNBEAT December 2008 Cover photography by Rose Anne Jarrett DB1208_006-007_INSIDE.qxd 10/28/08 9:48 AM Page 7 DB1208_008-009_FT.qxd 10/28/08 9:50 AM Page 8 First Take By Jason Koransky Sonny Rollins: taking music Sonny’s Take to a higher level Sonny Rollins did not look forward to scouring through his audio archives to find material for his new live compilation, Road Shows, Vol. 1 (Doxy). DownBeat readers love lis- tening to Rollins’ concerts, as shown by his double win as Jazz Artist and Tenor Saxophonist of the Year in the 73rd Annual Readers Poll featured in this issue (Benny Golson writes about Rollins on Page 38). But the saxophonist sets high musical stan- dards for himself, which can make it painful for him to revisit his shows. “Especially since I lost my wife, I trusted her judgment so I didn’t have to listen to a lot of my music,” Rollins said from his home in upstate New York. “I listened to it after she gave me preliminary approval. Now I have to do this by myself, mainly, and it’s not easy. You hear all of the mistakes, things that could have been done, that should have been done. I ask, ‘Why didn’t I do it?’ I’m looking at myself from a critical point of view. It’s hard listening and saying, ‘Oh, that sounds good.’ But I have to do it.” Road Shows, Vol. 1 features seven tracks, four from Rollins’ archives—including “Some En- MICHAEL JACKSON chanted Evening” from his 2007 Carnegie Hall concert halls, creating music night after night, trio show with Roy Haynes and Christian injecting some creativity into the world. Plus, McBride—and three from archivist Carl music is much more than a respite from the day Smith’s collection. Of course, Rollins did not to day—it is a necessary part of our society, listen to all of his archives, which he has built something that gives our world its heartbeat. since he started recording his shows in the late On Road Shows, Rollins appears to be a ’80s. He first tried to remember concerts musical diplomat, as the cuts were culled where he thought the music achieved a partic- from shows in New York, Canada, Japan, ularly high level. Does he think that any “per- France, Sweden and Poland. Does Rollins feel fect” shows exist in his archives? that he had a heightened purpose to his music, “I think so,” he replied. “I have these given the anticipation of his crowds to be nights when everything seems to work out taken on an improvisational journey of the perfectly. If I go back and listen to it, I might highest order. not think so. But at the time, it’s good. These “When I go out to play for other people, I are rare occasions, but every now and then we don’t want to think of myself in such lofty have transcendent performances, where I terms—I want to be more modest in my self- think they are perfect. appraisal—I’m sure I bring some respite to peo- “It has to go to a higher level,” he continued. ple around the world,” he said. “I see myself as “That’s the idea of music, to take us away from having an obligation to be a decent human the world, to take us to a higher level, different being, to do to others as you’d want them to do places. That’s what I’m always trying to do. It’s unto you, to be a caring person for other people. not always a success, but that’s the point. The This is the philosophy that brings me the most closer I get, it’s a better performance.” personal peace and happiness.” We are living through tumultuous times. It’s And it’s the philosophy that makes Rollins reassuring to know that artists such as Rollins— such a deserving recipient of the Readers Poll and all of the other artists who won and placed Jazz Artist and Tenor Saxophone of the Year in the Readers Poll—are on stages in clubs and awards. DB DB1208_008-009_FT.qxd 10/28/08 9:50 AM Page 9 DB1208_010-011_CHORDS.qxd 10/28/08 9:51 AM Page 10 Chords & Discords Respect for Beck, Bullock Melody Gardot at the 2008 I have quite a number of recordings of Montreal the late Joe Beck and Hiram Bullock—as Jazz Festival leaders and sidemen—and I was sad to see that these musicians are no longer with us (“The Beat,” October).