DB0309_001_COVER.qxd 1/12/09 10:41 AM Page 1 DOWNBEAT FAVORITE BLUE NOTE ALBUMS BEBO & CHUCHO VALDÉS VIRGINIA MAYHEW SUMMER CAMP GUIDE SUMMER CAMP MAYHEW VIRGINIA BLUE NOTE ALBUMS BEBO & CHUCHO VALDÉS FAVORITE DownBeat.com $4.99 03 MARCH 2009 0 09281 01493 5 MARCH 2009 U.K. £3.50 DB0309_002-005_MAST.qxd 1/12/09 12:57 PM Page 2 002-005_MAST 1/8/09 9:53 PM Page 3 DB0309_002-005_MAST.qxd 1/12/09 4:14 PM Page 4 March 2009 VOLUME 76 – NUMBER 3 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: Mars Breslow, Forrest Bryant, Clayton Call, 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 1970-2002 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 76, Number 3 is published monthly by Maher Publications, 102 N. Haven, Elmhurst, IL 60126-3379. Copyright 2009 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 February 17, 2009) MAGAZINE PUBLISHERSÁ ASSOCIATION 002-005_MAST 1/8/09 9:53 PM Page 5 DB0309_006-007_INSIDE.qxd 1/12/09 5:17 PM Page 6 DB Inside 38 Departments 8 First Take 10 Chords & Discords 13 The Beat 14 Vinyl Freak 16 The Archives March 23, 1955 Chucho & Bebo Valdés 17 Backstage With ... RICARD CUGAT Cedar Walton 19 The Question 26 ‘My Favorite Blue Note Album’ By Dan Ouellette and Ted Panken 20 Caught As the most famous name in jazz record labels turns 70, we asked about three 22 Players dozen musicians—from Joe Lovano, Branford Marsalis and Randy Brecker to Bill Frisell, Christian McBride and Jason Moran—this simple but oh-so-difficult- Dee Alexander to-answer question, given the depth and excellence of the music released by the John Escreet label. Their answers offer a fascinating journey through a few of the master- Stryker/Slagle Band piece albums by the likes of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Art Blakey and Horace Silver that comprise the Blue Note catalog. Stephen Gauci 71 Reviews Features 92 Toolshed 38 Bebo & Chucho Valdés 66 Special Section 96 Master Class Together Forever By Ned Sublette 98 Transcription 46 Virginia Mayhew 100 Legal Session ‘Get Out There and Live’ By Eric Fine INDIE 102 Jazz on Campus 52 Hot Sun, Hot Tunes! 106 Blindfold Test DownBeat Summer Jazz Life Geoffrey Keezer Camp Guide 65 Joe Zawinul David S. Ware Jim Hall & Bill Frisell Sheila Jordan 6 DOWNBEAT March 2009 Cover photography by Jimmy Katz 006-007_INSIDE 1/8/09 10:05 PM Page 7 DB0309_008-009_FT.qxd 1/12/09 5:17 PM Page 8 First Take By Jason Koransky ‘What Would Alfred Have Done?’ For 25 years, Bruce Lundvall has had a thought running through the back of his mind while he has served at the helm of Blue Note Records: “What would Alfred have done?” Alfred, of course, is Alfred Lion, who in 1939 launched Blue Note with Francis Wolff, and proceeded to build one of the most influential labels in jazz history. Lion fostered a creative environ- ment in which artists had freedom to create. Lundvall has done that. Lion built long-term relationships with artists that led to them recording expansive, influential catalogs. Ditto for Lundvall. Lion did not have much of a taste for signing vocalists, save for Babs Gonzales, Dodo Greene and Sheila Jordan. Lundvall, well, he went another direction, hav- ing signed the likes of Cassandra Bruce Lundvall Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Kurt Elling, JIMMY KATZ Patricia Barber, Bobby McFerrin, Rachelle ancing act of building a vibrant label and pro- Ferrell, Lena Horne and Norah Jones. moting the catalog while not leaning too heavily Lundvall recalled a time when this question on that catalog. For instance, when asked the was put to a huge test. The label had a demo question that Dan Ouellette and Ted Panken pre- from the British group Us3, which had sampled sented to about three dozen musicians for our a number of Blue Note tracks, including Herbie cover feature on Page 26—“What is your Hancock’s “Cantaloupe Island.” To decide if favorite Blue Note album?”—Lundvall had the this was Blue Note material, Lundvall and Tom same difficulty that many of the artists had: nar- Everett, who was the label’s head of marketing rowing his pick to one album. at the time, drove around Hollywood in a con- “First and foremost, [Art Blakey and the Jazz vertible for two hours listening to the music. Messengers’] A Night At Birdland,” he respond- “Tom said, ‘We should do it,’” Lundvall ed. “It encompasses the essence of this music. remembered. “I said, ‘Tom, you’re right. We Extraordinary performances, an exciting live should put it on Blue Note.’ We went to recording, spontaneous, introducing Clifford England, and told them that they could sample Brown and Lou Donaldson, with Horace Silver the entire Blue Note catalog.” new on the scene. Then, Bud Powell, The The resulting album, Hand On The Torch Genius Of Bud Powell. He’s my favorite pianist (1993), which featured the “Cantaloupe Island” of all time. He invented modern jazz piano. Of remix “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia),” sold about 3 course, I’d pick Dexter Gordon’s Go, and I love million copies, according to Lundvall. [Gordon’s] Our Man In Paris.” Maybe Lion would not have released the Us3 Lundvall then turned his attention to the past album, but this was one of many projects that 25 years. “Gonzalo Rubalcaba is one of the show that Lundvall has more than simply served greatest artists alive,” he said. “His latest album, as a curator of Blue Note’s older catalog: He has Supernova, is one of the great records that we charted his own path at the helm of the label. have put out. Jason Moran’s Modernistic. Joe From Joe Lovano, Greg Osby and Gonzalo Lovano’s 52nd Street Themes, or any of those Rubalcaba to Bill Charlap, Don Byron, and nonet records. Everything Bill Charlap does is Medeski Martin and Wood, recent Blue Note extraordinary.” artists have recorded some of the most signifi- Even with the downturn in the music indus- cant jazz discographies of the past two decades. try (the label has been profitable every year “The idea is to find artists who can add to the under Lundvall, except in 2008), Lundvall is still legacy,” he said. “I’m proud of the roster we looking to expand the roster, to write the next have. I know it’s expanded beyond the borders chapter in Blue Note’s history. of jazz. That’s not an issue for me. How could “I look for originality and a sense of adven- SUBSCRIBE! you not allow Al Green to be on your label? Or ture; the artists need a vision and a clearly identi- Norah Jones or Anita Baker?” fiable sound,” said Lundvall, 73. “I want to keep 1-800-554-7470 Lundvall has succeeded in the delicate bal- working.