Contributors' Corner - Feature Stories
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DJ Spooky & Me
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In the spring of 2002, the cover story of Signal to Noise Magazine was DJ SPOOKY MEETS MATTHEW SHIPP. Matthew Shipp is a terrific musician, one of the outstanding piano improvisors and an acquaintance. My interest in him took me right to the article. The article illuminated the incredible intelligence of both musicians in the text of the...
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Viewpoint by Lyn Horton
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Dianne Reeves Entertains Sparse Audience
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When the spotlight shines on Dianne Reeves, she shines right back. In her element, she draws in the audience from the moment she walks on stage and keeps their attention until the moment she walks off. Her voice is mesmerizing and she showcased it starting with the introduction, singing “Welcome, I am so happy to be here...
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Concert Review by Bryan Zoran
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An Equation of Stardust
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The initial 2003 concert of the Magic Triangle Concert Series took place on February 27, 2003, at the Helen Hills Chapel at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. And an appropriate site it was for a star-studded performance by Alan Silva’s Celestrial Communication Orchestra in an American continuation of its rebirth in Switzerland in 2001.
The orchestra was packed into the fairly...
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Concert Review by Lyn Horton
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Denise Donatelli Quartet
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Making her debut at Michael D's with a flair, Denise Donatelli not only charmed a good sized crowd at this classy jazz emporium, (that included the legendary Pinky Winters and L.A. vocalist Judy Wexler), She literally bedazzled the gathered glitterati with a 'swinging' quality that one has to be born with and (sadly) few singers in this day and...
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Concert Review by John Gilbert
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Pulling It All Together
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At the Vermont Jazz Center in Brattleboro, VT, Myra Melford in her Be
Bread quartet performed a well-designed program. The performance mirrored her
attention to detail, her adherence to a certain amount of structure and her
sources of inspiration.
I have known about Myra Melford for years through her recordings and
never in my wildest dreams expected to see her...
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Concert Review by Lyn Horton
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Cold Chicago Night - Hot Louisiana Blues
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I have a new guitar hero. (At age 44, yet. Oy.)
As a lad, I idolized Eric Clapton then Phil Manzanera, John McLaughlin, Frank Zappa, then I got into other kinds of music where the Guitar Solo wasn't the dominant thang. Yet, along with fine piano, saxophone and violin playing, Amazing Guitar Players still occupy a Place...
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Concert Review by Mark Keresman
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Lifting Every Voice
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Any talk of comeback in music is generally more a case of the fickle attention span of the audience than any lack of attention to art by the artist. But when the saxophonist, composer and bandleader Charles Lloyd returned to regular playing in the early nineties, it was indeed a cause for musical celebration. After clamoring to the largest...
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Concert Review by Bill Smith
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Jennifer Hall Quartet
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Jennifer Hall is an ardent admirer of Gerry Mulligan and his influence is prevalent in her playing but make no mistake, her own imprimatur is stamped on every tune.
It was no surprise that "Bernie's Tune" kicked the festivities off, with Hall leading the way. Her blazing solo was a tribute that Mr. Mulligan would have been most appreciative...
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Concert Review by John Gilbert
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Art of the Instrument
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On Feb. 5, at the Iron Horse, in Northampton, Massachusetts, Lee Konitz, in his trio comprised of Matt Wilson on drums and Dennis Irwin on bass, performed an extended 2 sets: two hours of beautifully basic continuity.
As the trio arrived, slowly the instruments crept up on the platform: Wilson’s drums came first-- set up to the right. Then all...
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Concert Review by Lyn Horton
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Night of Music Remembers a Legend
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When Poncho Sanchez walked off the plane in Milwaukee on Saturday morning he had over half a dozen voice mail messages. Mongo Santamaria had passed away only hours ago in Miami. In honor of the major contributions he made to the music, Poncho’s entire first set that evening consisted of selections either written or performed by the...
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Concert Review by Bryan Zoran
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Fresh Sound New Talent
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For many avid jazz followers, producer Jordi Pujol’s Fresh Sound label served as a bastion for reissues of some of the most obscure catalog items. The independent Spanish company leased a number of classic sides from such labels as Jubilee, Hi-Fi Jazz, Roulette, Regina, and many others. A few years ago though, Pujol decided to get into...
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Viewpoint by C. Andrew Hovan
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Frank Morgan
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Last Monday, February 3rd, alto saxophonist Frank Morgan (born Dec.23, 1933) was performing in Belgium in the legendary ‘Hnita Hoeve,’ known by most jazz musicians worldwide as “Jules’ Place.”
For nearly 55 years, the greatest names in jazz have been playing at Jules’ Place; Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Chet Baker, Sonny Rollins, Abbey Lincoln, Art Pepper, Lee Konitz, Roy Hargrove,...
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Concert Review by Jempi Samyn
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Cassandra Wilson's Musical Journey
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You never know what Cassandra Wilson might sing.
From album to album, she has shown bold originality, weaving a rich tapestry of music from jazz to folk, pop to blues. A recent sold-out concert at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco proved that Wilson is still unconfined by musical boundaries.
Barefoot and wearing a white dress, Wilson opened with...
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Concert Review by Donna Kimura
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Storytellers Provide Slice of Americana
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Taj Mahal spoke of Americana and how folks in this country are now just beginning to appreciate the beautiful diversity and amazing history of something people in other parts of the world have enjoyed for many years. He then proceeded to cut a slice. An amazing musician and songwriter, Taj Mahal is one of those rare talents...
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Concert Review by Bryan Zoran
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Chicago solo-a percussionist's tale
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Solo percussion is an intriguing venture, especially at the improvisational level, where it can move beyond music to a state of pure communication. At it’s best, it is a language that tells stories and engages the audience to be participants. So it was with Chicago percussionist Tim Daisy. Daisy is one of the busiest young drummers on the Chicago...
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Concert Review by Michael Bettine
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Top Jazz Picks For 2002
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To put things candidly, the music industry has suffered through a year of conservatism and slim pickings at best, yet another victim of the post 9/11 state of affairs that has hampered business and the health of the economy in general. While the past few years have seen a decrease in the number of reissues to hit the...
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Viewpoint by C. Andrew Hovan
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A Evening With Regina Carter
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Dynamic, magnificent and truly outstanding are just a few of the words that can be used to describe the Regina Carter Quintet. They recently performed at the Herbst Theatre as part of the San Francisco Performances series. I was first introduced to her music in 1994 when Regina was with the Detroit all-female band Straight Ahead. Early on, I...
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Concert Review by James Knox
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Groovin' with Shirley Horn and Ahmad Jamal
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Saturday evening was the crowning night of the SF Jazz Festival for me for two great jazz legends of our time were performing at the Masonic Auditorium, Shirley Horn and Ahmad Jamal. Shirley's set opened differently than it had in the past. George Mesterhazy replaced Shirley on the piano, Eddie Howard replaced the late Charles Ables on "the baas"...
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Concert Review by James Knox
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Carl Saunders Quartet
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Carl Saunders ..Trumpet / Drums
Steve Huffsteter..Trumpet / Flugelhorn
John Giannelli..Bass
Frank Collett..Piano
It was a night of blistering counterpoint and 8-4 and 2 bar exchanges with two of the elite trumpeters in jazz. The notes flew like lightning flashes across the Kansas sky .
On "Straight No Chaser" Saunders and Huffsteter set Monk's theme with a blazing unison display. On the...
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Concert Review by John Gilbert
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Willem Breuker Kollektief at Jazz Alley
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Founded in 1974, the Willem Breuker Kollektief has been bringing their joyous and virtuosic blend of jazz, European traditions and Dutch humor to a worldwide audience for well over 25 years now. The Kollektief’s engagement at Jazz Alley was their second stop on an extensive North American tour.
In live performance – even more so than on recordings –...
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Concert Review by Bill Barton
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Eleonor England Trio Review
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Last week I had the opportunity to hear the Eleonor England Trio play a pretty dead show at the Elbo Room in San Francisco's Mission Neighborhood. Man. I wasn't sure if it was jazz or a standup routine. One minute they were playing beautifully orchestrated standards with soaring vocals and the next minute the vocalist was improvising lyrics...
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Concert Review by Unknown User
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Joe Lovano Quartet steps in at the Iridium
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The Iridium Jazz Club is one of my favorite jazz spots to hit while in New York. It has one of the best atmospheres for jazz as well as a fantastic menu. Originally scheduled to be performing on this Thursday night was the legendary Hank Jones Quartet featuring Joe Lovano. Sadly Hank Jones took ill and...
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Concert Review by Morrice Blackwell
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The Latest View of the Blue
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It’s been several years now since Blue Note’s Japanese counterpart Toshiba-EMI enlisted the services of master recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder in order to reissue classic items from the catalog in new 24-bit remasters handled by the man himself. Albeit with more modest aspirations in terms of mere quantity, it wasn’t long before the folks at Blue Note...
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Viewpoint by C. Andrew Hovan
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JAZZ YATRA 2002
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For the sixteenth time since the first Jazz Yatra way back in 1978, an amazing number of Jazz lovers showed up at Mumbai's Rang Bhavan for Jazz Yatra 2002. What happens to Jazz fans in between yatras will remain one of life's biggest mysteries. The once upon a time 'Jazz by the bay' is now ready for a third...
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Concert Review by Colin D'Cruz (Guest Writer)
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Carl Saunders and Ron Stout..Trumpet Perfection
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Carl Saunders..Trumpet / Drums,
Ron Stout..Trumpet / Flugelhorn,
Barry Zweig..Guitar,
Chris Conner..Bass
There were more chops on the bandstand at Michael D's Santa Rosa Jazz Club last night than at Schwartz's Meat market in Pomona.
Carl Saunders is the best Trumpet player in jazz today and Ron Stout ranks right up there with him.
Put these two together and...
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Concert Review by John Gilbert
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