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The View From Here Kyle Eastwood (Jazz Village-Harmonia Mundi) by Tom Greenland Kyle Eastwood has released 6 albums in his 15 years as a bassist and bandleader (along with composing and arranging movie soundtracks), forwarding his own brand of accessible yet artistically durable jazz. The View From Here, his latest, boasts a new label and a cohesive London-based working band of tenor saxophonist Graeme Blevins, trumpet/flugelhornist Graeme Flowers, pianist Andrew McCormack and drummer Martyn Kaine. The album kicks off with “From Rio to Havana”, which epitomizes the group’s sound, a catchy unison melody over a bubbling Latin beat, with blustery solos from the frontline, producing a sound that finds a middle ground between the smoothness of contemporary jazz and the brawn of hardbop. A Parisian for the past eight years, Eastwood also draws on the influences of North African, Middle Eastern and other musics: “Sirocco” opens with flamenco palmas (hand clapping) outlining a 6/8 rhythm, which shifts between double and triple accents akin to a flamenco compás (rhythmic cycle); “The Promise” features a piquant A minor melody over a Phrygian chord progression common to flamenco; “Une Nuit au Sénégal” starts with high double-stops on electric bass, recalling the shimmering guitars of Congolese soukous; “Luxor” is a moody modal piece with hypnotic tom-toming. The band brings these songs to life with strong soloing, particularly Flowers, who echoes Freddie Hubbard’s high-note flurries and clarion calls. Eastwood too is an accomplished soloist, on both acoustic and electric basses, often expressing himself in brief but busy outbursts. Eastwood brought another group to Blue Note for a weeklong residency last month, shared with Larry Coryell (& Sons), now with trumpet/flugelhornist Alex Norris, tenor saxophonist Jason Rigby, pianist Rick Germanson and drummer Joe Strasser. Launching his Mar. 26th early set with the CD’s opening track, the rest of the set drew on Eastwood’s earlier work: “Samba de Paris” (2009’s Metropolitan), “Tonic” (2011’s Songs From the Chateau), a cover of Miles Davis’ “Pfrancing” and closing with “Big Noise From Winettka” (2005’s Paris Blue) - the last a technical showcase à la Ray Brown, a mentor of Eastwood’s, who proved a modest but dynamic showman, an agile accompanist/soloist and a visionary searching for his voice between the cracks of ‘smooth’ and ‘rough’ jazz. For more information, visit jazzvillagemusic.com From Here I See Ben Wolfe (MAXJAZZ) by Russ Musto Best known for his extensive work as a sideman with artists ranging from Wynton Marsalis and Eric Reed to 24 May 2013 | THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD Diana Krall and Harry Connick, Jr., bassist Ben Wolfe has, as importantly, distinguished himself as a noted composer with his own approach and vision. Seven discs as a leader thus far present a distinctive melodist with a gift for creating engaging environments that emphasize the generally uncomplicated beauty of his creations. From Here I See once again demonstrates his talent in a variety of settings, augmenting his trio of pianist Orrin Evans and drummer Donald Edwards with tenor saxophonist JD Allen, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, guitarist Russell Malone and soprano saxophonist Marcus Strickland, often in conjunction with a string quartet that is heard on 8 of 12 tracks. The mood of the album moves between straightahead swinging and stirring balladry, both anchored by Wolfe’s big tone and steady beat. Marsalis and Allen stretch out powerfully on the opener, “The Good Doctor”, a bluesy swinger that recalls the ‘50s Miles quintet. Malone is heard to great lyrical effect on the beautiful ballads “Angela” and “Who’s Lily?”, the former featuring the impeccably integrated string section that also accompanies Marsalis, Allen and Strickland on their ballad features “So Lovely”, “How You Love” and “From Here I See”, respectively, as well as the trio on the soulful waltz “Baby Tiger”. On these selections Wolfe utilizes the strings not simply as backgrounds but as an additional instrumental voice, sometimes in place of a soloist, at others as a countermelodic voice, as in the quartetwith-Allen fragment “Interlude”. When the band does let loose, as on the jagged line “Mellow As You Please” and the jaunty outing “Two-Beat Numba” (both with Allen) and the ominously agitated “12 More” (featuring Strickland), they swing with unmitigated boldness. At the CD release at Dizzy’s Club in late March, the core quartet with Allen was joined by guest trumpeter Nicholas Payton and the emphasis shifted towards powerful swing. By the final evening (Mar. 31st) of the four-night engagement the band sounded as tight as any unit in town. Opening with “The Good Doctor”, the band established a finger-snapping pulse, which remained at the heart of its sound throughout the evening, regardless of tempo, be it wildly swinging (new composition “Kerbecs vs Vari Ares”), achingly slow (Allen’s ballad feature “Love Is Near”) or easy grooving (“Two Beat Numba”). Another new piece, “Intro To Baby Tiger”, demonstrated Wolfe’s harmonic ability in an ominous setting, weaving horn lines in a manner reminiscent of Mingus’ most sophisticated work and then segueing into the waltzing “Baby Tiger”. The set concluded with a lugubrious arrangement of “All The Things You Are”, another indication of Wolfe’s originality. For more information, visit maxjazz.com Invitation Jerry Costanzo (Daywood Drive) by Sharon Mizrahi Jerry Costanzo turns to yet another chapter in the Great American Songbook with the release of Invitation. The vocalist brings his friendly ambience to tunes that are both playful and reflective, crooning away with silky pizazz. Pianist Tedd Firth sets the scene with a sparkling melody that envelops Costanzo’s easygoing sound. “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head” continuously jolts the senses awake, as Costanzo knows when to keep the lyrics curt and when to make his notes resonate. Bassist Neal Miner’s uptempo cadence complements the former while Joe Cohn’s breezy guitar harmoniously twirls with the latter. “This Is My Night To Dream” gives a glimpse of the vocalist’s more pensive side. While Firth and drummer Jonathan Mele craft an upbeat intro, Costanzo explores the wistful side of romance with a tinge of melancholy in his voice. He always ends up on the sweeter side of bittersweet, but the subtly forlorn texture of his notes reveals a different side of his usual lighthearted vibe. Costanzo further illustrated his textural range at The Garage last month, where he infused the air with effortless joviality. His charming demeanor in the album took on an added dimension on stage, evoking the lively big band atmosphere of decades past on an intimate quartet scale. A handful of guest artists appear throughout Invitation, notably trumpeter Brian Pareschi and vocalist Champian Fulton in “Here’s To The Losers”. Fulton and Costanzo alternate lyrics before singing in unison, a move that only emphasizes the natural cheer in both of their voices. Pareschi forms a bond of his own with Firth, as the two musicians occasionally flare up and accent the piece. Vocalist Giada Valenti’s sultrier approach adds an element of complexity to the bossa nova tune “Little Boat (O Barquinho)”. Costanzo reflects on paradise in a low-pitched hum while Valenti croons in Portuguese. Cohn coaxes the affair forward with a few light plucks of guitar. And soon, the vocalists usher listeners to the next track with a gentle ”Bon voyage”, bringing the serene piece to a blissful close. For more information, visit daywooddrive.com
Wednesday, June 12 - 7pm Afro/Cuban Roots: Milford Graves, David Virelles, Román Díaz, Dezron Douglas, Román Filiú Milford Graves Transition TRIO: with D.D. Jackson, Kidd Jordan Milford Graves NY HeArt Ensemble: with Charles Gayle, William Parker, Roswell Rudd, Amiri Baraka Thursday, June 13 - 7pm Maria Mitchell / Terry Jenoure: Maria Mitchell, Terry Jenoure Roy Campbell’s Akhenaten Ensemble: Bryan Carrott, Jason Kao Hwang, Hilliard Greene, Michael Wimberley Rob Brown U_L Project: Joe McPhee, Miya Masaoka, Mark Helias, Qasim Naqvi Roscoe Mitchell Trio: Roscoe Mitchell, Henry Grimes, Tani Tabbal Friday, June 14 - 7pm Vocal-Ease: Steve Dalachinsky, Connie Crothers Bern Nix Quartet: Bern Nix, Francois Grillot, Matt Lavelle, Reggie Sylvester East-West Collective: Didier Petit, Sylvain Kassap, Xu Fengxia, Larry Ochs, Miya Masaoka French-American Peace Ensemble: Francois Tusques, Louis Sclavis, Kidd Jordan, William Parker, Hamid Drake ® Presents Saturday, June 15 Afternoon - 2pm Visionary Youth Band: coT.I.M.E initiative / Jeff Lederer, Jessica Jones York College Creative Ensemble: CUNY Queens / Tom Zlabinger dir. Achievement First Middle School Band: Brooklyn / Gene Baker dir. All Schools (80 young musicians): William Parker dir. with guest artist Hamid Drake Panel on the French-American exchange of ideas and ideals, past and presentt Evening - 7pm www.artsforart.org Celebrating MILFORD GRAVES & Visual Artist ROBERT JANZ @ Roulette 509 Atlantic Ave. Brooklyn, NY Tickets:$30 per day / $20 stu & sen Festival Pass: $140 Tomas Fujiwara & The Hook Up: Brian Settles, Jonathan Finlayson, Mary Halvorson, Michael Formanek Davis/Revis/Cyrille: Kris Davis, Eric Revis, Andrew Cyrille Simmons / Burrell Duo: Sonny Simmons, Dave Burrell Reggie Workman WORKz: Marilyn Crispell, Odean Pope, Tapan Modak, Pheeroan akLaff Sunday, June 16 - 3pm Panel-building real access to Creative Jazz Film Butch Morris’ Black February by Vipal Monga Inner City: Migration: Miriam Parker, Hamid Drake, Jo Wood Brown, Robert Janz Positive Knowledge: Oluyemi Thomas, Ijeoma Thomas, Henry Grimes, Michael Wimberly Hamiet Bluiett and Friends Mario Pavone ARC Trio: Mario Pavone, Craig Taborn, Gerald Cleaver Marshall Allen & McBride’s BASS ROOTS: Christian McBride, Lee Smith, Howard Cooper, Marshall Allen
Page 1: May 2013 | No. 133 WILL CALHOUN You
Page 4 and 5: NEW YORK @ NIGHT The Hell’s Kitch
Page 6 and 7: Photo by Bill Bernstein INTERVIEW D
Page 9 and 10: ON THE COVER In accepting one of tw
Page 11 and 12: MEGAPHONE Cornet and Lineage: Ron a
Page 14 and 15: CD REVIEWS HUSH POINT SSC 1358 In S
Page 16 and 17: GLOBE UNITY: ITALY Sin Fronteras Ac
Page 18 and 19: $18 ADVANCE $20 AT DOOR 9/20: Roy E
Page 20 and 21: Oye!!! (Live in Puerto Rico) Miguel
Page 22 and 23: 22 May 2013 | THE NEW YORK CITY JAZ
Page 26 and 27: Haymaker Noah Preminger (Palmetto)
Page 28 and 29: Chants Craig Taborn Trio (ECM) by J
Page 30 and 31: LASZLO GARDONY / CLARITY SSC 4014 I
Page 32 and 33: 32 May 2013 | THE NEW YORK CITY JAZ
Page 34 and 35: Time Travel Dave Douglas Quintet (G
Page 36: BOXED SET Ten Freedom Summers Wadad
Page 39 and 40: Saturday, May 4 êCyro Baptista and
Page 41 and 42: Monday, May 13 êGil Evans Birthday
Page 43 and 44: Saturday, May 25 êMark Soskin Trio
Page 45 and 46: CLUB DIRECTORY • 54 Below 254 Wes
Page 47 and 48: KENNY BALL - The British trumpeter

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