Typically, by now I’ve given up caring about the music schmooze fest going on next week known as SXSW, but this year is different. I’ve somehow managed to convince my
What trip to a jazz festival would be complete without seeing a band that actually has the word jazz in their name? Not being familiar with most of the players on the Sunday schedule, I probably allowed that fact alone to make my decision. The Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey sounded a bit edgier than Matt Kirk Jazz with special guest, Margie Boule.
I have read Ms. Boule’s occasional column in the local paper and have seen her on television. She seemed nice. But, and this is totally without ever hearing her sing a note, mind you, just a quick impression etched in my head that I have to let out, I believe that the most improvisation one would witness at that performance would be Ms. Boule scatting a bit at the end of Embraceable You. And, no, I’m not dissing on Margie Boule as a person and she’s probably a perfectly capable singer and those in attendance that evening, I am sure, had the time of their lives. Nor do I know a single thing about Matt Kirk. Not one bit. Nada. But I ain’t no hater.
I’m just saying that I was looking for more of what jazz is supposed to be. The smoky bar, one drink too many or too few kind of riffing and experimenting with the sounds, with a steady beat and rhythm to spare. Hardly any words in the songs I was looking for. More like improvisations on a theme, with the soloists rotating at some random order that was dictated by the music itself. Real jazz, pure and simple.
I got what I was looking for at the Goodfoot Lounge on the last night of the Portland Jazz Festival in the form of Seattle’s Das Vibenbass and The Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey.
READ ON for more of AJ’s review of JFJO in Portland…
Former HT Blips artist Boombox heads out for three weeks worth of shows on April 9. READ ON for a full list of dates and deets on their new disc…
I’ve had my eyes out for a video of the debut of Undermind and a couple of clips surfaced today. Thanks to richmoby for the u/l. Hat tip to Byrney…
If you can’t make it out to see Tea Leaf Green or the Allmans this weekend, don’t fret, they’ve brought the action to you. iClips is offering a webcast of
If there are bugs crawling on Will Bernard, the world’s probably ended. The guitarist seems to keep as busy as and often busier than any of his peers, and in classic scene fashion, is at his best when he’s juggling as many projects, collaborations, sit-ins and fresh ideas as humanly possible.
He’s also bi-coastal – Bernard moved to Brooklyn in October 2007 but still spends a lot of time among the West Coast jazz, soul, R&B, funk and other scenes that bred him. An eclectic stylist, he started getting noticed in the Bay Area and then on a national level as a member of Peter Apfelbaum’s Hieroglyphics Ensemble, and then, in the mid 1990s, busted out with Charlie Hunter and John Schott in T.J. Kirk.
The first Will Bernard record was Medicine Hat
For Bernard’s latest, Blue Plate Special
READ ON for Chad’s interview with guitarist Will Bernard…
Back in 1996, Ken Hays of Terrapin Tapes started a festival called Deadhead Heaven in an attempt to bring all of Jerry’s kids together to enjoy a weekend of fantastic
The Allman Brothers Band took things to the next level tonight both by themselves and with special guests keyboardist Page McConnell and axemen Buddy Guy and Trey Anastasio at the third show of their 40th Anniversary run at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. ABB guitarists Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes both were up to the task of dueling with their extremely talented guests and the crowd ate up every moment of it.
[Moogis Screenshots]
I’ve been following the run on Moogis so far and tonight was the first show of the run I caught in person. Boy, did I pick the right night to show up at the Beacon. It was clear the Trey and Page rumors I’ve been hearing for weeks were about to come true when I entered the newly renovated theater to see Anastasio’s wooden cabinet set up next to bassist Oteil Burbridge’s rig. As amazing as the Phish member’s sit-ins were, this show would still be my favorite ABB show I’ve seen without a sniff of our boys.
This third show started the same way the first show of the run started off on Monday; Derek and Warren nailed Duane Allman’s beautiful instrumental – Little Martha. The rest of the band shuffled out afterwards and ran through a number of their more bluesy numbers before welcoming Chicago blues legend Buddy Guy to the stage for a nasty cover of Elmore James’ The Sky Is Crying. Trucks was beaming as he dueled with Guy – one of his influences – through a number of call and response segments.
READ ON for the rest of Scotty’s ABB at the Beacon review…
Restlessly inventive improvising trio Medeski Martin & Wood are set to release the second installment of The Radiolarian Series on April 14th, 2009. Recorded last summer, Radiolarians II demonstrates MMW’s
In support of their new album, Now We Can See on Kill Rock Stars, The Thermals will be touring in April. Look for the band to be doing festivals in
