President Obama is not to be forgiven for signing the heinous Nat'l Defense Authorization Act and several other bad moves, but as a blues fan I give it up to the guy for singing "Sweet Home Chicago" with B.B. King while hosting the first ever  White House blues party. Obama's version of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" was better, and I can't wait 'til he dips into the Marvin Gaye songbook ("What's Goin' On?", not "Sexual Healing"). Singing must be how he won Michelle. Way better than Romney's version of "America the … [Read more...]

European jazz stars of the Zurich-based record label Intakt come to the Stone, John Zorn's serious recital room, for a two-week fest March 1 - 15 in which they'll collaborate with veterans of NYC's downtown improv scene. I detail some of the shows -- and why people think jazz is better loved abroad than at home -- in my new column in City Arts-New York. howardmandel.com Subscribe by Email or RSS All JBJ posts … [Read more...]

Guitarist John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra was the highest-flying of any ensemble emerging from Miles Davis' jazz-rock initiative in the early 1970s, establishing a previously unapproached standard of virtuosity, improvisational excitement and commercial success for all-instrumental electric bands to follow. Drummer G. Calvin Weston's Treasures of the Spirit quintet playing music of McLaughlin's MO at the 92nd St. Y Tribeca in NYC last night (Feb 10, 2012) heroically addressed the complexity, speed and power of unique, difficult, … [Read more...]

Jose Reyes of the online listening station Jazz Con Class has posted  a Q&A with me about "free jazz" and "the avant-garde" -- which he proposes as two distinct subgenres of jazz, tied to the 1960s.  New things -- innovations -- thinking outside the box -- breaks from conventions and the continuum of progress (evolution) -- these issues are regards jazz, among other art forms, has long fascinated me. It's the topic of my book Miles Ornette Cecil - Jazz Beyond Jazz and the inspiration of this blog. So I spin out more of my pov … [Read more...]

Of 10 American novels critic Terry Teachout posted yesterday that he wishes he'd written, only All The King's Men by Robert Penn Warren similarly appeals to me. I can imagine hunkering down as Penn Warren did, dryly but fiercely etching the sickness of American populist politics, which we're seeing swirl at its sickest this very  primary season. It would be work, for sure, but at a white hot energy -- which I'd think would be hard to sustain, but so satisfying to bring to completion. I haven't read all Terry's other choices (but of … [Read more...]

Alto saxophonist and staunchly original composer-bandleader Tim Berne's new album -- his 41st, but first on a label as internationally prominent as ECM since he put out two scorchers for Columbia in the mid '80s -- has the strange title, Snakeoil, meaning b.s., originating in the sale of quack medicines. This must be part of Berne's self-deprecating, somewhat detached and perhaps sardonic temperament. But then he's always been a bit of a lone wolf, going his own way, as I write in my newest column in CityArts-New York, just before he … [Read more...]

Organist Greg Lewis, wearing a monk's robe, plus guitarist Ron Jackson and drummer Damion Reid, tore up with full respect the knotty compositions of the late great Thelonious Monk last night at 55 Bar in Greenwich Village. About a dozen people heard them over a 90 minute period (they played a full set, took a break and performed one more extended tune before turning the stage over to guitarist Mike Stern) but it was one of the most enjoyable sets I've caught for months. Playing a Hammond C-3, which he explained was a B-3 restored and put … [Read more...]

Who should be the next NEA Jazz Masters? With last night's triumphant and deeply moving webcast of the NEA's 2012 Jazz Masters induction ceremonies came welcome news the annual fellowships for these major American artists will continue -- at least the financial awards of $25,000 per Master. More significant to many jazzers than the $ is the official government validation of the lives and careers of men and women which typically require substantial sacrifice and determination to create lasting, enriching marks. So who should the next honorees … [Read more...]

The glory of living American jazz musicians filled Jazz at Lincoln Center last night to celebrate the 30th annual National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Masters fellowships -- and some of the best news was the vitality of the music they played (webcast audio by WBGO and Sirius Radio, video at arts.gov). But of equally significance immediately was spread of the word that the Jazz Masters program will indeed continue into the future in regards to financial awards for selected Masters, for sure.  As for celebratory ceremonies and … [Read more...]

The National Endowment of the Arts, formally inducting its 30th class of  "Jazz Masters" with a concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center January 10 2012 that is being webcast live on WBGO Jazz 88.3FM  and SiriusXM Satellite Radio's Real Jazz Channel XM67, (starting at 7:30 pm ET) has announced that Jazz Masters will again be named and receive honoraria of $25,000 in 2013. Although this blog reported last February that the NEA 2012 budget had cut out the Jazz Masters program, as well as awards for American Folk Heritage and Opera … [Read more...]