Cornelia Street Cafe

Sweet Rhythm quietly ends run as Village jazz stage

October 25, 2009 by Howard Mandel

The 7th Ave. home in the '80s and early '90s of Gil Evans' last orchestra, David Murray's octets, Abdullah Ibrahim's bands, Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy and other avant-gutsy acts closed last night (Oct. 24) without notice or fanfare. Sweet Rhythm nee Sweet Basil was one of the coolest spots to listen, drink and hang out in Greenwich Village, a wood-paneled room with fine sound, sightlines, bookings and bartender, but it never recovered from what its most recent owner described as a post-9/11 decline in street traffic, competition from nearby … [Read more...]

Summertime, and the listening should be easy

July 30, 2009 by Howard Mandel

My latest column in City Arts-New York is now online, with pick hits for free August concerts in NYC. I don't suggest the season's not right for serious, substantial music, just that we would appreciate the surrounding circumstances being comfortable and hassle-free. Here's the opening graph, meant to set the tone and keep you reading -- and notes about the Caramoor jazz fest in suburban Westchester. … [Read more...]

I'm a Chicago-born (and after 32 years in NYC, recently repatriated) writer, editor, author, arts reporter for National Public Radio, consultant and nascent videographer -- a veteran freelance journalist working on newspapers, magazines and websites, appearing on tv and radio, teaching at New York University and elsewhere, consulting on media, publishing and jazz-related issues. I'm president of the Jazz Journalists Association, a non-profit membership organization devoted to using all media to disseminate news and views about all kinds of jazz.
My books are Future Jazz (Oxford U Press, 1999) and Miles Ornette Cecil - Jazz Beyond Jazz (Routledge, 2008). I was general editor of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz and Blues (Flame Tree 2005/Billboard Books 2006). Of course I'm working on something new. . . Read More…

Howard Mandel on Great new jazz photography #2: Lauren Deutsch’s Made in Chicago portfolio: “Thanks Linda. Can we show these photos on the radio?” Jun 23, 17:50
Linda Yohn on Great new jazz photography #2: Lauren Deutsch’s Made in Chicago portfolio: “Wonderful! Thank you, Howard.” Jun 23, 15:28
Howard Mandel on Whatever happened to International Jazz Day?: “And a good report it is, adding info from the scene. Thanks Lee. I've asked the IJD publicist to send…” May 2, 12:24
Lee Mergner on Whatever happened to International Jazz Day?: “JazzTimes did publish a report by Evan Haga from IJD in Havana: https://jazztimes.com/features/2017-international-jazz-day-global-concert/” May 2, 12:15
Howard Mandel on How Charles Lloyd stays marvelous: “Wow, cool, David. Not sure I ever got to the Fillmore West (definitely didn't get to the Fillmore East). There…” Apr 28, 12:22

ESP Disks — origins of jazz beyond jazz

Reviewing a sleeping giant, ESP Disks before its early '00s revival Howard Mandel c 1997, published in issue 157, The Wire It was a time before psychedelics. Following the seismic cultural disruptions of the mid '50s, rock 'n' roll had hit a … [Read More...]

William Parker, my DownBeat feature from 1998

Howard Mandel c 1998/published by DownBeat, July 1998, under headline Beneath the Underdog (the editor's reference to Charles Mingus's autobiography): There's an anchor for New York's downtown free jazz and improv "wild bunch": his name is William … [Read More...]

Matthew Shipp, my feature for The Wire, 1998

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="IFeXJPobvykRyuU4dU68FilRPv0EE8oC"] This is a complete version of the feature on pianist Matthew Shipp I wrote for The Wire, published in February, 1998 Is this the face of New York's jazz avant now? Pianist Matt … [Read More...]

Rashied Ali (1935 – 2009), multi-directional drummer, speaks

A 1990 interview with drummer Rashied Ali, about his relationship with John Coltrane. … [Read More...]

On The Corner program notes, Merkin Hall concert 5/25/09

Miles Davis intended On The Corner to be a personal statement, an esthetic breakthrough and a social provocation upon its release in fall of 1972. He could hardly have been more successful: the album was all that, though it has taken decades for its … [Read More...]