Rifftides

The latest problem with the Rifftides computer does not involve explosions, but it is serious enough to interfere with posting. The technical staff is working on a solution. Please bear with them. In the meantime, let's dive into the archive for something to tide us over. This choice seems appropriate because of timing. When the computer virus, flu, cancer, plague—whatever it is—struck, I was listening and taking notes in preparation for a post about Wayne Shorter's new three-CD release. This … [Read more...]

It is sad to hear of the death of Jerry González, the extraordinary bandleader, trumpeter and Latin percussionist. He died of heart failure at 69 after being overcome by smoke in a fire in his home in Madrid, Spain on Monday. He had lived in Madrid since 2000. In the late 1970s, González and his bassist brother Andy established The Fort Apache Band, which quickly became one of the leading groups combining jazz and Latin music. Their album Rumba Para Monk melded music by Thelonious Monk with … [Read more...]

Petra van Nuis & Dennis Luxion, Because We’re Night People (Petra Sings) Singer van Nuis and pianist Luxion may not be household names outside of Chicago, but their taste and wide range of musicianship have them perennially in demand in the Windy City. In thirteen ballads dealing with after-hours life and culture, the pair’s intimate collaboration makes this a highlight among 2018 vocal albums. Luxion’s participation means that it is also an important recording for listeners who cherish … [Read more...]

Why? Because he was Ray Bryant (1931-2011), and a short piece from his 1956 album Ray Bryant Trio, (now retitled Cry Me A River) has been rising out of the past and repeating in my head for days. Fair warning: It may repeat in your head, too. Ray Bryant, piano; Wyatt Reuther, bass; Osie Johnson, drums, May 11, 1956. Here’s Bryant’s irresistible “Pawn Ticket.” Oddly, Bryant’s Cry Me A River album (formerly known simply as Ray Bryant Trio) now seems to be available only as an MP3, … [Read more...]

Our blogging pace will abate for a while. I am researching and writing liner notes for Scott Robinson’s next album. In it, he returns to his first love, the tenor saxophone, leaving behind the approximately 327 other instruments that he houses on his farm. Robinson tells me that he sometimes meets people who tell him they didn’t know that he plays tenor sax. I tell you emphatically that he does, as the video in a 2013 Rifftides post makes gloriously apparent. It highlights not only Robinson’s … [Read more...]

This is the birthday of Monica Zetterlund (1937-2005). It may have been too long since you have seen the Swedish singer performing one of Bill Evans’ most beloved songs. We can help. She was taped in Copenhagen almost exactly 52 years ago when the Bill Evans Trio included bassist Eddie Gomez and the Danish drummer Alex Riel. Ms. Zetterlund achieved considerable fame as an actress. This clip reminds us of her achievement as a vocal artist with pronounced dramatic and musical qualities. … [Read more...]

  Ira Sabin has died at the age of 90. In 1970 he was a Washington, D.C. record store owner and former drummer who started a tabloid-sized publication called Radio Free Jazz. The tabloid grew, ten years later evolved into the magazine Jazz Times and became a major publication covering jazz events, reviewing records and publishing feature articles about musicians. I began writing reviews for Ira when the publication was still Radio Free Jazz, as did Dan Morgenstern, Ira Gitler, Martin … [Read more...]

The Pacific Northwest is home to a dozens of superior jazz musicians. By no means are all of them of them in Seattle and Portland, the attention-getting large cities of western Washington and Oregon. Dozens manage to find work playing in Spokane, Eugene, Bend, Yakima—and increasingly in the region’s burgeoning winery tasting rooms and restaurants. Pianist Reuel Lubag is a music educator who has taught at Seattle Pacific University and Skagit Valley College. He is a consultant to music … [Read more...]

Rafal Sarnecki, Climbing Trees (Outside In Music) A native of Warsaw, guitarist Sarnecki moved to New York City in 2005. An adventurous—even daring—composer, he heads a sextet whose members have similar inclinations. His ten compositions here range from the agitated pointillism and serene contemplation of “Homo Sapiens” to a three-part suite, “Little Dolphin,” that includes an intense Lucas Pino tenor saxophone solo and an ethereal vocal part performed by Sarnecki’s fellow Pole Bogna … [Read more...]

Today is Sonny Rollins’s 88th birthday. He looks back on a lifetime in music that began when he was a teenager in New York City and took him to the heights of his profession, and of creativity unmatched by few artists in any category. It is tempting to bring you a survey of the saxophonist’s most notable works, but lists can’t say what music can. Mr. Rollins’s best playing—with its rhythmic power, lyricism and wit—helps a listener understand how jazz at its most expressive represents the spirit … [Read more...]

Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra, Without A Trace (Origin) Reeves’ second big band album for Origin features players in the top level of New York musicians. Saxophonists Steve Wilson, Vito Chiavuzzo, Tim Armacost and Rob Middleton are among the impressive soloists, along with trombonist Matt Haviland, trumpeter Andy Gravish, pianist Jim Ridl, and Reeves on flugelhorn and trombone. In Reeves’ title tune Carolyn Leonhart’s vocal is cool, contained and flawlessly delivered, however mundane the lyric. … [Read more...]

The admonition above may seem contradictory, since Labor Day was designed to honor those who labor by giving them the day off. We presume that workers in the US and in Canada (where this is Labour Day), are observing the intent with picnics, ball games, jugs of lemonade and family festivities of all kinds. It is unlikely that Thelonious Monk (pictured) had Labor Day in mind when he composed “Work” for his first Prestige recording session. But for our purposes, let’s say that Monk intended this … [Read more...]

Pianist and composer Randy Weston, who championed the African origins of jazz, died at home in New York yesterday. He was 92. With his distinctive rhythmic patterns and powerful harmonic progressions, Weston underlined the African heritage that so definitively helped shape the music’s development. He frequently visited and performed in Nigeria and other African nations. For a time in the late ‘60s he lived in Tangier, Morocco, and opened a club there. Several of Weston’s compositions long … [Read more...]

On Sunday, Jim Wilke’s Jazz Northwest will broadcast a tribute concert with a difference. In the Jim Levitt photograph below, you may recognize some of the distinguished members of the band, among them Drummer Matt Wilson and baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan. Here is part of Jim's alert: Some of the greatest jazz composers and arrangers have directed this band in their own music, but this year was different. Festival Artistic Director John Clayton, Jr conducted a special tribute to … [Read more...]

This summer for the first time in several years, circumstances prevented my covering the Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival. Rifftides reader—and sometimes commentator—John Bolger attended the 2018 festival. After he got back to Ireland, he kindly sent a report about his first trip to Ystad. Here is John’s message, illustrated with his photos, except the one of Cecile McLorin Savant, which is by Kenny Fransson. For many years, I have read your wonderful postings about concerts of the Ystad Festival on … [Read more...]

Today is Wayne Shorter’s 85th birthday. The saxophonist and composer’s professional debut was in a brief 1950s stint with Horace Silver. Following service in the Army, he became a key soloist in Maynard Ferguson’s big band, then entered a long, productive period as Art Blakey’s music director. In the Miles Davis Quintet in the ‘60s he became increasingly important as a soloist and as the composer of pieces including “E.S.P.,” “Fall,” and “Sanctuary” that quickly became established in the … [Read more...]

Fred Hersch Trio, Heartsongs (Sunnyside) Sunnyside’s reissue of Hersch’s 1989 sessions reminds us how impressive the pianist was in his recording debut as a leader at the age of 34. Following success as a sideman with Woody Herman, Art Farmer, Jane Ira Bloom, Stan Getz and others, Hersch’s keyboard touch, harmonic savvy and rhythmic assurance showed that he had become a major player. Beyond that, his interaction with bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Jeff Hirshfiield established that he … [Read more...]

This report and those to follow this week must be brief if we are to come at all close to catching up, which is—of course—impossible as long as record companies release recordings in such profusion. Many of those “companies” are struggling artists hoping for publicity, using CDs as business cards. Others are established corporations. Either way, hardly a day goes by without the mailman or delivery companies dropping off more music than we can rarely do more than sample. Even sampling would be a … [Read more...]

The percussionist Jack Costanzo was so closely identified with his instrument that early in his career he became known as “Mr. Bongo.” Costanzo died over the weekend at his home near San Diego, California. He was 98. During his long career he worked with Stan Kenton, Nat Cole, Charlie Parker and dozens of other musical stars. He was frequently featured in motion pictures and television programs in duets with celebrities including dancer Ann Miller, singer Judy Garland and actor Marlon Brando—a … [Read more...]