In the wake of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated northern Japan, artists and arts organizations around the world are helping with relief for the Japanese jazz community. One of the biggest efforts is taking place in New York City. If you live in or near Manhattan or will find yourself there this Monday evening, April 4, please consider joining the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra at the Village Vanguard. The band and the venerable club are joining forces in the fund-raising and inviting prominent guests, including Tom Harrell, Barry Harris, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Roy Hargrove, Marvin Stamm, Rufus Reid and Jerry Dodgion. Others will be added. For details and a list of guest artists, see the VJO’s website.
The three sets of the benefit will be streamed live at this web address.
In the meantime, here is the orchestra at the North Sea Festival in Holland in 2008 with “Mean What You Say,” a staple of the band’s repertoire by one of its founders, Thad Jones. Solos are by Terell Stafford, flugelhorn, and Gary Smulyan, baritone saxophone. The music justifies the effort of adjusting your eyes and ears to the catch-as-catch-can quality of the location video and audio.
The nonagenarian pianist presented de Barros with every biographer’s hope, unrestricted access to his subject’s personal papers and nearly unrestricted access to her private thoughts. He made the most of it, turning exhaustive research and hundreds of hours of interviews into a true story with the sweep of a novel. From the early discovery of McPartland’s musical gift through her wartime service, her ecstatic and stormy marriage to Jimmy McPartland, her growth as a pianist, her deep affair with Joe Morello, and the radio show that made her a national figure, she has had a fascinating life. It makes a splendid read.
Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band had three fewer musicians than most big jazz outfits. Its size permitted precision, flexibility and subtlety, yet the band had the power of sprung steel. In this concert from a half century ago, the CJB is as fresh as yesterday. Arrangements by Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn and Johnny Mandel set standards to which big band writers still aspire. Bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis inspired Mulligan, Brookmeyer, Conte Candoli, Gene Quill and Zoot Sims to some of the best soloing of their careers. This beautifully produced issue of the complete concert is a basic repertoire item.
I think that this sort of outreach is especially appropriate and heartfelt given the level of love, respect , enthusiasm, and support that jazz musicians get in Japan. Thanks for sharing!
I reach out to share a video that I feel is very connected to our tragedy in Japan. After the event occurred I realized how the catastrophic value of it was not truly felt or understood by most. My goal is to help bridge the emotional connection with those outside of the effected areas. In doing so we composed of a poem that we feel will help bring us together as people, perhaps make for stronger relief efforts.
This is my response and support to a tragedy that can be hard to swallow.
Below here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs4gXhWqwNQ&feature=feedu
or
Find the clip in our VIDEO ROOM, titled “Wavelengths of Truth”
Respectfully,
Ignatius Mwela