In its publicity, the Ystad Festival did not emphasize the large number of women on its roster of artists. Perhaps that was not an oversight but a sign that gender equality in jazz has advanced to a point where it doesn’t need to be underscored. In any case, Nils Landgren’s cast of women … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="YAx8KqKFP6jivEUyC14fqWOBMQEmaoE6"] Here are impressions of more of the 38 musical events at the Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival. Richard Bona Bona brought his entertainer persona to the fore. Though he and his sidemen presented scattered moments of musical substance, the … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="NLBhlmYYcKV0V5Iy62j1dZmXp0mixB6e"] With a catch in his throat, Jan Lundgren told his capacity audience in the Ystad Theatre, “This is something I’ve been planning for 25 years.” Lundgren was paying tribute to pianist Jan Johansson, a major figure in the … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="dfZ5B9A9qpQOeDE8mWjlntGAsXvKg69o"] The international character of the Ystad Jazz Festival was enhanced—dramatically—in a concert by the Portuguese singer Maria João and the Brazilian guitarist Guinga. They performed in the venerable St. Mary’s Church on … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="ic0AjZIqGRFHuMK8RmTOpnmqZPfWsLoX"] The Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival is compact and tightly scheduled. In this ancient town on the Baltic shore at Sweden’s southern tip most of the concert sites are within easy walking distance of one another. Still, it would be … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="eGxRcvVQFic9wKOSYOo58rUtp34trGII"] The Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival is into its third full day. The concerts are scheduled so tightly that this is my first chance to break away to post a report. The weather in southern Sweden has alternated between rain, overcast skies … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="KcrXnhaMGCVFoGplnCs6dZwdEou9LDF6"] Thanks to Michael Cuscuna and Mosaic Records for the reminder that yesterday, Johnny Hodges (1906-1970) would have celebrated his 109th birthday. Hodges’ alto saxophone (and in his early career the soprano sax) were so closely … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="FCTyPILNGWghYDMrUj0pzfzNIMIfhuw3"] JD Allen, Graffiti (Savant) Intrepid as ever in his power, cohesiveness and brevity of expression, tenor saxophonist JD Allen returns to the trio format that gives him all he needs as a soloist and a composer. Allen, bassist Greg … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="7U9ecVRuCI3nvOz9NgwRdBaTGcwdoWTV"] Excitement about the impending trip to Sweden for the Ystad Jazz Festival grew a bit when the festival’s Itta Johnson sent Lucas Gohlen’s photographs of the monastery known as GrÃ¥brödraklostret (Greyfriars Abbey). It is one of … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="XhJm9sqoTcALAYgcGsq0bBddfKXvasUh"] Answering one word in my Wall Street Journal piece yesterday about Willis Conover, Matt Armstrong (pictured) posted on his blog a clarification of the effect of the Smith-Mundt Act. Mr. Armstrong is a member of the Broadcating Board … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="1L2mASMHch6L96KsT61GAObUX5o7sQjl"] Howard Rumsey, the 1940s Stan Kenton bassist who went on to become a key figure in southern California jazz, died on July 15. He was 97. Although he continued to play the bass, Rumsey became famous as the entrepreneur who led the band … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="zbZpy4ORjfdOHJwduuZdr0Pz4Te9uLkR"] In a week or so, I will be heading to the Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival. Now in its sixth year, the festival in this ancient town on the Baltic shore has become one of Europe’s prime summer music events. The schedule includes … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="CnOSQhsVS95Clt7jeRono6Bo9Im29stB"] This is the 90th birthday of Cal Tjader (1925-1982). Tjader may have been best known for his pioneering Latin jazz, but in the late 1940s and early ‘50s with the Dave Brubeck Trio, he was respected for his mainstream drumming. … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="TZoxnqwOyksm4hvgrqsAI9vPzvwJrbyZ"] Patrick Goodhope reports that on this evening's broadcast of his program Avenue C his guest will be Maria Schneider. He will talk with her at 9:00 pm EDT about her recent album The Thompson Fields. To hear the discussion, go to … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="rNlup2zO1VNkePGfUuq6DhtoDwx4ohqE"] Steve Provizer’s comment about Bill Hardman’s off-center trumpet embouchure in last weekend’s Horace Silver video reminded me of other trumpeters with unconventional mouthpiece placement. There are many examples. Hardman’s, … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="5CmKLz89MiZp0hOSmYugrCc4XZEMEGkG"] In art, there is a bright line of quality above which categories do not matter. The best works of Mozart, Picasso, Charlie Parker and Laurence Olivier—to pick four names out of the stratosphere—are at a level of … [Read more...]