Dave Douglas is a trumpeter whose adherence to basic jazz values justifies the title of the new album that he shares with pianist Uri Caine and drummer Andrew Cyrille in their unusual trio. How unusual? First of all, there is no bass player to help with harmonic and rhythmic responsibilities. At the piano, Caine takes care of business in both departments, abetted by Cyrille, a drummer whose strength and drive have seemed to intensify as he built on the qualities that first brought him to … [Read more...]
Recent Listening In Brief (really brief)
Really brief, indeed, because during and since the Rifftides staff's return from the Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival, albums hoping to be reviewed have arrived by the dozens (not an exaggeration). Here, we begin to consider a few of them. Rondi Marsh The Pink Room The Pacific Northwest singer addresses eleven songs mostly from the 1950s. Among her eclectic choices are Lieber-Stoller's "Black Denim Trousers (And Motorcycle Boots)," Erroll Garner's "Misty" and Henry Mancini's "Slow Hot Wind." She … [Read more...]
Listening Tip: Michael Mayo Meets A Star-Studded Band
The word "all-star" does not appear in Jim Wilke's description of this weekend's Jazz Northwest program, but the band supporting singer Michael Mayo fits the all-star category. Here is Jim's preview paragraph: "Vocalist Michael Mayo won many new fans with his performance at the 2019 Jazz Port Townsend. His wide-ranging flexible voice was surprisingly supple and expresive in a program mostly given to the popular standards songbook with the exception of the opening original song in which he … [Read more...]
Recent Listening: Strosahl And Sanders
Earlier this week at The Seasons, an acoustically blessed performance hall in Yakima, Washington, alto saxophonist Logan Strosahl and pianist Nick Sanders demonstrated the like-mindedness that makes them one of the most riveting duos in jazz. Sanders (on the left here) traveled to the Pacific Northwest from New York, his headquarters for a decade. Strosahl was visiting from Berlin, Germany, where he has been expanding his musical trilogy based on the King Arthur legend. The album cover below … [Read more...]
Lisa Rich: There Was A Delay
In the 1980s the singer Lisa Rich seemed on her way to a long and successful career. She was featured with symphony orchestras and her recordings received enthusiastic reviews from critics including Leonard Feather in The Los Angeles Times. She was on the Jazz Times national airplay chart for fifteen weeks. In 1985, she became one of the rare American jazz artists to perform in China and India. She recorded the successful album Touch Of The Rare with Clare Fischer, the pianist and arranger … [Read more...]
Memories From Ystad And Elsewhere
In the wake of the Ystad Jazz Festival in Sweden, the distinguished Swedish jazz journalist Jan Olsson sent a photograph of the late saxophonist and clarinetist Bob Wilber and his wife, British singer Pug Horton, at the Stockamöllan Swing Fesival in June 2013. Wilber (1928-2019) died earlier this month. Jan took the photo at an earler Swedish jazz festival. Jan writes, "The photo of Mr and Mrs Wilber was taken at the Stockamöllan Swing Fesival in June, 2013. Stockamöllan is a small … [Read more...]
Weekend Alert: Trumpet Heavies In An All-Star Band
Looking ahead to your radio listening this weekend, Jim Wilke alerts us to a special edition of his Jazz Northwest. He traveled to the Port Townsend Jazz Festival to capture this concert. Jim Levitt's photo captures (left to right) George Cables, Chuck Deardorf, Terell Stafford, Matt Wilson and Marquis Hill. Here's Mr. Wilke's announcement. Two great trumpet players were featured together at Jazz Port Townsend this Summer. Terell Stafford and Marquis Hill traded brilliant solos during a … [Read more...]
Bob Wilber, RIP
We have learned that the superlative clarinetist and soprano saxophonist Bob Wilber died at his home in England earlier this month. He was 91. Wilber studied with the New Orleans reed pioneer Sidney Bechet and spent decades extending the Bechet legacy. Unusual among those who specialize in traditional music, Wilber also became adept in the bebop idiom and worked with, among others, trumpeter Clark Terry. In the Washington Post, arts writer Matt Schudel profiled Wilber in an extensive … [Read more...]
Ystad Jazz Festival: The Wrapup
The 2019 Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival encompassed far more concerts than it would have been possible for anyone to attend. Here are impressions of some of that I managed to hear. And, just to remind us of Ystad's physical attractiveness, here's a photo taken from a window of my hotel room, complete with the Swedish flag, and St. Mary's church in the distance. The festival opener, as usual, was a jazz parade through the streets of this medieval village, whose charm and warmth are central … [Read more...]
Nils Landgren And 4 Wheel Drive In Ystad
My optimistic promise that reports from the Ystad, Sweden, Jazz Festival would begin "in a few days" did not take into account the packed schedule of this festival. Determined to hear as much music as possible, I've been moving from one event to the next but not getting much news prepared for posting. At last, there is what passes for a break, so let's address some of the high points of this busy and beautifully produced festival. To the left is the cover of the 2019 festival program brochure by … [Read more...]
Anticipating The Ystad Festival
Departure for Sweden is delayed a day. Let's use the pause to mention some of what I'm looking forward to at the Ystad Jazz Festival, in addition to the charming medieval town itself. We don't have time for more than a couple of mentions and preview videos, but I must tell you that I'm anticipating my first live performance by the Swedish singer Rigmor Gustafsson. The video was made of part of her quartet gig aboard a boat, the s/s Blidösund. We're not told the name of the body of water or the … [Read more...]
Two Pianists, Miwa And Reitan
Recent Listening In Brief Preparing to leave for Sweden to report on the Ystad Jazz Festival, we call your attention to two of the dozens of piano trio recordings that have appeared fairly recently. Yoko Miwa Trio, Keep Talkin' (Ocean Blue Tear Music) A professor at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, pianist Miwa has become a featured performer in Boston and New York clubs. Her playing and composing reflect influences in the post-bop and hard-bop milieus of the 1950s and later, but … [Read more...]
Coming Back
The time-consuming non-Rifftides project we told you about earlier this month has wrapped up and we are moving on to other matters. When certain permissions have been approved, that project's overseers will announce it. I think it's safe to predict that many of you will be pleased to know about it. Among impending commitments: we will be covering the 2019 Ystad Jazz Festival in Sweden. It has been a couple of years since Rifftides has been to Ystad, which hosts one of Europe's most … [Read more...]
Recent Listening In Brief
Bob Sheppard, The Fine Line (Challenge) The veteran saxophonist and flutist Bob Sheppard has worked with a cross-section of other major jazz artists including Freddie Hubbard, Billy Childs and the Akiyoshi-Tabackin big band. He has also been a major player in the film and television studios of Los Angeles. All of that activity may account for Sheppard's not having achieved greater fan recognition. The Fine Line could change that. Sheppard's alto, soprano and--particularly--the fluidity and … [Read more...]
In The Meantime…
Rifftides is taking a break because the staff is at work on an extensive freelance writing assignment. The assigner is awaiting clearances of various kinds, so I cannot disclose the nature of the project. Suffice it to say that many readers are likely to find it of interest. When final permissions are granted, the silence will break. In the meantime, thanks to a friendly alert from the proprietor of Jazz On The Tube, let's enjoy Clark Terry and an all-star band at the 1977 Montreux Jazz … [Read more...]
Joao Gilberto Is Gone At 88
The man often called the founding father of bossa nova, died today at home in Rio de Janeiro. Joao Gilberto was 88. Along with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gilberto pioneered the form that became a phenomenon of popular music in the early 1960s. With varying degrees of authenticity, bossa nova was adapted by performers around the world. It sprang from traditions of Brazilian music that reached far into Brazil's history and reflected aspects of American music that in the fifties and sixties was often … [Read more...]
Recent Listening In Brief: George Cables Is All Smiles
George Cables, I'm All Smiles (High Note) When George Cables was the pianist in the late saxophonist Art Pepper's quartet, Pepper gave him a nickname that has endured: "Mr. Beautiful." Anyone coming to Cables for the first time by way of this superb trio album will have no difficulty understanding what inspired Pepper's choice of words. Whether in his unaccompanied version of Thelonious Monk's "Monk's Mood," or waltzing through the title tune, Cables is at the top of his optimistic game. He … [Read more...]
Recent Listening In Brief (Very Brief)
New jazz albums seem to appear every hour on the hour, and the best a struggling young blog can do is notify you when something catches the ears of the staff. We'll mention a couple of new releases, realizing that it's impossible to hear…much less review…everything the postman and the delivery service leave at the Rifftides door. Peter Furlan Project, Between The Lines (Beany Bops Music) Furlan is a New York area saxophonist who leads a mid-sized band of experienced players. Their years of … [Read more...]
Help For Dave Frishberg
Pianist, singer and songwriter Dave Frishberg has suffered medical setbacks that have led him and his wife April to seek help in meeting his long-term health care needs. We cannot provide details about his condition but, now in his mid-eighties, Frishberg has had more than his share of problems in recent years. A fund-raising system has been set up for Frishberg admirers who would like to come to his aid. You will find details at this web address. If you are able to pitch in, remember that … [Read more...]