To speak in very 21st Century parlance, jazz has a branding problem. Is it museum music or vitally modern? Does it belong on the loftiest concert hall stage or in the dingiest of Brooklyn basements? Is the proper response severe nodding or uninhibited dance? These are not questions to be answered in the miniscule space of an editorial letter but major insight into the matter can be gleaned from the diverse cross-section of players making up our roster of feature articles.
British saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings (On The Cover) could argue the dance-floor aspect, especially during his appearance this month at Central Park Summerstage. Trombonist and scion of the legendary clan Delfeayo Marsalis (Interview) certainly believes that jazz is entertainment, even if can be presented in various forms, a methodology he will display during his run at Birdland and something he shares with fellow New Orleans stalwart and near-nonagenarian saxophonist Charlie Gabriel (Encore), who has just released his debut as a leader. Guitarist Dave Stryker, also at Birdland this month, is an adherent of the blues and all it has brought to jazz over the past century-plus while late pianist John Lewis (Lest We Forget), honored this month as an inductee into Jazz at Lincoln Center's Ertegun Hall of Fame, spent his career pushing jazz to be respected on the level of other classical forms while never losing its spirit.
The answer of what jazz is is as varied as those playing it. Get some inspiration from our Album Reviews and go out to some shows this month and decide for yourself.
On the Cover: SHABAKA HUTCHINGS
By Jason Gross; photos by Adrien H. Tillmann
For someone who stands as a leading light in the London jazz scene and heads three impressive bands, saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings still has enough stamina for an entire gym. Just before a Zoom interview, he performed in Norway, flew back to England where he took a train to the British coast, traveled to an airport hotel for a red-eye flight to Barcelona for another show, then arrived back in London where he biked, went for a workout and then settled in a local park to chat about his career. Hutchings is at Central Park Summerstage Jul. 31st with Sons of Kemet.
Interview: DELFEAYO MARSALIS
By Kyle Oleksiuk; photo courtesy of the artist
Delfeayo Marsalis is a trombonist, record producer and founder of the Uptown Music Theatre. Since 2008, he has been leading the Uptown Jazz Orchestra. The band has shows this month at Birdland and an album that will be released later in the year. Marsalis is at Birdland Jul. 26th-30th.
Artist Feature: DAVE STRYKER
By Marilyn Lester; photo by Chris Drukker / courtesy of the artist
When guitarist Dave Stryker moved to New York City in 1980, little could he predict that the kid from Omaha, Nebraska, whose initial inspiration for taking up guitar lay in The Beatles, would become an intensely prolific force in the jazz world...He has 34 CDs as a leader and further credits as a sideman on more than 75 others. His newest album, As We Are, the 34th, released on his own Strikezone imprint, represents a dream come true, a high point in the life of a constantly-evolving artist. Stryker is at Birdland Jul. 5th-9th.
Encore: CHARLIE GABRIEL
By Jim Motavalli
It is a great moment for jazz musicians when they release their first major-label record. For New Orleans saxophonist Charles Gabriel, it happened when he was…89. The big occasion came in March, when his debut on Sub Pop, Eighty Nine, hit the racks. Gabriel has been a member of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band since 2006, but his professional music career goes all the way back to 1943.
Lest We Forget: JOHN LEWIS
By George Kanzler
Pianist John Lewis, co-founder and musical director of the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ), believed that jazz was as legitimate and dignified as Western Classical and throughout his long career he strove to present and advance jazz as part of the greater music establishment. The John Lewis Ertegun Hall of Fame Celebration with Aaron Diehl is at Dizzy's Club Jul. 27th.
CD Reviews
(this month's performance venues in parentheses):
No Safety—Spill Knitting Factory-Cuneiform
No Safety—Live at The Knitting Factory Knitting Factory-Cuneiform
No Safety—Live in Italy 1994 Cuneiform
Kim Nalley—I Want a Little Boy s/r
Anthony Coleman/Brian Chase—Arcades Chaikin (The Stone at The New School)
Studio Dan/Anthony Coleman—...im Gebirg Records & Other Stuff (The Stone at The New School)
Nicholas Payton—Smoke Sessions [Remixed] Smoke Sessions (Blue Note)
Sal Mosca—For Lennie Tristano (Solo Piano 1970 & 1997) Fresh Sound
Sean Khan—Supreme Love: A Journey Through Coltrane BBE
Natsuki Tamura—Summer Tree Libra
Natsuki Tamura—Koki Solo Libra
Mark Feldman/Tim Daisy—Circle Back Relay
Dave Rempis/Tomeka Reid/Joshua Abrams/Tim Daisy/Tyler Damon—The COVID Tapes Aerophonic
Romero Lubambo/Rafael Piccolotto—Live at Dizzy's Sunnyside
Saadet Türköz/Beat Keller—We Are Strong Chinabot
Bud Powell—1962 Stockholm/Oslo SteepleChase
Albert Ayler—Revelations (The Complete ORTF 1970 Fondation Maeght Recordings) Elemental Music
...and Plenty More!
Look for other sections like NY@Night, Label Spotlight, VOXNews, In Memoriam, In Print, On Screen, Recommended New Releases and our invaluable Event Calendar.
Thanks so much for reading The New York City Jazz Record, the city's only homegrown gazette devoted to the music.
