As a journal of music criticism, our mission is to capture the moment in words, whether an assessment of a new album or review of a live performance. To distill music into language is
a difficult enough task but the challenge becomes exponentially greater when a reviewer takes into account that a moment is merely a point along a narrative; an hour in the studio or on stage collates an entire life's experience up to said moment. We are reminded of this weighty responsibility as we wish (a month early) Happy 60th Birthday to pianist Satoko Fujii (On The Cover), who is celebrating this milestone with a CD-a-month initiative documenting a wide array of her projects past and present; Fujii is at Ibeam Brooklyn this month. Flutist Jamie Baum's (Interview) latest effort (Bridges, Sunnyside), which will be presented at Roulette this month, is an amalgamation of influences, experiences and musical compatriots. Bassist Chris Lightcap's (Artist Feature) Superette, the band and the album, playing Le Poisson Rouge this month, is a throwback to Lightcap's musical roots, yet put through the prism of his modern maturity. And we go back even further into history's moments with Rüdiger Carl's (Encore) seminal 1972 FMP album King Alcohol and a feature on the sadly truncated career of saxophonist Cannonball Adderley (Lest We Forget), who would haved turned 90 this month.
On the Cover: SATOKO FUJII
By John Sharpe; photos by Peter Gannushkin
It's entirely apt that "Birthday Girl" forms the centerpiece of Triad, the May entry in the unprecedented CD-a-month marathon Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii is masterminding to celebrate her 60th birthday in 2018. Fujii is at Ibeam Brooklyn Sep. 29th.
Interview: JAMIE BAUM
By Jim Motavalli; photo by Vincent Soyez
Flutist Jamie Baum is a restless talent. Working with her Septet+, as on her sixth album as a leader, Bridges (Sunnyside), the Connecticut-bred artist brings a colorful global palette to her writing and playing. Baum's Bridges CD release is at Roulette Sep. 16th. She is also at Symphony Space Bar Thalia Sep. 1st and Cornelia Street Underground Sep. 4th with Kris Adams.
Artist Feature: CHRIS LIGHTCAP
By George Grella; photo by Bill Douthart
The strains of West African music and surf rock commingled throughout bassist Chris Lightcap's new album Superette (Royal Potato Family) could, in the hands of other musicians, come off as bloodless high concept. But for Lightcap, the music is not only personal and natural, but...fulfills what the leader writes in the publicity material is a longstanding obsession with the electric guitar. Lightcap's Superette is at Le Poisson Rouge Sep. 15th.
Encore: RÜDIGER CARL
By Kurt Gottschalk
The recent Corbett vs. Dempsey reissue of King Alcohol brings, at last, one of the touchstones of European free improvisation into the digital realm. Touchstones, of course, aren't just important in their own right. They lead to paths and that of saxophonist/accordionist Rüdiger Carl is one filled with unexpected riches.
Lest We Forget: CANNONBALL ADDERLEY
By George Kanzler
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley (1928-75), who was born 90 years ago this month, was an alto saxophonist who burst on the Big Apple jazz scene in a legendary way in Summer 1955. An Adderley 90th birthday tribute led by Jim Snidero and Jeremy Pelt is at Dizzy's Club Sep. 16th.
Record Label Spotlight: EARSHIFT
By Eric Wendell
The Sydney-based imprint reflects the next generation of talent from the Australian jazz scene and is hell-bent on shaping new unique voices and pushing the very definition of what jazz can be and can achieve.
In Memoriam: TOMASZ STANKO
Tributes to the late Polish trumpeter from Arild Andersen, Jakob Bro, Jon Christensen, Thomas Heberer, Anders Jormin, Tony Oxley, Adam Pieronczyk, Enrico Rava, Bobo Stenson, Bronislaw Suchanek, John Surman, Michal Urbaniak, Alexander Von Schlippenbach, Marcin Wasilewski and Marek Winiarski.
CD Reviews
(this month's performance venues in parentheses):
Alexis Cole -- You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To Venus (Jazz at Kitano)
Adrian Cunningham/Ken Peplowski -- Duologue Arbors (Birdland; Birdland Theater)
Houston Person/Ron Carter -- Remember Love HighNote (Dizzy's Club; Jazz at Kitano; Blue Note)
Adison Evans -- Meridian AdiTone (Birdland)
Edward Simon -- Sorrows & Triumphs Sunnyside (Jazz Standard)
John Coltrane -- Both Directions At Once: The Lost Album Impulse-Verve
Judy Niemack with Jim McNeely & The Danish Radio Big Band -- New York Stories Sunnyside (Mezzow; Jazz at Kitano)
Don Suhor -- New Orleans Clarinet & Sax Virtuoso GHB
Tom Tallitsch -- Wheelhouse Posi-Tone (Birdland)
Jon Mayer -- Live at the Athenaeum BluePort
PJ Perry -- Alto Gusto Cellar Jazz
George Colligan -- Nation Divided Whirlwind (Jazz at Kitano)
Other Barry -- Escape Route PJCE
...and Plenty More!
Look for other sections like In Memoriam, On This Day, In Print, On DVD, VOXNews, NY@Night, Recommended New Releases, Birthdays, 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.
