The New York City Jazz Record

On the Cover: MARTY EHRLICH—The Many Hats of Marty Ehrlich

(by John Sharpe; photos by Caroline Conejero)

It has been a busy and rewarding Fall for multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and bandleader Marty Ehrlich. He resumes his role in pianist Anthony Davis’ Episteme group, which will be playing in the Metropolitan Opera’s remounting of X (Davis’ opera based on the life of Malcolm X) and is also taking on the role of Interim Director of Jazz Studies at Stony Brook University, following trombonist Ray Anderson’s retirement. Next month he presents Dark Woods/Bright Sparks at Roulette (Dec. 10) and additionally plays The Stone with Wayne Horvitz’ New Music for Electronics and Mixed Ensemble (Dec. 1) and with Michael Bates’ Acrobat at Owl Music Parlor (Dec. 22).

Interview: GREGORY HUTCHINSON—Know Your Worth

(by Russ Musto; photo courtesy of artist)

In a career spanning five decades, versatile NYC native, drummer Gregory Hutchinson, has made an impressive name for himself touring the world with many of the music’s greatest artists, including Betty Carter, Joe Henderson, Ray Brown and Roy Hargrove. Possessing a distinctive sense of swing that sets him apart from many other players of his generation, he can hit as hard as anyone on the scene yesterday or today, but it is the tastefulness of his rhythms and sophisticated sense of space that has garnered him a reputation as the quintessential sideman. Next month Hutchinson is at the Village Vanguard (Dec. 5-10), “Remembering Ray Brown” with Christian McBride and Benny Green.

Artist Feature: JEFF LEDERER—A Window Into Improvisation

(by Tristan Geary; photo by Rob Lowell)

The Christmas Tree-O is just one of the many projects and ensembles in which saxophonist Jeff Lederer is and has been involved (12 years and counting). A musician with an insatiable musical appetite, straddling a huge spectrum of jazz, Lederer is equally at home in the free tradition of Albert Ayler, the minimalism of Morton Feldman, or as an adept player of Latin music. His abilities on reeds and as a composer cannot be neatly categorized. In December, Lederer plays with Matt Wilson’s Christmas Tree-O at Dizzy’s Club (Dec. 12).

Encore: STEPHANIE NAKASIAN—From Wall Street to Swing Street

(by Ken Dryden; photo by Matt Baker Photography)

Stephanie Nakasian has been singing jazz for decades, but she didn’t plan it as a career despite showing an early interest in music. It was an introduction to her future husband’s family that ultimately changed her focus. She would then go to see the veteran bop pianist (and future husband) Hod O’Brien perform with frequency. As she says, they “hit it off!” Next month Nakasian’s “Holiday Tour” brings her to NYC, where she will perform at Chelsea Table + Stage (Dec. 20).

Lest We Forget: EARTHA KITT—That Bad Eartha

(by Monique Ngozi Nri; photo courtesy of UMe Records)

It has been almost 15 years since Eartha Kitt’s passing on Christmas Day 2008, just short of 82. A star of stage, screen and song, she embodied the sultry sex kitten persona. Kitt’s Bad But Beautiful was reissued this year by Verve/UMe Records.

Special Feature: CARLA BLEY (1936-2023) IN MEMORIAM

Remembrances of the late pianist, composer/arranger and bandleader, by many who worked intimately with her at one point or another over the course of her six+ decade career in music, including: Barry Altschul, Ray Anderson, Steven Bernstein, Gavin Bryars, Gary Burton, Steve Cardenas, Vincent Chancey, John Clark, Andrew Cyrille, Joseph Daley, Billy Drummond, Michael Mantler, Mattias Risberg, Steve Slagle, Bob Stewart, Gary Valente, Matt Wilson.