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On the first day of autumn, Sunday, September 22, the revelry of a Saturday night for many in the jazz world turned to sadness with the news of NEA Jazz Master Benny Golson’s passing at his Manhattan home at age 95. One of the last two surviving members of the famed 1958 “A Great Day in Harlem” photo (94-year-old Sonny Rollins remains the last one standing), Golson was a distinctive voice and lyrical stylist on tenor saxophone and as composer of numerous originals that have become jazz staples. Though “living legend” is a term thrown around more than it should, he was exactly that: a living link to a bygone golden era of the music. The loss of Golson serves as a reminder that there is much to be grateful for in the here and now. It also reveals how close, personal and musical associations serve as building blocks for artistic individuality. As Golson’s early development included Tadd Dameron, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane and a thriving Philadelphia scene, octogenarian Billy Harper (Cover) similarly can count early tenures with Gil Evans, Max Roach and a 50-year friendship and music bond with Randy Weston as vital to his own development as a tenor saxophonist and original composer. This month he performs with his longstanding quintet at Minton’s. Trumpeter Jack Walrath (Interview) was an integral member of Charles Mingus’ mid ’70s band, and lessons learned from that tenure helped the one-time disciple become a revered bandleader. His Live At Smalls album release concert will be at the very venue he recorded it at last year. Vocalist Ellen Christi (Encore) counts bassist-poet William Parker as one of her first downtown NYC connections during the ’70s and the two continue their musical partnership with a stunning new album. Christi performs this month at Roulette. Makanda Ken McIntyre’s (Lest We Forget) debut recording was with Eric Dolphy, and his concept immediately crystallized as a player of numerous reed instruments and as a composer. The Makanda Project fêtes his legacy and performs at All Saints’ Church in Brooklyn. Norwegian trumpeter Thomas Johansson (Artist Feature) will be the first to admit he spends over 70% of his listening time soaking up American jazz, including the aforementioned. He plays NYC twice, this month with Scheen Jazzorkester, next month with Cortex, both at Nublu.
One thing all of this month’s featured musicians have in common: like Golson, they are true to themselves and their art, offering us a window into their unique, personal, musical message.
On the Cover: BILLY HARPER—The Higher Power of Music
(by Jim Motavalli; photos by Pin Lim)
Houston native Billy Harper—one of the most impassioned post-bop tenor saxophonists dating back to before his auspicious debut album as leader (Capra Black, 1973)—continues to build on a legacy that encompasses musical greatness and innovation in addition to education, social consciousness and spirituality. Evolving from roots planted in his early youth, Harper intuitively knew early on that music should have a purpose beyond the uplift of entertainment and, as his career took hold, that proposition took on clarity: he came to understand the higher power of music in its capacity to heal. The Billy Harper Quintet is at Minton’s Playhouse Oct. 18-19.
Interview: JACK WALRATH—Takes the Lead
(by Daniel A. Brown; photo by William Brown)
It would be hard to encapsulate the 50-year career of trumpeter-composer Jack Walrath, a player who seemingly refuses to be contained. From his earliest days in late ‘60s Southern California, his vital presence in the ’70s bands of Charles Mingus and 30+ subsequent albums as leader, Walrath has sidestepped the fusion era as well as the parochialism of maintaining “the tradition.” Walrath’s Live at Smalls album release concert is at Smalls Oct. 25-26.
Artist Feature: THOMAS JOHANSSON—Coming to America
(by Bill Meyer; photo by Ketil Hardy)
Norwegian trumpeter Thomas Johansson remembers experiencing a moment of panic the first time that he and his quartet Cortex came to play in New York. “We went down towards Newark Airport. And then (saxophonist) Kristoffer Alberts said to me, ‘Hey, man, you know, we’re just about to land in America to play jazz music for Americans?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, shit. Yeah, that’s crazy.’ Why? 70, 80% of the things I listen to come from America, and in some ways it was really intimidating.” Apprehension has since been replaced by enthusiasm. Johansson plays at Nublu with Scheen Jazzorkester Oct. 3, and with Cortex featuring Hedvig Mollestad Nov. 18.
Encore: ELLEN CHRISTI—To Be The Singer She Wanted To Be
(by Kurt Gottschalk; photo by Anna Yatskevich)
Growing up in Chicago’s North Shore suburbs, vocalist Ellen Christi had an early interest in singing and in expanding the role of the jazz singer. Cereal Music (AUM Fidelity), an album of spoken word and constructed soundscapes released this year that Christi created with bassist William Parker, is filled with sonic beds and textures and her rich voice. The Ellen Christi Ensemble (with Dave Burrell, et al.) is at Roulette Oct. 22.
Lest We Forget: MAKANDA KEN McINTYRE—Many Heads
(by Jeff Cebulski; photo courtesy of McIntyre family)
At his death Makanda Ken McIntyre spent over 40 years as a teacher and post-bop visionary, proficient on alto saxophone, flutes, bass clarinet, oboe, bassoon, bass, drums, piano and various woodwind instruments. He is fêted by The Makanda Project at All Saints’ Church Oct. 6 (presented by One Breath Rising).
Album Reviews: In Print, On Screen, Boxed Set, Drop The Needle Reviews, Globe Unity…
Amy Sheffer, Billy Bang, William Parker, Lou Grassi - Drone bone |
(I Am Shee) |
André Roligheten - Marbles |
(s/r) |
Andromeda Turre - From the Earth (A Jazz Suite) |
(Starbilt) |
Angelica Sanchez, Barry Guy, Ramon López - Live at JAZZDOR |
(Maya) |
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Live in Paris |
(Fremeaux & Associes) |
Art Tatum - Jewels in the Treasure Box |
(Resonance) |
Audrey Silver - Oklahoma |
(Messy House) |
Ben Wolfe - The Understated |
(Resident Arts) |
Bill Casale Quartet - Parable |
(s/r) |
Brad Shepik Human Activity - Dream of the Possible |
(Shifting Paradigm) |
Brian Marsella/Jon Irabagon - Blue Hour |
(Red Palace/Irrabagast) |
Christian Wolff/Wendy Eisenberg - The Possibility of a New Work for Electric Guitar |
(Other Minds) |
Dan Pugach Big Band - Bianca Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence |
(s/r) |
Daniele Germani, Elias Meister, Billy Mintz - Conference of the Invisible Vol. 1 |
(Lyonhill) |
David Weiss Sextet - Auteur |
(Origin) |
Die Like a Dog - Fragments of music, life and death of ALBERT AYLER |
(FMP-Cien Fuegos) |
Elijah Shiffer - Dada Bebop |
(Star Jelly) |
Emmet Cohen - Vibe Provider |
(Mack Avenue) |
Eric Alexander/Mike LeDonne - Together |
(Cellar Music) |
Guttorm Guttormsen Kvartett – Soturnudi |
(NorskeAlbumklassikere) |
Hamilton de Holanda/Gonzalo Rubalcaba - Collab |
(Sony Music Brasil) |
Ivo Perelman/gabby fluke-mogul - Duologues 2: Joy |
(Ibeji) |
Jamaaladeen Tacuma - Flavors of Thelonious Monk Reloaded |
(Extraplatte) |
Jason Robinson - Ancestral Numbers II |
(Playscape) |
Jelly Roll Blues: Censored Songs & Hidden Histories by Elijah Wald |
(Hachette) |
John Butcher - The Very Fabric |
(Hitorri) |
John Butcher, et al. - The Art of Noticing |
(Matchless) |
Karrin Allyson - A Kiss for Brazil |
(Origin) |
Ken Peplowski - unheard bird |
(Arbors) |
Kenny Dorham & Jackie McLean - Inta Somethin' |
(Pacific Jazz-Blue Note) |
Lakecia Benjamin - Phoenix Reimagined (Live) |
(Ropeadope) |
Marc Copland - Dreaming |
(innerVoice Jazz) |
Marianne Solivan - Re-Entry |
(Mighty Quinn) |
Medeski Martin & Wood - Not Not Jazz |
(Oscilloscope Laboratories) |
Michael Wolff - Memoir |
(Sunnyside) |
Michael Wolff, Mike Clark, Leon Lee Dorsey - A Letter to Bill Evans |
(JazzAvenue 1) |
Miles Okazaki - Miniature America |
(Cygnus) |
Nduduzo Makhathini - uNomkhubulwane |
(Blue Note) |
Ohad Talmor - Back to the Land |
(Intakt) |
Øyvindland Med Eirik Hegdal & Erik Johannessen – Nonett |
(Øra Fonogram) |
Peter Bernstein - Better Angels |
(Smoke Sessions) |
Rob Brown - Oceanic |
(RogueArt) |
Rob Brown Quartet - Oblongata |
(RogueArt) |
Rubicon Trio - Ugly Beauty: The Monk Session |
(AMP Music) |
Samantha Kochis - to the eyes that remain soft |
(s/r) |
The Easter Quartet - Light End |
(Not Two) |
The Headhunters - The Stunt Man |
(Ropeadope) |
Tobias Meinhart - Sunset Park |
(Sonic River) |
Tony Hymas/Catherine Delaunay - No Borders |
(Nato) |
Trespass Trio (feat. Susana Santos Silva) - Live in Oslo |
(Clean Feed) |
Various - The Voice of Brubeck, Vol. 1: Song of Hope and Peace |
(Navona) |
Walter Smith III - three of us are from Houston and Reuben is not |
(Blue Note) |
Wayne Escoffery - Alone |
(Smoke Sessions) |
William Parker, Cooper-Moore, Hamid Drake - Heart Trio |
(AUM Fidelity) |
Look for other sections like Festival Report, NY@Night, Label Spotlight, VOXNews, In Memoriam, Recommended New Releases and our invaluable Event Calendar.
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