Theatrically and Rhythmically Yours,
Jose

I enjoyed the two sets of the Enrico Granafei Quartet.  Leader Granafei is an accomplished guitarist and “hands-free-chromatic” harmonica player, with the unique ability to play them simultaneously to create serious music…nothing vaudeville here!  Completing the combo were pianist Carolina Calvache,  drummer Thierry Arpino and bassist Takashi Otsuka.  Saxophonist TK Blue and flugelhornist Joey Morant were an unexpected treat;  as walk-ons, their licks fired up the quartet to “swing with heat” the second set.

Given its proximity to New York City, many professional jazz musicians are residents of Montclair.  Thus, when you visit Trumpets,  you too may be surprised by who drops in.

Reason# 2: Carolina Calvache

Originally from Colombia,  this young “lioness” is certain to break through to become a prominent pianist on the national jazz scene.  (View her on this clip beginning at the “29:40″ point – 5/20/11: Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Emerging Artist Showcase.)  She plays with an engaging lyricism that encompasses a full range of fire and finesse.  I’m looking forward to seeing her perform as the leader of her own combo.

Reason #3: Johnny O’Neal at Smoke

When in New York City, it’s impossible for me to pass up the Johnny O’Neal Trio’s Saturday night set that closes Smoke Jazz Club.   Once again, the O’Neal-lead trio had the house clamoring for more music as the club staff politely encouraged our departure.

Hitting the road at 4:30am, I was sufficiently juiced by all the terrific music.  I made it back to Rochester in time to nap before the 2:00pm start at Glenora.   Not sure if it was the Glenora wine or the “rapture of no sleep” but I was among the many who crowded the area in front of the stage and danced to the end of Spyro Gyra’s show.  Chalk up another  terrific weekend of very diverse music!

“Rhythmly” Yours,

Jose

The Jazz Cruiser
I met Johnny O’Neal on a jazz cruise several years ago.  Between sets, he spotted me giving another performer a shoulder massage.  My signature hairstyle at the time served notice to Johnny that I was the person front and center at his prior sets.  “You really like my playing, uh?” opened the door to a friendship that continues to blossom.  I massaged his bone-hard forearm muscles, disbelieving that just moments earlier they had allowed him to play with the fire and finesse often attributed to Oscar Peterson.  When the soreness subsided, Johnny said his renewed suppleness enabled his fingers to “fly and feel” at even higher levels during the rest of the cruise.

The Buzz
Always the audience favorite, Johnny’s engaging personality doesn’t detract from his peerless piano skills.   Instead of a crutch, his interactions with audiences afford listeners the opportunity to recover from extended up-tempo “Yesterdays” or the heart tugs of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”  Since moving back to New York City June 2010, Johnny has become a favorite among jazz professionals there; to the delight of the club patrons, he often invites them to join him on stage.

The King
This past Saturday, Tina and I enjoyed The Johnny O’Neal Trio’s late night set at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club.  An added highlight for us was watching the great Lou Donaldson sitting “front and center,” occasionally shake his head in amazement. When the set ended, “Sweet Poppa Lou” accompanied Johnny outside the club offering unsolicited praise; Johnny returned to our table stunned, saying “Lou Donaldson said I’m the king of the pianists”.  “King” of New York City, North America, the world?…no matter.  If “Sweet Poppa Lou” says you’re “King”, enough has been said!  The mention of Johnny O’Neal to every pianist I’ve met through Exodus To Jazz – including Mulgrew Miller, Gerald Clayton, Tamir Hendelman, Helen Sung and Danny Grissett – elicits superlatives consistent with that title.

Given that several musicians have expressed a desire to perform with him, Johnny and I have agreed to schedule two concerts this season billed as: “Johnny O’Neal Trio with Special Guest”.  His upcoming Exodus To Jazz engagement on November 19, 2011 will feature The Talented Mr. Jeremy Pelt; the special guest for the April 14, 2012 concert will be announced by August 1^st.

The Ship
With the New York City buzz swirling around him, it appears that Johnny O’Neal is poised to get his due; his “ship” appears to finally be coming in.

“Rhythmly” Yours,
Jose DaCosta

The performances of Gerald Clayton and Tamir Hendelman in the “Duet for MoKA” met the high expectations fans familiar with them brought to the benefit concert.  The piano duo’s collaboration of complementing and contrasting styles created a special moment for those in attendance.  The mixture of accessible cover  and original tunes was frequently accented with the ranging intensity of Tamir’s melodic riffs and Gerald’s excursions to the harmonic and rhythmic edge.   Along with Madrigalia’s choral sampling, the “Duet for MoKA” was a special evening of music.

With “So Nice” topping the JazzWeek charts for nine weeks,  Houston Person leads his quartet’s February 11, 2012 Exodus To Jazz engagement.  Mark your calendars for what promises to be another special evening of jazz.

“Rhythmly” Yours,
Jose DaCosta

JD Allen’s live WGMC interview was 2:00pm today. In addition to hearing him discuss his development as a saxophonist, I particularly enjoyed his insights into the broad spectrum of music overall and his aversion for genre labels.

I look forward to Lynne Arriale’s interview and understanding her inspiration to marry several of her original tunes with those of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Nine Inch Nails and Sting. It’s an impressive marriage; after just two weeks, Convergence is #15 on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart while garnering impressive reviews (see City Newpaper’s Choice Concerts preview).

Again, I invite you to listen to tomorrow’s interview…then come out to see and hear The Quartet this Saturday at 8:00pm at The Lutheran Church of the Reformation (111 N. Chestnut St, Rochester, New York, 14604).

Tickets are available at all Wegmans stores and online at BrownPaperTickets.com.

For information about the new CD Convergence, visit Motema.com.

For more information, visit Exodustojazz.com or call (585) 733-7685.

“Rhythmly” Yours,
Jose

Flashing me a revealing coy smile, I realized that Djassi and Corrado (Mirahl’s mother

"I'm good!"

and father) were mere channels for her desire for a family “get-together.”  In the center of an adoring circle, Mirahl’s expression bespoke her thoughts: “I’m good! I got my peeps back together again!”

Needless to say, I look forward to the next gathering no matter who Mirhal uses to make the call.  If it happens to be proud grandparents Orundun and Awolowo, I can only imagine Mirahl’s expression of satisfaction as they compliment themselves for another gathering.

Shortly after Mirahl fell asleep, Tina and I left for Smoke Jazz Club in Manhattan.  We arrived there in time to catch the third set of The Peter Bernstein Trio’s “Tribute to Wes Montgomery” and the club’s closing set featuring The Johnny O’Neal Trio.  Despite a full house, Tina and I were taken to the last two open seats that are our favorite in the club (Mirahl’s Baby Karma?).   With leader Peter Bernstein on guitar, Mike LeDonne on the B3 and Kenny Washington on drums, the set opened with a sultry rendition of “Just For Now”, written by Wes’ brother Buddy.  This trio of acclaimed musicians then entertained with wonderful renditions of “What’s New”, “Angel”, “The Way You Look Tonight” and a Montgomery signature tune whose title escapes me (Got Gingko Baloba?).

Each tune satisfied as a fitting tribute to Wes Montgomery; I most enjoyed the very up-tempo rendition of “The Way You Look Tonight”.  Kenny Washington’s intense pace provided the high octane that fueled the interplay between LeDonne and Bernstein, ala, Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery.

At the end of the set, I asked Peter to discuss his primary intention for the tribute.  “As a player”, he said, “I try to avoid playing Wes’ tunes; I try to stay away from comparisons.  The tribute gave me an opportunity to play Wes’ tunes.”  With this perspective, avoidance is the ‘other’ highest form of flattery.   In their tribute performance, Peter Bernstein, Mike LeDonne and Kenny Washington represented themselves and the music of Wes Montgomery on the highest order.

As pianist extraordinaire Johnny O’Neal was setting up for the closing set, Tina and I were joined by Helen Sung.  Helen, one of the brightest stars on the jazz scene, shared with us some of her recent performances.  Her face lit up recalling a recent engagement with The David Benoit Quartet. I then lit up telling her that I hope to include The David Benoit Quartet in the upcoming Exodus To Jazz line-up.  The club announcer quickly brought me back from my “David Benoit Quartet with Helen Sung” reverie as she announced The Johnny O’Neal Trio.

Tina, Helen and I readied for our first experiences of Johnny O’Neal on the B3.  Ranging between “high-amped, high-paced” to “willowy, feathery” moods, O’Neal’s vocals and the trio’s exceptional instrumentals blended into wonderful renditions of: “Went and Fell in Love”, “Saving My Love For You”, “You Can Depend on Me”, “Born To Be Blue”, “Overjoyed”,  “Why I Got the Blues”, “For the Good Life”, and “That’s All”.

With 2:30 am coming too soon, the set ended with O’Neal’s signature closer – “Here’s to Life, Here’s to Love”. In addition to O’Neal’s B3 chops, guitarist Saul Rubin and drummer Sharif Zaben were great “discoveries.”  If you have an opportunity to “discover” the Johnny O’Neal Organ Trio, don’t pass it up!

“Rhythmly” Yours,

Jose

In response to the unfortunate cancellations of the Somi and Marc Antoine concerts, I am pleased with the addition of The Lynne Arriale Quartet on April 9, 2011. Touring to promote her new CD entitled Convergence, pianist Lynne Arriale leads saxophonist JD Allen, bassist Omer Avitel and drummer Johnathan Blake to their Rochester stop.

“Lynne Arriale creates difficulties for reviewers: how to find fresh superlatives for a pianist who maintains such extraordinarily high standards? There are a handful of jazz pianists that I would gladly listen to all night long. Those master craftsmen Ahmad Jamal and John Bunch immediately come to mind. Arriale makes three”. (Clive Davis)

While the schedule has changed, The Kate Davis Trio remains the featured group for the final concert of this season. Preceded by Kristin Korb (Kristin Korb Trio), Kim Clarke (Jazzberry Jam) and Marion Hayden (Johnny O’Neal Trio), Kate Davis is only the fourth female bassist to perform in the series. Among female bassists who also sing, she and Kristin Korb are within an even smaller circle that is sure to expand dramatically in coming years.

Seeking the answer to “Who is Esperanza Spalding and why did she win the Grammy for Best New Artist?” will introduce many young women to Spalding and other talented female vocalist-bassists. The May 7th Exodus To Jazz concert is an opportunity to experience one such highly talented artist on a steep ascent.

Many of you who attended recent shows have said you like the Lutheran Church with its excellent acoustics, ample parking and wheelchair accessibility. The significant increase in on-line ticket purchases indicates BrownPaperTickets.com provides improved service and value. The Customer Service Centers in the Wegmans stores have become the preferred ticket outlet by far.

Based on your comments (including those not-so-serious) I will strive to enhance Exodus To Jazz to enrich everyone’s entertainment experience. Doing so will increase the focus on the music, which in the end, is what it’s all about. I am excited about the remaining artists and look forward to welcoming you to the April and May concerts.

Thank you for your continued support of live jazz in Rochester.
“Rhythmly” Yours,
Jose DaCosta

Leader and pianist Lynne Arriale is capturing a growing fan base with outstanding recorded and live performances. She has performed with numerous jazz icons including Benny Golson, Randy Brecker, George Mraz, Roy Hargrove, Rufus Reid, Buster Williams and Eddie Henderson; she’s earned comparisons to Ahmad Jamal and Keith Jarrett. As group leader “she achieves a special, deep connection with her audience, and the energy flows both ways. Arriale’s emotional authenticity allows her audience to feel and think along with her”. (JazzTimes)

The concert playlist will mix Arriale’s originals and her creative renditions of pop tunes including “Here Comes the Sun”(GeorgeHarrison/John Lennon), “Sister Moon” (Sting), and “Paint it Black” (Rolling Stones).

Saxophonist JD Allen gained most of his musical maturity in New York through stints with Betty Carter, Ron Carter, Lester Bowie, Jack DeJohnette, Cindy Blackman, and Me’Shell Ndegeocello. Leading his own trio JD Allen garners high acclaim while using the challenging “sax, drums, bass” trio format popularized be Sonny Rollins.

Bassist Omer Avital has been in high demand since moving to New York from Israel; he has performed regularly with legends including Roy Haynes, Jimmy Cobb, Nat Adderley, Al Foster, and Kenny Garrett. Avital lists several jazz founders – Oscar Pettiford, Ray Brown, Paul Chambers and Sam Jones – as having a major influence of his development.

Drummer Johnathan Blake has been a first-call drummer for notable jazz musicians including Tom Harrell, David Sanchez, Randy Brecker, and Oliver Lake. He is currently a member of combos led by Tom Harrell, Russell Malone, and Kenny Barron. Blake performs regularly with Donny McCaslin, Avishai Cohen, and Omer Avital among others.

The Lutheran Church of the Reformation is located at 111 N. Chestnut St, Rochester, New York, 14604.

Tickets are available at all Wegmans stores, online at BrownPaperTickets.com and at the door on the night of the concert beginning at 7:00PM.
For information about Convergence, visit Motema.com.
For concert information, visit Exodustojazz.com or call (585) 733-7685.