RVANews » Jazz

RVAJazz 2009 Year in Review: September

Dean Christesen — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:00:08 +0000

School’s back in session and tons of great things are happening. Drummer Brian Jones launched his Third Tuesday music series and spoke to me about his array of new albums that would be released. The Jazz Beyond Festival brought European avant-garde legend Gunter Hampel to The Camel. Another festival, the Armenian Food Festival, got me [...]

RVAJazz 2009 Year in Review: August

Dean Christesen — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:00:55 +0000

Balliceaux opened up on sacred ground but soon had people raving about its food. It wouldn’t be long before they began booking music. No BS! Brass and Verbatim took advantage of the summer to take their music on the road. Bryan Hooten wrote recaps of the brass band’s tour (part 1, part 2). At the [...]

Big Bull in the holiday spirit

Dean Christesen — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:46:51 +0000

On Wednesday night during their second set at Balliceaux, Fight the Big Bull brought out the Christmas carols. I’m a sucker for Christmas music, and a big sucker for Fight the Big Bull, so I try and be there every time (which, to my knowledge, has been twice) that the Big Bull improvises holiday tunes in their unique style.

RVAJazz 2009 Year in Review: July

Dean Christesen — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:00:50 +0000

Halfway through the year, there was no slowing down for jazz in Richmond. One weekend in particular was packed with music to hear. I summed up the scene in the State of Jazz article, and featured Scott Burton, Reggie Pace, and Matt White in Three Richmond Music Moguls. Former VCU student and Chris Potter Underground [...]

Strange place for snow…

Dean Christesen — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:33:43 +0000

Isn't it? There's about a foot of snow in downtown Richmond. Compare that with my estimated annual average of 0". Here are a few videos to cheer up all you snowed-in Richmonders.

RVAJazz 2009 Year in Review: June

Dean Christesen — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:00:04 +0000

So much for a summer slow down. We saw tons of great things happening in June, like a Brian Jones group playing original music to Tom & Jerry cartoons. Fugazi’s Joe Lally came to town for a gig with Glows in the Dark, and GITD spent the rest of the busy month on tour. We [...]

Announcing: RVAJazzfest 2010

Dean Christesen — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:00:10 +0000

The second RVAJazzfest will feature master saxophonist, composer, and band leader Tim Berne performing with Ombak, as well as Adam Larrabee Trio and Trio of Justice.

RVAJazz 2009 Year in Review: May

Dean Christesen — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:00:18 +0000

An album review, a venue feature, and a look back at a Glowing Realm 10 Questions piece led up to the Matana Roberts show at the end of the month, of which we snapped some photos. That afternoon, UseTheVastness and Yellow Grass played a gig in the small space of Black Hand Coffee, eliciting the [...]

Successful series caps the year

Dean Christesen — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:39:02 +0000

Drummer Brian Jones closes out the first season of his Third Tuesday series this week at The Camel. With performances by his Double Quartet and Wurlitzer Trio and new albums from both, this is the big one, ladies and gentleman.

RVAJazz 2009 Year in Review: April

Dean Christesen — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:00:31 +0000

Ombak announced the release of their new album, Framing the Void, which we reviewed. From Brooklyn came Adam Caine Trio for a gig at The Camel, where their avant-garde set was gently interrupted by a newly married couple’s request for a love song to dance to. It was all at once sweet, romantic, and kind [...]