In Calle 54, Fernando Trueba's authoritative film documenting the history of Latin jazz, Gato Barbieri modestly asserts, "I was famous from the '70s until about 1982." Although the Argentinean tenor titan's notoriety has admittedly diminished some since the decade of celebrity he enjoyed beginning with the release of his soundtrack to Last Tango In Paris and culminating with a series of popular dance-oriented major label releases, he has still maintained a large enough dedicated following to sell out his three-day engagement at the Blue Note easily. Barbieri's playing has lost little of its passion and fire in the years since his glory days and his fans continue to respond to his music with similar enthusiasm. Greeted with a thunderous ovation as he approached the bandstand, the saxophonist began his second set opening night (May 16th) with a version of the bolero "Cuando Vuelva a Tu Lado" (better known by its English title "What A Difference A Day Makes"), displaying the dark distinctive tone that has ranked him among music's most sensuous instrumentalists. Accompanied by keyboardist Charles Blenzig, bassist Mario Rodriguez, Brazilian drum master Portinho and percussionist Jesus Quintero, Barbieri revisited his hugely popular songbook, alternating the fiery AfroCaribbean originals "Milongo Triste," "Fiesta" and "Viva Emiliano Zapata" with romantic readings of "Summertime," Carlos Santana's "Europa" and his own "She Is Michelle" and "It's Over."

Miles from India at Town Hall

When Miles Davis emblazoned the words "Directions In Music" across the album covers of his first electrified excursions, the East was decidedly the way he was looking towards for inspiration. In a May 9th Town Hall concert billed Miles From India, producer/conductor/arranger Bob Belden assembled an ensemble that united several Miles alumni with a troupe of Indian musicians to perform the music from the double CD of the same name. The first half of the concert featured intriguing versions of early acoustic Davis works—"So What," "Blue and Green" and "All Blues"—performed over an intoxicating blend of jazz and Indian rhythms laid down by bassist Ron Carter and drummer Lenny White and percussionists Badal Roy and Anantha Krishna, with pianist Vijay Iyer, carnatic violinist Kala Ramnath and saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa shining in the solo spotlight with vocalist Shounak Abhisheki. It was during the second part of the show exploring electric Miles, however, that the organic confluence of East meets West reached its highest level, due in no small part to the presence of trumpeter Wallace Roney, who continues to build on the Davis legacy with a virtuosic command and a meticulous attentiveness to time and space. On pieces from Bitches Brew and In A Silent Way it was Roney who brought the spirit of Davis to life, blowing with cool intensity over the Indian rhythms and the sonic tapestries of keyboardist Adam Holzman and guitarist Pete Cosey.

—Russ Musto

Recommended New Listening:

* Ambrose Akinmusire—Prelude (Fresh Sound-New Talent)
* Nicholas Payton—Into the Blue (Nonesuch)
* Poolplayers—Way Below the Surface (Songlines)
* Dafnis Prieto Sextet—Taking the Soul for a Walk (Dafnison Music)
* Saxophone Summit—Seraphic Light (Dedicated to Michael Brecker) (Telarc)
* George Schuller's Circle Wide—Like Before, Somewhat After (Playscape)
—David Adler NY@Night Columnist, AllAboutJazz.com

* Paul Grabowsky/Scott Tinkler/John Rodgers/Philip Rex/Ken Edie—The Antripodean Collective—The Massacre of the Egos (Extreme)
* Rudi Mahall—Quartett (Jazzwerkstatt)
* Mario Pavone—Trio Arc (Playscape)
* Saxophone Summit—Seraphic Light (Dedicated to Michael Brecker) (Telarc)
* Barry Wallenstein—Euphoria Ripens (Cadence Jazz)
* Eri Yamamoto—Duologue (AUM Fidelity)
—Laurence Donohue-Greene Managing Editor, AllAboutJazz-New York

* Han Bennink/Peter Brötzmann—In Amherst 2006 (BRO-Eremite)
* Jeff Gauthier Goatette—House of Return (Cryptogramophone)
* Industrial Jazz Group—Leef (Evander Music)
* Bobby Previte & The New Bump—Set the Alarm for Monday (Palmetto)
* Jim Pugliese's Phase III—Live at Issue Project Room (Improvisatore Involontario)
* John Zorn—The Dreamers (Tzadik)
—Andrey Henkin Editorial Director, AllAboutJazz-New York

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