Articles by Bob Margolis

Cyrus Chestnut Trio

by Bob Margolis
March 12, 2004

At The Village Vanguard, 8-18-24 Cyrus Chestnut - p Steve Kirby - b Alvester Garnett - dThis past two months, New York's Village Vanguard has been featuring a series of the finest working trios in jazz today. Ranging from Tommy Flanagan's almost telepathic work with Kenny Washington, Brad Mheldou's great group with Larry Grenadier and Jorge Rossy, Kenny Barron's Monklike musings with Buster Williams and Ben Riley, all the way to Cecil Taylor's musical explorations, this classic NYC club ...

Burnin' for Youth - Metheny, Holland, DeJohnette Play in Benefit for Town's Youth Center

by Bob Margolis
March 12, 2004

The power of great music played for a noble cause can be a beautiful thing. This has rarely been in such evidence as was on display during a sunny day in Woodstock, NY on August 22. In a benefit for the Woodstock Youth Center, a few of the local folks got together to play music for friends and some fans lucky enough to make the trip to the majestic locale. That these folks happened to be Woodstock area residents Pat ...

1961 at The Village Vanguard

by Bob Margolis
March 12, 2004

John Coltrane (Impulse!)

Approaching Seventh Avenue and Perry Street in Manhattan, one is struck by the number of folks lining up and generally milling around waiting in anticipation to descend into what looks like, from the outside, a very small basement, a very small room. This is perhaps the most prestigious and historical jazz room in the country, the Village Vanguard, the club where the spirit of giants and giant music looms large. During the week of September ...

Blood On The Fields

by Bob Margolis
March 8, 2004

Avery Fischer Hall New York City February 24, 1997Considering the time demands of being the Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, the leader of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, all around spokesperson for the theory of Blues Plus Swing Equals Jazz, and from time to time, leading his own group, one would think that the 35 year-old Wynton Marsalis' plate is full.Well, maybe he has some room.In advance of the long awaited CD, Wynton presented his ...

The Branford Marsalis Trio

by Bob Margolis
March 8, 2004

Knitting Factory (New York City)Playing to three sold-out crowds at New York's Knitting Factory, Branford Marsalis's trio, featuring longtime cohorts Jeff “Tain" Watts on drums and Reginald Veal on bass, gave ample evidence backing the claim that they are one of the most interesting and challenging trios currently performing. Playing out of a book of tunes drawn mostly from their new record, The Dark Keys (Columbia), Marsalis and crew bobbed and weaved around a variety of tonal themes that ...

Craig Handy

by Bob Margolis
March 8, 2004

Sweet Basil April 12, 1997 New York CityTalk about what good teachers can do for a student. Coming out of one of the finest jazz programs in the country at North Texas State, playing with Art Blakey, being a long-time member of Roy Haynes' band, working with Abdullah Ibrahim and spending quality time with Betty Carter, tenor man Craig Handy, at the age of 34 has taken these lessons to heart as evidenced by his recent stand at NY's ...

Wessell Anderson

by Bob Margolis
March 8, 2004

The Village Vanguard April 15-20, 1997 New York City

“Wess Anderson's playing contains the essence of soul, that's why we call him “WarmDaddy." This comment, spoken by Anderson's part-time employer and musical foil Wynton Marsalis, was backed up by WarmDaddy's performances in and around NYC this past month.Fronting a group featuring the fabulous Stephan Harris on vibes, altoist Anderson played out of a mostly original book, largely drawn from his superb new disc, The Ways of Warmdaddy, with a ...

Branford Marsalis: Requiem

by Bob Margolis
April 1, 1999

Telepathy. Elasticity. Forward looking. Branford Marsalis's new release, “Requiem" makes us glad Steepy brought back the quartet form to his music and makes us even more profoundly sad about the tragic passing of pianist Kenny Kirkland. Although the original plan was to get used to the material, hone it on the road and come back to the studio and re-record, this record shows a band as tight as any unit in the business and shows a great leap forward in ...

Carlos Garnett: Under Nubian Skies

by Bob Margolis
April 1, 1999

“Under Nubian Skies" is a swinging, well played record that shows Carlos Garnett dipping heavily into his Coltrane bag and Panamanian roots. Garnett, a legendary tenor man who is returning to performing after a self imposed exile has done stints with Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey, Woody Shaw, Charles Mingus, Pharoah Saunders, and perhaps most notably as part of Miles's groundbreaking groups of the early 1970's.

Sometimes a breath of fresh air replenishes the desire and the ability to keep doing ...

Joanne Brackeen: Pink Elephant Magic

by Bob Margolis
April 1, 1999

A Master pianist other than a Flanagan, or a Peterson, is faced with the daunting task of recording something that separates them but allows for their brilliance to shine through. The subject of this piece has consistently been able to do this, primarily using vehicles other than the trio or solo format. Putting together perhaps her finest band since the late 1980's quartet featuring Billy Hart, Cecil McBee and Gary Bartz, pianist and composer Joanne Brackeen has just put out ...