Performance / Tour News

From the Dorf to the Hood an Evening of Compositions by Composer and Improviser William Roper

Source: SoCal Creative Music
April 19, 2010

Los Angeles native William Roper-tubaist, composer and veteran of the Los Angeles contemporary music scene performs a program of some of his recent compositions. The concert, produced by Cornelius Schnauber, playwright and director of USC's Max Kade Institute, is part of L.A. Opera's Ring Festival. All of the evenings compositions were inspired by a residency Roper served in the Bavarian village (dorf) of Schwandorf in 2006 or the music of Richard Wagner. The concert will feature several unusual and somewhat ...

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Tomasz Stanko Quintet, the European Jazz Ensemble, Performed at Birdland

Source: Michael Ricci
April 19, 2010

Jazz Tinged With Sorrow as Well as Somber Beauty Melancholia comes naturally to the Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stanko. Over the last decade, especially, during a late-career renaissance Mr. Stanko, a pioneering figure in European jazz, is now 67 he has distilled his art into a tersely controlled expression of sorrow. His dark-hued trumpet tone reveals itself in murmurs; he often begins a note with sibilant shooshes of air. He can make a straightforward melody feel confidential, guarded. His lyricism inhabits ...

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Jazz Offerings in the Big Apple NY

Source: All About Jazz
April 19, 2010

New York Jazz Scene this Week

GERI ALLEN QUARTET (Tuesday through Thursday) Geri Allens pianism leads a first-rate band with Ravi Coltrane on saxophones, Joe Sanders on bass and Jeff (Tain) Watts on drums. (Through April 25.) At 9 and 11 p.m. Village Vanguard 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th Street, West Village (212) 255-4037, villagevanguard.com

APEX: RUDRESH MAHANTHAPPA AND BUNKY GREEN (Tuesday and ...

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Whitney Houston - The Soul-Pop Diva Will Always Love You

Source: One Creative Publicist & Management
April 18, 2010

(New York, NY) Whitney Houston is arguably one of the greatest singers in the entire history of music, yet she can't get a break or pardon from the press, bloggers and tabloids lately as she is currently performing around the world on her “Nothing But Love" Tour. While making recent stops in Britain, critics have been very harsh. For the record, Divas such as Ms. Houston aren't made; they're born with the God gift to bring down the house with ...

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Guitarist Michael-Louis Smith to Perform at the Iridium's New Faces After Midnight Series

Source: Michael Ricci
April 17, 2010

Guitarist and composer Michael-Louis Smith's quintet will perform at The Iridium as part of Scobar Entertainment's “New Faces After Midnight" series on Saturday May 1st. The group will appear in support of the new CD, Portrait of MLS (unreleased as of press time)and will include some of the best on the NYC jazz scene; Stacy Dillard on Saxophone, Jeremy Manasia on piano, Diallo House on bass and Jeremy Bean Clemons on drums. The new album has been described as a ...

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The Czech Connection: John Abercrombie adds another page to his Prague playbook

Source: Michael Ricci
April 17, 2010

John Abercrombie is considered a modern-day master on electric jazz guitar. His concert next week with his new organ trio is certain to be a highlight of the spring season. Abercrombie, born in 1944, studied guitar at Berklee College of Music in Boston. While he was there, he developed some strong ties to the Czech jazz scene. Recalling those times from his home one hour north of New York City, Abercrombie tells The Prague Post, “I met Jan Hammer and ...

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Shows to See This Week

Source: The Augmented Ear by John Patten
April 17, 2010

I haven't been able to stay current with all of the great performances these days, but here are a few Central Jersey Jazz highlights to check out:The John Bianculli Trio with Earl Sauls on bass and Taro Okamoto on drums will be at Steakhouse 85 on Church Street in New Brunswick from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.Philadelphia-based Ellipsis will be at Small World Coffee on Witherspoon Avenue in Princeton, 8:30 p.m. Saturday.The Stryker-Slagle ...

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Bill Anschell-Brent Jensen Duo Featured on KPLU's Jazz Northwest April 18

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene
April 16, 2010

A surprisingly inventive duo plays spontaneous improvisations on Jazz Northwest on Sunday April 18 at 1 PM PDT on 88.5, KPLU. Pianist Bill Anschell and soprano saxophonist Brent Jensen have found each other molto simpatico when freely improvising on standards. Astute listeners as well as players, the two musicians often sound as if one mind is guiding ten fingers as they dissect familiar music in the course of playing it, examining and comparing fragments before reassembling a song. On this ...

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