Performance / Tour News

Billy Childs in San Pedro

Source: All About Jazz
February 15, 2009

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Daring to Take a Chisel to Two Monuments of Jazz

Source: Michael Ricci
February 14, 2009

Miles Davis' Kind of Blue and John Coltrane's Giant Steps may be the most fetishized jazz records in the last 50 years, and this year they both turn exactly 50.

The saxophonists, George Garzone, Ted Nash, Sherman Irby and Walter Blanding Jr. Backing them, bassist Ivan Taylor, and the drummers Rodney Green and Jimmy Cobb.

A Jazz at Lincoln Center concert in their honor is almost something to dread: not necessarily because the records are technically beyond reach, but because ...

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Simon and Garfunkel Reunite in New York

Source: All About Jazz
February 14, 2009

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel joined forces for a surprise reunion last night (Feb. 13) at New York's Beacon Theatre, which was hosting its first event after a seven-month renovation by Madison Square Garden Entertainment.

The pair performed “The Sound of Silence," “The Boxer" and “Old Friends" during the encore, marking what is believed to be just their third appearance together since concluding a 2004 reunion tour. Garfunkel had flown in from Florida, where he played in Key Largo the ...

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New Jazz Venue: Upstairs at Vitello's Studio City

Source: All About Jazz
February 14, 2009

Vocalist/promoter AprilWilliams, who has presented a weekly jazz night at the Wine Bistro and Down Beat Entertainment jazz fundraisers for Symphony In The Glen, is adding another venue to her lineup. Upstairs at Vitello’s is a custom-built listening room over Vitello’s Italian Restaurant in Studio City; it is called the “Upstairs Room”. Williams describes it as “like a Vegas lounge, with great sound, lights and stage and there is not a bad seat in the house.” Local musicians say this ...

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Charles Davis & His Quartet at Creole Restaurant (NYC)

Source: Michael Ricci
February 14, 2009

Combine the exquisite dining experience of “Creole" with the flavor of Internationally known Jazz Artists; toss in the nostalgia of an ambience found in elegant 'Supper Clubs' and you have our “Jazz Legacy Series". Brownstone Entertainment Complex, LLC; bringing Jazz back 'Uptown', to what was once the 'spawning ground' of the 'Be-bop' Era, and its' Traditions... “Creole" Music Supper Club, in association with Brownstone Entertainment Complex, LLC, proudly present: “The Jazz Legacy Series". This series will feature many 'World-Class' Players, ...

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The Newest New Edition: Three Singers, Trading Styles with Equanimity

Source: Michael Ricci
February 14, 2009

When Bobby Brown, snotty and kinetic and magnetic, left the megasuccessful R&B boy band New Edition for a solo career in 1986, it appeared as if it might have the effect of a puncture, slowly letting the air out of one of pops biggest phenomena. Mr. Brown was the wild card, but also the selling point.

Eventually replacing him with Johnny Gill, a rigorous and ferocious young singer, however, turned out to be a masterstroke. Suddenly, New Edition was not ...

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Grammy Grumblings, the John Heard Trio and Others

Source: All About Jazz
February 13, 2009

A lot of hoity-toity goings on lately, with invite-only Miles Davis Kind of Blue reissue bashes and all the Grammy stuff. A lot of fancy people in fancy suits drinking fancy free drinks and talking about jazz —

Mostly not talking about jazz, which sometimes seemed to be only the background music at these things, so as not to interfere with the conversations. How many of the people milling about have ever set foot in a jazz club anyway?

The ...

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Marco Benevento at Largo at the Coronet

Source: Michael Ricci
February 13, 2009

Anticipation was running high for young keyboardist Marco Benevento's appearance at Largo at the Coronet Wednesday night.

Midway though a monthlong residency at the esteemed Oakland jazz club Yoshi's promoting his eclectic new album, Me Not Me, Benevento rolled into town leading an adventurous supergroup of sorts from a Bonnaroo- friendly branch of experimental jazz.

Joined by eccentric saxophone gadfly Skerik and a percussion duo of G. Calvin Weston from John Lurie's Lounge Lizards and Medeski Martin and Wood's Billy ...

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