"A CULINARY AS WELL AS A CULTURAL LANDMARK"
Proclamation, City of New York, 1987
CORNELIA STREET CAFE—NOVEMBER 2010
Blue Tuesdays—with Host Julie Hardy November 2 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Julie Hardy, vocals; Mark Shilansky, piano; Matt Clohesy, bass; Jared Schonig, drums; + special guests. One of the most distinctive voices among the growing ranks of jazz singers belongs to Julie Hardy. The New York Times critic Nate Chinen describes her as a “musically astute and thoughtfully modern jazz singer." As an artist who wears many hats, she can be heard singing indie pop, jingles, or backing up a rock band on piano. Tonight she revisits songs from her critically acclaimed sophomore release The Wish (on Kendrick Scott's World Culture Music) and well as new selections. “Julie Hardy's new CD, The Wish, builds on the reputation of a singer well equipped to handle everything modern jazz vocalism demands: candlelit standards ("I Wish I Knew," “All Or Nothing at All"), repurposed pop hits (Lennon/McCartney's “I'm Looking Through You"), effortless improvisation and a strong writer's pen. See her now, while it's easy."—K. Leander Williams, Time Out New York
November 16 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Peter Eldridge, vocals, piano; Tim Lefebvre, bass; Ben Wittman, drums; + special guests. Peter Eldridge returns to Cornelia Street in a trio setting, with Tim Lefebvre on bass and Ben Wittman on drums. Along with many songs of Eldridge's past repertoire from albums such as Decorum, he will be debuting songs from some of his current projects, among them a musical about the life and art of Gustav Klimt, as well as music he composed for a documentary about women reporters in WWII entitled No Job for a Woman.
Drummer/Composer Sunny Jain
November 3 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Sunny Jain, drums; Nir Felder, guitar; David Cook, piano; Gary Wang, bass. From the resounding hall of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, to the intimate setting of New York City's jazz clubs, to the massive applause on festival stages in India, Sunny Jain is a highly respected drummer, composer and educator. Born to Punjabi immigrant parents and raised in Rochester, NY, Sunny has become an Indian-American musical trailblazer.
Sunny leads Red Baraat, a one-of-kind dhol 'n' brass band melding the infectious North Indian rhythm Bhangra with funk, soca, and dramatic improvisatory conducting. His Sunny Jain Collective has been touted as a leading voice for the new music Indo Jazz. In 2002 Jain was selected as a Jazz Ambassador by the U.S. Department of State and The Kennedy Center. He is the recipient of the Arts International Award (2003 and 2005), Chamber Music America New Works grant, and performed at the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize concert with the famed Sufi-rock group, Junoon. In 2008, Sunny was commissioned by the Aaron Copland Fund to record his new CD on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records, Taboo. “Powering it all with shifting tempos, a vast array of percussive colors and rhythmic aplomb is bandleader Jain, bringing worlds together in seamless fashion...a fresh concept with brilliant execution."—Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes. “Jain intrepidly leads his band into a lush, undiscovered sonic territory that glistens with the exoticism of newness without falling into world-beat fusionist clichés."—New York Press.
Stephen Crump with Rosetta Trio
November 4 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Stephen Crump, acoustic bass, compositions; Liberty Ellman, acoustic guitar; Jamie Fox, electric guitar. Memphis-bred Brooklynite bassist/composer Stephan Crump will perform with his unique all-string Rosetta Trio in support of their new Sunnyside Records release, Reclamation. Featuring nine intensely personal compositions including the polyglot, “Pernambuco," a piece commissioned by 92nd St Y and New York Guitar Festival, Reclamation is a declaration of a unique new compositional voice.
The diverse array of sounds and sources on display is a natural extension of Crump's varied work as a performer. Known for transforming his instrument into a speaking entity with a magnetic pull on audiences, Crump recently launched his solo performance career as an invited artist at the 2009 International Society of Bassists conference. 2 010 will see the release of new recordings documenting his free-improvised duo collaborations with both alto saxophonist Steve Lehman and pianist James Carney. Crump has received special notice of late for his 10 years of collaboration with pianist/composer Vijay Iyer, whose 2009 trio release, Historicity, has been heralded a game-changing jazz recording. “Someone's got to be the Holy Spirit, representing your faith that this jazz will breathe.." noted Ben Ratliff in his New York Times review of a Vijay Iyer Trio performance in NYC: “It's the bassist, of course, cutting through with big, wise, rounded notes." “ingenious originals"—The New Yorker.
Ralph Alessi and Modular Theatre
November 5 @ 9:00 & 10:30 PM, $10: Ralph Alessi, trumpet; Loren Stillman, alto saxophone; Drew Gress, bass; Mark Ferber, drums; Will Jennings, voice. Alessi's Modular Theatre is a band seemingly capable of reaching almost any musical territory. An underlying “jazz" sensibility is infused with any and everything from Hip Hop (texts ancient and spontaneous) to chamber music. “Their collective improvisations are marked by cogency and purpose, not chaos." The San Diego Union-Tribune. “Intuitive, cerebral and fascinating." JazzUSA.com
Lucian Ban's Deco Heart Featuring Bob Stewart & Mat ManeriNovember 6 @ 9:00 & 10:30 PM, $15: Lucian Ban, piano; Mat Maneri, viola; Bob Stewart, tuba; Bruce Williams, alto saxophone, flute; Gerald Cleaver, drums. DECO HEART presents the new band from Transylvanian-expat, pianist LUCIAN BAN featuring an amazing line-up with visionary MAT MANERI on viola, veteran altoist BRUCE WILLIAMS, contemporary master drummer GERALD CLEAVER and legendary tuba player BOB STEWART. From tradition to post—everything avant-garde. Fractal grooves and unfettered lyricism. New music by some of today's most creative musicians.
CD Release Show! Greg Ward's Fitted Shards—The NYC Premiere of South Side Story and the NYC Debut of Ward's Band, Fitted ShardsNovember 7 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Greg Ward, alto saxophone, compositions; Rob Clearfield, piano, boards; Jeff Greene, upright/electric bass; Quin Kirchner, drums. Chicago saxophonist/composer Greg Ward (based in NYC) is an integral player in a number of distinct coteries of the contemporary music scene.
In addition to leading his bands, Fitted Shards and The Greg Ward Sextet, Ward has recently worked with electronica artist Prefuse 73, Lupe Fiasco, received a commission from the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra (for a concerto for jazz quartet and string orchestra), and will be recording and performing with renowned rock group Tortoise. In 2002, the late saxophone legend Fred Anderson hand-picked Ward to curate the Wednesday night jam sessions at his club, The Velvet Lounge. Ward has also worked with artists such as Von Freeman, Frank Wess, Al Jarreau, Carl Allen, Rufus Reid, Jeff Parker, Brian McNight and Hamid Drake, performing extensively at major venues and festivals in the States and abroad. He is currently a member of the Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, Mike Reed's People, Places, and Things, Blink, Loose Assembly, The Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, Hamid Drake's Bindu, and Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls. “an album impressive for both Ward's incisive alto and its highly impressionistic, programmatic pieces."—George Kanzler, Hot House. “He's a force to be reckoned with on alto sax, blowing with the power and precision of players who've been in the game for decades longer." “A monster reedist who's sure to shine in any setting"—Time Out Chicago
Post Folk—Sean Wayland (curated by Becca Stevens)
November 10 @ 8:30, $10: Sean Wayland, piano, keys; Nate Wood, guitar; Jesske Hume, bass; Mark Guiliana, drums. ." . . Brad Mehldau, Larry Goldings or Joey Calderazzo, he (Sean) is a player of the same high caliber"—AllAboutJazz
Post Folk—Nate Wood (curated by Becca Stevens)
November 10 @ 10:00 PM, $10: Nate Wood, guitar, vocals; Sean Wayland, Rhodes; Jesske Hume, bass; Mark Guiliana, drums. Nate Wood is a multi-instrumentalist who draws his inspiration equally from both rock and jazz. His two albums Reliving and Fall are entirely self made, and are made possible because of his prolific experience as a supporting musician across many genres of music. The music fuses often dense harmony with simple pop melodies. Nate is backed up live by a virtuosic band, featuring Sean Wayland, Jesske Hume and Mark Guiliana. “No doubt, Wood is a wildly endowed and original musician."—Steve Krugman, hollywooddrum.com
Michael Bates' Outside Sources
November 11 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Michael Bates, double bass; Shane Endsley, trumpet; Quinsin Nachoff, saxophone, clarinet; Tom Rainey, drums. Taking equal inspiration from jazz, western classical music, and lasting modern acts as disparate as the Bad Brains and Ornette Coleman, Bates' latest recording, Clockwise, offers a panoramic view of the engaging musical mind of Michael Bates, and will prove to be a watershed for enthusiasts of cutting-edge composition and improvisation. This dynamic collection of nine original works (the latest additions to an oeuvre bulging with more than 200 compositions) blurs the line between composition and improvisation and leaves the listener in a vertiginous space where tradition teeters at the knife-edge of a modern zest for experimentation and evolution. Dave Douglas on Michael Bates' Outside Sources and Clockwise: “I whole-heartedly recommend taking special note in Outside Sources! Michael Bates is a fantastic bassist and an engaging composer." With the addition of Shane Endsley and Tom Rainey to the band this is sure to be a must-attend gig!
The Jamie Saft Special Quintet
November 12 & 13 @ 9:00 & 10:30 PM, $15: Jamie Saft, piano; Bill McHenry, saxophones;, Duane Eubanks, trumpet; Dwayne Burno, bass; Ben Perowsky, drums. Jamie Saft is a virtuoso pianist, keyboardist, producer, and composer from New York and a mainstay on the Downtown scene. His stylistic versatility and production skills have been featured with The Beastie Boys, Bad Brains, The B-52's, Laurie Anderson, John Zorn, John Adams, Donovan, Bobby Previte, Dave Douglas, Antony and the Johnsons, and scores of other artists. Saft is a core member of bands such as The Dreamers, Electric Masada, The Beta Popes, Whoopie Pie, Swami LatePlate, The Shakers and Bakers, OV, and Kalashnikov. He has composed a number of original film scores including the Oscar nominated film “Murderball," Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner “God Grew Tired Of Us," and the HBO documentary film “Dear Talula." Saft has also contributed music for Nickelodeon, MTV, and A&E. Saft has released a number of albums as a leader, including Breadcrumb Sins (Tzadik), Trouble- The Jamie Saft Trio Plays Bob Dylan (Tzadik), Sovlanut (Tzadik), Astaroth- The Jamie Saft Trio Plays Masada Book II (Tzadik), and Swami LatePlate's Doom Jazz (Veal). “The dazzling array of new sonic nuance brushed by Saft captures the imagination." Echoes Magazine. “Saft demonstrates an unfettered imagination and sense of invention that truly dominate." All About Jazz
Spoke
November 12 & 13 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Dan Loomis, bass; Andy Hunter, trombone; Justin Wood, saxophone; Danny Fischer, drums. This exciting quartet features some of the most inspired, adventurous improvisers of the new generation of jazz. Andy Hunter performs regularly with the Mingus Dynasty & Big Band and with Richard Bona. Danny Fischer just returned from tours with Kurt Rosenwinkel and Aaron Goldberg. And Dan Loomis co-leads The Wee Trio, and performs regularly with a host of musicians making waves on the scene. Spoke's first album creates a truly post-modern yet beautifully melodic sound incorporating diverse influences from 1960's free-bop, contemporary classical, funk, and Chinese pop music. Spoke's music lives in the intermediate territory between individual and collective improvisation, while retaining a sense of structure and tradition. “One of the most inventive records I've heard all year.'—Hot House
Happy Birthday David Amram, plus Robin Hirsch—Minister of CultureNovember 17 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Happy Birthday, David Amram! The legendary composer, conductor, author, Beat legend and American icon, celebrates his 80th birthday with music, readings, tributes and bibulation. By a synchronous fluke, the cafe's founder and Minister of Culture, Robin Hirsch, celebrates a less venerable birthday the following day and joins the festivities as MC and junior celebrant. He has promised his children he will refrain from singing . . .
The Kirk Knuffke Quintet
November 18 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Kirk Knuffke, cornet, compositions; Brian Drye, trombone; Mark Helias, bass; Jeff Davis, drums. Shortly after arriving in New York in 2005 Kirk met trombonist Brian Drye and drummer Jeff Davis and set about forming his long-standing Quartet. Now legendary bassist Mark Helias has joined the fold. The Quartet released it first album Big Wig in 2007 and has received glowing reviews from critics around the globe. Nate Chinen of The New York Times called it “a smartly self-assured debut." Scott Yanow of All Music Guide explained the Quartet's playing as “explorative and advanced yet concise." The Quartet has been Kirk's outlet for his numerous original compositions which fuse his many influences: his first public appearances playing Dixieland with his great uncle, his formative years in blues bands, and his great love for jazz, both free and structured. This came across clearly to All About Jazz's Troy Collins who described the Quartet's music as “sinuous free bop with deep roots in Pre-War swing as well as Post-War innovations." “Over the last couple years, New York trumpeter Kirk Knuffke has quietly emerged as one of the most exciting and flexible horn men on the scene."—Peter Margasak DownBeat Magazine
Adam Kolker Trio Featuring Billy Hart and John Hebert
November 19 @ 9:00 & 10:30 PM, $10: Adam Kolker, saxophone, bass clarinet; Billy Hart, drums; John Hebert, bass. This trio reunites for the first time since Kolker's 2006 release Sultanic Verses. The group will explore jazz standards and originals in their intimate and unique way. Saxophonist and bass clarinetist Adam Kolker, “is of the school that favors unhurried journeys through tunes, expand(s) on them and in the process create(s) new music." AllAboutJazz. “[He is] a real improviser, making impulsive choices about phrasing and how to imply a chord, giving each of his notes a strong, strange character." Ben Ratliff, The New York Times. Bassist John Hebert, a musical companion of Kolker's for over 10 years, is one of the most imaginative musicians today. His unbounded creativity and masterful playing brings an unbridled excitement to all of his performances. Billy Hart is unquestionably one of the greatest drummers in jazz history. He has performed and recorded with everyone, among them Stan Getz, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.
Ellery Eskelin Trio
November 20 @ 9:00 & 10:30 PM, $10: Ellery Eskelin, tenor saxophone; Gary Versace, organ; Nasheet Waits, drums. Inspired by his mother “Bobbie Lee" who played Hammond B3 organ professionally in Baltimore in the early sixties, veteran saxophonist Ellery Eskelin explores the organ trio format with stellar bandmates Gary Versace and Nasheet Waits. “brilliant and consummately versatile."—Time Out New York
Bobby Avey Quartet Featuring Dave LiebmanNovember 21 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Bobby Avey, piano; Dave Liebman, saxophone; Thomson Kneeland, bass; Dan Weiss, drums. Pianist/composer/bandleader Bobby Avey celebrates the release of his debut CD A New Face with his band featuring Dave Liebman on sax, Thomson Kneeland on bass and Dan Weiss on drums. Consisting exclusively of Avey's original material, A New Face documents the astonishingly wide breadth of the 25-year-old performer's body of work. The CD features Avey with his tightly connected trio of five years featuring bassist Thomson Kneeland and drummer Jordan Perlson, as well as saxophone legend David Liebman on four tracks. Avey has worked with Liebman for many years, and earned critical acclaim for his work on Liebman's 2006 release Vienna Dialogues (ZOHO). “A stand-out debut by an indisputable rising star."—AllAboutJazz
Tom Beckham Group
November 23 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM: Tom Beckham, vibraphone, compositions; Chris Cheek, saxophones; Henry Hey, piano; Matt Clohesy, bass; Greg Ritchie, drums. Vibraphonist Tom Beckham has been called “a lyrical player with a flair for writing distinctive, memorable tunes" by jazz.com and “a fine composer" by Baltimore Magazine. “His exclamatory way with the mallets brings lots of fireworks to the instrument's naturally mellow personality," Jim Macnie, The Village Voice. The performances on his recent CD Rebound were also praised by critics who appreciated “the impressive subtlety of his technique," CHYZ 94.3 FM, and “invites repeated listens, so compelling are the tune, the series of solos, and group interplay" Jazz.com. He has appeared as an active leader and sideman in the U.S. and Europe since 1994 performing in a wide stylistic range of bands and ensembles. Tonight his group will play new compositions, plus material from the books of two previous CDs, Center Songs (Sunnyside Records) and Suspicions. “Beckham's work has a sound all its own—which is what jazz is really about.," Rhapsody.com
John McNeil's Urban Legend
November 26 & 27 @ 9:00 & 10:30 PM, $10: John McNeil, trumpet; Kenny Pexton, tenor saxophone, clarinet; Steve Cardenas, guitar; Ben Allison, bass; Rodney Green, drums. John McNeil's Urban Legend has been in existence for a half dozen years and is planning to record their first album in 2011. The original two members are John and versatile guitarist Steve Cardenas. They'll be joined by veteran bassist and composer Ben Allison, everybody's favorite drummer Rodney Green and newcomer to the New York scene Kenny Pexton on tenor sax and clarinet. The tunes are eclectic, ranging from atonal country-western, to ECM-like grooves. The music is tuneful and there's something for everyone. You're sure to have a great time.
Mark Dresser Quintet
November 28 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $15: Mark Dresser, bass; Rudresh Mahanthappa, alto saxophone; Amir ElSaffar, trumpet; Denman Maroney, hyperpiano; Tom Rainey, drums. Mark Dresser will be presenting a full evening of his most recent compositions with a band of distinguished improvisers who share many years of musical experience together. “Mr. Dresser, a bassist who is one of the great instrumental forces in recent American jazz outside of the mainstream," New York Times. “Mark Dresser needs no introduction. From his work in the '80s with the now “classic" Forces in Motion Braxton Quartet to his “90's work with Zorn and Threadgill and as a part of the Dave Douglas String Project, Dresser seems to be always at the center of what's happening next...Complex but clear and emotional, edgy but tonal, always telling a story, this is perhaps as good as post-Free Jazz gets...Dresser may be among the premier Jazz bassists of our time."-Cadence Magazine
Harris Eisenstadt and Canada Day
November 29 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Harris Eisenstadt, drums, compositions; Nate Wooley, trumpet; Matt Bauder, tenor saxophone; Eivind Opsvik, bass. “One of the new generation's leading composers," AllAboutJazz, Harris Eisenstadt's working quintet, Canada Day, features some of the most distinctive young musicians on the New York scene. Canada Day's eponymous debut on the Portuguese label Clean Feed made numerous Best of 2009 lists, including The Village Voice, All About Jazz New York, Jazzhouse, WFMU, Ni Kantu, CKUT, Dusted Magazine, and Time Out Lisbon. Days after their gig at Cornelia, the group goes into the studio to record their second record for release summer 2011 on the Songlines label. “He's a true jazz composer, without being pretentious about it."—Hank Shteamer, Time Out New York.
Jonathan Kreisberg Quartet
November 29 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Jonathan Kreisberg, guitar; Will Vinson, saxophone; Matt Penman, bass; Mark Ferber, drums. With a busy touring schedule and rave reviews from the press and his peers, Kreisberg is becoming one of the most exciting new faces on the international jazz scene. He has studied a wide range of music and performed in many eclectic situations. His compositions have been performed by his group on five continents. He has performed 20th century works with the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas and has worked with the likes of Dr. Lonnie Smith, Joe Locke, Lee Konitz, Don Friedman, and Ari Hoenig as well as leading his own groups including such notables as Larry Grenadier, Bill Stewart and Scott Wendholt. Kreisberg has released five critically acclaimed CD's on the Criss Cross and Mel Bay Labels. The band will be performing music from the upcoming release, Shadowless this evening.
Proclamation, City of New York, 1987
CORNELIA STREET CAFE—NOVEMBER 2010
Blue Tuesdays—with Host Julie Hardy November 2 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Julie Hardy, vocals; Mark Shilansky, piano; Matt Clohesy, bass; Jared Schonig, drums; + special guests. One of the most distinctive voices among the growing ranks of jazz singers belongs to Julie Hardy. The New York Times critic Nate Chinen describes her as a “musically astute and thoughtfully modern jazz singer." As an artist who wears many hats, she can be heard singing indie pop, jingles, or backing up a rock band on piano. Tonight she revisits songs from her critically acclaimed sophomore release The Wish (on Kendrick Scott's World Culture Music) and well as new selections. “Julie Hardy's new CD, The Wish, builds on the reputation of a singer well equipped to handle everything modern jazz vocalism demands: candlelit standards ("I Wish I Knew," “All Or Nothing at All"), repurposed pop hits (Lennon/McCartney's “I'm Looking Through You"), effortless improvisation and a strong writer's pen. See her now, while it's easy."—K. Leander Williams, Time Out New York
November 16 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Peter Eldridge, vocals, piano; Tim Lefebvre, bass; Ben Wittman, drums; + special guests. Peter Eldridge returns to Cornelia Street in a trio setting, with Tim Lefebvre on bass and Ben Wittman on drums. Along with many songs of Eldridge's past repertoire from albums such as Decorum, he will be debuting songs from some of his current projects, among them a musical about the life and art of Gustav Klimt, as well as music he composed for a documentary about women reporters in WWII entitled No Job for a Woman.
Drummer/Composer Sunny Jain
November 3 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Sunny Jain, drums; Nir Felder, guitar; David Cook, piano; Gary Wang, bass. From the resounding hall of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, to the intimate setting of New York City's jazz clubs, to the massive applause on festival stages in India, Sunny Jain is a highly respected drummer, composer and educator. Born to Punjabi immigrant parents and raised in Rochester, NY, Sunny has become an Indian-American musical trailblazer.
Sunny leads Red Baraat, a one-of-kind dhol 'n' brass band melding the infectious North Indian rhythm Bhangra with funk, soca, and dramatic improvisatory conducting. His Sunny Jain Collective has been touted as a leading voice for the new music Indo Jazz. In 2002 Jain was selected as a Jazz Ambassador by the U.S. Department of State and The Kennedy Center. He is the recipient of the Arts International Award (2003 and 2005), Chamber Music America New Works grant, and performed at the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize concert with the famed Sufi-rock group, Junoon. In 2008, Sunny was commissioned by the Aaron Copland Fund to record his new CD on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records, Taboo. “Powering it all with shifting tempos, a vast array of percussive colors and rhythmic aplomb is bandleader Jain, bringing worlds together in seamless fashion...a fresh concept with brilliant execution."—Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes. “Jain intrepidly leads his band into a lush, undiscovered sonic territory that glistens with the exoticism of newness without falling into world-beat fusionist clichés."—New York Press.
Stephen Crump with Rosetta Trio
November 4 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Stephen Crump, acoustic bass, compositions; Liberty Ellman, acoustic guitar; Jamie Fox, electric guitar. Memphis-bred Brooklynite bassist/composer Stephan Crump will perform with his unique all-string Rosetta Trio in support of their new Sunnyside Records release, Reclamation. Featuring nine intensely personal compositions including the polyglot, “Pernambuco," a piece commissioned by 92nd St Y and New York Guitar Festival, Reclamation is a declaration of a unique new compositional voice.
The diverse array of sounds and sources on display is a natural extension of Crump's varied work as a performer. Known for transforming his instrument into a speaking entity with a magnetic pull on audiences, Crump recently launched his solo performance career as an invited artist at the 2009 International Society of Bassists conference. 2 010 will see the release of new recordings documenting his free-improvised duo collaborations with both alto saxophonist Steve Lehman and pianist James Carney. Crump has received special notice of late for his 10 years of collaboration with pianist/composer Vijay Iyer, whose 2009 trio release, Historicity, has been heralded a game-changing jazz recording. “Someone's got to be the Holy Spirit, representing your faith that this jazz will breathe.." noted Ben Ratliff in his New York Times review of a Vijay Iyer Trio performance in NYC: “It's the bassist, of course, cutting through with big, wise, rounded notes." “ingenious originals"—The New Yorker.
Ralph Alessi and Modular Theatre
November 5 @ 9:00 & 10:30 PM, $10: Ralph Alessi, trumpet; Loren Stillman, alto saxophone; Drew Gress, bass; Mark Ferber, drums; Will Jennings, voice. Alessi's Modular Theatre is a band seemingly capable of reaching almost any musical territory. An underlying “jazz" sensibility is infused with any and everything from Hip Hop (texts ancient and spontaneous) to chamber music. “Their collective improvisations are marked by cogency and purpose, not chaos." The San Diego Union-Tribune. “Intuitive, cerebral and fascinating." JazzUSA.com
Lucian Ban's Deco Heart Featuring Bob Stewart & Mat ManeriNovember 6 @ 9:00 & 10:30 PM, $15: Lucian Ban, piano; Mat Maneri, viola; Bob Stewart, tuba; Bruce Williams, alto saxophone, flute; Gerald Cleaver, drums. DECO HEART presents the new band from Transylvanian-expat, pianist LUCIAN BAN featuring an amazing line-up with visionary MAT MANERI on viola, veteran altoist BRUCE WILLIAMS, contemporary master drummer GERALD CLEAVER and legendary tuba player BOB STEWART. From tradition to post—everything avant-garde. Fractal grooves and unfettered lyricism. New music by some of today's most creative musicians.
CD Release Show! Greg Ward's Fitted Shards—The NYC Premiere of South Side Story and the NYC Debut of Ward's Band, Fitted ShardsNovember 7 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Greg Ward, alto saxophone, compositions; Rob Clearfield, piano, boards; Jeff Greene, upright/electric bass; Quin Kirchner, drums. Chicago saxophonist/composer Greg Ward (based in NYC) is an integral player in a number of distinct coteries of the contemporary music scene.
In addition to leading his bands, Fitted Shards and The Greg Ward Sextet, Ward has recently worked with electronica artist Prefuse 73, Lupe Fiasco, received a commission from the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra (for a concerto for jazz quartet and string orchestra), and will be recording and performing with renowned rock group Tortoise. In 2002, the late saxophone legend Fred Anderson hand-picked Ward to curate the Wednesday night jam sessions at his club, The Velvet Lounge. Ward has also worked with artists such as Von Freeman, Frank Wess, Al Jarreau, Carl Allen, Rufus Reid, Jeff Parker, Brian McNight and Hamid Drake, performing extensively at major venues and festivals in the States and abroad. He is currently a member of the Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, Mike Reed's People, Places, and Things, Blink, Loose Assembly, The Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, Hamid Drake's Bindu, and Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls. “an album impressive for both Ward's incisive alto and its highly impressionistic, programmatic pieces."—George Kanzler, Hot House. “He's a force to be reckoned with on alto sax, blowing with the power and precision of players who've been in the game for decades longer." “A monster reedist who's sure to shine in any setting"—Time Out Chicago
Post Folk—Sean Wayland (curated by Becca Stevens)
November 10 @ 8:30, $10: Sean Wayland, piano, keys; Nate Wood, guitar; Jesske Hume, bass; Mark Guiliana, drums. ." . . Brad Mehldau, Larry Goldings or Joey Calderazzo, he (Sean) is a player of the same high caliber"—AllAboutJazz
Post Folk—Nate Wood (curated by Becca Stevens)
November 10 @ 10:00 PM, $10: Nate Wood, guitar, vocals; Sean Wayland, Rhodes; Jesske Hume, bass; Mark Guiliana, drums. Nate Wood is a multi-instrumentalist who draws his inspiration equally from both rock and jazz. His two albums Reliving and Fall are entirely self made, and are made possible because of his prolific experience as a supporting musician across many genres of music. The music fuses often dense harmony with simple pop melodies. Nate is backed up live by a virtuosic band, featuring Sean Wayland, Jesske Hume and Mark Guiliana. “No doubt, Wood is a wildly endowed and original musician."—Steve Krugman, hollywooddrum.com
Michael Bates' Outside Sources
November 11 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Michael Bates, double bass; Shane Endsley, trumpet; Quinsin Nachoff, saxophone, clarinet; Tom Rainey, drums. Taking equal inspiration from jazz, western classical music, and lasting modern acts as disparate as the Bad Brains and Ornette Coleman, Bates' latest recording, Clockwise, offers a panoramic view of the engaging musical mind of Michael Bates, and will prove to be a watershed for enthusiasts of cutting-edge composition and improvisation. This dynamic collection of nine original works (the latest additions to an oeuvre bulging with more than 200 compositions) blurs the line between composition and improvisation and leaves the listener in a vertiginous space where tradition teeters at the knife-edge of a modern zest for experimentation and evolution. Dave Douglas on Michael Bates' Outside Sources and Clockwise: “I whole-heartedly recommend taking special note in Outside Sources! Michael Bates is a fantastic bassist and an engaging composer." With the addition of Shane Endsley and Tom Rainey to the band this is sure to be a must-attend gig!
The Jamie Saft Special Quintet
November 12 & 13 @ 9:00 & 10:30 PM, $15: Jamie Saft, piano; Bill McHenry, saxophones;, Duane Eubanks, trumpet; Dwayne Burno, bass; Ben Perowsky, drums. Jamie Saft is a virtuoso pianist, keyboardist, producer, and composer from New York and a mainstay on the Downtown scene. His stylistic versatility and production skills have been featured with The Beastie Boys, Bad Brains, The B-52's, Laurie Anderson, John Zorn, John Adams, Donovan, Bobby Previte, Dave Douglas, Antony and the Johnsons, and scores of other artists. Saft is a core member of bands such as The Dreamers, Electric Masada, The Beta Popes, Whoopie Pie, Swami LatePlate, The Shakers and Bakers, OV, and Kalashnikov. He has composed a number of original film scores including the Oscar nominated film “Murderball," Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner “God Grew Tired Of Us," and the HBO documentary film “Dear Talula." Saft has also contributed music for Nickelodeon, MTV, and A&E. Saft has released a number of albums as a leader, including Breadcrumb Sins (Tzadik), Trouble- The Jamie Saft Trio Plays Bob Dylan (Tzadik), Sovlanut (Tzadik), Astaroth- The Jamie Saft Trio Plays Masada Book II (Tzadik), and Swami LatePlate's Doom Jazz (Veal). “The dazzling array of new sonic nuance brushed by Saft captures the imagination." Echoes Magazine. “Saft demonstrates an unfettered imagination and sense of invention that truly dominate." All About Jazz
Spoke
November 12 & 13 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Dan Loomis, bass; Andy Hunter, trombone; Justin Wood, saxophone; Danny Fischer, drums. This exciting quartet features some of the most inspired, adventurous improvisers of the new generation of jazz. Andy Hunter performs regularly with the Mingus Dynasty & Big Band and with Richard Bona. Danny Fischer just returned from tours with Kurt Rosenwinkel and Aaron Goldberg. And Dan Loomis co-leads The Wee Trio, and performs regularly with a host of musicians making waves on the scene. Spoke's first album creates a truly post-modern yet beautifully melodic sound incorporating diverse influences from 1960's free-bop, contemporary classical, funk, and Chinese pop music. Spoke's music lives in the intermediate territory between individual and collective improvisation, while retaining a sense of structure and tradition. “One of the most inventive records I've heard all year.'—Hot House
Happy Birthday David Amram, plus Robin Hirsch—Minister of CultureNovember 17 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Happy Birthday, David Amram! The legendary composer, conductor, author, Beat legend and American icon, celebrates his 80th birthday with music, readings, tributes and bibulation. By a synchronous fluke, the cafe's founder and Minister of Culture, Robin Hirsch, celebrates a less venerable birthday the following day and joins the festivities as MC and junior celebrant. He has promised his children he will refrain from singing . . .
The Kirk Knuffke Quintet
November 18 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Kirk Knuffke, cornet, compositions; Brian Drye, trombone; Mark Helias, bass; Jeff Davis, drums. Shortly after arriving in New York in 2005 Kirk met trombonist Brian Drye and drummer Jeff Davis and set about forming his long-standing Quartet. Now legendary bassist Mark Helias has joined the fold. The Quartet released it first album Big Wig in 2007 and has received glowing reviews from critics around the globe. Nate Chinen of The New York Times called it “a smartly self-assured debut." Scott Yanow of All Music Guide explained the Quartet's playing as “explorative and advanced yet concise." The Quartet has been Kirk's outlet for his numerous original compositions which fuse his many influences: his first public appearances playing Dixieland with his great uncle, his formative years in blues bands, and his great love for jazz, both free and structured. This came across clearly to All About Jazz's Troy Collins who described the Quartet's music as “sinuous free bop with deep roots in Pre-War swing as well as Post-War innovations." “Over the last couple years, New York trumpeter Kirk Knuffke has quietly emerged as one of the most exciting and flexible horn men on the scene."—Peter Margasak DownBeat Magazine
Adam Kolker Trio Featuring Billy Hart and John Hebert
November 19 @ 9:00 & 10:30 PM, $10: Adam Kolker, saxophone, bass clarinet; Billy Hart, drums; John Hebert, bass. This trio reunites for the first time since Kolker's 2006 release Sultanic Verses. The group will explore jazz standards and originals in their intimate and unique way. Saxophonist and bass clarinetist Adam Kolker, “is of the school that favors unhurried journeys through tunes, expand(s) on them and in the process create(s) new music." AllAboutJazz. “[He is] a real improviser, making impulsive choices about phrasing and how to imply a chord, giving each of his notes a strong, strange character." Ben Ratliff, The New York Times. Bassist John Hebert, a musical companion of Kolker's for over 10 years, is one of the most imaginative musicians today. His unbounded creativity and masterful playing brings an unbridled excitement to all of his performances. Billy Hart is unquestionably one of the greatest drummers in jazz history. He has performed and recorded with everyone, among them Stan Getz, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.
Ellery Eskelin Trio
November 20 @ 9:00 & 10:30 PM, $10: Ellery Eskelin, tenor saxophone; Gary Versace, organ; Nasheet Waits, drums. Inspired by his mother “Bobbie Lee" who played Hammond B3 organ professionally in Baltimore in the early sixties, veteran saxophonist Ellery Eskelin explores the organ trio format with stellar bandmates Gary Versace and Nasheet Waits. “brilliant and consummately versatile."—Time Out New York
Bobby Avey Quartet Featuring Dave LiebmanNovember 21 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Bobby Avey, piano; Dave Liebman, saxophone; Thomson Kneeland, bass; Dan Weiss, drums. Pianist/composer/bandleader Bobby Avey celebrates the release of his debut CD A New Face with his band featuring Dave Liebman on sax, Thomson Kneeland on bass and Dan Weiss on drums. Consisting exclusively of Avey's original material, A New Face documents the astonishingly wide breadth of the 25-year-old performer's body of work. The CD features Avey with his tightly connected trio of five years featuring bassist Thomson Kneeland and drummer Jordan Perlson, as well as saxophone legend David Liebman on four tracks. Avey has worked with Liebman for many years, and earned critical acclaim for his work on Liebman's 2006 release Vienna Dialogues (ZOHO). “A stand-out debut by an indisputable rising star."—AllAboutJazz
Tom Beckham Group
November 23 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM: Tom Beckham, vibraphone, compositions; Chris Cheek, saxophones; Henry Hey, piano; Matt Clohesy, bass; Greg Ritchie, drums. Vibraphonist Tom Beckham has been called “a lyrical player with a flair for writing distinctive, memorable tunes" by jazz.com and “a fine composer" by Baltimore Magazine. “His exclamatory way with the mallets brings lots of fireworks to the instrument's naturally mellow personality," Jim Macnie, The Village Voice. The performances on his recent CD Rebound were also praised by critics who appreciated “the impressive subtlety of his technique," CHYZ 94.3 FM, and “invites repeated listens, so compelling are the tune, the series of solos, and group interplay" Jazz.com. He has appeared as an active leader and sideman in the U.S. and Europe since 1994 performing in a wide stylistic range of bands and ensembles. Tonight his group will play new compositions, plus material from the books of two previous CDs, Center Songs (Sunnyside Records) and Suspicions. “Beckham's work has a sound all its own—which is what jazz is really about.," Rhapsody.com
John McNeil's Urban Legend
November 26 & 27 @ 9:00 & 10:30 PM, $10: John McNeil, trumpet; Kenny Pexton, tenor saxophone, clarinet; Steve Cardenas, guitar; Ben Allison, bass; Rodney Green, drums. John McNeil's Urban Legend has been in existence for a half dozen years and is planning to record their first album in 2011. The original two members are John and versatile guitarist Steve Cardenas. They'll be joined by veteran bassist and composer Ben Allison, everybody's favorite drummer Rodney Green and newcomer to the New York scene Kenny Pexton on tenor sax and clarinet. The tunes are eclectic, ranging from atonal country-western, to ECM-like grooves. The music is tuneful and there's something for everyone. You're sure to have a great time.
Mark Dresser Quintet
November 28 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $15: Mark Dresser, bass; Rudresh Mahanthappa, alto saxophone; Amir ElSaffar, trumpet; Denman Maroney, hyperpiano; Tom Rainey, drums. Mark Dresser will be presenting a full evening of his most recent compositions with a band of distinguished improvisers who share many years of musical experience together. “Mr. Dresser, a bassist who is one of the great instrumental forces in recent American jazz outside of the mainstream," New York Times. “Mark Dresser needs no introduction. From his work in the '80s with the now “classic" Forces in Motion Braxton Quartet to his “90's work with Zorn and Threadgill and as a part of the Dave Douglas String Project, Dresser seems to be always at the center of what's happening next...Complex but clear and emotional, edgy but tonal, always telling a story, this is perhaps as good as post-Free Jazz gets...Dresser may be among the premier Jazz bassists of our time."-Cadence Magazine
Harris Eisenstadt and Canada Day
November 29 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Harris Eisenstadt, drums, compositions; Nate Wooley, trumpet; Matt Bauder, tenor saxophone; Eivind Opsvik, bass. “One of the new generation's leading composers," AllAboutJazz, Harris Eisenstadt's working quintet, Canada Day, features some of the most distinctive young musicians on the New York scene. Canada Day's eponymous debut on the Portuguese label Clean Feed made numerous Best of 2009 lists, including The Village Voice, All About Jazz New York, Jazzhouse, WFMU, Ni Kantu, CKUT, Dusted Magazine, and Time Out Lisbon. Days after their gig at Cornelia, the group goes into the studio to record their second record for release summer 2011 on the Songlines label. “He's a true jazz composer, without being pretentious about it."—Hank Shteamer, Time Out New York.
Jonathan Kreisberg Quartet
November 29 @ 8:30 & 10:00 PM, $10: Jonathan Kreisberg, guitar; Will Vinson, saxophone; Matt Penman, bass; Mark Ferber, drums. With a busy touring schedule and rave reviews from the press and his peers, Kreisberg is becoming one of the most exciting new faces on the international jazz scene. He has studied a wide range of music and performed in many eclectic situations. His compositions have been performed by his group on five continents. He has performed 20th century works with the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas and has worked with the likes of Dr. Lonnie Smith, Joe Locke, Lee Konitz, Don Friedman, and Ari Hoenig as well as leading his own groups including such notables as Larry Grenadier, Bill Stewart and Scott Wendholt. Kreisberg has released five critically acclaimed CD's on the Criss Cross and Mel Bay Labels. The band will be performing music from the upcoming release, Shadowless this evening.
