Live Review
Reporting on live jazz from around the globe.
Hiromi's Sonicwonder At SFJAZZ
by Chuck Lenatti
Hiromi's SonicwonderSFJAZZ, Miner AuditoriumSan Francisco, CAApril 14, 2024 Hiromi and her merry band of simpatico sonic warriors concluded their jny: San Francisco run at SFJAZZ's Miner Auditorium with an exhilarating jolt of electricity as they dove into their latest release, Sonicwonderland (Concord Records, 2023). The uniquely coiffed pianist wore a bright yellow dress over black tights and cute sneakers and was in perpetual motion throughout the show. “Sonic" is code for plugged in. ...
read moreGeorge Coleman at the 25th anniversary of Smoke Jazz Club
by Paul Reynolds
George Coleman Smoke Jazz Club 25th Anniversary Concert New York, NY April 12, 2024 Jazz thrives in places that rarely endure for very long. Sure, there are the longtime jazz temples--the Village Vanguard in New York, Ronnie Scott's in jny: London, Preservation Hall in jny: New Orleans--but most premier clubs are lucky to last into adulthood, at least as jazz-only venues. The rent's too damn high, the music too commercially marginal. Smoke ...
read moreJoel Frahm Trio At Scott's Jazz Club
by Ian Patterson
Joel Frahm Trio Scott's Jazz Club jny:Belfast, N. Ireland April 12, 2024 Another sold-out gig. It is not an uncommon occurrence at Scott's Jazz Club. Yet this was no ordinary occasion for Ballyhackamore's award-winning venue. For starters, the Joel Frahm Trio was in the house. Scott's Jazz Club has attracted plenty of outstanding musicians since opening its doors in 2021, but this felt like a cat-got-the-cream event. And there was an extra ...
read moreTony Miceli Quintet at Chris’ Jazz Café
by Victor L. Schermer
Tony Miceli Quintet Chris' Jazz Café Philadelphia, PA April 5, 2024 Vibraphonist Tony Miceli has a way of drawing talent around him like a magnet. Of course, it's because of his exceptional musicianship, but he also has a knack for creating interesting situations for playing. This time, he brought together four other jazz masters for a retro take on hard bop. Their virtuosity and musical imagination made the set come alive as ...
read morePat Metheny at the Kaufmann Concert Hall
by Chris DeRosa
Pat Metheny Kaufmann Concert Hall (The 92nd Street Y) Pat Metheny's “Dream Box Tour" New York, NYApril 7, 2024 Hello, my name is Chris DeRosa and this is what I heard... Pat Metheny has been at the forefront of jazz guitar for more than 40 years. His career started way back in his University of Miami days (1972), first as a student performing with the famed Concert Jazz Band (CJB) and then ...
read moreBob Weir and Others at the Jazz Foundation of America Gala Concert at the Apollo Theater
by Paul Reynolds
Bob Weir, Marshall Allen, Jazzmeia Horn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, et al.The Apollo Theater Jazz Federation of America Gala New York, NY March 28, 2024 At gala concerts for worthy groups, it's understandably easy for the music to play second fiddle to the organization itself--and the desire to support it. But ,carefully curated, these events can yield memorable and unique performances and other moments. So it was last Friday at the Apollo ...
read moreGeorge Colligan Quartet at Chris’ Jazz Café
by Victor L. Schermer
George Colligan Quartet Chris' Jazz Café jny:Philadelphia. PA March 29, 2024 Chris Hove of All About Jazz once wrote that pianist and multi-instrumentalist George Colligan is “one of the best kept secrets in jazz." It's not clear why he is such a secret, since. as saxophonist Don Braden once said, “As a creative artist, he's really up there... In terms of technique, knowledge of music and improvisational creativity, there aren't a ...
read moreBig Ears Festival 2024
by Mark Sullivan
Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN March 21-24, 2024 After last year's triumphant tenth anniversary, the festival returned with the slogan “The adventure continues." The iconic and influential Nonesuch Records' 60th anniversary was celebrated with performances by Brad Mehldau, Caroline Shaw, Darcy James Argue, Mary Halvorson, Davóne Tines, Sam Amidon, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Yasmin Williams, Rhiannon Giddens, Laurie Anderson and Molly Tuttle, and a rare live performance by Robin Holcomb. Electronica pioneer King ...
read moreWeather Bird: Sullivan Fortner and Ambrose Akinmusire at Rackham Auditorium
by C. Andrew Hovan
Weather Bird: Sullivan Fortner and Ambrose Akinmusire Rackham Auditorium 27th Performance of the UMS 145th Annual Season Ann Arbor, MI March 22, 2024 When it comes to its annual concert series, Ann Arbor's University Musical Society utilizes Hill Auditorium and the Michigan Theater as the venues for the majority of its performances. When this rare appearance of pianist Sullivan Fortner and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire was set to take place at another performance space on ...
read moreThe Cookers at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
by Jack Gold-Molina
The Cookers Dimitriou's Jazz Alley Seattle, Washington February 21, 2024 Veteran players The Cookers brought their long-established brand of avant bop jazz to Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in jny: Seattle. The personnel included David Weiss and Eddie Henderson on trumpets, alto saxophonist Donald Harrison, Craig Handy on tenor saxophone and a rhythm section of pianist George Cables, Cecil McBee on bass and drummer Billy Hart. The set started out with the straight ahead tune ...
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