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Jon Irabagon Plays KC Jazz Club
by Franz A. Matzner
Jon IrabagonKennedy CenterWashington D.C.October 30, 2009 Simple without being simplistic; straightforward without being strictly straight-ahead; unpretentious, yet artistically thoughtful; humble, yet full of youthful confidence, saxophonist Jon Irabagon, winner of the 2008 Thelonious Monk Competition, showcased a compelling mix of humor, technique, and engaging music during his ...
Overtone Quartet on Display at Kennedy Center
by Franz A. Matzner
Overtone QuartetOctober 10, 2009Washington, D.C. The Overtone Quarter played together as a group for the first time in Washington, DC at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater Saturday. The four musicians--Dave Holland, Jason Moran, Chris Potter, and Eric Harland--each took the stage as a master of his art, and the quartet ...
Kelvin Sholar: Artistic Crossroads
by Franz A. Matzner
Pianist, composer, programmer, writer, philosopher Kelvin Sholar is a modern Renaissance man, an endangered species in our modern times of careerism and hyper-focused resumes. At any one time, Sholar seems to be grappling with more ideas and projects than very few are capable of doing over several years--if at all. To give a ...
Blue Note 7 Celebrates 70 at the Kennedy Center
by Franz A. Matzner
Blue Note 7 Kennedy CenterApril 5, 2009Washington, D.C. Featuring a super group compiled from its illustrious roster, last Sunday night's concert at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater celebrated the 70th Anniversary of the Blue Note recording label with a series of musical snapshots of some of its ...
Bernard Stollman: ESP Disk's Sound Revolution
by Franz A. Matzner
In 1964, record producer Bernard Stollman founded ESP Disk with the motto “The Artists Alone Decide." Over the next ten years, Stollman's label secured legendary status, releasing a stream of avant-garde jazz, rock, punk and folk that consistently challenged the definition of what it meant to be avant-garde. It did so by bravely embodying its motto ...
Duke Ellington Jazz Fest 2008: The Evolution of a Jazz Festival
by Franz A. Matzner
Appearances can be deceiving. On the surface, the 2008 Duke Ellington Jazz Festiva looked very much like its predecessors, relying on familiar names and a thorough leveraging of Washington's local acts to form the core of its line-up. But stepping away from the more traditional signature events and digging a little deeper revealed the festival has ...
Brad Shepik: Sounding A Global Warming Warning
by Franz A. Matzner
As can only happen in New York, I stumbled upon guitarist Brad Shepik's portentous suite Human Activity entirely serendipitously. Visiting New York for the day on extra-musical business, the evening began as a step around the corner to the 55 Bar to sample whatever music was on tap and quickly transformed into a night of singularly ...
Greg Osby: New Mission, New Label, New Responsibility
by Franz A. Matzner
For over two decades Greg Osby has been at the forefront of modern jazz. As a composer and player he breaks new ground, challenging audiences and the establishment with his complex, propulsive, and ever-evolving music. Never one to mince words, Osby has built a reputation as a blunt spokesman willing to tell it like ...
Jeremy Pelt and JD Allen: New Leaders at Kennedy Center
by Franz A. Matzner
Since first playing together in the early '90s under drummer extraordinaire Winard Harper, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt's and saxophonist JD Allen's paths have crossed several times, as they solidified their places at the forefront of modern jazz. Each now a master technician, innovative composer, and successful bandleader, Pelt recently asked Allen to contribute to the Jeremy Pelt ...
Nick Vayenas: First Steps
by Franz A. Matzner
Soft spoken, straightforward, and possessed of a pleasantly down to earth sense of humor, trombonist Nick Vayenas' speech reflects well his musical approach--deliberate, unassuming, mellow, and deceptively layered.Candid about his stature as a young composer and player still just starting out, Vayenas discusses the genesis of his musical approach; what he learned putting together ...
