"DownBeat" - September 2009

COVER
Medeski Martin & Wood - In the world of Medeski Martin & Wood, creativity is alive, flourishing and filled with outlets for growth and expansion. Famous for their legendary live performances, the trio creates hypnotic textures and sounds that brim with group improvisation, irresistible grooves, strong melodies and rich harmony. Now, the ultimate live act comes out with a CD recording of their ultimate live act: Radiolarians II, released on the trio's own Indirecto label. The story of keyboardist John Medeski, drummer Billy Martin and bassist Chris Wood is one of humble beginnings, friendship, determination and a very bright future.

FEATURES
Alexander von Schlippenbach - One of Europe's premier free jazz pianists and bandleaders, Schlippenbach's music mixes free and contemporary classical elements. His trio with saxophonist Evan Parker and drummer Paul Lovens has maintained a staggering level of consistency and development over the past 25 years.

Fred Anderson - The Chicago-based tenor saxophonist celebrates his 80th birthday with a celebration at his own club - the iconic Velvet Lounge - that includes everyone from Anderson's locally based AACM colleagues to some of the biggest international names in jazz.

Fly - Saxophonist Mark Turner, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard are attuned to the jazz tradition but stretch well beyond its structural confines as the acclaimed collective Fly. Since its 2004 genesis, the trio continues to chart its course forward, defying expectations and inventing fresh compositional frameworks along the way.

Lynne Ariale - The virtuoso pianist branches out from her established trio format and breaks fresh ground on a stunning new CD and DVD featuring collaborators Randy Brecker on trumpet and George Mraz on bass.

SPECIAL SECTION: Indie Life
· Vibest Teddy Charles comes back from live at sea with some help from Small's.
· 557 Records continues releasing a world of free-improv players. Now it issues a
non-traditional big band recording from Portugal.

PLAYERS
Chano Domiguez (piano)
Ezra Weiss (piano)
Will Sellenraad (guitar)
Aram Shelton (saxophone)

BLINDFOLD TEST - Toshiko Akiyoshi

THE BEAT
· Small venues that run their own labels.
· New York's Jazz Forum celebrates 30th anniversary.
· Los Angeles Jazz Collective gets musicians organized, recording in L.A.
· Vinyl Freak; Backstage With ...
· Caught: Telluride Jazz Festival, Catalan Nights at New York's Jazz Standard, Deep Tones For Beace Jazz Bass Event in Isreal

WOODSHED
· Jazz on Campus: Hamiett Bluiett starts new education program in St. Louis
· Master classes: Geoffrey Keezer and Marian McPartland
· Transcription: Mike Nock piano solo on 'In Out And Around' (Timeless, 1978)

REVIEWS
Hot Box
Kurt Elling, Dedicated To You (Concord)
Sex Mob, Meets John Medeski Live in Willisau (Thirsty Ear)
Joe Locke/David Hazeltine, Mutual Admiration Society 2 (Sharp Nine)
Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Infernal Machines (New Amsterdam)

Reviews
E.J. Strickland, In This Day (StrickMuzik)
Mike Stern Band, New Morning: The Paris Concert (Heads Up)
Roy Nathanson, Subway Moon (Yellowbird)
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara, Tell No Lies (Real World)
Lucky 7s, Pluto Junkyard (Clean Feed)
Nicholas Urie Large Ensemble, Excerpts From An Online Dating Service (Red Piano)
Joel Harrison, Urban Myths (HighNote)
J.D. Allen Trio, Shine! (Sunnyside)
Béla Fleck, Throw Down Your Heart (Rounder)
Béla Fleck/Edgar Meyer/Zakir Hussain, The Melody Of Rhythm (E1)
Kermit Ruffins, Livin' A Tremé Life (Basin Street)
Jacques Loussier, Plays Bach (Telarc)
Neil Cowley Trio, Loud ... Louder ... Stop (Candid)
Hank Jones & Frank Wess, Hank And Frank II (Lineage)
Lucky Thompson, New York City, 1964-65 (Uptown)
Wessell Anderson, Warm It Up, Warmdaddy! (Nu Jazz Entertainment)
Rondi Charleston, In My Life (EMM)
Phil Woods, The Children's Suite (JazzedMedia)
Christian McBride and Inside Straight, Kind Of Brown (Mack Avenue)
Ellery Eskelin, One Great Night, Live (hatOLOGY)
Ellery Eskelin/Sylvie Courvoisier, Every So Often (Prime Source)
Extra Golden, Thank You Very Quickly (Thrill Jockey)
Bobby Broom, Plays For Monk (Origin)
ILAD, Here//There (Syjip)
Roswell Rudd, Trombone Tribe (Sunnyside)
Bobby Sanabria/Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Kenya Revisited Live!!! (Jazzheads)
Ronnie Earl, Living In The Light (Stony Plain)
Kyle Asche Organ Trio, Blues For Mel (Tippin')
Jermaine Landsberger, Gettin' Blazed (Resonance)
Kelly Joe Phelps, Western Bell (Black Hen)

Jazz
Marcus Roberts, New Orleans Meets Harlem, Vol. 1 (J-Master Music)
Sergio Savatore/Christos Rafalides, Dark Sand (Travelers Road Music)
Barney McAll, Flashbacks (Extra Celestial Arts
Daniel Kelly, Emerge (Brooklyn Underground)
Satoko Fujii/Myra Melford, Under The Water (Libra)
Rick Germanson Trio, On The Cuff (Owl Studios)

Blues
Big James, Right Here, Right Now (Flying Fish)
Rick Estrin & the Nitecats, In Twisted (Alligator)
Felix Cabrera & Jimmy Vivino, Live At The Turning Point (Suitcase)
Judy Roderick, When I'm Gone (Dexofon)
Jenni Muldaur, Dearest Darlin' (Dandelion)
Keith Crossan, Beatnik Jungle (KC Music)

Beyond
Clara Moreno, Miss Balanco (Far Out)
Various Artists, Black Rio 2, Original Samba Soul 1971-1980 (Strut)
La Pupuña, All Right Penoso!!! (Ná Music)
Márcio Local, Don Day Don Dree Don Don (Luaka Bop)
Mariana Aydar, Peixes, Passaros, Pessoas (Universal, Brazil)
Moacyr Luz, Batucando (Biscoito Fino)

DVD/Historical
Anita O'Day, The Life Of A Jazz Singer (AOD Productions)
Billie Holiday, The Life And Artistry Of Lady Day (Item Home Video)
Miles Davis, That's What Happened-Live In Germany 1987 (Eagle Rock)
Sonny Stitt/J.J. Johnson Sextet, We Remember Bird (Impro-Jazz)

Book
Samuel Charters, A Language of Song (Duke University Press)