"DownBeat" - December 2010

COVER
Sonny Rollins -- DownBeat celebrates the 80th birthday of the Saxophone Colossus, who was voted Tenor Saxophonist of the Year in the 75th Annual Readers Poll. DownBeat's coverage of Rollins at 80 includes an in-depth report from his highly anticipated, star-studded concert this September at the New York's Beacon Theatre.

FEATURES
Chick Corea -- The newest inductee to the DownBeat Hall of Fame wins multiple categories in this year's Readers Poll, including Jazz Artist, Electronic Keyboardist and Beyond Album of the Year.

Pat Metheny -- One of the jazz world's favorite guitarists not only wins top honors on his instrument, but also takes home Jazz Album of the Year for his highly conceptualized, technologically innovative CD Orchestrion.

Dave Brubeck -- Still performing as a headliner at major jazz festivals and concert halls across the world, the soon-to-be-90-year-old pianist leads a quartet of veterans that DownBeat readers have voted Jazz Group of the Year.

Jack DeJohnette -- Capable of playing and composing in any idiom while still maintaining a well-defined voice, DownBeat's Drummer of the Year remains highly active as a bandleader, collaborator and sideman on today's jazz scene.

Fred Hersch -- Back in fine form after a near-death health battle, Hersch once again demonstrates his genius as pianist/composer, his unflappable focus and his complete dedication to his art.

PLAYERS
Waren Wolf (vibes)
Jason Roebke (bass)
Francois Bourassa (piano)
Rebecca Martin (voice)

BLINDFOLD TEST -- Uri Caine

THE BEAT
· Rhythm Summit brings together jazz and Japanese taiko drummers
· New silent film with Wynton Marsalis' live score about Louis Armstrong, titled Louis.
· European Scene
· Vinyl Freak
· Caught: Chicago Jazz Festival, Guelph Jazz Festival

WOODSHED
Master Class: Harmonic Grounding, by Chaise Baird
Transcription: Sonny Rollins' tenor saxophone solo on "Surrey With The Fringe On Top".
Jazz on Campus: Arts and Communication Magnet Academy in Beaverton, OR.

REVIEWS - Hot Box
Cassandra Wilson: Silver Pony (Blue Note)
Ralph Alessi: Cognitive Dissonance (CAM Jazz)
Mary Halvorson Quintet: Saturn Sings (Firehouse 12)
Mason Brothers: Two Sides One Story (Archival Records)

CD Reviews
Roland Vasquez: The Visitor (RVD)
Greg Abate: Live In Monterey (Wave Street Sessions)
Dick Oatts: Two Hearts (SteepleChase)
Dave Wilson Quartet: Spiral (Summit)
John Escreet: Don't Fight The Inevitable (Mythology Records)
John Fedchock NY Sextet: Live At The Red Sea Jazz Festival (Capri)
Sandro Albert: Vertical (Daywood Drive)
Russ Lossing: Personal Tonal (Fresh Sound)
Jamie Begian Big Band: Big Fat Grin (Innova)
Oleg Kireyev/Keith Javors: Rhyme & Reason (Inarhyme)
Amina Figarova: Sketches (Munich Records)
Chico Pinheiro: There's a Storm Inside (Sunnyside)
Marc Ribot: Silent Movies (Pi)
Greg Lewis: Organ Monk (self)
Chris Colangelo: Elaine's Song (C-Note)
Greg Ward's Fitted Shards: South Side Story (19/8)
Karl E.H. Seigfried: Portrait of Jack Johnson (Imaginary Records)
Jon Irabagon Trio: Foxy (Hot Cup)
Lucky Peterson: You Can Always Turn Around (Dreyfus)
Marsalis Family: Music Redeems (Marsalis Music)
John McNeil & Bill McHenry: Chill Morn He Climb Jenny (Sunnyside)
Ryan Cohen: Another Look (Motéma)
Nels Cline: Dirty Baby (Cryptogramophone)
Evan Christopher: The Remembering Song (Arbors)
David Bennett: Clarinet Is King (Arbors)

Jazz
Freddy Cole: Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B (HighNote)
Karen Marguth: Karen Marguth (Wayfae)
Denise Donatelli: When Lights Are Low (Savant)
Nnenna Freelon: Homefree (Concord)
Ran Blake/Christine Correa: Out Of The Shadows (Red Piano)
Kenia: Kenia Celebrates Dorival Caymmi (Mooka)
Barb Jungr: The Men I Love (Naim)

Blues
Charlie Musslewhite: The Well (Alligator)
Stevie Ray Vaughan: Couldn't Stand The Weather (Legacy)
The Morlocks: Play Chess (Pop Anti-Pop)
Les Sampou: Lonesomeville (self)
Dave Specter: Spectified (Fret 12)
Alabama Mike: Tailor Made Blues (Juke House)
Piano Red: Lost Atlanta Tapes (Landslide)

Beyond
Helena Gough: Mikroklimata (Entr'acte)
Olivia Block/Kyle Bruckmann: Teem (Either/OAR)
George Lewis/Marina Rosenfeld: Sour Mash (Innova)
Toshimaru Nakamura: Egrets (Samadhi Sound)
Kevin Drumm: Necro Acoustic (Pica Disk)
Osvaldo Coluccino: Neuma Q (Die Schachtel)

Historical
John Carter & Bobby Bradford (Mosaic Select)

Book Review
Howard Reich: Let Freedom Swing (Northwestern University Press)