"DownBeat" - May 2012

COVER STORY
Esperanza Spalding -- Jazz bassist/vocalist/composer Esperanza Spalding talks to DownBeat about a whirlwind year in which she won the Grammy for Best New Artist, toured the world, and recorded one of the most anticipated CDs of 2012.

FEATURES
Gil Evans -- On the centennial of his birth, DownBeat celebrates the life and legacy of the legendary composer/arranger/bandleader Gil Evans (1912-1988).

Stefano Bollani -- DB catches up with the prolific Italian pianist, who collaborated with Chick Corea on the 2011 CD Orvieto.

Jimmy Owens -- The trumpeter and 2012 NEA Jazz Master talks about his new CD, The Monk Project which include collaborations with Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Strickland and Kenny Barron.

Special Section:
Reed School -- Master Class by flutist Ali Ryerson, a Joshua Redman saxophone solo transcribed, Pro Session by James Carter, feature story on saxophonist Steve Lehman, and more in our annual reed-themed issue.

Toolshed
* Theo Wanne Mantra tenor saxophone
* Eastman 52nd Street alto/tenor saxophones
* Backun clarinet
* Powell's Silver Eagle alto saxophone Gear Box
* Vandoren Hygro reed case
* Rico saxophone mouthpieces
* Beyerdynamic TG 157c saxophone condenser mic
* Cannonball baritone sax case
* JodyJazz DVD In The Funk Zone with George Garzone

Special Section: Summer Festival Guide -- The annual International Summer Festival Guide is a definitive guide to jazz fests worldwide! Includes features on Detroit Jazz Festival, Brazil's Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues Festival and Top Acts to see on '12 Festival Circuit.

PLAYERS
Alex Lopez (saxophone)
Marilyn Mazur (percussion)
Stephane Wrembel (guitar)
Jorge Rossy (percussion)

BLINDFOLD TEST -- David Binney

THE BEAT
* Lead Story: Porgy And Bess Broadway adaptation
* Label Profile--Intakt Records
* Small's Jazz Club membership initiative
* Vinyl Freak

JAZZ ON CAMPUS University of Louisville Jazz Festival with Eddie Gomez workshops

REVIEWS - Hot Box:
Steve Turre, Woody's Delight (HighNote)
Don Byron New Gospel Quintet, Love, Peace, And Soul (Savoy)
Johnathan Blake, The Eleventh Hour (Sunnyside)
Igor Butman Orchestra, Sheherazade's Tales (Butman Music)

Reviews:
Erik Deutsch, Demonio Teclado (self release)
Co Streiff-Russ Johnson Quartet, In Circles (Intakt)
Paolo Fresu & Omar Sosa, Alma (Ota)
Mark Mosley, TLC (self release)
Catherine Russell, Strictly Romancin' (World Village)
Luis Perdomo, Universal Mind (RKM Music)
Jerry Gonzalez, Jerry Gonzalez Y El Comando De La Clave (Sunnyside)
Martin Schulte NY Quartet, Pieces Of Astoria (JazzHaus Musik)
Tom Wetmore, The Desired Effect (Crosstown)
Ferit Ordman, Autumn In New York (Equinox)
Frank Walton Sextet, The Back Step (self release)
George Colligan, Living For The City (SteepleChase)
Chick Corea, The Continents (Deutsche Grammophon)
Ben Wendel, Frame (Sunnyside)
Elio Villafranca/Arturo Stable, Dos Y Mas (Motéma)
Pete Zimmer, Prime Of Life (Tippin)
Michael Campagna, Moments (Challenge)
Calvin Keys, Shawn-Neeq (Tompkins Square)
Tord Gustavsen Quartet, The Well (ECM)
Roscoe Mitchell, Numbers (RogueArt)
Jeff Lorber Fusion, Galaxy (Heads Up)
Talking Cows, Almost Human (Morvin)
Metta Quintet, Big Drum/Small World (Jazz Reach)
Bass X3, Transatlantic (Leo), combined review with The Clarinet Trio, 4 (Leo)
Jake Saslow, Crosby Street (self release)
The October Trio, New Dream (Songlines)
Jessica Lurie Ensemble, Megaphone Heart (Zipa)
Mark Weinstein, El Cumbanchero (Jazzheads)

Jazz:
Alexander Hawkins Ensemble, All There, Ever Out (Babel)
Empirical, Elements Of Truth (Naim)
Hession/Wilkinson/Fell, Two Falls & A Submission (Bo'Weavil)
Barrel, Gratuitous Abuse (Emanem)
McCormack & Yarde Duo, Places And Other Spaces (Edition)
Mark Hanslip & Javier Carmona, Dosados (Babel)

Blues:
Little Joe Ayers, Backatchya (Devil Down)
Lisa Mills, Tempered In Fire (Really 'n truly)
Fiona Boyes, Blues For Hard Times (Vizztone)
Ray Bonneville, Bad Man's Blood (Red House)
Heritage Blues Orchestra, And Still I Rise (Raisin' Music)
Oz Noy, Twisted Blues Vol. 1 (Abstract Logix)
Barrence Whitfield, Savage Kings (Munster)

Beyond:
Various Artists, Eccentric Soul: The Nickel & Penny Labels (Numero Group)
Various Artists, Boddie Recording Company: Cleveland, OH (Numero Group)
Lou Ragland: I Travel Alone (Numero Group)
Los Nombres: Los Nombres (Numero Group)
Wendy Rene, After Laughter Comes Tears (Light In The Attic)

Historical:
Dave Brubeck Quartet, The Columbia Studio Albums Collection (Columbia/Legacy)

Books:
Gil Scott-Heron, The Last Holiday: A Memoir (Grove Press)