"DownBeat" - June 2008

COVER STORY
Freddie Hubbard — The trumpeter just turned 70, and is celebrating with a number of shows and a new album with the New Jazz Composers Octet. Once the greatest trumpeter of his generation, Hubbard does not have the chops that he once had. But in a candid interview, he reveals his efforts to work with his new sound, how music still constantly flows through his mind and much more!
(This is Hubbard's first "cover story" in a major jazz magazine in 10 years, since an appearance on JazzTimes when he had re-signed with CTI Records back in 1998 and started to record a "comeback fusion album", produced by Creed Taylor and arranged by Jurgen Friedrich, that was never completed)

FEATURES
Miguel Zenón — Every generation, a few saxophonists emerge as stylistic leaders on the horn. Count alto saxophonist Zenón among his generation’s guiding lights. Since blasting onto the scene from Puerto Rico in David Sanchez’s band, he has emerged as a distinctive leader and sideman, and developed an ardent following among student and veteran players.

Brian Blade — A true musical chameleon, Blade has recorded a new album with his Fellowship band, and he works in the jazz groups of Joshua Redman and Wayne Shorter. Then he can go down to Austin, Texas, to play with Daniel Lanois at SXSW, where we caught up with the drummer for this story.

Esperanza Spalding — She was the youngest professor ever at Berklee, but this is not to say that the bassist and vocalist plays strictly academic music. Spalding stands to be a creative force in jazz and beyond for years, as shown by her debut album on Heads Up.

SPECIAL SECTION: 31st Annual DownBeat Student Music Awards — The future stars of jazz get their first exposure in DownBeat in our annual international awards for excellence in student musicianship. This section includes stories on many of the winning soloists and ensembles, as well as DB’s Annual Achievement Awards for Jazz Education.

BLINDFOLD TEST — David Baker and Jamey Aebersold live at IAJE!

PLAYERS
Maria Pia Del Vito (voice)
Leo Tardin (keyboards)
Matt Davis (guitar)
Mostly Other People Do The Killing (band)

THE BEAT
• Riffs—Jazz News From Around The Globe
• Bob Belden’s Miles From India project
• Astral Project celebrates its 30th anniversary
• Jazz stars celebrate Marian McPartland’s 90th birthday
• Documentary delves into historical music of black New Orleans
• Living Jazz, European Scene
• Backstage With ... Booker T. Jones
• Caught: SFJAZZ Collective at Chicago’s Symphony Center, Dennis Irwin Benefit at Jazz at Lincoln Center

WOODSHED
• Jazz on Campus: Musician-led program gets disadvantaged middle school students involved with traditional New Orleans bands
• Master Class: Ben Wolfe
• Transcription: Herbie Hancock solo on “When I Fall In Love” from Miles Davis’ Live At The Plugged Nickel

REVIEWS
Hot Box
Stanley Jordan, State of Nature (Mack Avenue)
John Ellis & Double Wide, Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow (Hyena)
Marilyn Mazur/Jan Garbarek, Elixir (ECM)
Dianne Reeves, When You Know (Blue Note)

Reviews
Bobby Watson, From The Heart (Palmetto)
Marian McPartland, Twilight World (Concord)
Jane Ira Bloom, Mental Weather (Out-Line)
Avery Sharpe, Legends & Mentors (JKNM)
Pete Malinverni, Invisible Cities (Reservoir)
Jason Adasiewicz, Rolldown (482)
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Lil’ Tae Rides Again (Hyena)
Maybe Monday, Unsquare (Intakt)
Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble, Xenogenesis Suite (Firehouse 12)
Marcus Miller, Marcus (Concord)
Aquiles Baez, La Patilla (Cacao Musica)
Jimmy Owens Plus, Peaceful Walking (Jay-Oh Jazz)
Rob Brown Ensemble, Crown Trunk Root Funk (AUM)
Chris Stetson, New History Warfare Volume 1 (Aagoo)
NYNDK, Nordic Disruption (Jazzheads)
Eric Alexander Quartet, Prime Time (HighNote)
Bob Belden, Miles ... From India (Time Square)
Jason Miles, Global Noize (Shanachie)
Louie Bellson/Clark Terry, Louie & Clark Expedition 2 (Percussion Power)
Amos Hoffman, Evolution (RazDaz)
Third World Love, New Blues (Anzic)
Earma Thompson, Madam Queen (The Sirens)
Howard Alden & Ken Peplowski, Pow-Wow (Arbors)
Ben Wolfe, No Stangers Here (MaxJazz)
Catherine Russell, Sentimental Streak (World Village)
Jon Hemmersam/Dom Minasi Quartet (CDM)

Jazz
Russ Nolan, With You In Mind (Rhinoceruss)
Grant Stewart, Young At Heart (Sharp 9)
Adam Kolker, Flag Day (Sunnyside)
Soren Kjaergaard, Optics (ILK)
George Schuller’s Circle Wide, Like Before, Somewhat After (Playscape)
Frank Macchia, Landscapes (Cacophony)

Blues
Henry Butler, PiaNOLA Live (Basin Street)
Geraldine and Donald Gay, Soulful Sounds (The Sirens)
Preacher Jack, Life’s Other Side (Cow Island)
David Bennett Cohen, Cookin’ With Cohen (Core)
Pinetop Perkins, And Friends (Telarc)
Eden Brant, Mississippi #1 (Yellow Dog)
Pete York & Friends (Inak)

Beyond
Kevin Parks and Joe Foster, Ipsi Sibi Somnia Fingunt (self-released)
Kevin Drumm/Daniel Menche, Gauntlet (Editions Mego)
Rhodri Davies/Matt Davis/Samantha Rebello/Bechir Saade, Hum (Another Timbre)
Ingar Zach/Thomas Lehn/Ivar Grydeland, szc zcz cze zec eci cin (Musica Genera)
Christine Sehnaoui, Solo (Olof Bright)

Historical
Billie Holiday, Rare Live Recordings, 1934–1959 (ESP)

Book
George Lewis, A Power Stronger Than Itself (University of Chicago Press)