"DownBeat" - October 2010

COVER
Ray Charles -- DownBeat honors the life and jazz legacy of Ray Charles, whose 80th anniversary this year has served as an occasion for reissues of his classic recordings, an upcoming television biopic and even a Broadway musical. DB takes a fresh look at Brother Ray's big band work and the jazz musicians who helped him put the soul into swing.

FEATURES
John Clayton -- A family man who frequently performs with his sax-playing brother Jeff and piano-playing son Gerald, Clayton holds an undisputed position in the upper echelons of bass expression as an ensemble player and soloist. His experience as a composer, arranger and bandleader-not to mention his dedication to education-have earned him deep respect in jazz and classical music circles. (Suprisingly, not a single word about Diana Krall, his main employer in the past 10 years, with whom he toured the world many times, recorded several CDs and appeared on 2 DVDs...I know that Clayton already left her group, but the fact that her name is not even mentioned in this story sounds very strange to me...)

Tim Berne -- Alto and baritone saxophonist Tim Berne is a driven New York bandleader and improviser who thrives on change. He perpetually seeks out fellow players who can bring a fresh chemistry to his ever-evolving ensembles.

Josh Berman -- For more than 10 years, cornetist Berman has been an essential contributor to Chicago's active improvised music scene. His work involves not only performing in a variety of highly collaborative formats, but also developing opportunities and forums for presenting improvised music.

Billy Childs -- A feeling of Impressionism pervades the pianist's latest recording project, a collection of classically infused compositions rich in atmospheric timbres and sensations.

JAZZ EDUCATION GUIDE: Where To Study Jazz 2011 --
A comprehensive resource of school listings designed to help students preparing to enter college and graduate school take the proper steps in pursuing their formal jazz studies. Includes:
· Rufus Reid Blindfold test at the JEN Conference
· Future of Jazz discussion with Stefon Harris, Gerald Clayton, Don Braden, DJ Trentino
· Glimpse at Oberlin's new jazz facility an honor the late chazz chair, Wendell Logan.
· Peek into the influental jazz education organizations of Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and the Brubeck Institute.
· Tips on finding the right college jazz program and advice for choosing (or changing) majors.

PLAYERS
Michael 'Spike' Wilner (piano)
Matt Bauder (saxophone)
Pete Robbins (saxophone)
Gregory Porter (voice)

BLINDFOLD TEST -- Anat Cohen

THE BEAT
· Ramsey Lewis celebrates his 75th birthday
· Tenor saxophonist Fred Anderson remembered.
· Icons Among Us DVD documents current jazz scene
· European Scene
· Caught: Parma Jazz Festival in Italy; Montreal Jazz Festival; North Sea Jazz Festival

WOODSHED
· Master Class: Trumpeter Carl Fischer on how to not get stereotyped
· Transcription: Jon Irabagon's alto saxophone solo on "January Dream" from the Observer

REVIEWS - Hot Box
· Bruce Barth & Steve Wilson, Home (We Always Swing)
· Wynton Marsalis & Richard Galliano, From Billie Holiday To Edith Piaf: Live In Marciac (Wynton Marsalis Enterprises/The Orchard)
· Bill Frisell, Beautiful Dreams (Savoy Jazz)
· Herbie Hancock, The Imagine Project (Hancock Records) this album received four different ratings -- **, ***, ***1/2, **** -- from the DB critics.

CD Reviews
· Sinatra-Jobim, The Complete Reprise Recordings (Concord)
· Stefano Battaglia & Michele Rabbia, Pastorale (ECM)
· James Moody, 4B (IPO)
· Eden Brent, Ain't Got No Troubles (Yellow Dog)
· Marco Benevento, Between The Needles & Nightfall (Royal Potato Family)
· Geri Allen, Flying Toward The Sound and Geri Allen & Timeline-Live (Motema)
· Gabor Szabo, Jazz Raga (Impulse!/Light In The Attic Records)
· Steve Smith/George Brooks/Prasanna, Raga Bop Trio (Abstract Logix)
· Liam Sillery, Phenomenology (OA2)
· Stanley Clarke, The Stanley Clarke Band (HeadsUp)
· Hilary Kole, You Are There (Justin Time)
· Bobby Previte, Pan Atlantic (Auand)
· Pinetop Perkins/Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Joined At The Hip (Telarc)
· Ernie Watts, Four Plus Four (Flying Dolphin)
· Larry Coryell, The Virtuoso Guitar Of Larry Coryell (HighNote)
· George Duke, Deja Vu (Heads Up)
· Stacey Kent, Raconte-Moi (EMI-Blue Note)
· Charnett Moffett, Treasure (Motema)
· Axis Trio, Anthem (Accretions)
· Rich Corpolongo Trio, Get Happy (Delmark)
· Pat Mallinger, Dragon Fish (Chicago Sessions)
· Stan Kenton Alumni Band, Have Band Will Travel (Summit)
· Stan Kenton, This Is An Orchestra (Tantara)
· Margret, Com Você (Sunnyside)
· Frederico Britos, Voyage (Sunnyside)
· Guillermo Klein, Domador de Huellas (Sunnyside)
· Aaron Germain, Before You Go (self)

Jazz
· John Zorn/George Lewis/Bill Frisell, More News For Lulu (Hatology)
· Marc Copland Trio, Haunted Heart (Hatology)
· Dave Douglas Tiny Bell, Constellations (Hatology)
· Anthony Braxton, Koln 1978 (Hatology)
· Manuel Mengis, Dulcet Crush (Hatology)
· Loren Connors/Jim O'Rourke, Are You Going To Stop...In Berlin? (Hatology)

Blues
· Dave Weld & Imperial Flames, Burnin' Love (Delmark)
· Mia Vermillion, Alone Together with the Blues (VMS)
· Hot Tuna, Live at New Orleans House (Collector's Choice)
· Various Artists, I'm Going Where the Water Drinks Like Wine: Rarities 1923-29 (Sub Rosa)
· Various Artists, This is the Blues (Eagle)
· John Jackson, Rappahannock Blues (Smithsonian)
· Tim Woods, The Blues Sessions (Earwig)

Beyond
· Tom Jobim, Brazil's Ambassador Of Song [3-DVD set] (Jobim Music/DGR)

Historical
· Dave Brubeck Quartet, Jazz at Oberlin (Concord)
· Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section (Concord)
· Sonny Rollins, Way Out West (Concord)
· Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane (Concord)
· Joe Pass, Virtuoso (Concord)

Book Review
· Jimmy Heath, I Walked With The Giants (Temple University Press)