Wednesday, March 7, 2018

David Hazeltine will appear @ Zinc Bar in April

Book your tickets today!
$20 advance / $25 day of show

The Maguire Twins release U.S. debut album, "Seeking Higher Ground," March 30

Produced by Memphis legend Donald Brown, twins' first U.S. release features Gregory Tardy, Bill Mobley & Aaron Goldberg. Tokyo-born, Hong Kong-raised, and currently Memphis-based, The Maguires are newest members of elite fraternity of jazz brothers.

The Maguire Twins' mastery of their craft as jazz instrumentalists and composers is in sparkling evidence throughout their U.S. debut recording, "Seeking Higher Ground," which will be released by Three Tree Records on March 30. Drummer Carl Seitaro Maguire and bassist Alan Shutaro Maguire, who'll turn 22 on March 19, take their place in the lineage of jazz brothers that includes such illustrious last names as Heath, Farmer, Montgomery, Mangione, Brecker, and Marsalis.

Produced by Donald Brown, the CD finds the twins living up to its title by more than holding their own in the heady company of saxophonist Gregory Tardy, trumpeter Bill Mobley, and pianist Aaron Goldberg. The Maguires contribute two originals each to the program, which includes songs by their bandmates and producer. And without sacrificing cohesiveness, the songs are stylistically diverse.

Tardy's "Theodicy" is a timely commentary on misguided religion. He plays tenor with his usual Coltrane-like intensity and, says Carl, "I try to somewhat embody Elvin Jones, who is one of my heroes." Brown's tricky "The Early Bird Gets the Short End of the Stick" boasts sudden time shifts and dramatic swoops that both twins laughingly said they were greatly relieved to have handled after numerous attempts.

Carl's "Machi no Michi" (translation: "The Road of the Town") is an elegant tribute to his Japanese origins, as reflected in the Japanese scale in the bassline and the traditional taiko drum feel in the composer's playing. "I love the taiko drum's huge sound and the commanding way it is played," says Carl, who tunes his snares tightly to highlight the melody.

Goldberg's composition, "Shed," was the first modern jazz tune the Maguires learned to play, having heard the pianist play it as both sideman and leader. "It has been one of our favorites for the longest time," says Carl. "Just watching Aaron count off his tunes helped me internalize time, made my time stronger," says Alan.
Born in Tokyo in 1996 to a Japanese mother and an American father who both worked in the airline industry, identical twins Carl Seitaro Maguire (above left) and Alan Shutaro Maguire (above right) were raised in Hong Kong from age 3 and moved with their family, at 15, to musically rich Memphis. There they enrolled at the Stax Music Academy and started playing jazz. "Memphis is where most of our musical growing happened," says Carl. "I can't imagine us getting to where we are if we hadn't come here."

They learned to improvise listening to musicians at jazz clubs. "The music just took us over," says Carl. "When I heard a bassist, I would tell Alan about it. When he heard a drummer, he would make suggestions to me based on what he saw and heard. We helped each other out.

 Maguire Twins "We were open to criticism from each other as well as ideas," he adds. "Friends don't want to be too harsh, but we can criticize each other as much as we want."

Saxophonist Kirk Whalum, then artist in residence at Stax, had much to do with their development as did Donald Brown, whom they met when he came to scout students as a faculty member at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. They went on to study there with him, Gregory Tardy, and bassist Jon Hamar, who composed one of the new album's heartfelt ballads, "Clarity."

"It all goes back to Donald," says Alan. "He has kept us motivated. He's always giving us something new to work on, new CDs to check out, keeps us listening to all kinds of music and encourages us to get as many lessons from as many people as we can."

When the Maguire family made its annual visit to Japan to visit the twins' maternal grandmother in the inland town of Kitaakita City, the boys performed in various spots, building a following among local musicians as well as fans. Requests for CDs led them to record, at 18, "The Sound of Music," a demo-style album released in 2014.

With each tour of Japan and Hong Kong, where they began performing on an annual basis in 2013, their Asian following has grown. So has the talent pool they draw from over there. The twins have performed with artists such as guitarist Yosuke Onuma, trombonist Shigeharu Mukai, pianist Yuichi Inoue, and saxophonist Yosuke Sato in Japan as well as pianist Ted Lo in Hong Kong.

"Now when we go back to Japan," says Carl, "where jazz has been really important to a lot of people for a long time, we do so as individuals who really appreciate this music. It's been quite an awakening for us, and it keeps getting more fun."

Photography: Jamie Harmon

Duduka Da Fonseca, Helio Alves & Maucha Adnet @ Dizzy's Club Coca Cola this week, March 8-11

(Helio Alves & Duduka Da Fonseca)

DUDUKA DA FONSECA & HELIO ALVES FEAT. MAUCHA ADNET - "SAMBA JAZZ AND THE MUSIC OF JOBIM" 
Thursday-Sunday, March 8 - 11 - Sets at 7:30 and 9:30 pm 
Dizzy's Club Coca Cola - Frederick P. Rose Hall @ Jazz at Lincoln Center (Broadway at 60th Street, 5th Floor)

Reservations: 212-258-9595 or -9795.
Online reservations: www.jalc.org

WITH: BILLY DREWES - REEDS & FLUTE, ROMERO LUBAMBO - GUITARS, HANS GLAWISCHNIG - BASS, MAUCHA ADNET - VOCALS. HELIO ALVES - PIANO, DUDUKA DA FONSECA - DRUMS

“Duduka is a fantastic drummer, he has worked with me and I love the way he plays.”  
Antonio Carlos Jobim, Rio de Janeiro, Spring 94      

"Duduka Da Fonseca is one of the very few drummers, or perhaps the only drummer, who has found his own unique voice by combining the two traditions. His command of Brazilian and American rhythms and his ability to integrate them so seamlessly is truly innovative.  
With music in mind, Sincerely,"  
Billy Hart

“Da Fonseca divulgues a keen awareness of where Brazilian Jazz has been and where it’s headed”
Todd Jenkins, DownBeat Magazine

"[Alves has] subtlety, musicianship and extraordinary improvisational facility..." "...outstanding capabilities as a melodic improviser..."
Robert L. Doerschuk, DownBeat Magazine

"Alves plays with a gravity and a stylistic flair that's truly impressive."
Phillip Van Vleck, Billboard Magazine

"Alves executes his feats with unhurried grace, even at very fast tempos. There is an aptitude that, if not exclusive of Brazil, has reached its highest expression there: the communication of a subtle energy embodying a life- affirming message that life is transitory."
Thomas Conrad, Jazz Times Magazine
"Adnet's voice is an emotionally powerful instrument capable of firmness or fragility, depending on the situation. When the tempo slows down and the lights are low, she reveals an attractive vocal wave—more a quiver than out-and-out vibrato—that heightens the intensity in her delivery; this level of directness and honesty transcends mere language when it appears."
- Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz

“Maucha and I have travelled the world with the Banda Nova since 1984. She is a marvelous singer. Her voice is deep, rich, mysterious. It makes me long for the Brazilian forest. Maucha is intelligent and comes from a very musical family. She is a good girl, wonderful woman, a great artist”
Kiss from your fan, 
Antonio Carlos Jobim

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Jazz Lines announces the release of "Gaslight" from Duke Pearson's "Sweet Honey Bee"

Jazz Lines Publications continue to expand the available repertoire of one of Blue Note Records' central figures, Duke Pearson. During the 1960s, he wrote, led small groups and big bands, arranged and produced for others, and was even an A&R man. Pearson was a foundational figure during the label's incredible hard bop period.

"Gaslight" is another swinging, melodic, memorable Pearson tune. Jazz Lines has added it to the rest of the charts they have published from this great record in a specially-priced five chart set at nearly 25% off of retail. Look for more Duke Pearson charts to be released soon: "Wahoo," "E.S.P.," "Empathy," and small group versions of "Amanda" and "Bedouin."

Working closely for nearly a decade with Duke's son Anthony, Jazz Lines now publish over two dozen of his fantastic charts, both from his original source materials and from Jazz Lines Publications' transcribing staff, all with Anthony's full and very generous cooperation.

Click here to order:
http://www.ejazzlines.com/?q=duke%20pearson%20%20small%20group&sort=title

Friday, March 2, 2018

"Zoot Fest" with David Libeman, Bill Goodwin and other jazz masters honoring Zoot Sims

Thursday, March 29, 2018
Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall, 
Fine and Performing Arts Building, East Stroudsburg University

Featuring:
7 pm - A Tribute to Al and Zoot: David Liebman, Dave Leonhardt, Paul Rostock, Bill Goodwin
8 pm - Music from the Benny Carter recording: "Further Definitions" featuring Nelson Hill, Neil Wetzel, Dave Demsey, Craig Yaremko, Jay Rattman
Admission: $30 General / $10 Student
Deer Head Inn Jam Session starting at 9 p.m. – No charge

Contact Information:
Matt Vashlishan
200 Prospect Street
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301- 2999
Phone: 570-422-3828
alcohncollection@esu.edu

A relaxed evening of music, mirth and remembrance to benefit the Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection at ESU

Tix and infos:
http://www.esufoundation.org/s/125/index_foundation.aspx?sid=125&gid=1&pgid=1851&cid=3640&ecid=3640

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Book of the Month - "This is Hip: The Life of Mark Murphy"

"A 360-degree perspective on Mark Murphy's uniqueness and authenticity. I liked the clear narrative and Peter Jones' probing, questioning approach; and the section on Murphy’s uninhibited, no-safety-net teaching methods is unputdownable." - Sebastian Scotney, editor of London Jazz News

With publication coinciding with Mark Murphy's birthday on March 14, Equinox is proud to announce "This is Hip: The Life of Mark Murphy" by jazz singer and journalist Peter Jones.

When my much missed friend Mark Murphy died in October 2015, the world lost one of the greatest jazz singers in history. Murphy was the last of his kind, a hipster of the Kerouac generation, who rejected the straight life of prosperity and numb consumerism. With a catalog of more than 40 albums under his own name (for such labels as Decca, Riverside, Milestone, Muse, Verve and HighNote), Mark Murphy was a consummate improviser, who never sang a song the same way twice.

He could have enjoyed a successful mainstream career in the vein of Andy Williams, Johnny Matthis or Jack Jones. But his ambition was greater – to be a jazz artist, to rebel against the commercial music industry and to carry the jazz vocal flame wherever it led him. Among the sidemen on his albums were Bill Evans, Art Farmer, Larry Coryell, David Matthews, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, David Sanborn, Bill Mays, Frank Morgan, Claudio Roditi, Vince Lateano, Mark Egan, Gerry Niewood, Gene Bertoncini, Tom Harrell, Jim Hall, Wynton Kelly, Urbie Green, Al Cohn, Clark Terry, Till Bronner, Nan Schwartz and the brazilian fusion trio Azymuth.

Murphy was a master of scat and vocalese, of songwriting and the spoken word. He expanded the jazz singing repertoire, adding his own lyrics to instrumentals like John Coltrane’s "Naima," Freddie Hubbard’s "Red Clay," and Oliver Nelson’s "Stolen Moments." Unrivaled as an interpreter of ballads, he was able to express longing and regret to a degree lacking in any other jazz singer.

For years he roamed the world, playing thousands of gigs. Rediscovered in the Eighties by a new audience of jazz dancers, and again in the 21st century by a digital generation who invited him to guest on their recordings, he remains a crucial though unjustly neglected figure in vocal jazz.

I had the honor to be his friend for over three decades. Mark used to stay in my house in Rio de Janeiro when he toured Brazil in the 80s, sometimes taking his touring band with him. And everytime I visited California, he took me to have dinner in his huge apartment in San Francisco, where he lived till moving to NY in the mid-90s.

"This Is Hip" is more than a biography: it also explores Murphy’s innovative approaches both to singing and to the teaching of singers. Based on numerous interviews with those who knew him best, the book delves into a performing and recording career that spanned 60 years and earned him five Grammy nominations.

Peter Jones is a jazz singer and journalist based in London. During the making of his first album, One Way Ticket to Palookaville, he developed a serious interest in the work of Mark Murphy, which has continued ever since. He reviews concerts and CDs and conducts interviews for London Jazz News. His second album Utopia was released in 2016 and his third Under the Setting Sun in 2017.
(Arnaldo DeSouteiro and Mark Murphy @ Arnaldo's house)

Fusion CD of the Month - "Mark Egan & Arjun Bruggeman: Dreaming Spirits"

Fusion CD of the Month
Mark Egan & rjun Bruggeman: "Dreaming Spirits" (Wavetone WT8654)
Rating: ***** (musical performance & sonic quality)

Produced & Arranged by Mark Egan
Recorded January & March 2017 @ Electric Fields Studio (New Canaan, CT) by Mark Egan
Mixed by Jeremy Gillespie & Mark Egan
Mastered by Fred Kevorkian @ Kevorkian Mastering, Inc. (New York, NY)
Cover Photo: Simon Skafar
Liner Photo: Ana Ban
Graphic Design: Kevin Gaor

Featuring: Mark Egan (5 and 8 string Pedulla basses, effects), Arjun Bruggeman (tabla, frame drum, shakers, drum kit, tone drum), Shane Theriot (acoustic & electric guitars)

"Dreaming Spirits" is a world jazz project led by Grammy Award winning bassist Mark Egan and tabla player/percussionist Arjun Bruggeman, with guitarist Shane Theriot as a very special guest. This audiophile recording features 14 original instrumental compositions for a total of 70 plus minutes exploring multi-dimensional ambient grooves and masterful improvisations from some of the most influential contemporary improvising musicians.

Arjun and Mark were inspired to this project since meeting in 2008 while playing with Krishna Das. Guitar wizard Shane Theriot completed the chemistry for the trio. Fans of John McLaughlins's Shakti will feel at home with this dynamic recording, as well as listeners of jazz, fusion, blues, rock , yoga and Kirtan music. Mark Egan (Pat Metheney, Sting, Roger Daltrey, Joan Osborne, Krishna Das, Marc Cohn, Arcadia, Sophie B. Hawkins, Pat Martino, Larry Coryell, Gil Evans) and Arjun Bruggeman (Jason Mraz, Belinda Carlisle, Jon Anderson, Trevor Hall, Bobert Bly, Michael Franti, Hu Dost, Snatam, Shyamdas, Krishna Das) have conceived one of the most intriguing albums of the year!

Classical CD of the Month - "Carlos Franzetti & Allison Brewster Franzetti: Buenos Aires Noir"

Classical CD of the Month
Carlos Franzetti and Allison Brewster Franzetti with City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra: "Buenos Aires Noir" (Amapola Records AR 9817) 2018
Rating: ***** (music performance & sonic quality)

Release Date: February 1st, 2018
Produced by James Fitzpatrick
Recording Engineer: Jan Holzner @ Smecky Music Studio (Prague, Czech Republic) on September 15, 2016
Mixed & Mastered by Gareth Williams

Composed & Conducted by Carlos Franzetti
Piano: Allison Brewster Franzetti
City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
Orchestra Contractor: Tadlow Music Ltd.
Concertmaster: Lucie Svehlova
Assistant to Conductor: Stania Vomackova

A sublime three-movement symphonic poem for piano and orchestra. Franzetti reaches his peak as a classical composer, a master in the same level of Brouwer, Scriabin, Delius and Ogerman, while his wife Allison displays her virtuosistic talents as one of the world's greatest pianists.

"This work is based on my earlier tango ballet Dante Porteño," says Carlos, "and takes place during the last three nights of Carnaval in the Buenos Aires of the 1970's as the dirty war between the urban guerrillas and military juntas reached its fiercest point."

Vocal Jazz CD of the Month - "Lou Lanza: Scenes From An Italian - The Billy Joel Project"

Vocal Jazz CD of the Month
Lou Lanza: "Scenes From An Italian - The Billy Joel Project"
Rating: ***** (musical performance & sonic quality)

Produced by Tony Gairo
Engineered by Jim McGee @ SpectraSound Studios
Featuring: Lou Lanza (vocals), Tony Gairo (saxophones, clarinet, flute), Paul Sottile (piano), Matt Parrish (bass), Matt Scarano (drums), Mike Lorenz (guitar)

In the style of his landmark album "Opening Doors," Lou deranged these classic & obscure Billy Joel songs into a straight ahead jazz yet still accessible style. You’ll hear influences of Sinatra, Bennett, Baker, Murphy, Jarreau, & of course Billy Joel.

Instrumental Jazz CD of the Month - "Carlos Ezequiel: Circular"

Instrumental Jazz CD of the Month
Carlos Ezequiel: "Circular" (Tratore)
Rating:
***** (musical performance)
**** (sonic quality)

Produced by Carlos Ezequiel for Engrenagens Prod. Artísticas
Recorded by Carlos KK Akamine @ Estúdio Cachuera (São Paulo, SP, Brazil) on August 18 & September 09, 2014
Assistant Engineer: Helio Pisca
Mixed by Carlos Ezequiel @ Luca Studios (Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil)
Mastered by Dave Darlington @ Bass Hit Studios (New York, NY) in May 2017
Cover Photo: Carlos Ezequiel
Liner Photos: Victor Kobayashi
Graphics: Luciano Murino

Arranged by Carlos Ezequiel & Gustavo Bugni
Featuring: Carlos Ezequiel (drums), David Binney (alto sax), Lage Lund (guitar), Gustavo Bugni (acoustic piano), Gui Duvignau (acoustic bass)

Bio:
São Paulo-based drummer, composer, arranger and producer Carlos Ezequiel works with Brazilian music and jazz since 1992. Born in Alagoas, in the northeast of Brazil, Carlos performed there actively in the early 90's. In 1996 he won a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music, in Boston, where he got his Bachelor's degree in 1999. In 2014, he got his Master's degree from Universidade Federal da Bahia, presenting a research on Polyrhythms and Odd-Meters applied to Brazilian Rhythms.

His first CD, “Images” (with guitarist Lupa Santiago), was nominated for the Latin Grammy 2002 as “Best Latin Jazz Album”. With group Sinequanon, Carlos recorded four albums: “Sinequanon” (2004), “Telescópio” (2006), “Horizonte Artificial” (2008) and “Ao Vivo no Jazz nos Fundos” (2017). Carlos also plays with renowned Brazilian bassist Sizão Machado, and in the new group of legendary artist Airto Moreira.

As a performer, Carlos has played in Europe, Asia, South America, U.S.A., and all over Brazil. He's been a featured player at the Hong Kong Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Atina Jazz Festival (Italy), Schelde Jazz Festival (Holland), Festival de Jazz de La Plata (Argentina), Cascavel Jazz Festival (Brazil), among many others. He was a member of Finnish sax player Pekka Pylkkanen`s Global Unit group, Irish bassist Ronan Guilfoyle`s group, and the Thomas Walbum & Thomas Maintz Brazilian Quintet in Denmark.

In 2001, Carlos was nominated for the Visa Music Award in Brazil as Best Instrumentalist. He has been a sideman for such jazz artists as Lage Lund, Kurt Rosenwinkel, David Binney, David Liebman, besides many Brazilian jazz artists like Fernando Correa, Nelson Faria, Marcelo Coelho, and Daniel D'Alcântara.

As a producer, Carlos worked on “A Saga da Travessia” (Letieres Leite & Orkestra Rumpilezz), which won 3 awards at the Premio da Musica Brasileira 2017, including Best Album. He also produced Airto Moreira's new album, “Aluê” (2017), on which he also played drums.

Carlos is a faculty member at Faculdade Souza Lima in São Paulo, and is the author of “Melodic Interpretation for the Drumset”, “Baiao and Northeastern Rhythms”, and “Brazilian Music in Odd-Meters”, all released worldwide by Advance Music.