Sunday, December 23, 2012

Comedies For The Young @ The Stone 12/2/12

Just look at the lineup and you already know how phenomenal it was.  I was captivated by Mathias, the only one I wasn't previously familiar with.  He had lots and lots of stuff at his percussion setup and he played all of it.  I just did another amazing workshop with Ariel & Shya Kane and I would say he was very present to know exactly what to play and when and what to do with it.  There was no thinking involved, just being.  Charlie was inspired to put his guitar down a couple of times and play one of Mathias' instruments;  a cowbell with stick one time and the bass drum another.

Scott had a drumkit, some percussion things, and some electronic boxes and he was awesome.  He played thumb piano for a bit.  Nels had his guitar and electronics and was always great.

It was all improvised, intense, and amazing.

Comedies For The Young Mathias Bossi (percussion, voice) Scott Amendola (drums, electronics, percussion) Special Guests Nels Cline (guitar, stuff) Charlie Hunter (7-string guitar)

Some Cat From Japan @ Brooklyn Bowl 12/22/12

Wow! They were losing the audience, so instead of waiting until 12:30, they went on not too long after Anders finished.  Very cool since Metzger and Bolivar were in both bands and just played a 2 hour set. 

It was awesome!  I was going to stick around because I hadn't seen them yet, but I wasn't expecting anything great.  Well, great it was.  I had an awesome time.  I slipped out during a slow song, which sounded great, I just knew it was time for me to leave.

Some Cat From Japan (ft. Nigel Hall, Scott Metzger, Will Bernard, Eric Bolivar & Ron Johnson)
Some Cat From Japan is a super group that explores the music of Jimi Hendrix. The group includes bass player Ron Johnson (KDTU, Brett Dennen) guitarist Scott Metzger (RANA, Particle, American Babies, Serena Jean Band, Bustle in Your Hedgerow), guitarist Will Bernard (Stanton Moore trio, Will Bernard trio, T.J. Kirk), keyboard player and vocalist Nigel Hall (Soulive, Eric Krasno’s Chapter 2, Lettuce, the Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi band), and drummer Eric Bolivar (Bonerama, KDTU, Pimps of Joytime, Anders Osborne.).

Anders Osborne @ Brooklyn Bowl 12/22/12

This was Anders' last show of the year and it was a good one.  It was one long 2 hour set with a 2 song encore.  It rocked.  I loved that Scott Metzger was playing with him, he was awesome. I was happy to see Eric Bolivar on drums.  There were some others up there at times:  Charlie Musselwhite played harmonica on a few.  Nigel Hall came up and played keyboard for a couple and he sounded great.

For the encore, they first had Will Bernard and Ron Johnson join them.  They played a great Hendrix song that I can't remember right now.  Then we got a final encore with the band and 2 harmonica players.

It was awesome.

Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O @ Jazz Standard 12/18/12

It was Matt Wilson, Bill Frisell, Jeff Lederer, Paul Sikivie and special guests playing Christmas tunes their own way.  Joe Lovano played soprano sax on one.  There was a 7 person choir on a couple.  A male vocalist joined them on the last one.  It was fun and a great show.  I also felt more in the holiday spirit as a result.

It looks like there were different guests the next night, looking at the NY Times blog post below.

The listing:

Drummer Matt Wilson fires up his Christmas Tree-O, first heard on an enjoyable 2010 Palmetto CD, with reedist Jeff Lederer and bassist Paul Sikivie—plus a very special guest in maverick guitarist Bill Frisell. You'll hear a number of holiday favorites filtered through a refreshingly edgy postbop lens.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/21/arts/music/matt-wilsons-christmas-tree-o-at-jazz-standard.html?_r=0

MMW + Ribot Set 2 @ Blue Note 12/13/12

It just gets better and better.  It was as if their musical memory kicked in suddenly and they took it all to another level.  I don't even know how it's possible to top that amazing 1st set, but they did it.  It went to places only the 4 of them could go.  Forget my same setlist theory, this set was completely and totally different.  It really belonged in a standing/dancing venue.  There was also a dofference in that there were talkers there this set.  You could only hear them during the quieter moments, but it was wierd and annoying.  The music was too good to remember you were with other people.

They ended it with an amazing "Hey Joe".

I'm kicking myself for not buying tickets for the show with Mary Ehrlich and the straight up MMW.  My loss as I heard they were awesome.


http://www.jambands.com/news/2012/11/29/new-guests-added-for-mmw-blue-note-residency

Senegalese percussionist Aïyb Dieng and multi-instrumentalist Marty Ehrlich will join Medeski, Martin & Wood as special guests during some of their upcoming Blue Note residency shows. Dieng will play with the group on December 11, while Ehrlich will sit in on December 15. As previously reported, the modern jazz trio will also be joined by Wilco guitarist Nels Cline on December 12, guitarist Marc Ribot on December 13 and saxophonist Bill Evans on December 14. Their final residency shows on December 16 will be pure Medeski, Martin & Wood. The trio will play two shows per night throughout the residency, with one show at 8pm and one at 10:30pm.

MMW + Ribot set 1 @ Blue Note 12/13/12

Ribot!  As much as I absolutely loved the night before with Nels Cline, I loved this 10 times more.  I didn't know that was possible until I saw the 1st set.  The set seems like it may have been similar to the night before, as an idea, but then with Ribot they went in all kinds of different directions. 

Chris has a way of making the bass sound like a theremin.  He uses a stick, perhaps a drumstick, held vertically behind the strings at the base and the bow in the same area of the strings.  It sounds great.

Billy had all the stuff he had the previous night:  the aquasonic without water, basic drumkit, table gongs, those shaky things I still haven't found out the name for (not a shakere), a tambourine and this night he also had some kind of tribal whistle.  I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

John had most or all of his various keyboards.  He sounded great.

It was phenomenal.

MMW w/ Nels Cline 12/12/12

I went to both sets and they were incredible.  Yeah, it was pricey and I still hate Blue Note, but sometimes I gotta suck it up and it's usually worth the trouble.  I admit that one set was satisfying and enough, but 2 was definitely twice as nice.  While I saw some hardcore MMW fans listed a setlist, it seemed pretty improvised.  When you add another great improviser to the mix it's bound to feel that way.  Nels definitely fits in really well with them - it was as if he was always in the band.

Erik Deutch, Allison Miller and Rene Hart @ The Stone 12/11/12

It was an amazing trio.  Erik played the piano, which was awesome.  I usually see him on an electronic keyboard.  He said he's been sitting in with Honey Ear Trio sometimes.

It was all improvised and awesome.  They each started one piece, so it was 3 long pieces over the course of about an hour.  I had the best seat in the house, I could see each of them play everything.

Rene had a little sampling box strapped to his bass.  He made things very interesting.  Allison mainly played the kit in the phenomenal ways that she does.  She also pulled some interesting metal rectangles out and put them on her scarf on a drum and played them in conjunction with a cool bell.  Erik played the piano brilliantly, sometimes as a hyperpiano.

I loved it and was glad to be there.

Erik Deutsch/Rene Hart/Allison Miller Erik Deutsch (piano, keys) Allison Miller (drums) Special Guest Rene Hart (bass) Pianist Erik Deutsch and Drummer Allison Miller have been collaborating together in NYC for the past 7 years—criss-crossing genres, traveling, recording, and generally causing as much of a stir as possible. These two like-minded musicians have a lot more history than that (both hail from the Washington D.C. area and attended the same summer jazz camp as teenagers). Together they've performed and recorded with Erin Mckeown, Ben Allison, Jenny Scheinman, Ellery Eskelin, Marty Erlich, Ron Miles, Trevor Dunn, Todd Sickafoose, and Jessica Lurie. Expect original compositions by Erik, Allison, and Rene along with improvisations and other things. 
www.hammerandstring.com www.allisonmiller.com

Robert Walter's 20th Congress @ Brooklyn Bowl 12/8/12

Aside from Robert and Cochemea, I couldn't tell you who else was in the band back when I used to see them at Wetlands.  I doubt Reid Matthis, Will Bernard, Simon Lott or Elizabeth Pupo-Walker were ever in it back then.  Each of this night's band members are worth seeing in any guise.

Alicia Shakur sat in on vocals for a couple.

It was a lot fun, great music and a great time.

Robert Walter (organ), Cochemea Gastelum (flute/sax), Simon Lott (drums), Reed Mathis (bass), Will Bernard (guitar), Elizabeth Pupo-Walker (percussion)

The Under_Line Benefit @ Angel Orsanz 12/4/12

Arts for Art is continuing to build momentum to get a new downtown venue for downtown jazz.  This was the kickoff for fundraising.  A lot of great musicians came together for the cause.  The music was stellar.  It was somewhat disappointing there was always a lot of talking in the background.  There were plenty of listeners, but you could definitely hear a crowd of talkers as well.  Come to think of it, that happened at Tonic sometimes, too.  It was also disappointing there wasn't a bigger turnout.  There were many heavy hitters on stage.  I thought it would sell out.

I got there at the very end of a violin and something else duo.  What I heard was nice.  I loved that violin.

Next was Milford Graves on drums, Joe Lovano on sax and somebody great that I can't remember. I do remember it was awesome.

After that was one of those amazing ensembles I couldn't possibly imagine.  Christian McBride and William Parker on bass, Cooper-Moore on drums, Charles Gayle on tenor, Hamiet Bluiett on baritone and Jason Kao Hwang on violin.  It was amazing.

Then there was a lone dancer, Yoshiko Chuma, with no music.  I have to admit I was somewhat annoyed that there was so much talking during the music and then there was silence for the dancer.  I took a break and got some fresh air,


Next was a great set with Marshall Allen, Milford Graves and Wlliam Parker.  Very special.

After that was Billy Martin on drums, Joe Lovano on sax, William Parker on bass and Judi Silvano on voice.  It was awesome and enouigh for me.

I left fully satiated and happy about the prospects of a new downtown music venue.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Louisian Musicians Score Big With Grammy Nominations

From Offbeat's newsletter:
http://www.offbeat.com/

LOUISIANA MUSICIANS SCORE BIG WITH

GRAMMY NOMINATIONS
Major congrats are in order for a slew of Louisiana artists.
Hip-hop darling Frank Ocean, rapper Lil' Wayne, the venerable Dr. John, zydeco master Corey Ledet, R&B queen Ledisi, Cajun supergroup the Band Courtbouillon, funny lady Ellen DeGeneres and country music phenom Hunter Hayes scored nods Thursday, December 6 for the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, to be given out February 10, 2013 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Check the lineup of nominated local talent by clicking here, and check back with OffBeat in the weeks to come for more on the honored artists.



Sunday, December 9, 2012

Comedies For The Young w/ Charlie Hunter & Nels Cline @ The Stone 12/2/12

Just look at the lineup and you already know how phenomenal it was.  I was captivated by Mathias, the only one I wasn't previously familiar with.  He had lots and lots of stuff at his percussion setup and he played all of it.  I just did another amazing workshop with Ariel & Shya Kane and I would say he was very present to know exactly what to play and when and what to do with it.  There was no thinking involved, just being.  Charlie was inspired to put his guitar down a couple of times and play one of Mathias's instruments;  a cowbell with stick one time and the bass drum another.

Scott had a drumkit, some percussion things, and some electronic boxes and he was awesome.  He played thumb piano for a bit.  Nels had his guitar and electronics and was always great.

It was all improvised, intense, and amazing.

Comedies For The Young Mathias Bossi (percussion, voice) Scott Amendola (drums, electronics, percussion) Special Guests Nels Cline (guitar, stuff) Charlie Hunter (7-string guitar)

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Brother Josepheus @ Brooklyn Bowl 11/29/12

It was a lot of fun and a great band.  It's about 9 pieces including vocalists.  I especially like it when they get funky.  I had a great time and it was good to get down.

The listing:

Brother Joscephus & the Love Revolution
Brother Joscephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra is a
12-piece explosion of righteousness that blends New Orleans party
music, Soul in the style of Ray Charles and Al Green, a good helping
of jam-bandy Roots Rock and a righteous splash of good, upbeat Gospel
without the religious overtones (We like to call it secular gospel).

In the group’s short history they have already made a big splash in
the NYC music scene, sharing the stage with New Orleans stalwarts such
as the Rebirth Brass Band, Trombone Shorty, Dirty Dozen Brass Band,
Bonerama, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, the New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars
and Eric Lindell. They’ve sold out legendary venues such as the
Highline Ballroom and BB King’s.

The Revolution began expanding into other regions in April, 2009
playing 13 shows in 12 days during Jazz Fest in New Orleans. Since
then the group has performed in 10 states and developed a strong
presence in several markets up and down the eastern seaboard. Many
followers have attended recent Revivals in Vermont (Burlington
Discover Jazz Festival, Red Fox Inn), Boston (Harper’s Ferry), Long
Island (Stephen Talkhouse, Great South Bay Festival), Philadelphia,
Dewey Beach, Winston-Salem, Asheville (Bele Chere Festival), Atlanta
(Smith’s Olde Bar), Birmingham and New Orleans (Blue Nile & Tipitina’s
during VooDoo Fest).

Each BroJo tune has been meticulously arranged for the Love Revival
Revolution Orchestra: The three-piece horn section (the Shepherds of
the Wind), the gospel choir (the Voices of Reason), and the most
righteous rhythm section (the Guardians of the Groove) lay it down for
Brother Joscephus to sing about the pain, joy and wisdom that is in
his heart.

The core group is twelve pieces, but the Revolution has been known to
expand to over sixteen (adding members to the gospel choir, fiddle,
mandolin and percussion) and plans are in the works to incorporate an
entire orchestra to back up the 12-piece core.

A Love Revival with Brother Joscephus is more than just excellent
original live music. BroJo is also all about the spectacle and
pageantry - it’s a life changing EXPERIENCE! The orchestra is decked
out in their finest whites (accented with the appropriate gold, purple
and green of Mardi Gras). They break out parasols, start each set with
a parade through the audience and throw out hundreds of Mardi Gras
beads over the course of a show. When the parade starts grooving the
crowd can't help but have a good time. It's undeniable!!

Brother Joscephus' message is one of righteousness: spread as much
love as possible around, regardless of your individual beliefs, race,
age, gender, sex, sexual orientation or whatever it is you're into.
Long as you're not hurting anyone, BroJo has much love for you and
encourages you to fill the space with whatever love you got. That's
what the Love Revival Revolution is all about.