Kimock/Worrll/Ingram/Hess @ City Winery 8/10/13

Sure, if i were able to deal with a huge crowd I would be at Brooklyn Bowl that night for Mike Dillon Band and then Galactic, but this was a good and fun runner up.  Bernie Worrell and Andy Hess especially drew me in and I ended up enjoying all of them.  Steve did spend a lot of time talking in between each piece, but probably because he had to tune up whatever he was playing each time.  He did a lot of switching around. I liked when he played the pedal steel guitar.  It was also awesome I wasn't the only dancer.  Is NYC getting good again?  All of us dancers around the place weren't in anyone's way and having fun.  I did get cold after a while and decided to sit at the bar, but it was still fun.


http://www.citywinery.com/newyork/steve-kimock-featuring-bernie-worrell-wally-ingram-andy-hess-8-10.html
Steve Kimock featuring Bernie Worrell, Wally Ingram, Andy Hess, and more! - 8/10
Kimock’s ability to articulate tone, melody and emotion into music combined with technical brilliance has earned Kimock the title “Guitar Monk”( Relix Magazine) for his commitment to guitar, and his ability to make it speak with its own original voice.
His variegated brand of guitar, alternately subdued and vibrant, defies easy categorization. At times prog rock/jazz-inflected and at others gypsy-straightaway, his crystal clear tone has been captivating audiences for more than thirty years.
Kimock co-founded the Jazz/Rock fusion band Zero in the 80’s, KVHW in the 90’s and now tours under his own name. He is widely embraced by fans as one who carries the free-form torch of improvisation, through an extensive catalog of original material in his own bands, as well as through live performances with so many esteemed musicians. Kimock has performed alongside the likes of Bruce Hornsby (and can be heard on two of Hornsby’s releases), John Cipollina Jerry Garcia and all members of the Grateful Dead, as well as Peter Frampton, Bonnie Raitt, The Allman Brothers, Buddy Miles, Buddy Cage, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Bobby Vega, Martin Fierro , Joe Satriani, Baaba Maal, Angelique Kidjo, Elvin Bishop, George Porter Jr., Steve Winwood, Derek Trucks, Ivan Neville, Grace Slick, Papa John Creach, Norton Buffalo, Amos Garrett, Warren Haynes, Hadi Al Sadoon, Stephen Perkins, Nicky Hopkins, Freddie Roulette, and many more.
A relentless innovator as well as player, Kimock's focus leads to guitar & amp craftsmanship. Over the past few years, he collaborated on a series of highly collected custom Two-Rock “Kimock Amplifiers” as well as a coveted ergonomic Scott Walker brand guitar - built in stereo.
His passion and devotion to performing live improvisation is matchless, and his unparalleled ability to embrace and capture a theater musically is the stuff of legends.

No BS! Brass Band @ Damrosch Park Bandshell 8/8/13

We were told at the beginning of the Butler, Bernstein & The Hot 9 that No BS! Brass Band wasn't able to make it to the earlier show they were scheduled for due to travel problems.  I believe that's when it was raining as well, so who knows how many made it.  It was nice that they were around and played in the VIP tent, which is outside and right next to the stage.  It was a good idea to have a brass band play for a little while they get the stage ready for the dancers and orchestra.  They had about 3 or 4 trombones, 4 trumpets and a tuba.  It's hard to say much in a couple of songs with no mics in a large space.  It was fun to get a little more dancing in and I was impressed that the guy had a tuba instead of a sousaphone.  I've seen too many amazing brass bands from New Orleans, I have incredibly high standards.

http://www.lcoutofdoors.org/no-bs?show_date=2013-08-08%2018:30:00
The go-to horn players for bands from Bon Iver to The Wailers, Richmond, Virginia’s No BS! Brass Band firmly believes that jazz is for dancing and that pop songs sound best on brass. No BS! pays tribute to greats like Mingus and Michael Jackson, and tackles prog-rock favorites like Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” and ear candy like a-ha’s “Take On Me” with “sternum-rattling...hot, irrepressible blast[s] of brass and canyon-like grooves” (Spin).

Butler, Bernstein & The Hot 9 @ Damrosch Park Bandshell 8/8/13

This was phenomenal.  We found out at the end that it's actually a new band that intends to record.  Yippee!  It's basically pieces of 2 of my favorite bands merging into one.  Millennial Territory Orchestra or MTO meets Henry Butler and whoever he wants to add.  The 9 included Matt Munisteri on guitar, Brad Cole on bass, Doug Weiselman on clarinet and saxes, Erik Lawrence on saxes, Peter Apfelbaum on saxes, Charlie Burnham on violin who I am all very familiar with and want to see every time they play anything.  Then there was a great drummer Herlin Riley from New Orleans who I didn't know before but he fit right in.  I don't know who the trombone player is.  The entire show was great.  It was also awesome that there were a decent amount of dancers and no one was giving us a hard time for it.  It was slightly dripping and the seats were all wet from earlier rain, but the majority of the crowd found ways to sit.  However, there was no problem to them this time if others got up and danced.  There were also some really fun dancers on the side that were fun to watch get down at times.  Excellent show!

http://www.lcoutofdoors.org/dance-heginbotham?show_date=2013-08-08%2019:30:00
A premier exponent of New Orleans piano, the adventurous virtuoso Henry Butler teams up with crack arranger Steven Bernstein (Sex Mob, Millennial Territory Orchestra) to dive into the roots of jazz. Butler’s elegant vocals and driving improvisations and Bernstein’s inventive trumpet power a fresh, forward-looking sound. With master drummer Herlin Riley, bassist Brad Jones, and members of the MTO, the newly formed The Hot 9 reframes the deep regional pedigree of classics by Bessie Smith and Fats Waller alongside Butler’s gleefully exploratory originals.

I did see Henry play with MTO at Jazz Standard a couple of times last year.  I'm so glad they are forming their own band and recording something:
http://terrismusicblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/mto-w-henry-butler-jazz-standard-82612.html
http://terrismusicblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/mto-w-henry-butler-jazz-standard-82312.html

I did a search on my blog for Steven Bernstein and there's quite a few posts on him:
http://terrismusicblog.blogspot.com/search?q=Steven+Bernstein

Henry isn't too shabby on the blog either:
http://terrismusicblog.blogspot.com/search?q=Henry+Butler
 

Ellery Eskelin Trio @ Cornelia St Cafe 7/26/13

I had a great time first having dinner upstairs and then going down to have the great music.  I didn't know the drummer before but he was fun.  I like how Ellery is so versatile and keeps it all so fresh.  We all had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the music. 


9:00PM & 10:30PM   ELLERY ESKELIN - TRIO NEW YORK CD RELEASE - Ellery
Eskelin, tenor sax; Gary Versace, organ; Jochen Rueckert- drums - $20
cover includes a drink -
home.earthlink.net/~eskelin/Site/Ellery%20Eskelin.html

Henry Butler @ Joe's Pub 7/21/13

This was an awesome solo show.  We sat right behind him at the front of the stage and could see all of his moves.  He really went around the repotoire.  He started with some spiritual and then went to Jelly Roll and then WC Handy and lots of other phenomenal stuff.  Every single thing he did was stellar.  It was so much fun.

The M & Ms: Medeski, Mali, Mercurio, Moore @ LPR 5/23/13

I had high expectations for this show.  A new amalgamation of people I love, and I loved who was in it.  I did end up having a great time and it was a good show.  However, it was also quite lacking in what it could have been.   It's all about the expectation.  It was free for me because I'm a member.  I didn't even have to wait in the long line to get in. 

It was listed as doors at 10, show at 10:30, but ended up having delays getting people in. I was in early, and at some point there as a 13 yo kid on stage impromptu opening for us.  I was a little bored and conserved my energy by sitting over in one of those big cushy chairs by the photo-booth bathroom area with some friends.

I enjoyed the band when they came on.  Anything Medeski touches is worthwhile.  He was doing it for me as always.  The music in general was nice and worth coming out.  Then, toward the end of the 2nd set, the 13 yo kid came out and it got great.  It brought intense Stanton out,  and it really went somewhere.  I wanted that kid to stay the rest of the show and give us something to reminisce about.  The kid was much better then.  I think part of it was Papa Mali was lacking.  I've seen that guy in so many guises and he's unbelievably talented and oozes with soul. But, that night and when I recently saw him in NOLA, things were lacking.  I presume he's just having a little dip and I send him good vibes for the return of that mojo that I know still exists in him.  I will say people were calling that kid the next Derek Trucks.  I would say he was quite good at that sit in, but Derek Trucks is a whole other thing.  We were just really happy to get that show.

After that, they were finishing up the 1st set.  The music was still good, I just realized it was time for me to go home, happy to have attended.



Equifunk & Nolafunk Present
The M & Ms:
Medeski, Mali, Mercurio, Moore

M&Ms melt in your mind, not in your hands.

John Medeski  (Medeski Martin & Wood)
Papa Mali  (7 Walkers)
Rob Mercurio   (Galactic)
Stanton Moore

Stephane Wrembel @ Barbes 5/19/13

Sephane Wrembel is awesome.  He plays in the style of Django Reinhardt.  He's very talented.  His band evolves over time.  It's always good.  I liked his intense drummer last night. 

He plays at Barbes almost every Sun night, 2 sets.  It's only $10 and a wonderful tiny space.  It's very easy to get to on the F Train.  I highly recommend you see him anywhere he plays.

It looks like these Barbes gigs aren't on his website.  You can find them on Barbes' website.  Actually, you can go to any set at Barbes and see anything and get a great World music show.

Leni Stern @ Barbes 5/19/13

It was an awesome African trio.  I always like seeing Leni Stern's band.  She is originally from Munich, Germany and she's based in NYC.  She plays with a wonderful bass player, , and drummer.  I think they are both from Mali, but I'm not 100% sure.  Leni sings in English and their African language.  She also plays this cool dome-shaped Moroccan instrument.  She has a little bit of percussion as well.  It was a very nice 1 hour set.

http://www.lenistern.com/home/leni/bio/bio.html

http://www.lenistern.com/home/index.html

Video:

03|13|2013 - The Blues Comes Home to Africa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUuJwXV8Ondd52FgxbEDg4bQ&feature=player_embedded&v=A7T5Cc6gdbQ#!
Mamadou Kone, bass
Haruna Samake, drums

Secret Chiefs3 @ Union Hall 5/18/13

I went out for the brief white robe set.  It was phenomenal.  I love the space, too.  It reminds me a lot of when I saw them in Paris.  The performance space is in a back room.  There's a nice outside area to hang before the space.  There's also a large inside space before before the outside space.  It's an awesome venue.  This Brooklyn space wasn't hot but, it was going to get much more crowded for the next set.  The next set would also be more intense and my kind of thing.  It just wasn't going to happen for me last night.

There are still more gigs for them coming up soon.  I probably won't be able to make The Stone, but I've seen them there before and they should be amazing.  I would line up early if you want to get in.  It only fits about 50 people.

http://www.webofmimicry.com/label.php?band=sc3

ate	venue	location	details
May 17, 2013	Mercury Lounge	New York NY
May 18, 2013	Union Pool	Brooklyn NY
May 19, 2013	Union Pool	Brooklyn NY
May 21, 2013	Schubas Tavern	Chicago IL
May 22, 2013	Beat Kitchen	Chicago IL
May 24, 2013	The Drake	Toronto ON
May 25, 2013	The Drake	Toronto ON
May 28, 2013	The Stone NYC	New York NY	8 and 10pm shows
May 29, 2013	The Stone NYC	New York NY	8 and 10pm shows
May 30, 2013	The Stone NYC	New York NY	8 and 10pm shows
May 31, 2013	The Stone NYC	New York NY	8 and 10pm shows
Jun 01, 2013	The Stone NYC	New York NY	8 and 10pm shows
Jun 02, 2013	The Stone NYC	New York NY	8 and 10pm shows

 

Allison Miller's Boom Tic Boom @ 92YTribeca 5/9/13

The band is completely different and still stellar.  I got a CD for that I'm looking forward to listening to as well.

Here's the show on NPR:
http://www.npr.org/event/music/180354037/boom-tic-boom-live-from-92y-tribeca
Boom Tic Boom: Live From 92Y Tribeca
May 9, 2013A go-to choice for jazz heavies and arena-level singer-songwriters alike, drummer Allison Miller made time to cultivate her own working band in the past few years. Fresh off the band's second studio album, and a tour to support it, she leads her singular quartet in a New York homecoming.

Look at the amazing lineup:

• Allison Miller, drums
• Kirk Knuffke, cornet
• Myra Melford, piano
• Todd Sickafoose, bass
• Rachel Friedman, voice (one song)

http://www.wnyc.org/npr_articles/2013/may/09/sexmob-boom-tic-boom-live-from-92y-tribeca/

SexMob @ 92YTribeca 5/9/13

I love this band!  They were phenomenal!  I'm looking to hearing the new album.  I purchased it, but I don't have a way to listen to it right now.  Well, I have an older computer and Google Drive, so I could listen to it on my new MacBook Air, I just haven't gone there yet.  It looks like I see an external disk drive in my near future.

http://www.stevenbernstein.net/sm-news
Sexmob celebrates the release of “Cinema, Circus and Spaghetti: Sexmob plays the music of Nino Rota” on May 8 at 92Y Tribeca.

This is the link to the actual show, check it out:
http://www.npr.org/event/music/182462927/sexmob-live-from-92y-tribeca

Sexmob: Live From 92Y Tribeca
May 9, 2013The quartet specializes in a distinct strain of deconstructionist improvised music: jazz that aims at fun by bouncing off the walls. Led by slide trumpeter Steven Bernstein, the band parties to the themes of spaghetti western film composer Nino Rota.

Woazoa Ochestra @ Allways Lounge 5/4/13

It was a good show.  I stayed as long as I could, but the cold was too much for me. I did enjoy what I got.

Here's a description of the project from here site.  I don't know who the actual musicians that night were.  I enjoyed each of them.

http://helen.masterplanfoundation.com/upcoming-projects/
Helen Gillet’s Wazozo Zorchestra
This is a sequal album to Wazozo’s first 2009 album “Newton Circus.” Jon Gross (sousaphone), Doug Garrison (drums), Chris Kohl (clarinet), and other suprise guests  join Gregory Good (acoustic and electric guitar), Daron Douglas (violin), Luke Brechtlesbauer (harp), and Helen Gillet (cello, loop pedal, effects and voice) for an album of all french chansons.

Helen Gillet @ Always Lounge 5/4/13

Helen played about 25 minutes of exceelent solo cello set.  Then Mazz Swift play about 30 minutes or so of violin.  It was good, even though it was cold in the venue.

Wimbish @ Blue Nile Balcony Room NOLA 5/4/13

That was a fun show.  It's also a lot of fun to bounce back and forth between 2 shows.  Everyone was excited for when Vernon Reid would come on a play a few.  It got me thrilled that I'm spoiled that I have so many more opportunities to see him in my own hood.  I've seen the Wimbish the show at least 3 times over the years.  It still feels fresh.  I did get to the see the entire part with Vernon and enjoyed it a lot.

Khris Royal - Wimbash Ft. Dark Matter And Doug Wimbish, W Ill Calhoun, Vernon Reid And More

Khris Royal & Dark Matter with Doug Wimbish & Corey Glover

Royal Potato Family Allstars @ Blue Nile NOLA 5/4/12

It had it's moments.  Marco played that happy song too way too many times.  Skerik mentioned since Marco is a founding member of Royal Potato Family he could play whatever he wanted that night.  I wish they wish they retire that song once and for all.  I haven't been a fan of it in a long time.

Now don't get me wrong, the show did have some great moments, too.

In addition, it sparked me to also buy a ticket to the show upstairs. I enjoyed that show and I could escape this one when they were taking it places I wasn't interested in.  It was perfect.

Skerik
Marco Benevento
Robert Walter
Mike Dillon
Reed Mathis
and
John Speice

Papa Mali @ Old US Mint NOLA 5/3/13

That was a fun show show.  I enjoyed it.

Cheick Hamala Diabate Band @ Old US Mint NOLA 5/3/13

It's a mint museum in which they sometimes have events.  I enjoyed it.  I was able to dance close in the middle of the room and I love Nola-African stuff.

http://cheickhamala.com/

Astral Project @ Fairgrounds 5/3/13

I was there for a few hours before I founded music I liked.  I still enjoyed walking aroud and eating and hanging.  I did enjoy Astral Project. Then I decided I was happy and wanted to hang out elsewhere after that, so I traveled back.

Jazzfest 5/2/13

I had sketchy notes and not much memory.  Are you sitting down?  It looks like I'm ready for a Jazzfest hiatus.  Last year, I just started feeling like it was getting old.  This was my 12th year.  I went for the entire thing for the 1st 5 years.  My tastes have changed and some things about jazzfest got old and stale for me.  I noticed this is certainly not the case for all.  I see the usual thrilled faces on the regulars.  Jazzfest really is amazing and you should go check it out for yourself.  I remember my first fest, I had a brass pass.  That means I had access to the radio station WWOZ's tent.  I meant a man from Tuscaloosa, AL.  He kept commenting on my glow.  He said there's nothing like your first fest.  It had been 2002 and he'd been coming since 1987. 

Of course, I still had a good time.  I just decided to sell my tickets for Sat and Sun, even though the weather was going to be better.  I just wanted to have fun in NOLA on those days and just wasn't feeling the fest.  

The 2 days I did go, there was some rain.  It wasn't a big deal.  It was really weird how cool it was for this time of year.  I had the right attire, and I don't really remember that much about it.  Oh, now I remember at first it was somewhat cold and rainy, but there was good music in the jazz tent and room to sit. I was happy.

I had a great poncho.  I went to the organ woodshed in the jazz tent.  It was great, especially the beg and end.

Woodshed: Hammond B3 (Jazz)

Two experienced organ players, Kyle Roussel and Joe Ashlar, will give the audience a course on the Hammond B3 organs.

They will perform in a variety of genres, including funk, gospel, and jazz.

Then, Kidd Jordan was up in the jazz tent. That was as great as always.  He informed us that they are true improvisers.  He talked about John Coltrane a little.  He had some very interesting things to say about his approach, but I can't remember them.  Lucky for me, Nola.com captured it for us. 
http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2013/05/kidd_jordan_preaches_free_jazz.html
I was very happy to be there and very happy with the set.
Kidd Jordan, sax
William Parker, bass
Alvin Fielder, drums
Joel Futterman, piano
Maynard Chatters Jr, piano

I went to a little of Henry Butler.  Fabulous.  I love Henry.

I saw Gravy before leaving at Lagniappe.  I liked them.  It was nice to find something new. 
http://lineup.nojazzfest.com/band/gravy
Infusing musical aspects from all walks of life, Gravy’s brand of progressive funk rock has garnered a solid fan base, firmly cementing the band as a fixture in the New Orleans music scene. Touring consistently since their inception, Gravy has established itself as one of the Southeast’s rising acts.

The Midnight Disturbers @ Howlin Wolf NOLA 5/1/13

This was great, but I was still elated from GAT and actually didn't need it.  I wasn't there when this was created.  My memory is that Stanton Moore and 1 or 2 other horn leaders were hanging out one day and came up with the idea to create a brass band full of stellar leaders.  Making that work is impressive given how in demand they all are.  They made up shirts with the name of a great that plays their instrument.  Very awesome concept.  And, of course the music is amazing.  Very intense very alive and beyond great.  It's of course very rare to even be able to see it.  In the past, the Megalomaniacs Ball culminated with GAT.  It's nice how they keep doing things to keep the Ball different.

It was a great show, but I was tired and so satisfied after GAT.  I don't think I stayed that long, but I enjoyed it.