Borah Bergman and friends @ The Stone 4/9/09

It was great. I didn't know about Borah Bergman before. He is an excellent piano improviser. He's also a little eccentric, which makes him interesting. I walked in at 9:55 and he was ready to go, but one of the artists had stepped out. He was really ready to go and was talking about just playing as a trio or doing a solo. I'm sure that would have been great, but I loved having this quartet playing from their feeling.

It was all awesome as this was an allstar cast of improvisers. After the first few pieces, they would need a pause to get started. But, once they got started it took them no time to start feeling what was happening and contribute in great ways. They had no charts, no cues, they were really just winging it. I got them impression these 4 don't play together as a quartet that often or ever, and that makes the music they produced even more impressive.

Here's an AAJ article about Bergman. I sat behind him, but I could still see the drums well and the upper half of the bass. Louie was kind of next to me, so I couldn't see him playing his curved soprano, but he sounded awesome and I've seen him numerous times. I was very intrigued by Bergman's left hand which was moving very fast over the keys and I thought there was something different to his style. I couldn't see his right hand at all.

It was a great and special show.

Borah Bergman and friends
Borah Bergman (piano) Louie Belogenis (soprano saxophone) William Parker (bass) Michael Wimberly (drums)

Barney McAll: Flashbacks @ Jazz Standard 4/8/09

Another great recommendation from searchandrestore.com. The 9:30 time was perfect. It was lively, engaging, great jazz. I was very impressed with all of them. The bass played electric and acoustic, and I liked both. Each of them caught me at different moments. It was a nice time.

Wednesday April 8Barney McAll: Flashbacks
Billy Harper – tenor saxophone
Josh Roseman – trombone
Ben Monder – guitar
Barney McAll – piano
Matt Clohesy – bass
Henry Cole – drums
His native Australia just wasn’t big enough to accommodate a talent the size of Barney McAll. So this fine pianist and composer relocated to NYC and now celebrates the release of his forthcoming CD Flashbacks (due out 4/8/09) with this much-anticipated Jazz Standard one-nighter. His all-star sextet will include guitarist Ben Monder, trombonist Josh Roseman, and veteran tenorist Billy Harper who says: “Barney is a genuine musician, not just a skilled artist. There’s a certain touch that I’m talking about. It’s hard to explain, but he has that.”

Tamarindo @ The Stone 4/7/09

I really love this band. It was awesome. I think out of all the greatness, the drums are my favorite. wanted to stay for the 2nd set, but I'm still a little jetlagged.


Tamarindo
Tony Malaby (tenor saxophone) William Parker (bass) Nasheet Waits (drums)

Southland Jazzband @ The Cotton Club, Hamburg 4/2/09

I went back to Hambug, Germany for another of Ariel & Shya Kane's wonderful workshops. I'm busy at work, so this trip was really about the workshop and kind of short.

I really like The Cotton Club. Its a bunch of wooden tables with seats with cushions. The band is in the middle of the room and most of us are sitting on one side or another and we can all see pretty well.

The band was great. Trombone, piano, cornet, reeds (one guy on clarinet/alto/soprano), sousaphone, banjo, and washboard. I got there a little after 10 and they were probably on their 2nd set. They took a 15 min break at 10:50 and then played another one hour set. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

The Inside Out Band: Enrico Rava Quintet @ Birdland 3/27/09

In spite of my tiredness I had to get up to Birdland before they were gone. I couldn't remember who was in it or why, I just had it in my head that I wanted to go.

I get to wonderful Birdland and pay the $30 bar cover which includes a drink. The band comes out soon after. Oh yeah, that's right. Pau Motion, Mark Turner and Ben Street are in it. The piano player was incredible and has to go on my list. Enrico was great on trumpet. It wasn't long before I was up in my dancing spot. I even gave my barstool away to a latecomer. I was fully energized now!

It was great for my last set of music before Germany. Here's a review from AAJ.

Here's the listing from TONY:
Mellifluous Italian trumpet vet Enrico Rava comes to town with a band perfectly suited to his bittersweet lyricism and immaculate poise: Saxophonist Mark Turner, pianist Stefano Bollani, bassist Ben Street and drum giant Paul Motian join him for an engagement celebrating his most recent ECM CD, New York Days (which featured everyone mentioned above apart from Street, a fast learner).

Marc Ribot/Henry Grimes @ Rubin Museum 3/27/09

Of course it was great. I think they were mainly doing Albert Ayler influenced stuff, but I don't know for sure. It was stellar. I think I like Henry on the violin even more than the bass. This was the 1st time I noticed the contrast in him playing the smallest and largest strings.

The music was very mellow. I think that about their group Spiritual as well. I was totally into it and engaged, just rather tired from being out so late the night before.

Will Bernard @ Highline 3/26/09

I saw there was an opening band, so I took advantage and had a nap before heading out to this once in a lifetime event. I got there a little after they started. It was as awesome as you'd expect. I don't know if I will ever get tired of this acid jazz type funk. These are all such top-notch artists.

Medeski was amazing. Stanton had my attention a lot. Do not underestimate Will Bernard or Andy Hess.

The crowd was lacking on the energy level on that rainy night. It was also less attended than something that great should be. The competition was Warren and Derek were going to show up at Sullivan Hall to play with Eric Krasno's Chapter 2. On another night, sure, that would be great to see. But, we had Medeski and a once in a lifetime stellar band. There was no competition to me. You couldn't drag me away from the 2nd set for that. Many others felt differently and left for that show.

I thought 2nd set was even better. I'm also very impressed they seemed to play at their best level in spite of the lack of energy coming from that sparse 2nd set crowd. This was so awesome, the cd is great, and I really hope we get another chance.


Will Bernard Band
featuring
Andy Hess, John Medeski & Stanton Moore