I was on my way to Vision Fest when I realized in my heart that was where I wanted to be. Yes indeed, a great choice on my part. It was phenomenal. They did some Albert Ayler. They did what sounded more like free improv. They did an amazing groovy blues piece that Greg started so wonderfully. It was perfect!
I couldn't motivate to get to Vision Fest after that. I really wanted to see the Rashid Ali tribute with a bunch of drummers. I kept thinking about how it's sometimes a pain to go to Vision at Abrons late. I knew the 10pm set tine factor was working for me, some might vacate a seat to get home. Still, I couldn't get motivated. It was a great night regardless.
Greg Cohen and Marc Ribot
Greg Cohen (bass) Marc Ribot (guitar)
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Jazz Jam @ City Winery 6/24/10
So it wasn't the best NYC music to ever happen to me. It started out with that potential. I got there just before it started, which was around 11:20. Tain started off with guys he plays with, playing his own music. He had James Genus on bass, with Steve Wilson on sax and David Kikoski, a great piano player. This band was very worthy of following Herbie as the first band in the late night after party. They played for just under an hour. For the last tune, which I think was a Herbie tune, they invited David Gilmore on guitar, Mark Turner on sax, and EJ Strickland on sax to join them. It was great and moved my already high expectations up even further.
I still had reason to be super excited as I saw more and more of the artists I love coming in. The stage was next populated with Chris Potter, Adam Rogers on guitar, a great trumpet. The drummer, bass, and piano players were all good to have up there.
Then, they exited and a whole new group was called up to do a song. This was because there were so many musicians, and Tain wanted to give as many as possible a chance to play.
I got more and more disappointed as the night went on. It would have been good if my expectations weren't so high. I feel like a "Monday Morning Quarterback". I would have put Henry Grimes with Steven Bernstein and Ben Perowsky instead of those straight ahead cats I'm not sure I know. Steven and Ben didn't even get to play. Henry did have a great bass solo.
I still stayed the whole night and had fun when I wasn't complaining and trying to call the plays from the couch in front of the tv.
It got fun towards the end. Robert Glasper played piano and 2 drummers, each with a stick in one hand and a drink in the other, started playing. There was a sax on stage that didn't know what to do. I know it got me dancing again. Nothing spectacular, but good and fun.
Then, it ended fun. Kurt Rosenwinkel took the drum kit and Chris Potter got on the piano. Yes, you read that correctly. There was a girl on the bass and it was fun. Chris is also a good piano player. Not like he can play sax, but good nonetheless.
I'm just very spoiled I guess.
I still had reason to be super excited as I saw more and more of the artists I love coming in. The stage was next populated with Chris Potter, Adam Rogers on guitar, a great trumpet. The drummer, bass, and piano players were all good to have up there.
Then, they exited and a whole new group was called up to do a song. This was because there were so many musicians, and Tain wanted to give as many as possible a chance to play.
I got more and more disappointed as the night went on. It would have been good if my expectations weren't so high. I feel like a "Monday Morning Quarterback". I would have put Henry Grimes with Steven Bernstein and Ben Perowsky instead of those straight ahead cats I'm not sure I know. Steven and Ben didn't even get to play. Henry did have a great bass solo.
I still stayed the whole night and had fun when I wasn't complaining and trying to call the plays from the couch in front of the tv.
It got fun towards the end. Robert Glasper played piano and 2 drummers, each with a stick in one hand and a drink in the other, started playing. There was a sax on stage that didn't know what to do. I know it got me dancing again. Nothing spectacular, but good and fun.
Then, it ended fun. Kurt Rosenwinkel took the drum kit and Chris Potter got on the piano. Yes, you read that correctly. There was a girl on the bass and it was fun. Chris is also a good piano player. Not like he can play sax, but good nonetheless.
I'm just very spoiled I guess.
The Imagine Project @ Carnegie Hall 6/24/10
I love how Herbie keeps mixing it up and keeps it fresh. It was so great to see Tal Wilkenfeld again. She sang a bit as well as play that kickass bass. There was lots of singing and it was all done quite well. All singers were great. The other keyboard player had an amazing voice.
From what I gather, this band is about reimagining some great favorite songs. Songs like Imagine and Exodus. They just finished the album last week. It was fabulous.
I couldn't believe it when I saw in the program that Derek and Susan were special guests. They did the last dong before the Chameleon encore, which Derek played on. In both songs, Derek and Herbie did some call and response with each other. It was already great, bit it went up a few more notches with Derek and Susan.
It was a great show and a very special night.
The Imagine Project
with
Herbie Hancock, piano and keyboards
Vinnie Colaiunta, drums
Lionel Loueke, guitar
Greg Phillinganes, keyboards
Kristina Tram, vocals
Tal Wilkenfeld, bass
and special guests:
Idia.Arie, vocals
Derek Trucks, guitar and Susan Tedeschi, vocals
From what I gather, this band is about reimagining some great favorite songs. Songs like Imagine and Exodus. They just finished the album last week. It was fabulous.
I couldn't believe it when I saw in the program that Derek and Susan were special guests. They did the last dong before the Chameleon encore, which Derek played on. In both songs, Derek and Herbie did some call and response with each other. It was already great, bit it went up a few more notches with Derek and Susan.
It was a great show and a very special night.
The Imagine Project
with
Herbie Hancock, piano and keyboards
Vinnie Colaiunta, drums
Lionel Loueke, guitar
Greg Phillinganes, keyboards
Kristina Tram, vocals
Tal Wilkenfeld, bass
and special guests:
Idia.Arie, vocals
Derek Trucks, guitar and Susan Tedeschi, vocals
Herbie Hancock @ Carnegie Hall 6/25/10
The introductions of Herbie by Bill Cosby and then of the musicians in the 1st band got us all quite emotional. We gave Herbie a standing ovation when he walked out on stage.
What can I say. The set kicked butt. Ron Carter and Dave Holland took turns on the upright. Sometimes all the horns played on the tune, sometimes it was a subset. It was my first time seeing Wayne Shorter. I must go see him next time I get a chance. Wallace Rooney is incredible. Can I say how much I love Jack DeJohnette? I'm going to Montreal jazzfest mainly because he's gonna be there.
The only disappointment was I thought I couldn't hear Lionel at all. Every once in a while I'd notice him onstage, playing, but I couldn't hear him. I realized during the 2nd band that I could hear Lionel at times. I forgot how unique his sound is. He was the only one besides Herbie that was in both bands. During that 1st band, he was just over-powered intensity-wise.
It really was an outstanding and spectacular set. A once in a lifetime blessing to be a part of.
Interesting, this is the listing from the program. Lionel Loueke isn't listed, but he was there with his guitar the entire set.
Seven Decades: The Birthday Celebration
Herbie Hancock, piano
with special guests:
Terence Blanchard, trumpet
Ron Carter, bass
Jack DeJohnette, drums
Dave Holland, bass
Joe Lavano, saxophone
Wallace Roney, trumpet
Wayne Shorter, saxophone
What can I say. The set kicked butt. Ron Carter and Dave Holland took turns on the upright. Sometimes all the horns played on the tune, sometimes it was a subset. It was my first time seeing Wayne Shorter. I must go see him next time I get a chance. Wallace Rooney is incredible. Can I say how much I love Jack DeJohnette? I'm going to Montreal jazzfest mainly because he's gonna be there.
The only disappointment was I thought I couldn't hear Lionel at all. Every once in a while I'd notice him onstage, playing, but I couldn't hear him. I realized during the 2nd band that I could hear Lionel at times. I forgot how unique his sound is. He was the only one besides Herbie that was in both bands. During that 1st band, he was just over-powered intensity-wise.
It really was an outstanding and spectacular set. A once in a lifetime blessing to be a part of.
Interesting, this is the listing from the program. Lionel Loueke isn't listed, but he was there with his guitar the entire set.
Seven Decades: The Birthday Celebration
Herbie Hancock, piano
with special guests:
Terence Blanchard, trumpet
Ron Carter, bass
Jack DeJohnette, drums
Dave Holland, bass
Joe Lavano, saxophone
Wallace Roney, trumpet
Wayne Shorter, saxophone
Monday, June 28, 2010
Tortoise @ LPR 6/23/10
I previously watched a you tube vid of their gig and thought they would live up to the hype. I only gave them about 15 min, but it was lacking something for me. It was played well, there was something missing, that soul quality. I just couldn't feel it.
Walking in, I heard the doorman telling passers-by it was Indie Rock tonight. I would characterize it more as jamband. They had 2 bass players, 2 drumkits on stage, 2 keyboards on stage, vibes that were sometimes played by a drummer. There were 5 band members, so there was some switching off. I don't think both kits were being used at once while I was there. I didn't actually watch that You Tube vid, I was at work. I just listened to it.
It was also not my preference there was a DJ. He played for almost an hour in between the 2 bands. The music wasn't bad, it's just not what I go for. It was making me stay up later than I wanted to.
Here's that Youtube I was talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sps7YxLeYM
Walking in, I heard the doorman telling passers-by it was Indie Rock tonight. I would characterize it more as jamband. They had 2 bass players, 2 drumkits on stage, 2 keyboards on stage, vibes that were sometimes played by a drummer. There were 5 band members, so there was some switching off. I don't think both kits were being used at once while I was there. I didn't actually watch that You Tube vid, I was at work. I just listened to it.
It was also not my preference there was a DJ. He played for almost an hour in between the 2 bands. The music wasn't bad, it's just not what I go for. It was making me stay up later than I wanted to.
Here's that Youtube I was talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sps7YxLeYM
Aethereal Bace @ LPR 6/23/10
I love this band! It was a simple F Train ride. I'm always amazed how often the F is a simple way to travel between venues.
I just really love this band. It's not just that it's 2 great drummers and a great sax. It's everything they do and how awesome they jam together. A lot of the crowd was into it. There were a lot of talkers in the background, especially when the sax wasn't playing. I was reminded of all the talking during the Allman Brothers long drum solos. It did look like most were really into it, it was just a good amount of talking that you could hear the murmur. Still, I found it pretty easy to ignore.
This band is phenomenal and I hope to see them more often.
Abraham Burton
Eric McPherson
Nasheet Waits
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/arts/music/14knit.html
"... a band called Aetherial Bace, with the drummers Eric McPherson and Nasheet Waits and the saxophonist Abraham Burton — New York neighborhood friends since childhood — played off-the-cuff themes and rhythms that sounded like the meeting place between John Coltrane’s port-wine ballads and his later, intense music. They were coordinated and methodical and proceeded in waves."
I just really love this band. It's not just that it's 2 great drummers and a great sax. It's everything they do and how awesome they jam together. A lot of the crowd was into it. There were a lot of talkers in the background, especially when the sax wasn't playing. I was reminded of all the talking during the Allman Brothers long drum solos. It did look like most were really into it, it was just a good amount of talking that you could hear the murmur. Still, I found it pretty easy to ignore.
This band is phenomenal and I hope to see them more often.
Abraham Burton
Eric McPherson
Nasheet Waits
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/arts/music/14knit.html
"... a band called Aetherial Bace, with the drummers Eric McPherson and Nasheet Waits and the saxophonist Abraham Burton — New York neighborhood friends since childhood — played off-the-cuff themes and rhythms that sounded like the meeting place between John Coltrane’s port-wine ballads and his later, intense music. They were coordinated and methodical and proceeded in waves."
Stomp It! @ Abrons 6/23/10
Matthew Shipp was the impetus for me to get out so early. I mean, the 1st 2 sets were equally great, I just don't see Matthew very often. He did not disappoint! I love the name of the ensemble. I love the thought of 2 percussion instruments. It was so awesome. All of it. There was a portion where Matthew was playing "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again". It was the most intense and best ever. He is also a lot of fun to watch.
Stomp It!
Matthew Shipp - piano
Whit Dickey, jr - drums
Stomp It!
Matthew Shipp - piano
Whit Dickey, jr - drums
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