Bernie Worrell @ LPR 1/7/12

This was good and funky.  A percussionist right up front, 2 drummers, 2 guitars plus Gary Lucas special guesting, bass, alto and tenor saxophones, and of course Bernie.  It was awesome and I may not get the chance to see this again.

Bernie Worrell Orchestra
Kyle Cadena, guitar / Andrew Kimball, guitar / Scott Hogan, bass / Glen Fittin, percussion / Shlomi Cohen, alto sax / Ofer Assaf, tenor sax / Justin Mullens, trumpet / Karl Latham, drums / Evan Taylor, drums

Bernie Worrell:  How many artists can say they were in on the ground floor of an honest-to-Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame supergroup, all while inventing a completely original and uncanny sound and, in the ensuing years, building a legendary reputation as one of the most versatile hired guns in the music business? True funkateers know the history. From the fat Minimoog bass lines of “Flash Light” and “One Nation Under A Groove” to the percussive piano runs of “Chocolate City” and “Give Up the Funk,” Bernie Worrell is synonymous with the legacy of Parliament-Funkadelic; in fact, he’s one of the originators of the psychedelic funk sound, having written and co-produced the lion’s share of the music going back to Funkadelic’s formative years, with an eclectic ear for everything from Chopin to the Chi-Lites.

These days the terms “living legend” or “funk icon” really don’t come close to doing him justice. “Funk iconoclast” is probably more apt, considering the breadth of Worrell’s contributions to seminal albums outside the P-Funk canon—including Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense and Public Image Ltd’s Album, to name two of the more monolithic examples. Keith Richards, Yoko Ono, Bootsy Collins, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Mos Def, Sly & Robbie, Deee-Lite, Bill Laswell and many more have recruited him in the studio and on tour—all for his versatility, vision and feverish creativity whenever he gets his hands on a keyboard.

June, 2011 saw the release of "Bernie Worrell: Standards" -- Bernie's take on jazz standards -- precipitating the decision by Worrell and co-producer,  Evan Taylor to "take the show on the road".  The Bernie Worrell Orchestra performs with a nine piece band consisting of two guitarists, two drummers, bass, percussion and a three piece horn section that performs songs from this album but also songs from Bernie's vast repertoire.  The enthusiastic response from fellow musicians means you just don't know who will show up to join the BWO on stage!!!!

Mostly Other People Do the Killing @ Kenny's Castaways 1/7/12

I tried to go and was in there for a few minutes.  It was really crowded and hard to see.  It sounded brass bandy and I didn't need to stick it out with the Fabian Almazan strings playing around the corner.  I'm writing about this even though I didn't see it because Richard was camped out at this venue all night and said Other People Do the Killing was the best of the night.  Given all the phenomenal music, I need to make a point to see them.

Mostly Other People Do The Killing

Peter Evans, trumpet / Jon Irabagon, saxophone / Moppa Elliott, bass / Kevin Shea, drums

We're Mostly Other People Do the Killing. We're named Peter and Jon and Moppa and Kevin. We all went to music school for a while. We play jazz. We like to play all the jazz all the time all at once as fast as possible. Moppa writes the tunes. Except for the ones written by other people. They're funny. Jazz is funny. We'll have a new album out soon. Come see us play music. You'll like it.

Fabian Almazan & Strings @ Sullivan Hall 1/7/12

I was so happy when I made my way up front and saw Jenny Scheinman and Linda Oh up there.  I was happy listening while making my way up there.  5 strings, piano (which has strings though technically a percussion) and drums.  Jazz strings if you will.  Stellar jazz strings.

Fabian Almazan & Strings

Fabian Almazan, piano / Linda Oh, bass / Henry Cole, drums / Jenny Scheinman: Violin. I / Megan Gould, violin. II / Karen Waltuch, viola / Noah Hoffeld, cello

Pianist and composer Fabian Almazan, a native of Cuba now residing in New York City, found his musical roots as a child in his homeland of Havana where he first became involved in the classical piano tradition. When his parents could not afford to pay for private piano lessons, having fled Cuba in political exile to Miami, FL, pianist Conchita Betancourt was gracious enough to impart free lessons for over three years. Thanks to Mrs. Betancourt's exceeding generosity, Fabian was able to audition for the New World School of the Arts High School in Miami, FL where he studied from 1998 to 2002.

In 2002 Fabian was selected for the piano chair in the National 2002 Grammy High School Jazz Combo. The following year, Almazan won the piano chair for the newly up and running Brubeck Institute fellowship program based in northern California where he studied with Mark Levine and performed with Dave Brubeck and Christian McBride. In 2003, Fabian moved to New York City to study with Kenny Barron at the Manhattan School of Music. During the completion of his bachelor's degree, Almazan immersed himself in the realm of orchestral composition studying instrumentation and orchestration with Mr. Giampaolo Bracali. Under Mr. Bracali's tutelage, Almazan composed several pieces for orchestra and chamber ensembles. In the spring of 2009 Fabian Almazan received a master's degree from Manhattan School of Music, selected as a recipient of the Michael W. Greene Scholarship, studying privately with Jason Moran.

Fabian Almazan received the Cintas Foundation 2010/11 Brandon Fradd Award in Music Composition. The award has been granted to many Cuban artists who have gone on to play an influential role in the development of Cuban cultural heritage. Almazan was also selected as one of six composers to participate in the Sundance Composers’ Lab 2011 where he studied with such acclaimed film composers as Harry Gregson-Williams, Alan Silvestri, George S. Clinton, Christopher Young, Ed Shearmur and Peter Golub. Personalities, Fabian’s debut album, has was released October 2011 and it featured Linda Oh, Henry Cole, Meg Okura, Megan Gould, Karen Waltuch and Noah Hoffeld.  The release was featured on Itunes during its first week receiving worldwide attention.  For the past four years Fabian has been the pianist for the Terence Blanchard Group and has toured North and South America, Asia and Europe extensively. Almazan has had the opportunity to share the stage with such artists as Gretchen Parlato, Paquito D'Rivera, Christian Scott, Chris Dingman, David Sanchez, Stefon Harris, Kendrick Scott and Ambrose Akinmusire among others.

Lakecia Benjamin and Soul Squad @ Sullivan Hall 1/7/12

Whoa! Intense greatness!  The only one up there I already knew was Maurice Brown.  He was accompanied by his equals.  I must admit, the word "soul" in the band name made me leery I wasn't going to to like it due to the genre.  Oh no, this kicked some serious butt.  The trumpets and sax were intense, high level amazingness.  The only thing that resembled what I think of as "Soul music" was the rhodes and the sound coming from it.  I enjoyed that due to the intensity of the music in general.

I can't help but wonder if it was extra good because of the festival.  I hope not - I hope that was the norm for this band.

Lakecia Benjamin and Soul Squad 

Lakecia Benjamin, saxophone, vocals, effects / Chris Rob, keys & vocals / Louis Cato, bass / Joe Blaxx, drums / Jamiel Corneilo, guitar / Maurice Brown, trumpet / Melanie Charles, vocals

Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, born and raised in New York City is a multi-faceted artist on the scene. International Globe Hopper Lakecia Has Played in Europe, Asia, South America, Russia and many other festivals throughout the world. Exploring the musical styles of Jazz, R &B, and. Ms. Benjamin has performed with artists Clark Terry, Rashid Ali, Joanne Brackeen, Vanessa Rubin and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. As well as performing with contemporary recording artists JT Taylor and Kool and the Gang, Stevie Wonder, and Alicia Keys. Not only Is Lakecia Noted for her work with some of the world’s greatest Musician’s you can find her As the saxophonist with Comedian Craig Robinson who is featured on “The Office” and the Hit movie “Pineapple Express”. Giving back to the community Lakecia also performs workshops as well as concerts at public schools, Festivals, and community events with organizations Jazz At Lincoln center and Arts Connection.

MTO Plays Sly @ LPR 1/6/12

This is always so great, it's hard to choose anything else when this is going on.  They opened with Stand, which I always love.  I recall I happened to be listening to WWOZ on-line last Fall when they happened to be interviewing Steven Bernstein.  They talked to him for a bit and then said they were going to play "Stand".  Steven warned the DJ it was the most "out" piece on the CD.  It was awesome and I can't believe I forgot to pick one up.

Anyway, I stayed for a few and then went home to rest up.  It was awesome.

Steven Bernstein's MTO plays Sly

Steven Bernstein, trumpet / Peter Apfelbaum, tenor saxophone / Doug Wieselman, clarinet / Allan Won, baritone saxophone / Clark Gayton, trombone / Charlie Burnham, violin / Matt Munisteri, guitar / Ben Allison, bass / Ben Perowsky, drums + special guests John Medeski, organ / Sandra St. Victor, vocals / Dean Bowman, vocals

New York City’s favorite "little big band" Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra cracks open wide the monumental songbook of Sly & The Family Stone on its third album, MTO Plays SLY. On this freewheeling and jubilant 13-track tribute, MTO is propelled by a dynamic cast of special guests, including Antony Hegarty, Bernie Worrell, Bill Laswell, Dean Bowman, Martha Wainwright, Sandra St. Victor, Shilpa Ray and Vernon Reid, treating Sly & The Family Stone with the same (ir)reverence it would Duke Ellington or Count Basie. By illuminating the melodic and harmonic sophistication of the iconoclast’s body of work, MTO re-imagine Sly Stone through the filter of their own "downtown NYC" aesthetic, while still upholding the Day-Glo soul and psychedelic funk that is the backbone for classics like "M'Lady," "Everyday People" and "Family Affair." Both the CD and LP versions of the release include extensive liner notes by Steven Bernstein and music historian Greg Tate along with never before seen photos from the recording sessions.

Marco Benevento Solo @ Sullivan Hall 1/6/11

I gave myself an hour to go to Winter Jazzfest after the Wealth Workshop.  I like to use this and Undead Jazzfest in the summer to learn about and see new bands.  This night I ended up at my old favorites that I can't get enough of.  I was sorry to miss Marco's last solo show at 92YTribeca, so I'm glad I got a taste this night.  What I saw was all of that deep feeling, emotive piano I like.  He certainly couldn't pull out all the equipment he had at that incredible show he did during his Tonic run in 2006.  Still, this was great.

Pound

It's a new fitness class at Crunch.  It's a Pilates-based workout with a mat and weighted drum sticks.  I love drums, so I was intrigued.  It's a lot of fun and a full body workout.  We drum the floor and hit the 2 sticks over our heads a lot.  It's choreographed. They do one Nirvana song, which makes me happy.  The rest of the music is OK.  It's a lot of fun and a really good workout.

http://www.poundrockoutworkout.com/