Chairman's Choice: Piano Greats revisited, the Mu'tet and the latest "Grand Slam"

Roberto Magris - One Night In With Hope and More (JMood Records)
Relentless painistic explorer Roberto Magris has been putting out records at a pretty brisk clip - this disc follows his "Morgan Rewind Vol 1" tribute project (for which Vol. 2 has already been completed), and he has other projects either ready to hit or in advanced work.
In the interim, he's turned to the varied works of bop-Era pianists-composers and, as with all his projects, this record deftly combines a burnished technique with the trademark joie de vivre and seeming abandon that Italian-born Magris injects into all his playing.
Things start off in suitably joyous fashion with Elmo Hope's "Happy Hour" and the programme also takes in Tadd Dameron's gorgeous "If You Could See Me Now" and -expectedly, one supposes - Ellington's "I Didn't Know About You".
But its on Andrew Hill's " agile an angular "East 9th Street" that the group (bassist Elisha Pruett and Tootie Heath, returning form the Morgan project, join Magris)  burns brightest, though Mal Waldron's "Fire Waltz" is also beautifully rendered.
The album again smartly includes an audio notebook featuring JMood's Paul Collins expounding on the selections and the rationale. But even without this is an altogether delightful project, a timely reminder of why jazz is such good-time music.

Project Grand Slam - Spring Dance (Cakewalk Records)
The fellows who make up project Grand Slam are each veterans of the live and recorded music scene, and the band took a further boost when five tracks from their previous disc, "Play" were featured on the NBC series "Lipstick Jungle".
The title track leads off this record and proves an engaging intro to those, like this writer, who are new to the group. They really get cookin' on the next track, "Joe Z" a tribute to late weather Report keyboard whiz Joe Zawinul
New Zealand vocalist Joye Hennessy handily breaks up the testosterone, putting in a sterling performance on "Remember" but especially on the Hollies' 70s classic "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother". Like that title, this group ain't heavy, in the nicest of ways. This is smooth jazz-pop that will enrapture the smooth fan without enraging the purist.

Jeff Coffin Mu'tet Live!

have developed a truly distinctive sound, whether with Bela Fleck or as a leader with his Mu'tet, as this compilation demonstrates. Funky and worldly and unrestrained, but at the same time imbued with a certain elegance, that certain seeking nature.

The group is set to release another studio album, Into The Air, but this 2-disc compilation, offered via Coffin's website (www.jeffcoffin.com) should fill in quite nicely till that one hits.

Move Your Body Like A ---

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf1Eo-6sDIE

Tragically shot by his live-in partner (though he frequently stepped out on her) either on the band stand or during a break between sets at NYC club Slugs, Lee Morgan had that combo of speed, rhythmic and melodic sensibilities  that balanced his music in a way that few of his peers really could.

My Jazz Passion - summarized

http://youtu.be/_V9OpanwyHo

Was feeling down last couple of days so reached for an old standby, the late, great Clifford Brown and max Roach.

if you're passionate about jazz as I am or if you evn know nothing about it, but something in this song jus moves you, then drop me a line at emxgroup@gmail.com

Blue Note gets "Fest-ive"

In honor of its 30^th anniversary, the institution will host the first inaugural Blue Note Jazz Festival during the month of June, the club announced this past week. Throughout the month, more than 80 shows featuring established jazz legends and rookie experimentalists will take place across the city.

The club is hosting the Festival to fill the void left by promoter and producer George Wein’s New York Jazz Festival, which usually occurs in June but which is on hiatus this year. Wein himself will perform at the Blue Note’s Festival in mid-June.

Programming runs the gamut from more traditional legends like Dave Brubeck and Chaka Khan to edgier picks like Duncan Sheik, The Roots, Igmar Thomas & the Cypher. The Harlem Gospel Choir will also perform. Blue Note hopes to promote cross-pollination of music by mixing different acts in hopes of appealing to varied demographics. Both Mos Def and Lupe Fiasco have hosted shows at the club, a testament to the gradual fusion of jazz with other genres and subsequent interest of younger audiences.

“Over the past five years, we’ve adapted to changes in music,” said Steven Bensusan, president of Blue Note.  “We’ve paired hip hop and jazz, for example. We want to mix up the elements.”

The Festival events will take place all over the city, including Highline Ballroom, B.B King’s, Terminal 5 and Mercury Lounge. There will also be an act at Central Park’s Summerstage, which has yet to be announced.

While Bensusan hopes to attract diverse audiences, he doesn’t believe jazz has been relegated solely to the milieu of the 50-plus set.

“This isn’t a dead industry,” he said. “Our audience is a mix of college students, people in their 30s, tourists and the 50-plus.”

If the Festival is successful this year, the Blue Note hopes to roll it out on an annual basis. You can see the show schedule here.

Jus a Quick peek @TEDx Irie

Reedman Damon Riley blew in for a quick but scintillating spell at the TEDx Irie event at the Courtleigh Auditorium on Saturday last. Check back on Jazz Bus and also on http://bizfinty.blogspot. com for more on the great TEDx Irie event.

Channeling 'Bra' : Remebering Wilton 'Bra' Gaynair @ the IOJ

We braved the rain, and power cuts to head down to the  Institute of Jamaica at the corner of East and Tower Streets, in the heart of Kingston South. We were richly rewarded, bit th by the band, comprising Tony Greene on tenor sax; Ozou'ne on piano; Shurwayne Thompson on bass guitar and Obed Davis on drums, as you will see in the pics, but also by Herbie Miller's multi-media discourse on the great saxophonist's life, work and outlook.

Simply.....the Best

It was billed as "simply Myrna" and save for the presence of a few dancers and the more welcome intervention of the Cari-Folk Singers, that's exactly what audiences got at the Courtleigh Auditorium Saturday night. And take it from me, Myrna Hague was more than enough.

Ably supported by a rotating musical cast (anchored by Desi Jones on drums), was in superb vocal form in front of a full, and very appreciative house. But that was far from the whole story. Displaying all the verve, sensitivity and instant rapport that has seen her shine on stages in Italy, the UK, Malaysia and myriad other destinations, she cooed, growled, trilled and shimmied her way into the hearts of the crowd, including a few younger ones who might not have been aware of her song and stage prowess. Her act covered show tunes, jazz standards, and reggae, and included a new single, a cover of "Broken-hearted Melody" By the time the band, including soloists Dean Fraser and Rupert Bent rejoined for a rousing finale of Paul Simon's "Diamonds In The Soles Of  Her Shoes" all appetites were virtually sated.