For New York Accent: Live at the Kitano (Cellar Live, 2007), his fourth record as leader, alto saxophonist DiRubbo chose to forego the studio for the room at Manhattan's Kitano Hotel. DiRubbo picked the setting in part because, with paid studio dates becoming increasingly rare for independent jazz musicians, he realized he needed to take the reins of getting his next record out.
So he assembled a killer band--piano legend Harold Mabern, long-time bassist-of-choice Dwayne Burno and drummer Tony Reedus--and captured their symbiotic spontaneity during two nights in February, 2006. Once he had the dates recorded, DiRubbo enticed Cory Weeds, fellow alto player and owner of the Cellar Live label and its namesake club in Vancouver, Canada, to put the record out on Weeds' live-only label.
AAJ contributor Scott Douglas recently spoke with DiRubbo about his new record and the challenges of being a young jazz musician in the digital age.
Check out Mike DiRubbo: The First Priority? Recording This Band at AAJ today!
For more information contact All About Jazz.
