Home » Jazz News » Festival

62

Winter Jazz Festival This Wednesday for IAJE in NYC!

Source:

Sign in to view read count
Wednesday January 10th - Jazz Alternatives Showcase (IAJE)

Brice Rosenbloom in association with The Knitting Factory is proud to present the 2007 NYC WINTER JAZZFEST, to be held on January 10th and 20th, 2007 in New York City. This marks the third year of the annual Winter JazzFest, and its continued mission to showcase top quality jazz and experimental music.

The 2007 NYC WINTER JAZZFEST expands from the one date of years past during the Arts Presenters (APAP) conference to two dates including the opening night of the Jazz Educator's conference (IAJE) on January 10th. Similar to the past 2 years both festival dates will provide the opportunity for artists to showcase in front of presenters, promoters, talent buyers, educators, musicians and avid fans. Over 5000 arts professionals will be in New York City for the annual International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) conference from January 10-13, and the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) conference from January 19-23. As there will be hundreds of showcases scheduled throughout these weekends around the city both at the Hilton Hotel and in alternative venues, the Knitting Factory offers IAJE and APAP conference attendees, and the general public, the opportunity to experience the best of today's new live jazz and experimental music in a club venue setting. NYC's Knitting Factory allows the ideal showcase opportunity with three intimate performance spaces and a rich jazz and experimental music heritage.

The 2007 festival will include over 36 of todays most interesting jazz artists from New York, Washington DC, New Orleans, France, India, Benin, Canada, Cameroon, Israel, Switzerland and Luxemburg.

Currently new jazz artists are under represented, yet they are culturally essential to the continued development and future of jazz and the cultivation of new audiences for jazz. Jazz artists need support and exposure to the significant institutional booking forum that the Jazz Educators and Arts Presenters conferences represent. The Knitting Factory is pleased to offer a forum for presenters and music enthusiasts to experience and support jazz artists.

The Knitting Factory welcomes all Arts Presenter conference badge- holders to RSVP and reserve their Full-Club Pass to the 2006 NYC WINTER JAZZFEST on January 22nd, by emailing [email protected]. Only 2007 APAP Conference attendees are able to RSVP. Tickets / Full-Club Passes are available to the General Public for $25 at www.knittingfactory.com

2007 WINTER JAZZFEST Jazz Alternatives / Jan10 (IAJE)

MAINSPACE
7pm: Antoine Herve with Francois & Louis Moutin
8pm: Gutbucket
9pm: Rudresh Mahanthappa Quartet
10pm: Mina Agossi
11pm: Maurice Brown Quintet
12am: Wonderful World with Guillaume de Chassy, Daniel Yvinec, Michael Leonhart and Mark Murphy
1am: Slavic Soul Party




TAP BAR 6:20pm - Mino Cinelu
7:20pm - Jazz Traditions
8:20pm - Joel Harrison's End Time
9:20pm - Liberty Ellman Quintet
10:20pm - Lionel Loueke
11:20pm - Eyal Maoz's Edom
12:20am - Michel Reis




OLD OFFICE
7:40pm - Geraldine Laurent
8:40pm - Lucien Dubuis Trio
9:40pm - So Percussion
10:40pm - Steve Lehman's Blueprint Trio
11:40pm - IsWhat?!



Antoine Herve with Francois & Louis Moutin
Antoine Herve - piano/composer
Francois Moutin - bass
Louis Moutin - drums

Pianist, composer, conductor, artistic director and producer, Antoine Herv is a man of many talents. Prize winner at the International Jazz Festival of La Dfense, he was given his first engagements at the age of fifteen with his orchestra. He went on to create his own record label, Philo Music, for which he produced “Horizons" in duo with Andy Emler, followed by “Trio" with M. Benita and P. Gritz. At Radio France he created the orchestra “Bob 13" with which he recorded and produced the albums “Live in Paris" and “Tutti". After winning the Django Reinhart Prize of the Acadmie du Jazz in 1985, Antoine Herv was appointed conductor of the Orchestre National de Jazz in 1987, which included worldwide tours--over 140 concerts by the full orchestra-- with prestigious guest performers (Gil Evans, Quincy Jones) and led to a number of creations, notably the CDs “ONJ 87" and “African Dream". In 1990 he founded the association “Hexameron" to promote all forms of improvisation.Having met the Bulgarian Turkish singer Yildiz Ibrahimova, he formed the Antoine Herv Quintet, with which he recorded the CD “Paris-Zagreb". As part of his international career, he has performed or recorded with Dee-Dee Bridgewater, Gil Evans, Quincy Jones, Carla Bley, Didier Lockwood, Michel Portal, Daniel Humair, Peter Erskine, Chet Baker, Randy Brecker, Cab Calloway, Martial Solal, Vinko Globokar, Louis Sclavis, Mino Cinelu, Paco Sery, Jolle Landre, Claude Nougaro. Dick Annegard and others.



Eyal Maoz's Edom
Eyal Maoz - guitar/composer
Brian Marsella - organ
Shanir Blumankranz - bass
Yuval Lion - drums

Edom is a Jewish-rock-jazz- avantgarde powerhouse ensemble. If one has to define influential figures for Edom, John Zorn's Masada, Medeski, Martin, and Wood, Marc Ribot's Shrek, and all the most adventurous guitar/organ led bands of the past and present would make the list. Edom performed at the 2006 Montreal Jazz Festival to rave reviews, as well as in top New York City venues such as Tonic, Galapagos, BAM Cafe and the Knitting Factory. The ensemble recorded and released its debut self titled album Edom on Tzadik Records last year.



Geraldine Laurent Time Out Trio
Geraldine Laurent - sax/composer
Yoni Zelnik - bass
Laurent Bataille - drums

Born in 1975, Graldine Laurent began her musical training with classical piano before picking up the saxophone at age 13. She attended masterclasses and training courses (with such players as J.M. Padovani and J.L. Chautemps) and played in various ensembles. She also studied with Deutsch Jazz pianist Floris Nico Bunik and obtained the Jazz DEM diploma as well as a master in musicology. From 1999, Geraldine began leading her own quartet (with Yoni Zelnik (b), David Georgelet (dr) and pianist Marc Leseyeux). In 2000, she was hired by the T.C Spectacle companie and integrates pianist Christophe Joneau's quartet (recording of both Cds “Lavaud Glade", “ Ici & Maintenant “). She also played with drummer Charles Bellonzi's quintet, and was invited to perform with singer Romeyn Adams Nesbitt's group (concert at Olympia and Enghien les bains Jazz festival). Since 2005, Graldine has played with her Time Out Trio (with bass player Yoni Zelnik and drummer Laurent Bataille) as well as with Hlne Labarrire (bass) and Eric Groleau (drums).

Gutbucket
Ken Thomson - sax
Ty Citerman - guitar
Paul Chuffo - drums
Eric Rockwin - bass

Gutbucket is a free-range band. The eight-year-old New York quartet is not only equally comfortable playing in front of 900 sweatily pogo-ing teenage skate-punks, a crowd of stoned jamband freaks, or on an anarchist German art collective houseboat, but most importantly, their music fits right in. Flitting from hard rock to Latin to thrash to klezmer and back, often within the space of a few bars, the group veritably attacks their music with the kind of ferocity usually reserved for punk, despite having earned their jazz bona fides. Gutbucket has released CDs with Knitting Factory, Enja, and Cantaloupe/NRW Records; they have performed in 32 states and 18 countries, and been featured on festivals including Jazz a Vienne, San Sebastian, Saalfelden, City of London, Worldport, Warsaw Summer Jazz Days, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Earshot Jazz, and the Bang on a Can Marathon. In 2007, Gutbucket plays the Cologne Trienniale in an octet adding electric string quartet Ethel, and debuts at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall alongside the American Composers Orchestra.

Iswhat?!
Napoleon Maddox - vocals
Hamid Drake - drums
Joe Fonda - bass
Claire Daly - baritone sax

A freewheeling hip-hop trio, Iswhat?! focuses on live performance like the Roots, but instead of saluting rap forebears, seeks a connection with jazz sources. Based in Cincinnati, the group was formed by vocalist Napoleon Maddox. The group has shared the stage with performers ranging from Mr. Dibbs to Big Daddy Kane to Kwame Tur, and released its first album, Landmines, in 1999. You Figure It Out... followed in 2003. In 2006, Iswhat?!, issued The Life We Chose. Iswhat?! was nominated for City Beat's CEA (Cincinnati Entertainment Awards) and won the 2 CEA's and Cammy's in the years to follow. Awarded CEA for Best Hip-hop and Artist of the year in 2006. Iswhat?! has toured the States and Europe playing to enthusiastic crowds with KRS-ONE, The Roots, Antibalas, STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9), Young Blood Brass Band, Saul Williams, One Drop, Ursula Rucker, MakTub, Wingnut and others.

Jazz Traditions Project
Evan Christopher - clarinet/composer
Leah Chase - vocals
David Torkanowsky - piano

In January, 2006, New Orleans-based clarinetist Evan Christopher accepted an invitation from the City of Paris in conjunction with the Cultural Services Department of the French Embassy in the United States. During his 12-week stay, he found a rhythm section of four young, enthusiastic Paris-based musicians who shared his passion for classic jazz idioms including New Orleans jazz, Blues, Boogie-Woogie, and Small-group swing. Together, they formed the Jazz Traditions Project with the goal of offering dynamic presentations that explore and demonstrate the broad range of possibilities for music rooted in the language of early jazz styles. The group's attention to fundamental values of virtuosity and individual expression is evident in their first recording: “In Sidney's Footsteps" as well as their live recording at the prestigious Lionel Hampton Jazz Club in the Meridian Hotel in Paris. Their Paris debut in other famed Parisian hot-spots Caveau de la Huchette and Le Bilboquet led to summer festival appearances in the South of France which led to invitations for presentations at the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans and for the Sidney Bechet Society in New York City in 2007. Christopher is joined by vocalist Leah Chase and pianist David Torkanowsky.

Joel Harrison's End Time
Joel Harrison - guitar/composer
Brandon Ross - guitar
Dave Binney - sax
Stephan Crump - bass
Jordan Perlson - drums/ perc.

Guitarist Joel Harrison will perform new, original music from his Highnote recording due for release in April 2007. This recording was commissioned by the French American Jazz Exchange and Chamber Music America and includes French/ Vietnamese guitarist Nguyen Le, guitarist Brandon Ross (on 2 cuts), and saxophonist David Binney. As with all Harrison's music the compositions have a wide stylistic reach- the focus for this cd is the sonic world of two guitars: Harrison, Le, Ross (as well as Binney) all share a passion for the crossroads of jazz, rock, Indian, and African music where lyricism meets noise, Indian raga meets jazz harmony, and the after effects of electric Miles meets Messiaen and the Middle East. Of Harrison's eclectic approach the Village Voice wrote, “Harrison is a brilliant, take-it- anywhere-guitarist," and the Irish Times said “This is the music of the future." His ACT cd, Free Country (creative Jazz renditions of old Country and Appalachian tunes), received worldwide acclaim and was chosen as one of the top 50 CD's of 2003 by Jazz Times magazine. Harrison is a 2-time winner of the Jazz Composer's Alliance “Julius Hemphill Composition Competition," and has written numerous film scores. In 2006 he received two composition grants from Chamber Music America. Joel Harrison's latest Highnote CD is Harrison on Harrison (featuring Dave Liebman), Jazz explorations of George Harrison's music.

Liberty Ellman Quartet
Liberty Ellman - guitar/composer
Steve Lehman - alto saxophone
Jose Davilla - tuba
Stephan Crump - bass
Gerald Cleaver - drums

Guitarist / Composer Liberty Ellman has been involved in a wide range of projects over the last decade. Ellman's improvisational and interpretive flexibility has allowed him to contribute to the creative ensembles of Henry Threadgill, Greg Osby, Butch Morris, Vijay Iyer, Mat Maneri, and Rudresh Mahanthappa's and Steve Lehman's project, Dual Identity. Ellman has also invested an equal amount in more popular rhythm guitar work, working on tracks with DJ Joe Claussell of Spiritual Life, hip-hop artists Mike Ladd, Midnight Voices, and The Coup, and vocalists Ledisi, Somi, Jen Chapin and Candace Jones. As a omposer and bandleader, Ellman has produced 3 critically acclaimed CDs: Orthodoxy (Red Giant Records, 1998), Tactiles (Pi Recordings, 2003) and Ophiuchus Butterfly (Pi Recordings, 2006). His compositional style has been described as “At once highly controlled and recklessly inventive," and “quite original and subtle." And Ben Ratliff of the New York Times wrote: “Mr. Ellman's ballads are special, exotic things: their melodies are memorable."

Lionel Loueke
Lionel Loueke - guitar/composer

Born in Benin, West Africa, Lionel Loueke first picked up percussion instruments before choosing guitar at the age of 17. In 1990, he moved to Ivory Coast for a general musical training in the “National Institute of Art" which lasted four years. Listening to eminent jazz musicians like Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, George Benson, he knew that he needed to improve his playing. The next step would be to enroll in a renowned jazz school. In 1994, he was accepted at the “American School of Modern Music" in Paris (France) where he got his Diploma in 1998. The dream was coming true. In 1999, he was awarded a scholarship to “Berklee College of Music" in Boston, Massachusetts. He quickly graduated in 2000 majoring in performance. In 2001, he auditioned for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, and was selected in a worldwide search by a panel of judges including jazz legends Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard and Wayne Shorter. He studied on this full scholarship at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. In 2002, Lionel became part of Terence Blanchard's band. Soon after, the band released a CD titled “Bounce" under the label Blue Note. He moved to New York after finishing the Monk program. When not on tour, he is active on the New York jazz scene playing with Richard Bona, Jeff Tain, Jeff Ballard... He also recorded with Charlie Haden and Herbie Hancock. Lionel studied with: Mick Goodrick, John Damiam, George Garzone, Russell Ferante, Joe Diorio, Carl Allen, Terence Blanchard, Dave Holland, Kenny Barron, Steve Turre, John Scofield, Louis Nash, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and others.

Lucien Dubuis Trio
Lucien Dubuis - alto sax, bass clarinet and contrabass clarinet
Roman Nowka - bass
Lionel Friedli - drums

“A tremendous roar of life. Simple and heart-wrenching. Lucien Dubuis' music is the result of new definitions, new horizons. Simultaneously modern and primitive, it achieves to be concept-driven while using a teenage language of revolution. Imagine a chromosomic mingling of a touch of John Coltrane genes and the DNA of the Beastie Boys." A groundbreaking Swiss trio of alto saxophone/bass & contrabass clarinet with distorted electric bass and punk drums, the Lucien Dubuis Trio alongside guest Marc Ribot blew away the audience at the Saalfelden Jazz Festival in 2006, with Gutbucket in the audience. Ribot's new discovery, the trio has already been on the minds of international audiences with repeated tours of Europe, and tours to Iran, Bolivia, Columbia, and India. The trio has performed at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Willisau Jazz Festival, Schaffhauser Jazzfestival, as well as Saalfelden, among others. The trio has released 2 records as the trio, Sumo (Altrisuoni) and Tovorak.

Maurice Brown Quintet
Maurice Brown - trumpet/composer
Jeremy Bean - drums
Chris Rob - piano
Jason Stewart - bass
Derek Douget - tenor sax

Born on January 6, 1981, in the south suburb of Chicago Maurice had a remarkable affinity for the trumpet at an early age. Brown was invited to perform with composer/pianist Ramsey Lewis at the Symphony Center in Chicago while still attending Hillcrest High School. Following graduation, he was awarded a full music scholarship at Northern Illinois University. In 2001 Brown won first place in the National Miles Davis Trumpet Competition. He later continued his studies at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he worked with famed clarinetist, educator and mentor, Alvin Batiste. Brown relocated to New Orleans shortly thereafter, and within a year was invited to headline weekly at the premiere jazz club, Snug Harbor. Maurice has played with numerous jazz veterans, including Clark Terry, Johnny Griffin, Ellis Marsalis, Louis Hayes, Wynton Marsalis, Von Freeman, Dr. Nathan Davis, Patrice Rushen, Billy Cobbham, Dr. Billy Taylor, Mulgrew Miller, Lonnie Plaxico, and others. He has also recorded with many artists, including Curtis Fuller, Fred Anderson, Roy Hargrove, Michelle Carr, and Ernest Dawkins, among many others. After Hurricane Katrina, Maurice relocated to New York City and became an instant household name on the scene. He also continues to appear regularly with his hip-hop/funk combo, Soul'd U Out. An equally masterful trumpeter, composer, producer and bandleader at just 25 years old, Maurice Brown is sure to make an influential mark on jazz and the world beyond for many years to come. As trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard stated, “Maurice Brown is one of the most talented of his generation. He has the vision to bring a new voice, not only to his instrument, but to jazz in general." And that's exactly what he's doing.

Michel Reis
Michel Reis - piano/composer
Eric Doob - drums
Mike Oien - bass

A native of the Grand Duch of Luxembourg, Europe, Michel Reis began playing the piano at 8. When, in his early teens, he began improvising and making up his own compositions, his father suggested he enter the jazz department of the Conservatoire of Luxembourg. There he spent the next four years studying jazz theory, harmony, composition improvisation and ensemble. He earned not only his Prize Superior in Jazz Piano, but also a First Prize in Classical Piano. Michel knew pretty much from the start that he had found his profession. In Paris 2002, he auditioned for and was awarded a scholarship to The Berklee College of Music in Boston Massachusetts. When asked to record for WPR, he created a very clear concept for the album. Not to feature their musical technique but rather to feature the music itself. To put everything there that is necessary for each composition, and not one note more. His chosen trio partners share a similar musical philosophy and this is evident in the recording. The compositions and the performances show a depth and a purity that is as refreshing as it is unusual. On the 22nd of March 2005, Michel participated in the first International Jazz Competition, Piano, in Moscow, where out of several hundred pre-selected participants from around the would, he won 4th place. Michel was invited to participate in the 2006 Montreux Jazz Competition this past summer, and from 250 excellent jazzmen was awarded second place. He graduates from Berklee School of Music this year (2006).

Mina Agossi
Mina Agossi - vocals
Eric Jacot - bass
Ichiro Onoe - drums

Mina Agossi was born in France in 1972 to French and West African parents. At a young age Mina found herself singing the blues as a favor for a friend who was a saxophonist. The experience changed her life; so much so she immediately knew she was to become a professional singer. Mina was recruited by a Swing & New Orleans jazz band in Brittany where she received her first taste of success, as very quickly the band was regularly gigging both in France and across the channel in Ireland. Mina found herself increasingly attracted to modern Jazz. The result was an album co-created with a double bass player in 1995. Comprising original co-written tunes and using no wind, brass or keyboard instruments; this album marked the beginning of the development of a very personal style “Voice & Bass"- that would stay with her right up until the present day. In 1997 the CD won the prize of “Young Self-Produced Talents" from the French organisation FNAC. This gave her the chance to develop her skills through two special master classes, one in Boston with Sheela Jordan, and the other in France with Jeanne Lee. These experiences helped Mina mature as a singer, and enabled her to take her voice in the unique direction that makes her so distinguishable now. Just after the attacks of September 11 2001, “E-Zpass to Brooklyn" was recorded by Mina, live in Brooklyn. With imitations of free jazz sax solos and scratching in the microphone, Mina mixes many different musical styles, from hip hop to world to jazz, blues, rock, throwing them around, often when least expected. Her inimitable, fresh approach gives the vocal scene a much- needed push in a brand new direction.

Mino Cinelu solo

When he was a child, Mino Cinelu learned to play the guitar and discovered drums and percussion and became professional musician at the age of sixteen. Traveling between London and New York, he collaborated with a huge number of musicians, both in the studios and onstage, people whose origins (jazz, funk, rap, electro, flamenco and pop) were as diverse as Mino's associations with them were prestigious (Miles Davis, Weather Report, Sting, Lou Reed, Vicente Amigo, etc...) As a composer, multi-instrumentalist, programmer and producer, Mino has left mark on many kind of music, and his reputation has earned him the status of “a man of all talents". He has 2 solo albums “Mino Cinelu" and “Quest journey" and the CD of the soundtrack of the film “La Californie". He is preparing his 4th album.

Rudresh Mahanthappa Quartet
Rudresh Mahanthappa - sax/composer
Craig Taborn - piano
Franois Moutin - bass
Tyshawn Sorey - drums

Named a Rising Star of the alto saxophone by the Downbeat International Critics Poll lists for the past four years, #2 in 2006, Rudresh Mahanthappa is one of the most innovative young musicians in jazz today. By incorporating the culture of his Indian ancestry, Rudresh has fused myriad influences to create a truly groundbreaking artistic vision. As a performer, he leads/co-leads five groups to critical acclaim. Rudresh's most recent release for Pi Recordings Codebook has already received great reviews from wired.com and Science Magazine and is already in the top 20 on Us jazz radio charts . His previous quartet recording Mother Tongue on Pi Recordings received 4 stars in DOWNBEAT and was named one of Top Ten Jazz CDs of 2004 by the Chicago Tribune, Jazztimes, Coda, All About Jazz, and Jazzmatazz and was additionally recognized as one of the top jazz albums of 2005 by several European publications including the UK's Jazz Review. This CD reached #8 on US jazz radio charts and remained at #1 on Canadian jazz radio charts for over a month. As a performer, Mahanthappa has achieved international recognition performing regularly at jazz festivals and clubs worldwide. He has also worked as a sideman with such jazz luminaries as David Murray, Steve Coleman, Jack DeJohnette, Samir Chatterjee, Von Freeman, Tim Hagans, Fareed Haque, Vijay Iyer, Howard Levy, David Liebman, Greg Osby, and Dr. Lonnie Smith. As a composer, Rudresh has received commission grants from the Rockefeller Foundation MAP Fund, American Composers Forum, Chamber Music America, and the New York State Council on the Arts to develop new work. Mahanthappa holds a Bachelors of Music Degree in jazz performance from Berklee College of Music and a Masters of Music degree in jazz composition from Chicago's DePaul University. He now teaches at The New School University. Rudresh Mahanthappa currently lives in New York where he is clearly regarded as an important and influential voice in the jazz world. Rudresh is a 2006 New York Foundation for the Arts Fellow in music composition.

Slavic Soul Party
Matt Moran and Take Toriyama - percussion
Shane Endsley and Ben Holmes - trumpets
Jacob Garchik and Brian Drye - trombones
Oscar Noriega - sax/clarinet
Peter Stan - accordion
Ron Caswell - tuba

Fiery Balkan brass, hip-grinding American grooves, and ecstatic anthems new and old: Slavic Soul Party! is just what it says. Brash and strong as slivovitz, these nine musicians have forged a virtuosic new brass band music in the heart of New York City - melding Gypsy, East European, Mexican, and Asian immigrant backgrounds with American jazz and soul - and “developed a reputation for delivering a great time." (NY Times) One of the hardest working bands in New York, SSP! plays nearly 100 times a year in the US, Europe, and beyond, from Lincoln Center to East European steelworker bars in the midwest, skatepunk tours in New Jersey to pasha's palaces in Istanbul. The band travels regularly to the Balkans, sharing their original mix with festival audiences and bartering trade secrets inside the brotherhood of brass. Their latest cd “Bigger" is on the Barbes Records label. SSP! is Matt Moran, Shane Endsley, Ben Holmes, Oscar Noriega, Jacob Garchik, Brian Drye, Ron Caswell, Take Toriyama, and Peter Stan.

So Percussion
Josh Quillen - percussion Adam Sliwinski - percussion Jason Treuting - percussion Lawson White - percussion

As percussion instruments have become central to our diverse musical culture, the music written for them has reached a new level of excitement and maturity. So Percussion's goal is to challenge and enable the creation of new music that combines musical, theatrical, and artistic elements. We seek composers, collaborators, and audiences who are open to pulling these instruments out of their usual contexts to create new aural and visual experiences. Percussion has a unique ability to thrill and captivate. Its expressive possibilities range far beyond beats and rhythms, speaking to the impact of sound on our very lives. A So performance seeks to convey this impact. From the pure joy of drumming to the strange beauty of everyday objects, audiences are uniquely moved and entertained by this total immersion in sound and imagination. These shows are presented at many different venues: concert halls. clubs, art museums, theaters, and more. In addition to these performances, we bring educational programs to universities, public schools, and other special locations across the USA. So is a form of the Japanese verb meaning “to play." For us, it means sharing the joy and spirit of music making whenever we can!

Steve Lehman's Blueprint Trio Steve Lehman - alto saxophone/composer Matt Brewer - bass Eric McPherson - drums Named a “Rising Star" on the alto saxophone in Downbeat Magazine's 2006 International Critics Poll, Steve Lehman is a saxophonist and composer whose work resides on the cutting-edge of contemporary music. His Blueprint Trio, featuring Drew Gress and Eric McPherson, performs music that combines elaborate formal schemes with unmistakably urban rhythmic devices and has been recognized as one of today's truly original creative ensembles by publications such as The Wire, The New York Times, and The Village Voice, as well as by National Public Radio.

Wonderful World Guillaume de Chassy - piano Daniel Yvinec - bass Mark Murphy - vocals Michael Leonhart - vocals Antoine Carlier - video programmer

The premise of this extraordinary document is original and simple: In September 2004, pianist Guillame de Chassy and bassist Daniel Yvinec traveled to Manhattan where they recorded ordinary people on the street singing their favorite standards and commenting on why these songs had such personal significance. Afterwards, de Chassy and Yvinec took these recordings back to the studio, where they added piano & bass accompaniment as well as vocals from Andy Bey, Ilya Lushtak & Michael Leonhart among others. The overall “narrator" of the Wonderful World project is Milt Hoffman, an octogenarian, ex-columnist of Westchester County's Journal News. With his gruff, Humphrey Bogart- like commentary, Hoffman sets the tone of this work. “The one thing I love about these songs is that you can hear every word and they're sentimental," he says. “That was the period... people were sentimental... they had great respect for each other... I'm glad I lived in that era... I just loved that time." Save for the instrumental, “When You're Smiling," de Chassy, and Yvinec provide the perfect support for this one-of-a-kind assemblage of voices. Sunnyside recording artist Michael Leonhart, lends his Chet Baker-ish vocals to a Burke/Van Heusen, selection, “Here's that Rainy Day/Here's That Sunny Day."

Visit Website

For more information contact .

Comments

Tags

View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

News

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.