JENNY SCHEINMAN

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(INTERVIEW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6) TNYCJR: Then, in 2004, with Arturo O’Farrill and his Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, you turned out a very different type of Latin jazz album. Can you talk a bit about what led up to this collaboration? CA: Arturo and I had the experience to work together when he and the orchestra were part of Lincoln Center. With that experience there were a lot of people [involved in the recording] Una Noche Inolvidable, which was a tribute to some of the greatest Spanish singers. Through that Arturo and I talked about collaborating. The [producer] wanted an approach that was very, very Latin, trying to do a crossover record. So I agreed to collaborate because I love Arturo and his music. We’re very good friends and I was open to trying something different, in collaboration with other people and in other styles of music. It was a very interesting experience to have a coach and sing some of the songs on that album, that I maybe never would have chosen personally. TNYCJR: In 2008 you recorded an almost all-Spanish album, En Este Momento for Marsalis Music, produced by Branford Marsalis. What was that like? CA: I was honored to be called by Joey Calderazzo, who is Branford’s piano player. He was doing an album and wanted me to collaborate with him on writing a couple of songs and singing. Branford was producing and through that Branford approached me to see if I’d be interested to be on his label. It was a dream come true and an honor to have met him, to be approached by him to be the first vocalist and first female on his 46 March 2013 | THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD label and also to have the chance to work as closely as I did with him and learn so much. TNYCJR: Your recordings over the years have become more personal in their expression. Would you agree? CA: Yes. It comes with the territory and the confidence you get on your own, [when] you’re more comfortable in your own skin. At the beginning I was very shy at the possibility of showing my compositions. I wanted to show my perspective about the tradition of jazz and bring in my roots. And that’s why I chose to sing standards, a lot of them with a slight introduction to the rhythm parts of traditional music from more of South America - not necessarily salsa or Brazilian music. I’m influenced by that, but that’s not the tradition where I come from. TNYCJR: You became a parent not too long ago. How has this affected your career? CA: I was very blessed to have [my son, Daniel] now, when I already have a career built. I don’t know if I would have felt the same way if I would have had him 12-13 years ago, because the body of work I’ve done until now has allowed me to take this time and not be so anxious. But I don’t want to forget that I’m a performer, an artist, a woman, that I need to write songs. I have reached out to women musicians who are mothers and they give me advice because I’m new and there’s no book. We have a very unusual career. So with that advice I’ve been pretty much taking him everywhere and making him part of this life. v For more information, visit claudiaacuna.com. Acuña is at Harlem Stage Gatehouse Mar. 27th. See Calendar. Recommended Listening: • Claudia Acuña - Wind from the South (Verve, 1999) • Claudia Acuña - Rhythm of Life (Verve, 2001) • Claudia Acuña - Luna (MAXJAZZ, 2003) • Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra (with Arturo O’Farrill) - Una Noche Inolvidable (An Unforgettable Night) (Palmetto, 2004) • Arturo O’Farrill/Claudia Acuña - In These Shoes (ZoHo Music, 2007) • Claudia Acuña - En Este Momento (Marsalis Music, 2008) (LABEL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12) While Fujii and Tamura do record for other imprints, so far Libra’s only CD under someone else’s leadership is 2004’s Yamabuki by Japanese vocalist Koh. “She is so amazing, that I wanted to introduce her from Libra,” the pianist says. Fujii also played on the session and composed some of the material (along with accordion player Ted Reichman). However Koh’s CD remains an anomaly. “Sometimes we get emails from musicians we don’t know asking if Libra can put out their CDs,” Fujii states. “But we don’t have enough time and money for that. However if in the future we find someone we would like to record like Koh we’ll do so.” But they may be too busy. Already planned for Libra’s 2013 schedule are new solo discs by both Fujii and Tamura, another KAZE CD plus a new recording by Fujii’s New York Orchestra, which will be the group’s fourth outing. v For more information, visit librarecords.com Sandy Sasso’s latest release “Hands On” Always swinging, Always eclectic, Always Sasso Available at www.cdbaby.com or www.sandysasso.com
CHARLES BELL - The pianist was an obscure figure in ‘60s jazz but did release four albums between 1960-64, including a pair on Atlantic and Columbia Records by his Contemporary Jazz Quartet, and was commissioned to write a jazz concerto performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1963. Later he moved from Pittsburgh to New York to teach music. Drummer Poogie Bell is his son. Bell died Dec. 4th at 79. BRIAN BROWN - A stalwart on the Australian jazz scene going back to the ‘50s, primarily in Melbourne, Brown played soprano and tenor saxophones, flutes, synthesizers, panpipes and a leather bowhorn. He released a number of albums as a leader during the ‘70s-90s, then tripled his discography over the last decade after retiring from the Victorian College of the Arts. Brown died Jan. 27th at 79. RAHN BURTON - A regular performer at the Upper West Side club Cleopatra’s Needle, the pianist had a fateful meeting as a young man in Columbus, Ohio, hearing saxophonist Roland Kirk for the first time. Burton would go on to play with Kirk during the ‘50s, again for several years during the ‘60s and through the ‘70s, appearing on albums like The Inflated March 1 †Glenn Miller 1904-44 †Teddy Powell 1906-1993 †Benny Powell 1930-2010 Gene Perla b.1940 Ralph Towner b.1940 Vinny Golia b.1946 Norman Connors b.1947 Elliott Sharp b.1951 March 2 †Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis 1921-86 †Doug Watkins 1934-62 Buell Neidlinger b.1936 Bob Neloms b.1942 Wolfgang Muthspiel b.1965 March 3 †Barney Bigard 1906-80 †Cliff Smalls 1918-2008 †Jimmy Garrison 1934-76 Luis Gasca b.1940 March 4 Don Rendell b.1926 †Cy Touff 1927-2003 †Barney Wilen 1937-96 David Darling b.1941 Jan Garbarek b.1947 Kermit Driscoll b.1956 Albert Pinton b.1962 Dana Leong b.1980 March 5 †Gene Rodgers 1910-87 †Bill Pemberton 1918-84 †Dave Burns 1924-2009 †Lou Levy 1928-2001 †Wilbur Little 1928-87 †Pee Wee Moore 1928-2009 David Fiuczynski b.1964 Vol. 2 Julius Watkins Sextet (Blue Note) March 20th, 1955 This was French horn player Julius Watkins’ second album as a leader after an August 1954 debut (and second and final session for Blue Note). Rejoining Watkins from that first session are obscure guitarist Perry Lopez and bassist Oscar Pettiford, with Hank Mobley replacing Frank Foster on tenor, Duke Jordan for George Butcher on piano and Art Blakey in the drum chair instead of Kenny Clarke. Watkins wrote three of the five tunes, the others a tune by Bennie Harris and an early version of Jordan’s “Jordu”. March 6 †Red Callender 1916-92 †Howard McGhee 1918-87 †Wes Montgomery 1925-68 †Ronnie Boykins 1935-80 Charles Tolliver b.1940 Peter Brötzmann b.1941 †Robin Kenyatta 1942-2004 Flora Purim b.1942 Dom Minasi b.1943 Ayelet Rose Gottlieb b.1979 March 7 Alexander von Schlippenbach b.1938 Herb Bushler b.1939 March 8 †George Mitchell 1899-1972 Dick Hyman b.1927 George Coleman b.1935 †Gabor Szabo 1936-82 †James Williams 1951-2004 Biggi Vinkeloe b.1956 Anat Fort b.1970 March 9 Ornette Coleman b.1930 Keely Smith b.1932 Kali Z. Fasteau b.1947 Zakir Hussain b.1951 †Thomas Chapin 1957-1998 Erica von Kleist b.1982 March 10 †Bix Beiderbecke 1903-31 †Pete Clarke 1911-75 †Don Abney 1923-2000 Louis Moholo b.1940 Mino Cinelu b.1957 Bill Gerhardt b.1962 Ofer Assaf b.1976 Tear and Volunteered Slavery. Burton also collaborated with other saxophonists, such as George Adams, Charlie Rouse and Archie Shepp. He released one album as a leader in 1992 and died Jan. 25th at 79. JACK DIÉVAL - The pianist’s nickname was the Debussy of Jazz. In addition to his own trio, quartet and Jazz Aux Champs-Elysées All-Stars, he was a member of the Quintette Du Hot Club De France in the mid ‘40s and hosted radio and television programs during the ‘50s-60s. Diéval died Oct. 31st at 91. STANLEY GREIG - His father was a drummer and piano tuner and the younger Greig would go on to play both during a more-than-50-year career in London, working with Ken Colyer, Humphrey Lyttelton (during the ‘50s and again in the ‘80s-90s) and Acker Bilk. He formed the London Jazz Big Band in 1975 and later mostly helmed his own trio. Greig died Nov. 18th at 82. GEORGE GRUNTZ - Possibly the most famous musician to come out Switzerland, after some fascinating early recordings - jazz interpretations of Baroque music; a collaboration with Tunisian musicians; an avant garde trio with himself on organ - the March 11 †Miff Mole 1898-1961 †Mercer Ellington 1919-96 Ike Carpenter b.1920 †Billy Mitchell 1926-2001 †Leroy Jenkins 1932-2007 Vince Giordano b.1952 Judy Niemack b.1954 March 12 Sir Charles Thompson b.1918 †Hugh Lawson 1935-97 Ned Goold b.1959 Peter Knight b.1965 Vinson Valega b.1965 March 13 †Dick Katz 1924-2009 Roy Haynes b.1926 †Blue Mitchell 1930-79 Michael Jefry Stevens b.1951 Akira Tana b.1952 Terence Blanchard b.1962 Shoko Nagai b.1971 March 14 †Joe Mooney 1911-75 †Les Brown 1912-2001 †Sonny Cohn 1925-2006 Mark Murphy b.1932 †Shirley Scott 1934-2002 Dred Scott b.1964 March 15 †Jimmy McPartland 1907-91 †Spencer Clark 1908-1998 †Harry James 1916-83 Bob Wilber b.1928 Charles Lloyd b.1938 Marty Sheller b.1940 Joachim Kühn b.1944 Anne Mette Iversen b.1972 Legends Live Cannonball Adderley (Jazzhaus) March 20th, 1969 Saxist Cannonball Adderley first worked with his brother, cornetist Nat, on their shared 1955 debut under Kenny Clarke. Pianist Joe Zawinul became a fixture in their band starting in 1961. By 1966, bassist Victor Gaskin and drummer Roy McCurdy completed the quintet that appears on this newly issued 1969 concert recording from Stuttgart, Germany. Nat Adderley and Joe Zawinul’s compositions make up most of the program, the remainder filled out by Leonard Bernstein, Roebuck Staples and Dizzy Gillespie. IN MEMORIAM BIRTHDAYS March 16 †Ruby Braff 1927-2003 †Tommy Flanagan 1930-2001 Keith Rowe b.1940 John Lindberg b.1959 Woody Witt b.1969 March 17 Paul Horn b.1930 †Grover Mitchell 1930-2003 Karel Velebny b.1931 Jessica Williams b.1948 Abraham Burton b.1971 Daniel Levin b.1974 March 18 †Al Hall 1915-88 †Sam Donahue 1918-74 Bill Frisell b.1951 Joe Locke b.1959 March 19 †Curley Russell 1917-86 †Lennie Tristano 1919-78 Bill Henderson b.1930 Mike Longo b.1939 David Schnitter b.1948 Chris Brubeck b.1952 Michele Rosewoman b.1953 Eliane Elias b.1960 March 20 Marian McPartland b.1920 Sonny Russo b.1929 Harold Mabern b.1936 Jon Christensen b.1943 March 21 †Hank D’Amico 1915-65 Mike Westbrook b.1936 Herbert Joos b.1940 Amina Claudine Myers b.1942 ON THIS DAY by Andrey Henkin Flight Howard Riley (Turtle-FMR) March 20th, 1971 Among the most interesting, though somewhat lost to history, entries in mid-period British jazz were the trio works of pianist Howard Riley. With bassist Barry Guy (and a revolving cast of drummers), the group released six albums between 1967’s impossibleto-find Discussions to the 1974-75 release Overground. This session, on the short-lived Turtle imprint (briefly reissued in the ‘90s on FMR), includes Tony Oxley on drums for the sidelong tune “Motion” and the four tunes of the B-side, including the title track. pianist/composer/arranger focused his energies on his Concert Big Band, which performed and recorded regularly starting in the ‘70s and featured luminaries of both the European and American jazz scenes, as well as guests like Elvin Jones. For 22 years, Gruntz was the Artistic Director of the Berlin Jazz Festival (where he often appeared) and was a regular recipient of commissions from various large ensembles. Gruntz died Jan. 10th at 80. LAWRENCE D. “BUTCH” MORRIS - The cornetist coined the term “Conduction”, a directed system for ensemble improvisation, which he applied to groups as diverse as jazz big bands, ethnic string orchestras and choruses of poets. Brother of bassist Wilbur Morris, he worked early on as a sideman with David Murray (whose Big Band Morris would later direct), Frank Lowe and later Billy Bang, before devoting himself fully to his nowoften-imitated method, working with numerous ensembles throughout the world (many documented on a series released by New World Records) and, more locally and recently, Nublu and The Stone. Morris died Jan. 29th at 65. CLAUDE NOBS - It was at age 31 that the Montreux, Switzerland native organized the March 22 †Fred Anderson 1929-2010 John Houston b.1933 †Masahiko Togashi 1940-2007 George Benson b.1943 March 23 †Johnny Guarnieri 1917-85 Dave Frishberg b.1933 Dave Pike b.1938 Masabumi Kikuchi b.1940 Gerry Hemingway b.1950 Stefon Harris b.1973 March 24 †King Pleasure 1922-81 Dave MacKay b.1932 Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre b.1936 Steve Kuhn b.1938 Paul McCandless b.1947 Steve LaSpina b.1954 Renee Rosnes b.1962 Dave Douglas b.1963 Joe Fiedler b.1965 March 25 Cecil Taylor b.1929 †Paul Motian 1931-2011 †Larry Gales 1936-95 †Lonnie Hillyer 1940-85 Makoto Ozone b.1961 March 26 Abe Bolar b.1908 †Flip Phillips 1915-2001 †Andy Hamilton 1918-2012 †Brew Moore 1924-73 †James Moody 1925-2010 Maurice Simon b.1929 Lew Tabackin b.1940 Hiromi b.1979 On The Korner Zoot Sims (Pablo) March 20th, 1983 The inspiration for the sax-playing Muppet, Zoot Sims began his career with Woody Herman’s Orchestra in 1947 at the age of 22. Hundreds of sessions later, Sims worked up to the end of his life, dying in 1985 at the age of 59. This live set from San Francisco’s Keystone Korner was among his last recordings, Sims appearing with drummer Shelly Manne’s trio of the period with pianist Frank Collett and bassist Monty Budwig. The seventune program is all standards, music Sims had played for his whole career in his inimitable swinging style. first Montreux Jazz Festival, which has continued to this day, though “diversifying” away from jazz, and resulted in live albums by Bobby Hutcherson, Don Pullen, Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis and Sun Ra, among others. Nobs also worked for the European division of Warner, Elektra and Atlantic Records starting in the ‘70s. Nobs died Jan. 10th at 76 after a skiing accident. ROSS TAGGART - The Canadian pianist was a regular on the Vancouver scene, working with Hugh Fraser, Cory Weeds and many other local groups, in addition to performing and recording with his own. But Taggart’s career was an international one and he worked with a number of American musicians, such as Charles McPherson, both in Canada and the States, since the ‘90s. Taggart died Jan. 9th at 45. FRODE THINGNÆS - The Norwegian trombonist may not have been as internationally known as the countrymen with whom he came up in the early ‘60s (such as collaborators like Terje Rypdal) but Thingnæs went on to a solid career leading various big bands and orchestras throughout Norway and becoming a prolific composer. Thingnæs died Nov. 15th at 72. March 27 †Pee Wee Russell 1906-69 †Ben Webster 1909-73 †Sarah Vaughan 1924-90 †Harold Ashby 1925-2003 †Bill Barron 1927-89 †Burt Collins 1931-2007 Stacey Kent b.1968 March 28 †Paul Whiteman 1890-1967 †Herb Hall 1907-96 †Thad Jones 1923-86 Bill Anthony b.1930 †Tete Montoliu 1933-97 Barry Miles b.1947 Donald Brown b.1954 Orrin Evans b.1975 Jen Shyu b.1978 March 29 †George Chisholm 1915-97 †Pearl Bailey 1918-90 Allen Botschinsky b.1940 †Michael Brecker 1949-2007 March 30 †Ted Heath 1900-69 Lanny Morgan b.1934 Karl Berger b.1935 Marilyn Crispell b.1947 Dave Stryker b.1957 Frank Gratkowski b.1963 Dan Peck b.1983 March 31 †Santo “Mr. Tailgate” Pecora 1902-84 †Red Norvo 1908-99 †Freddie Green 1911-87 †Jimmy Vass 1937-2006 Christian Scott b.1983 MARIAN MCPARTLAND March 20th, 1918 Last November, the pianist stepped down as host of Piano Jazz, ending a run of 33 years, 5 months and 6 days at the helm of NPR’s longest running jazz program. Prior to her role as a broadcaster/interviewer/ duet partner on the airwaves, the British-born Margaret Marian Turner (McPartland came from her husband, cornetist Jimmy) began her musical career entertaining troops during World War II. After moving to the States, she established a trio, which became the house band at New York City’s The Hickory House from 1952-60. In the mid ‘60s, she had a radio program on W-BAI, which led to her later work on NPR. The grand dame of jazz made it official in 2010, when she was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire -AH Detroit’s Jazz Piano Legacy Vol. 1 Marcus Belgrave (DJM) March 20th, 1993 The Motor City has produced quite a number of legendary jazz pianists over the decades, starting with Hank Jones. It’s no slouch with other instruments as well - trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, for example (though he was born in Pennsylvania). He appears here with a triumvirate of Detroit pianists from different eras - Tommy Flanagan, Geri Allen and Gary Schunk - recorded live at the Kerrytown Concert House some 50 miles west of Detroit in Ann Arbor. Belgrave’s tune “All My Love” was a commissioned tribute to Detroit. THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD | March 2013 47
Page 1 and 2: March 2013 | No. 131 CLAUDIA ACUÑA
Page 3 and 4: 4 6 7 9 10 11 12 14 38 45 47 New Yo
Page 5 and 6: Tom Greenland, Midnight Son Music H
Page 7: © Jack Vartoogian/FrontRowPhotos A
Page 10 and 11: ENCORE Valerie Capers by Brad Farbe
Page 12 and 13: LABEL SPOTLIGHT Libra Records by Ke
Page 14 and 15: CD REVIEWS Capricorn Climber Kris D
Page 16 and 17: GLOBE UNITY: NORWAY Memnon: Sound P
Page 18: New Blues Aki Takase (Enja/Yellowbi
Page 21 and 22: Play the music of Benny Carter Coun
Page 23 and 24: Music is Emotion Ryan Keberle and C
Page 25 and 26: The Exterminating Angel Kirk Knuffk
Page 27 and 28: Sojourner Truth (1797?-1883) led a
Page 29 and 30: It would be hard to overstate the e
Page 31 and 32: Ellington Saxophone Encounters Mark
Page 33 and 34: The Sirens Chris Potter (ECM) by Je
Page 35 and 36: Numerology (Live at Jazz Standard)
Page 38 and 39: CALENDAR Friday, March 1 êPreserva
Page 40 and 41: Friday, March 8 êPaquito D’River
Page 42 and 43: Tuesday, March 19 êJoseph Bowie’
Page 44 and 45: Thursday, March 28 êClaire Daly’
Page 48: presents John Williams, Guitar John

JENNY SCHEINMAN

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