AprilCadence2013

Short Takes USA: Portland
no longer able to handle the rigors of international travel due to age/health
concerns. But the remaining ten members will soldier on and the results
are sure to be satisfying indeed. The ICP Orchestra is: Han Bennink,
Mary Oliver, Tristan Honsinger, Ernst Glerum, Michael Moore,
Ab Baars, Tobias Delius, Wolter Wierbos and Thomas Heberer.
The Blue Monk (3341 SE Belmont. bluemonk.com). Always an intimate
experience. The Monk's got a lower level club with stage and piano. There
are a wide variety artists presented throughout the week. Sundays feature
quality local jazz acts (visitors from afar on occasion) currated by the incredible
Mary Sue Tobin. Recently: kIN trio (Sunjae Eugene Lee, Tim
DuRoche, Andre St. James). Battle Hymns & Gardens (Reed Wallsmith,
Joe Cunningham, Jon Shaw, Tim DuRoche). Rich Halley 4. 2/22:
A special visit from the brilliant New York pianist Angelica Sanchez with two
SF Bay area greats, Phillip Greenlief (saxes) and Sam Ospovat (d). The hourlong
set was phenomenal in it's steady trajectory through so many moods and
moments. Gorgeous heart-felt tenor sax passages swept easily into powerful
pianistic flights accompanied by wild virtuosic cymbal work to be
followed by deep listening group improvisations and tasty little off-beat
solo musings from all aboard. Impossible to pigeonhole. Always exciting.
A truly moving amalgam and a set of great beauty and originality.
Camellia Lounge (510 NW 11th Ave.) This charming back-room den in the
Pearl district is becoming an important little venue. It seems to be welcoming
more top-notch talents as the word gets out about it's comfortable setting
(and good piano!). It's a very intimate room w/good sightlines and warm
acoustics. 2/22: I had the pleasure to attend the release party for The
Rich Halley 4's latest slab of brilliance (Crossing The Passes). The quartet
features: Rich Halley (ts), Michael Vlatkovich (tbn), Clyde Reed (b)
and Carson Halley (d). They put on a fine show featuring much of their new
material and some fresh takes on some compositions of an older vintage.
Much of the music is written by the leader but there is a heck of a lot of room
for improvising as well. This is a group which makes good use of those
opportunities. 3/2: Pianist Gordon Lee w/ Ron Steen (d) and Phil Baker (b).
Vie de Boheme (1530 SE 7th Ave.) A nice wine bar which hosts the
occasional quality jazz event. 1/10: The return of the Rob Scheps Big Band.
Jimmy Maks (300 NW 10th Ave.) Long-time
keeper of the funky, mainstream,blues/jazz scene.
Jimmy Maks has a reliable program of weekly regulars mixed with a smart
line-up of local talents and the occasional visitor from afar. 3/7: Stanley
Jordan. 3/8-9) A Benefit for Bruce Conte (former guitarist for Tower of
Power) featuring (among others): Soul Vaccination, Chester Thompson,
Renato Caranto, "King Louie" Pain. 3/14: Martha Reeves joins Mel
Brown's B-3 Organ Group. Shemekia Copeland will visit in May. Linda
Hornbuckle, Patrick Lamb, Farnell Newton, Dan Balmer, Bobby Torres
43 | CadenCe Magazine | april May June 2013