Jazz Picks

NY Picks for First Week of 2006

NY Picks:

From the New York Times listings (mostly written recently by Nate Chinen and not Ratliff - I wonder if Chinen is Ratliff's replacement? Will have to check on that.):

Tues. Jan. 3 - Sun. Jan. 8
JIMMY GREENE QUARTET (Tuesday Jan. 3 through Sunday Jan. 8) Mr. Greene brings an athletic self-assurance to his tenor and soprano saxophone playing; his solid post-bop band includes the pianist Xavier Davis, the bassist Reuben Rogers and the drummer Eric Harland. 9 and 11 p.m., Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th Street, West Village, (212) 255-4037; cover, $20 to $25, with a $10 minimum. (Chinen)

(Note: Greene is one of my favorite tenor saxophonists - hands down. He is close to Chris Potter but not quite there. The way he plays over changes is really original. He was the second place winner in 2002's Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition for saxophone. My favorite album with his playing is actually Tom Harrell's Wise Children (Bluebird) from 2003).

Wed. Jan. 5th through Sun. Jan. 8th
STEVE WILSON QUARTET WITH NICHOLAS PAYTON (Wednesday through Jan. 8) An alto saxophonist with a dry tone but a rounded sense of phrase, Mr. Wilson recruits a well-established rhythm section - Bruce Barth on piano, Ed Howard on bass and Adam Cruz on drums - and locks horns with Mr. Payton, one of the outstanding trumpeters of our time. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Jazz Standard, 116 East 27th Street, Manhattan, (212) 576-2232; cover, $20 to $25. (Chinen)

(Note: Though I have never seen this band in this particular configuration, Steve Wilson is surely one of my top 5 favorite living alto/soprano saxophonists. In addition, Bruce Barth is one of the baddest muthas around. Check out his output on MaxJazz. Ed Howard has experienced a resurgence in popularity and visibility in a number of contexts recently - most notably as the replacement for the late bassist Charles Ables in Shirley Horn's band (Horn died after a prolonged bout with cancer and diabetes roughly 2 months ago). Adam Cruz always burns; he is the drummer in pianist Danilo Perez' trio - can't get a much better credential than that.)

Thurs. Jan. 5th
DREW GRESS'S 7 BLACK BUTTERFLIES (Thursday Jan. 5) As on the fine recent album of the same name, this ensemble features the compositions and bass playing of Mr. Gress, along with a passel of progressive modernists: the trumpeter Ralph Alessi, the alto saxophonist Tim Berne, the keyboardist Craig Taborn and the drummer Tom Rainey. 10 p.m., 55 Bar, 55 Christopher Street, West Village, (212) 929-9883; cover, $10. (Chinen)

(Note: One of the most creative albums of 2005, 7 Black Butterflies is the archetypal modern jazz album - in a good way. Drew Gress, a Baltimore-bred bassist who is now one of the most in-demand bassists in progressive/modern jazz has done some really amazing work with pianist Uri Caine and drummer John Hollenbeck. But anything with Craig Taborn on keys is sure to kill! Check this show out. The 55 Bar IS ONE OF THE TOP 5 BEST SPOTS FOR JAZZ in New York. It's cheap and intimate and all the best cats play there!)

ALSO Thurs. Jan. 5th
MARC RIBOT'S SPIRITUAL UNITY (Thursday) This quartet of experimental all-stars, recently documented on an album of the same title, pays tribute to the fire-breathing saxophonist Albert Ayler. In addition to Mr. Ribot's bracing electric guitar, the group features the athletic bass playing of Henry Grimes, the tart pocket trumpet and fat flugelhorn of Roy Campbell and the insistent drumming of Chad Taylor. 10 p.m., the Stone, Avenue C and Second Street, East Village, www.thestonenyc.com; cover, $20. (Chinen)

(Note: I hate to list two competing events on the same night but it is necessary that fans of FREE IMPROV try to make it to this Marc Ribot show at John Zorn's new "curatorially-booked" club, The Stone - where the music and only the music matter. Go catch it for the rare chance to see Chad Taylor (of Chicago Underground Duo) in New York. Go for the opportunity to witness an humble individual who has experienced arguably the greatest resurgence onto the jazz scene in the 21st century, bassist Henry Grimes.)

DC Picks coming soon....

posted by Matt @ 9:14 AM