Just One Week in the 8495
From one end of the 8495 to the other, great music abounded
Anybody who has undertaken any sort of creative endeavor knows how things flow. One week inspiration strikes and material is abundant, the next week you feel like a dry gulch.
This past week the 8495Jazz staff took a little time away from the routine reporting and info gathering to travel a tad (though nowhere near as epic a journey as our new friend Ako’s was) and collect some images of some top-drawer jazz shows. From Danbury to Boston, these shows just reinforced how lucky we are to reside in such a fertile area for the genre.
Takuya Kuroda, Cafe 939, Boston, April 25
We did a mini-splurge last weekend: an overnight at the Back Bay Hilton, about a three-minute walk from the club at 939 Boylston Street. It’s one of the Berklee College of Music’s clubs teaching their students hands-on techniques in actually operating a venue. Sound was great, no concessions (it’s an alcohol-free venue), and it’s standing room only (except for one loveseat and six conference room chairs), but I doubt I’ll get this close to one of the hippest trumpet players in jazz ever again.
Takuya does his best Dizz impression. (8495Jazz photo)
Takuya and tenor player Craig Hill take in David Frazier’s drum solo while bassist Reuben Cainer keeps the bottom choogling. (8495Jazz photo)
8495Jazz’s associate publisher, left, shares a conversation prior to the show with our new friend Ako. Ako flew in from Tokyo for this one show. Makes me feel a tad wimpy for not driving to Hartford on a school night. (8495Jazz photo)
Nat Reeves Sextet, Swingin’ Hard in WeHa, April 30
Hartford bass legend Nat Reeves shows no signs of slowing down on the eve of his 71st birthday. Thursday night, in a double-barreled celebration of International Jazz Day and the release of his new album, Now In Time, released on The Side Door label, Nat brought a hard-swinging sextet to the sold-out Hoffman Auditorium at the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford. He also collaborated with poet Kate Rushin on a spoken word/cello duo.
The sextet, which included two of Nat’s former U of Hartford students, Steve Davis on trombone and John Hasselback III on trumpet and flugelhorn, played some of Nat’s originals, some by legends he played with such as Jackie McLean, Sonny Stitt, and Pharoah Sanders, and one by the sextet’s tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander.
And, as if the music itself weren’t a great exemplar of the jazz community here, WWUH jazz programming director Chuck Obuchowski was honored as a Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists’ Association for his decades of work promoting the genre in the region.
If you missed it, don’t admit it.
Bassist Nat Reeves brought a hard-swinging sextet to a sold-out Hoffman Auditorium at the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford Thursday night. From left are trombonist Steve Davis, pianist Caelan Cardello, Nat, drummer Chris Beck, and tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander. Trumpeter John Hasselback III, like Steve Davis once a student of Nat’s is obscured behind Eric. (8495Jazz photo)
The horns – Steve Davis, John Hasselback III, and Eric Alexander – join Nat in setting the groove. (8495Jazz photo)
Poet Kate Rushin joined Nat for a spoken word/cello duo to open the show. (8495Jazz photo)
Emmet brings world-class jazz to WestConn, May 2
No better way to cap off a week of stellar musicianship than to travel down I-84 to Danbury to catch the headliner of the Western Connecticut State University jazz festival, pianist Emmet Cohen and his trio (bass phenom Joey Ranieri and one of the deans of NYC’s drumming community, Joe Farnsworth). For good measure, Emmet brought out WestConn jazz studies co-director Jimmy Greene on the tenor sax for a guest shot.
Emmet mentioned how much he likes to meet those who come to hear him play – that audience and performers create a special fellowship. And we felt that at all three shows this week. I don’t think tickets for any of these shows were more than $30 a pop. A steal and a half. Check your listings and get out there.
Emmet Cohen’s history with Connecticut jazz goes back to his early teen years at Litchfield Jazz Camp and auditioning for a band on the WestConn campus (he passed, as you might imagine). He’s up this way a lot. Go see him. (8495Jazz photo)
WestConn jazz studies co-director Jimmy Greene joins the trio. (8495Jazz photo)
Bassist Joey Ranieri and drummer Joe Farnsworth managed to bring the heat AND stay rock steady all night. Fantastic rhythm section. And Joe gave a shout out to New Haven apizza. (8495Jazz photo)
Out and About with 8495Jazz
These listings are a curated sampling of shows in the region. As an independent resource for jazz news, 8495Jazz does not receive any consideration, free tickets, or affiliate fees for these listings. Please confirm events are still happening directly with the venue.
Jump to the jams!
One of my favorite quizzes is to ask folks now and then to pick one of two sax giants: Charlie Parker or Louis Jordan. Gotta pick one, no waffling.
Hudson Valley Blues Society President Paul Toscano mentioned recently that there’s a first and third Sunday jam at Hudson Ale Works in Highland. And they are more than welcoming to jazz players who like a little blues tinge in their tunes: “We do plenty of jump blues and jazzy style blues and numbers,” Paul told 8495Jazz. “It’s usually one to two horns there each week.”
In fact, the house band includes Johnny Youngblood and Chris “Professor” Kaiser of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, one of the first bands we profiled here at 8495Jazz.
Over on this side of the NY state line, the ubiquitous River City Slim tells us blues jams he hosts in CT and MA (for the CT Blues Society and Mondays at The Whip in Westfield, MA, respectively) are also welcoming of those who like a little swing in their blues: “While it’s rarely the focus, there’s always some jump blues/swing at the jams. And there’s always plenty of shuffles for those that do West Coast.”
So whether you have an axe to keep warmed up or just want a great low-key night out, these jams offer a little sum’thin’ different. Oh, and for me it’s Louie. I understand what Bird brought, but fish fry is my favorite dinner.
8495Jazz Wild Card Gig of the Week
Black Eyed Sally’s, Hartford, CT
Jazz Wednesday’s Mentorship Series, Mentorship XII: String of Pearls Big Band, Wednesday, May 6, 7 pm (jam follows). Free.
“The twelfth edition of Mentorship features the String of Pearls Big Band, a group that has long championed educating the next generation about jazz,” the event’s promo material says. “Their lineup regularly includes students from across Connecticut and features lots of great hits from bands like Count Basie, Glenn Miller and more.”
8495Jazz Spur of the Moment Gigs TODAY
Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
Instantiations (improvisation), 2:30 pm. GA $16.50 including service fee. Season finale, featuring Selendis Sebastian Alexander Johnson (vibes), Lemuel Marc (trumpet), and Joe Morris (bass).
Pump House Music Works, Wakefield, RI
Dan Moretti and Greg Abate Boss Tenors Quintet (sax, combo), 7 pm. GA $23.18 including service fee.
Other Upcoming Shows
Regattabar, Cambridge, MA
Mike Stern Band (guitar, combo), Thursday, May 7, 7 pm. GA $35.97 - $47.61 including service fees.
Regattabar, Boston, MA
Gabrielle Cavassa (vocals, combo), Saturday, May 9, 7 pm. GA $30.15 - $41.79 including service fee.
Thomas Tull Concert Hall, Cambridge, MA
MIT Vocal Jazz Ensemble Sings Chet Baker, Saturday, May 9, 8 pm. GA $16.74 including service fee.
Elicit Brewing Co., Manchester, CT
Hartford Jazz Orchestra (big band), Monday, May 4, 7:30 pm. Free.
VFW Post 399, Westport, CT
Giacomo Gates (vocals, combo), Thursday, May 7, 7:30 and 8:45 pm. $20.76 for 7:30 set, $10.76 for 8:45 set. Student/vets $15.76 for 7:30 set.
Linde Center for Music and Learning, Lenox. MA
Jumaane Smith (trumpet), Friday, May 8, 7 pm. GA $43 including service fee.
Firehouse 12, New Haven, CT
Anna Badkhen Dezron Douglas Duo (spoken word, bass and misc instruments), Friday, May 8, 8:30 and 10 pm. 8:30 show tickets $20, 10 pm show tickets $15.
The Side Door, Old Lyme, CT
Allison, Cardenas, & Nash (guitar, bass, sax trio), Friday, May 8, 8 pm. GA $54.45, students $27.98 including service fee.
Jams
Cafe Nine, New Haven CT
New Haven Jazz Underground jam, usually 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month: free admission
Saturday jazz jam most Saturdays, 4 pm. Free.
Blackeyed Sally’s, Hartford, CT
Jazz Wednesdays, featured set 7 pm, jam session afterward.
Carmine’s, East Hartford, CT
Paisley’s All Star Memorial Jam, various Tuesdays, click link for dates, 7:30 pm. House band set followed by jam. Free.
Mahoney’s, Poughkeepsie, NY
Poughkeepsie Jazz Project, every Tuesday, 7 pm. Free.
Park City Music Hall, Bridgeport, CT
Scott Cushman and Friends followed by jam, first Wednesday of the month.
The Parlour, Providence, RI
First Sunday Jam (first Sunday of the month) with Ben Shaw Quartet followed by jam, music starts at 6. Jammers $5, audience $10.
Groton Hill Music Center, Groton, MA
Jams every second Tuesday of the month through June, 7 pm. $10 at the door, no advance sales.
Jazz Societies and Organizations (great info on events, festivals, and more)
Jazz Society of Fairfield County
Jazz Fridays at Three Sheets New Haven 1st/3rd Fridays from 6-9pm
Jazz Thursdays at The Cannon New Haven every other Thurs from 7-9pm.
8495Jazz takes its name from the two Interstate highways that cross our region, I-84 and I-95. Within short driving distances from either, you can find incredible entertainment, from local jams to world-famous festivals in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. 8495Jazz: From Newburgh to Newport!
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