‘On The List’
The 8495 is a special place for jazz, help me share it
Andrew Wilcox on keys and Matt Dwonszyk on bass lay down the groove at the Paisley Ramirez Jam last Tuesday at Carmine’s in East Hartford.
When one is young and poor and really into music, there is no higher status than being “on the list.” You walk up to the club door, look at the piece of paper (or tablet device) the reception person has on their table by the cash register, and point. There it is. Your name. Right there. On the list. And in you go, in kind of a gliding strut. You’re in with the in crowd.
I was lucky enough to have persistent “on the list” status a couple times, when I was on staff years ago as the music writer at two publications, one weekly and one daily. I could go to any show in the Hudson Valley I wanted to, anywhere, anytime. There were so many I don’t remember the ones I went to as well as I do the rare ones I missed (REM’s first club tour in 1983? Stayed home with a cold. Bon Jovi’s surprise show in Woodstock in ’86? Got really late notification and the hour-plus drive wasn’t worth it. Show would be over by the time I got there).
Then, as one gets older and has a little more jingle in the pocket – hopefully, anyway – you don’t care so much about The List. You want to support your friends. You want the club owners and their employees to prosper. So you gladly “pays your money,” even if it’s a “free” show. You find the tip jar.
So, having said that, I have news for the small but steadily growing readership here – you’re all On The List, and will be. 8495Jazz will be officially free. Oh, at some point I’ll make paid subscription optional, like a church offering, because there is nothing holier than a great song, and to those who have already pledged financial support, I offer humble gratitude, but there will never be a firm paywall here.
One of the people I spoke with recently said he welcomed 8495Jazz, that southern New England lacked a truly regional “voice” for jazz. Oh, there are plenty of great musicians with web sites and social media, and festivals and clubs and jazz societies all over. But their messages are fragmented. You may get a listing from a festival if you follow another one on Facebook – or you may not. You may find out your favorite sax player will be nearby in a couple weeks – or you may not. You may discover a talent who rarely comes this way will be within easy road trip distance – or you may not.
As much as a one-man operation can, I want to serve as a sort of curated resource for some of those things. I want to introduce readers to folks who are willing to share their stories with me – with us – and light a tiny little “Maybe we should go see these guys” or “Maybe I should buy that album” fire.
For that, I need the community’s help. Know somebody or something you think would be a great jazz story to share, even if it’s yourself? A show that may be of particular interest to a greater number of people? Let me know as well in advance as possible – at least a week. Then we let the Internet world of linking and sharing do the work of spreading the word.
Not long ago, I realized one of the great juxtapositions in the music world; with rock and country, the songs, the forms and melodies and whatnot, are accessible and the top-shelf artists often aren’t. They’re often too famous, or think they are, to mingle with the fans except at carefully choreographed meet-and-greets. With jazz, the music is often too harmonically complex for the average listener to “get it,” but the vast majority of artists I’ve met are like old friends between sets and after gigs. I’ve never been shooed away by a jazz musician, even when I’m not On The List. It’s wonderful.
Another thing to keep in mind about this endeavor – it’s all honest independent observation. I don’t get pre-approval from anybody for what I write. My note-taking process is as airtight as can be; in more than 40 years of journalism, I can count on less than one hand the number of times somebody took umbrage with a quote. For some things, I will add excerpts from press releases, which is industry standard practice, but 8495Jazz is not an advertising or PR effort for anybody else.
What I won’t be is a “critic.” I won’t do a good/bad review of a show or a recording. Technology today is ubiquitous enough I’ll point you to it and you can make your own decisions. I know a guy who is brilliant, like MD/PhD brilliant, and one time we were talking about some new stuff; he said “maybe I’m just not aurally sophisticated enough, but...” And I myself sometimes find something sounds like it’s being played in the “H mixolydian” mode. So I’m not here to impress you with my knowledge of harmonic theory. I’m here to share the overall sense of how great we have it here for people who love music.
Like a good jam, this is a work in progress. I’ll keep experimenting with content and formats as warranted. I thank those of you who have jumped on early and hope we can continue to build this little part of the jazz community in the 8495.
New releases from area artists
OK, I’m going to be a non-critic now. Artists who either live in the region or have deep ties here have some new releases out. Check these out (and feel free to tell me about any others folks have put out in the past few months you know about):
Andrew Wilcox, Dear Mr. Hill (Truth Revolution Recording (TRR) Collective): Andrew, one of the Hartford area’s quickly rising young keyboard mainstays, is an alum of both the Litchfield Jazz Camp and the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music. In this debut collection, he pays homage to pianists Andrew Hill & McCoy Tyner in a trio with Avery Sharpe on bass and Yoron Israel on drums. Trumpeter Haneef Nelson, with whom Andrew plays in Haneef’s quintet, and who served as assistant producer had this to say in the liner notes: “Speaking as someone who has served as a teacher and mentor to Andrew, I can tell you now that this album is a labor of love... you will enjoy it... and you will want to know what’s next for Andrew Wilcox.”
Rich Goldstein, Into The Blue (TRR Collective): Rich, a Hartford-based guitarist and faculty member at the Hartt School, shares this collection of blues-tinged classics and one original written in tribute to Pat Martino. Liner notes say “His playing is marked by a deep connection to the soul jazz tradition, drawing from the Hammond B3 organ groove of the ‘50s and ‘60s.”
Dan Pugach Big Band, Bianca Reimagined (Outside In Music): Dan created the album in tribute to his late rescue pit bull, Bianca, who started off as a foster dog and ended up an integral part of his family and music. Liner notes say “Inspired by his companion, Dan wrote the title composition in her honor. He wrote the melody to match Bianca’s memorable and gentle demeanor. When Bianca passed in 2019, he rewrote the piece for big band, and it won the Charlie Parker Composition Prize and Manny Albam Commission for Big Band.” Dan’s wife is Waterbury native Nicole Zuraitis, who won the 2024 Grammy for jazz vocal album. The album is Dan’s second album as a leader, the first with a big band, and, as its notes say, the songs signal one of the first times big band music has become a beacon for animal rescue.
Emmet Cohen, Vibe Provider (Mack Avenue Music Group): Emmet, who has enduring ties with the Litchfield Jazz Camp and festival, made this one in honor of his friendship with jazz legend Michael Funmi Ononaiye. Liner notes say “On Vibe Provider, Cohen presents a masterful blend of original compositions and beloved classics, dedicated to his friend and mentor, Funmi, alongside an all-star band including: Bruce Harris (trumpet), Tivon Pennicott (tenor saxophone), Frank Lacy (trombone), Cecily Petrarca (koshkah), Philip Norris (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) & Kyle Poole (drums, producer).”
Donny Time (TRR Collective): It bears repeating; some of Connecticut’s best-known jazz musicians have assembled to honor one of the state scene’s “founding fathers,” pianist Don DePalma, with a tribute album, “Donny Time.” The album was released Sept. 27 on Bandcamp – and 100% of the proceeds go to the DePalma Roy Scholarship, awarded annually to a graduate of Hartford County schools who is pursuing a music degree in college.
Out and about in SNE with 8495Jazz
Upcoming club and concert highlights (all information is current at press time, please confirm by contacting the venue):
8495Jazz Wild Card Gig of the Week
The New London Big Band carries on the tradition of its monthly residency at Social Bar & Kitchen Wednesday night (Oct 23) at 6:30 (two sets), advance $15, $20 at the door. 8495Jazz talks to band leader Sean Nelson at length for next week’s edition. No harm in venturing out on a school night when the show starts early!
Campus jazz
University ensembles have had some time to rehearse together since the semester started, and Connecticut jazz fans can see two shows this week at opposite ends of the state: University of Connecticut jazz combos play today (Oct. 20) at 3 pm at the Von der Mehden Recital Hall in Storrs. General admission is $11.50 including fee (UConn students, seniors, children, and military are free at the box office). And over in Danbury, the WestConn jazz program will feature Oktoberfest Jazz, with the vocal jazz ensemble under the direction of Will Gorman, the jazz ensemble under the direction of Jamie Begian, and the jazz orchestra under the direction of Jimmy Greene Saturday (Oct. 26) at 1 pm. Advance tix are $10, at the door $15.
Palace Theater, Waterbury, CT
Rico Jones Quartet (sax), Friday, Oct. 25, 7 and 9 pm. $40.
Firehouse 12, New Haven, CT
Michaël Attias and Kardamon Fall (sax, combo), Friday, Oct. 25, 8:30 and 10 pm. $20/8:30, $15/10 pm set.
Elicit Brewery, Manchester, CT
Hartford Jazz Orchestra, Mon., Oct. 21, 7:30 pm. Free.
VFW Post 399, Westport, CT
Sylvia Cuenca (drums, combo), Thur., Oct. 24, 7:30 pm. $15.76 - $20.76.
Blue Room, Cranston, RI
Newport Jazz jam, Wed., Oct. 23, 8 pm featured set w/Leland Baker, jam goes from 9-11 pm. $10 for audience, free for players (plus one free drink)
Blackeyed Sally’s, Hartford, CT
Jazz Wednesday w/special guest, Wed., Oct 23, 7 pm. Jam starts after first set.
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.
Jazz Societies and Organizations (great info on events, festivals, and more)
Jazz Society of Fairfield County
You can help make 8495Jazz better. Share it with your music-loving friends. Like, share, and follow the 8495Jazz Facebook page. Share gig information and story suggestions to 8495jazz@gmail.com