The Gift of Music: Wrapping It Up
Our final selection of new music from the 8495's musicians, plus a book idea, and your chance to help
Benny Benack III is a mainstay on the NYC jazz scene, but he’s up here in the 8495 on the regular (this shot is from last Saturday’s show at The Side Door in Old Lyme, CT). BB3 is among the artists with 8495 presence who released new music this year. That’s Tyler Henderson on piano and Alex Claffy on bass. (8495Jazz photo)
Last week we brought you the first batch of stellar recordings those who live and/or play in the 8495 made for us this year. And, as promised, we’re wrapping up this year’s release list with handy reference to where you can preview and buy more!
SKYLAB (Nick Di Maria), released in August: Nick, a trumpeter and the founder and managing director of the New Haven Jazz Underground, has cultivated a scene in the Elm City that leaves any night of the week tuneless very, very rarely. No less a figure than the legendary Dr. Eddie Henderson thinks SKYLAB a winner: “Over the years I have watched the steady progression of his technical facility on the trumpet and the growth and maturity of his musical character...Especially, notable was how comfortable Nick’s musical vocabulary was seamless, when going from one musical genre to another. Most importantly, Nick’s beautiful sound is self evident of a mature seasoned artist,” Eddie said in the album’s liner notes. Preview and purchase here.
This Is The Life (Benny Benack III), released in June: Trumpeter/vocalist Benny is rightly counted among the young lions keeping the jazz torch lit brightly. An “entuhtainuh” in the best old school fashion, BB3 keeps audiences delighted with his mix of singing, trumpeting, and storytelling. He’s in the 8495 quite a lot – he was at the Side Door in Old Lyme, CT last Saturday, in fact – and respects our expertise; he once told 8495Jazz playing here is like playing in “the middle of the jazz universe.” Preview this live album here; purchase here.
Streamin’ (Peter McEachern Quintet), released in November: Trombonist Peter is one of western New England’s absolute jazz titans. Chair of the music department at Salisbury School, and longtime faculty member at Litchfield Jazz Camp, he has also played and recorded over the years with a roster of artists from blues giant Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown to minimalist composer Lamont Young. Streamin’ finds the groove, folks. Preview and purchase here.
Old Knew (Gregory Groover Jr.), released in November: The album’s title is a pretty succinct play on words, and one reviewer, Thierry Clemensat at Paris Move, said “On its surface, it’s the kind of record that could have been made at any moment in jazz history: intricate compositions, fluid interplay, a group of brilliant musicians engaged in the art of conversation. Yet underneath that classic architecture runs something timeless and radical: a declaration of faith in sound itself, in its power to heal, provoke, and testify.” Which may be a fitting observation, as Gregory, a saxophonist who is Assistant Chair of Ensemble at his alma mater, Berklee College of Music, is also the son of a pastor. As you might expect, he plays out regularly in the Boston area. Preview here; purchase here.
Turn It Up! Live At The Side Door! (Mike LeDonne Groover Quartet), released in September: Actually two live recordings 20 years apart in one release – the first tracks were cut in 2004 in Vancouver. The Side Door tracks were cut at the iconic Connecticut club last year. “You never know when you’re playing a gig. You always feel good and people seem to like it but you’re in there playing, so you’re a step removed from just listening for enjoyment. But when I put it on I loved it,” Mike told 8495Jazz.
The Groovers (Eric Alexander on tenor sax, Joe Farnsworth on drums, and Peter Bernstein on guitar) are all leaders in their own right, coupling right in with Mike’s B3 organ. You like that organ swing? This could be your thing. Preview and purchase here.
Ride Into The Sun (Brad Mehldau), released in August: A graduate of West Hartford, CT’s vaunted Hall High School, pianist Brad pays tribute here to the idiosyncratic wizardly LA singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, who died in 2003, probably but not certainly by his own hand. The album also features four of Brad’s originals as well as covers of melancholy Englishman Nick Drake and seminal Memphis rockers Big Star – laudably eclectic for an album nominated for the Best Alternative Jazz Grammy this year. WRTI’s Julian Booker talked at length with Brad about the album here. Preview and purchase here.
Breath Of Fresh Air (Sean Mason), released in October: NYC-based pianist Sean brought his chops-loaded quartet (Tony Glausi on trumpet, Felix Moseholm on bass, and Domo Branch on drums) to The Side Door in March and if they did not redefine the word revelation, they sure as hell shined it up super bright. This follow-up to Sean’s 2023 Southern Suite is virtuosic AND highly accessible, welcome qualities in an ecosystem in which “best” jazz record candidates often have all the swing of cement overshoes. The entire 8495Jazz staff caught that Side Door show and was so bowled over we booked two nights at the Rochester Jazz Festival to catch Sean solo and with the quartet one more time. Preview and purchase here.
Hartford Unwrapped (Parkville Sounds), released in December: The folks at Parkville Sounds teamed up with the City of Hartford Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment to create this holiday EP. The album features Grammy-winner Zaccai Curtis and Hartford legend Doobie Powell with his father, Hubert Powell; “AND we spent the last two months recording four totally new original holiday songs from scratch with some of the best talent in the city. It’s festive, it’s soulful, it’s Hartford.” Stream it here.
Not a record but...Three Shades of Blue is out in paperback
James Kaplan’s Three Shades of Blue is the extended story of how Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans came together to form part of the great combo that recorded Kind Of Blue, often – no, usually – called the greatest jazz album of all time, and a very handy biography of each of the trio – genius, drug use, and personal foibles and flaws all included. The hardcover was published last year and the paperback version earlier this year. A killer read if you’re sitting in an airport waiting for a flight to a jazz festival, or anywhere else for that matter. Honestly, you could put this one on your bookshelf right next to Stanley Crouch’s Kansas City Lightning, the bio of young Charlie Parker with scads of southwest jazz context, and have yourself the best two-volume compendium of that time and those people imaginable. A large number of my buds who are musicians in other veins have either read this or are hankering to. It’s that foundational. Look for an extended interview with James soon here at 8495Jazz early in January. Purchase here.
Litchfield Jazz Camp Talent Search Deadline Coming Up
The January 9 deadline for submissions to the 3rd annual Litchfield Jazz Camp Talent Search is fast approaching. The search, which awards camp scholarships to the top contestants, highlights the immense talent out there among young musicians – the entire 8495Jazz staff attended last year’s finals, and it could have been a professional gig. If you know of a musician aged 13-17 with chops, full information on the contest is here.
Some of the best professional jazz musicians in the world have gone through Litchfield. This is well worth exploring.
Your year-end charitable donation reminder
Hewing to the last-minute ethos mentioned in last week’s edition, the 8495Jazz staff does most of our charitable donations at the end of the year. And there are many worthy non-profit jazz organizations here in the 8495 working to further the joy and community-building America’s artistic gift to the world allows. From community musical outreach, concerts and education, scholarships, and more, the folks behind these organizations keep the music alive. Just a few of these organizations include:
Jazz Society of Fairfield County
Many of the beautiful old historic theaters and radio stations that offer jazz programs are also non-profit entities and donations help them keep presenting their programming to us. If you have a favorite, please consider donating to them.
See ya next year
The entire 8495Jazz staff will be taking next week off from the exhaustive but engaging work of bringing you this platform to enjoy the holidays. To each and every reader, musician, promoter, radio programmer, and “guardian of the groove” (thanks, WWOZ), we wish you the happiest of culturally-appropriate solsticial coping mechanisms and new year. We’ll be back January 4 with a look at a rising New Orleans musician who will be up this way in just a couple weeks.
“Via Mganga” is one of the songs on New Haven Jazz Underground founder Nick Di Maria’s SKYLAB album, released in August.
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.
8495Jazz Wild Card Gig of the Week
The Side Door, Old Lyme, CT
Duke Robillard Quartet (guitar, combo), Friday, Dec. 26, 8 pm. GA $49.16, students $22.68 including service fee. No better way to spend Boxing Day than to sit in with blues legend Duke, whose jazz bona fides include working with Jay “Hootie” McShann – the man who helped bring Charlie Parker along out of KC.
8495Jazz Spur of the Moment Gig TODAY
The Falcon, Marlboro, NY
Jeremy Baum Trio’s “A Charlie ‘Baum’ Christmas,” today, 7:30 pm. $30 suggested donation.
Other Upcoming Shows
Regattabar, Cambridge, MA
A Nat King Cole Christmas with Gordon Michaels (vocals), today, 4 pm. GA $41.79, student $30.15 including service fee.
The Parlour, Providence, RI
Al Cron Quartet, (trombone, combo), today, 5 pm. All ages, GA $10.
Elicit Brewing Co., Manchester, CT
Hartford Jazz Orchestra w/Leala Cyr, Monday, Dec. 22, 7:30 pm.
Jazz On Main, Mt. Kisco, NY
John H. Smith Jazz Trio (guitar, combo), Saturday, Dec. 27, 7 and 8:30 pm. Advance show only $25 plus service fee, dinner and show $106 plus service fee.
Pump House Music Works, S. Kingstown, RI
Luca Simeone & Not Just Jazz (combo), Sunday, Dec. 28, 6 pm. GA $17.85 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, 3rd Tuesday of the month, 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.
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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