Letting the light in, through the music
In these long dark days of winter, let the sound of these bands brighten up your life
Pics from top left, The BlackBox Ensemble at Roulette; top right, Annie Nikunen in “The Sound of Space Between Us;” bottom left, Eric Biondo on trumpet, Loren Stillman on sax, Rob Jost on bass, (not pictured) D. Treut on drums at Lowlands Bar; bottom right, Hudson Nomads at The Pines in Mt. Tremper.
A Look Back at Beautiful Evenings Past…
Since last week’s writing, I have been witness to some spectacular musical nights. Last Sunday, I visited Roulette for the BlackBox Ensemble’s NYC premiere of young composer/flautist/dancer/choreographer Annie Nikunen’s “The Sound of Space Between Us.” This young wunderkind’s arrangement for string quartet and solo violin played out while she and fellow choreographer Joelle Santiago moved to the sounds around the space. So beautiful!
Monday brought me for the first time in a long while to catch great trumpeter Eric Biondo play along with some stellar musical friends at Lowlands — Loren Stillman on sax, Rob Jost on bass, and D. Treut on drums.
Wednesday I had the joy once again to see Hudson Nomads. Wow, and wow. I have seen bassist/composer/producer Ben Zwerin play with dozens of bands over the last decade and a half since I’ve known him, including with Beninese-French singer Angelique Kidjo, and it’s always great. But something about this group’s magical take on old favorites from Somalia, Congo, Mali, from African masters including Fela Kuti and Salif Keita, as well as their own African-inspired new tunes, is so very special. As the fog rolled in around us in this cool Catskills spot, The Pines, which features music every Wednesday, we danced and danced to the joyous tunes played by Zwerin along with leader composer/guitarist/bassist Nikhil Yerawadeker, saxophonist Matt Bauder and drummer Aaron Johnston. It was worth every minute of the eerie drive in the mist to be there.
Saturday night, I decided to get bar tickets Birdland to see Dee Dee Bridgewater (top row pics.) The legendary jazz singer did not disappoint. Her all-female band—Carmen Staaf on piano, Amina Scott on bass and Shirazette Tinnin on drums—began with tunes reflective of the horrors of history for Black Americans, including “Strange Fruit.” It hurt the heart to hear the words. But the night grew lighter, with Berta Romero sitting in a bit on tenor sax, ending with a freestyle jam that included Bridgewater singing to the audience to “Get on Up,” and dancing around with Feliciano the sound engineer and Gianni, Birdland’s longtime owner.
“Share all this love when you leave this space,” she directed, in a way that sank in because of how truly and lovingly she had shared herself with us. “We need this love to heal the rifts that are going on in this country. Don’t be afraid to raise your voice…” she said.
The night ended at Smalls. I’ve always wanted to catch the nightly late-night jam session there, and this particular night it was led by saxophonist Stacy Dillard, whose highly expressive style I’ve recently really cottoned on to. Inspiring to see all the young aspiring jazz musicians willing to get on stage, to see Stacy get up and jam with them. Amazing.
What. A. Week. This live music obsession seems to be growing every day into a serious addiction.
Calendar for Mon., Jan. 29-Sun., Feb. 4
monday, jan. 29
Rob Heath + Ari Folman-Cohen, + Chuck Palmer
Troost, Greenpoint, BK
8 PM -10:30 PM
For this fourth installment of ‘Ramblin’ Rob Heath’s monthly residency at Troost, which he calls “Nice Try, Kid,” the drummer/composer/producer will improv “on the spot” with bassist Ari Folman-Cohen, a truly unique composer himself who plays solo (catch his brilliant pedal/looping nights!), as well as with French Gypsy Jazz guitarist Stephane Wrembel and on other projects including Pangari and The Socialites. Joining for the evening will be drummer/percussionist/songwriter/composer Chuck Palmer performing his own ‘Anonymous Elder’ project. Promises to be a wild, experimental and utterly cool evening!!
tuesday, jan. 30
Reggae Tuesdays
Bembe
9 PM - 4 AM
Dancing at this global music club, around since the early 2000's, is always cathartic, and I imagine that Reggae Tuesdays are somewhat of a revelation. Warning: when crowded, expect to bump and grind with total strangers. If that’s not your jam, steer clear:)
wednesday, jan. 31
Arthur Kell Quartet
Smalls
Sets At 7:30 PM & 9:00 PM
Bassist/composer Arthur Kell, co-founder of great Brooklyn club Bar LunAtico and an instrumental shaper of the Brooklyn jazz scene, plays alongside the awesome Brad Shepik and Nate Radley on guitar and Allan Mednard on drums—amazing. Beautiful musicians all.
thursday, feb. 1
Caleb Wheeler Curtis Trio
The Jazz Gallery
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9:30 PM
There’s just something about alto sax player Caleb Wheeler Curtis. Hmmm. He felt like someone I already knew well when I met him at Bar Bayeaux the first time, and we shared a moment, so maybe that has influenced me. But I guess also it’s that Caleb’s playing matches that super comfortable personality but at the same time presents as interesting, unique and complex. Very cool. Caleb plays alongside masterful bassist Sean Conly and drummer Michael Sarin to create a stellar sound that will surely jazz up your evening. Go!!
friday, feb. 2
Sacred Bloom First Friday Sound Bath
YogaSole, Windsor Terrace
5:30 PM-6:30 PM
Join me for a lovely early Friday evening sound meditation to transition from the busy week to a relaxing weekend. The First Friday of every month I will be offering this calming composition of bells, bowls, drums and chimes in this Zen yoga studio space.
Later that night…
Marked for Death Single Release Show
The Francis Kite Club, East Village
8 PM
This jazz trio led by sax player Walter Fancourt and joined by drummer Daniel Yount and bassist Seth Barden performs “adventurous original compositions” that span from psychedelic jazz to African grooves. While I have yet to hear them (hope to get to this), I’ve heard AMAZING things about this great group, who are also members of afro-funk dance band Super Yamba.
saturday, feb. 3
Kenyatta Emmanuel Single Release Party
Pink Frog Cafe, Williamsburg
3 PM - 5 PM
linktr.ee/yattamanmusic for tix
Kenyatta Emmanuel is one of the most soulful singer songwriters around. At every event where he has belted out his heartfelt tunes, there is a hush in the room afterward. He will release his single “Me For You” at this hip Williamsburg spot I’ve been hearing a lot about, the Pink Frog Cafe. Check it out!!
sunday, feb. 4
Oran Etkin
Timbalooloo Jazz for Kids
National Sawdust
11 AM
Top clarinetist and composer Oran Etkin has put his own gratitude to the jazz, classical and klezmer teachers and mentors that shaped his own performance career into the creation of Timbalooloo, music education classes that seek to uplift communities by exposing children and families to the richness of global culture in New York and beyond. This first in a four-part series at the beautiful National Sawdust venue in Williamsburg (also March 3, April 28 and June 2) focuses on samba, playing the agogo and singing Jobim songs in a “musical journey to Brazil.” With special guests Vinicius Barros and Vitor Goncalves. Such an important initiative to shape kids’ perspectives on the importance of music in culture!!
Looks like it will be another great week of music in NYC and beyond!! Comment, and share with friends and most of all PATRONIZE LOCAL MUSIC VENUES AND THE ARTISTS WHO PLAY AT THEM!!