Autumn In The “DMV”!

Jazz Buddies,

Hope all is well!  With the fall season in full effect (e.g., “Autumn Leaves”, “Fall”, “Autumn In New York”), this past week offered some great and unforgettable Jazz performances here in the “DMV”:

Monday, October 9th

  • An Die Musik: Ahmed Abdullah Quartet feat. Ahmed Abdullah (tr), Monique Ngozi Nri (vc), Obasi Akoto (b), Eric Kennedy (d)

Tuesday, October 10th

  • Blues Alley: Paul Carr Quartet w/Roberta Gambarini feat. Paul Carr (ts), Roberta Gambarini (vc), Allyn Johnson (p), Michael Bowie (b), J.C. Jefferson (d)

Wednesday, October 11th

  • Keystone Korner: Peter Bernstein / Larry Goldings / Bill Stewart Organ Trio feat. Peter Bernstein (g), Larry Goldings (o), Bill Stewart (d)

Thursday, October 12th

  • Women’s Club of Roland Park: Andrea Brachfeld Quartet feat. Andrea Brachfeld (f), Steve Rudolph (p), Amy Shook (b), Frank Russo (d)
  • Arena Stage: DC Jazz Festival Generations Series I feat. Tia Fuller (as/ss), Janelle Gill (p), Steve Novosel  (b), Koleby Royston (d)

Friday, October 13th

  • Anacostia Arts Center: The Brilliance & Resilience Of Tap Dance feat. Baakari Wilder (tap), Herb Scott (as), Roberto Villeda (p), Terence Arnett (d)

Saturday, October 14th

  • Blues Alley: Bill Charlap Trio feat. Bill Charlap (p), David Wong (b), Dennis Mackrel (d)

Sunday, October 15th

  • Keystone Korner: Artemis feat. Ingrid Jensen (tr), Nicole Glover (ts), Renee Rosnes (p), Noriko Ueda (b), Allison Miller (d)

Monday’s book reading & concert featured the longtime Sun Ra Arkestra trumpeter (1975-97), Ahmed Abdullah, and his wife, playing, singing, and reciting excerpts from his recently published biography, titled “A Strange Celestial Road: My Time in the Sun Ra Arkestra”. Abdullah’s voluminous, behind-the-scenes, and very insightful 536-page contribution to Sun Ra’s lasting legacy incudes 64 pages of photographs.  I especially appreciated learning about the “Loft Jazz” movement of th 1070s in Lower Manhattan, as well as the Who’s Who of Jazz with whom Abdullah played over his long career.

Paul Carr’s outstanding concert, featuring vocalist Roberta Gambarini, was the second edition of his four-week residency at Blues Alley this month.  The first week, he co-lead a quintet with the great DC-area alto saxophonist Marshall Keys.  This week and next week, he will share the stage with trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and Count Basie Big Band vocalist, Carmen Bradford, respectively.  Paul is the Music Director for the Jazz Academy of Music, Inc. (JAM), a non-profit organization, that exposes, educates, and inspires DMV-area youth to play Jazz.  He also curates the annual President’s Day Weekend Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival each February.

On Wednesday, as usual, the Bernstein/Goldings/Stewart contingent performed like a tight-knit, well-oiled machine, swinging hard, displaying rhythmic chops, and taking no prisoners, reminiscent of the trio’s 35-year musical association (I have many of its 1990s CDs, under Goldings’s name). I first saw this organ trio during my second trip to the hallowed Village Vanguard back in January 2007. I’ll never forget that recognizable sound of a swingin’ Hammond B-3 (a la Charles ‘Burner’ Earland) that I heard as I hurried down the stairs upon my late arrival. Wow!!! Early in this set, Goldings, surprisingly not playing Keystone Korner‘s Hammond B-3 organ, mentioned that, as a tribute, he was playing the late, great Joey DeFrancesco’s specially designed Viscount Legend Signature organ. It had last been played by DeFrancesco, himself, at Keystone Korner last August (2022), two weeks before his untimely death. The unusually large mid-week crowd greatly appreciated the trio’s offerings! After the set, the trio headed back to NYC for a four-night engagement at Smoke. Buckle up, New Yorkers…

The Woman’s Club of Roland Park, founded in 1896, is a diverse group of women from the Baltimore metropolitan area, dedicated to the growth of women through educational, cultural, social and philanthropic pursuits.  As part of its “Thursday Programs”, to reflect the diverse interests of its membership and its shared devotion to continued learning and community support, it hosted the Andrea Brachfeld Quartet, featuring the beautiful touch of Harrisburg, PA-based veteran pianist Steve Rudolph, along with the hard-swingin’ local bassist and drummer, Amy Shook and Frank Russo, respectively.  Brachfeld, who recently relocated to the “DMV” from NYC, led a great set of standards, rearrangements, and originals.  Ironically, I only heard about this outstanding concert from a Jazz buddy (Bill) the previous night at Keystone Korner, who found out from his Jazz buddy (Steve)… Sure glad I didn’t miss it!!

The DC Jazz Festival Generations concert, headlined by Berklee School of Music professor, Tia Fuller, was the first of four concerts curated by the festival’s Artist-In-Residence, pianist Orrin Evans.  With a goal of musicians of different generations celebrating, sharing musical stories, and exchanging ideas through performance and conversation, Fuller’s group spanned 63 years, from the great DC-based bassist Steve Novosel to Peabody Institute conservatory junior student, Koleby Royston.  For good measure, Fuller added her “sister from a different mister”, outstanding pianist, Janelle Gill.  Koleby is Fuller’s nephew, the son of pianist Shamie (Fuller) Royston and drummer Rudy Royston.  Fuller’s set list, encouraged by Evans, included compositions by her “Angelic Warriors”, musical mentors and inspirations throughout her career, the likes of Mulgrew Miller, Ralph Peterson, Geri Allen, John Coltrane, and Duke Ellington.  She even displayed her vocal chops on Duke’s “Come Sunday”!  During the very interesting talkback session that followed, emcee by DC Jazz Festival President & CEO, Sunny Sumter, each band member was asked to identify his/her mentor/inspiration: Fuller (Ralph Peterson), Gill (Geri Allen), Novosel (Ray Brown), Royston ( Sean Jones).  Just by chance, on the way into the concert space at Arena Stage, I met the CEO of Shadd Pianos, Warren Shadd, manufacturer of grand pianos for concert halls and Jazz venues worldwide!  Also in attendance was legendary WPFW radio host, DC Jazz Festival Artistic Director, and 2024 NEA Jazz Master, Willard Jenkins.  The Generations headliners over the next three weeks are Bobby Watson & Antonio Hart, Buster Williams & Lenny White, and Kenny Barron (solo).

Baakari Wilder, a DC-based tap dancer and actor, is famously known for his one-year stint replacing Savion Glover on Broadway’s Tony Award winning musical, “Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk”.  This very interesting 75-minute presentation captures the historical, cultural, and cross-genre impact of tap dance through video, Jazz, and performance.  The looping video shown beforehand features many of the tap greats from the past: Sammy Davis, Nicholas Brothers, Jimmy Slyde, Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, etc.  I instantly recognized guitarist George Benson in one snippet (w/Jo Jones from 1972)!  The actual program included outstanding tap dance routines performed by Wilder, accompanied by his swingin’ trio, led by alto saxophonist Herb Scott.  Each routine was followed by a brief interview with a past musical collaborator, including a Classical cellist, Country guitarist, Blues harmonica player, Djembi drummer, and Jazz saxophonist (Scott).  Very educational and entertaining, indeed!

During the sold-out 1st set of the Bill Charlap Trio performance at the intimate, tightly-seated Blues Alley, the great pianist once again displayed his mastery of the American Songbook, both melody and lyric. And while in Washington, D.C., Charlap appropriately took time to pay homage (through song) to its renowned native son, Edward “Duke” Ellington. Especially beautiful were Charlap’s solo piano medleys on several tunes before his outstanding band mates, David Wong and Dennis Mackrel, jumped into a fray. Wong’s walking bass lines and excellent time-keeping, as well as Mackrell’s varying rhythm changes and trading fours/eights were indeed sounds to behold. At the end of the wonderful set, Norelco, Blues Alley’s House Manager, surprisingly presented Charlap with a small birthday cake in honor of his 57th birthday the next day (Sunday), perhaps a small token of OUR collective appreciation for bringing us such beautiful music on a regular basis! When it comes to legendary piano trios, it doesn’t get much better than this… Happy Birthday, Bill!!!

WOW!!! That’s just about all I have to say after taking in both incredible sets by Artemis (Renee Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen, Nicole Glover, Noriko Ueda, Allison Miller) at Keystone Korner yesterday afternoon/evening! Its members are all bandleaders, composers, arrangers, and outstanding musicians in their own right. I previously saw the group last May (2022) at Kennedy Center, and in March at Zellerbach Auditorium at U.C. Berkeley. Both times, the sextet performed, with Anat Cohen or Alexa Tarantino on alto saxophone, respectively. Playing original compositions from its latest CD, standards, and rearrangements of classic tunes, Artemis put on a rare display of artistry, improvisation, and technique reminiscent of those legendary 1950s Blue Note recordings. Hence, it’s no accident that the latest recording, titled “In Real Time”, is on that celebrated label. Be it a ballad, mid-tempo, or fast/burner tune, the front-line horns of Jensen and Glover harmonized perfectly, while Miller often pushed the band, displaying lightning-quick drum rolls, and at other times showing beautiful brush work and making very creative sounds on cymbals. Rosnes’ beautiful touch, swing, and re(arrangements) were something to behold. And Euda’s steady notes on bass kept it all together throughout. Yep, that’s why Artemis is must-see, can’t-miss Jazz… :v)

Take care! 🎵🎵

Kenneth