I’ve often wondered if Diana Krall was as cool as she comes off, or just bored. I’m here to say she’s cool, daddy-o. As Krall strolled out of the backstage darkness at Kodak Hall and over to the piano on Friday night, every Raymond Chandler description of a woman poured out of me like sweat. […]
Ron Netsky
Posted inMusic
JAZZ FEST 2012, Day 5: Benny Green, IPA, NeWt
There were few fireworks from the Benny Green Trio Tuesday night in Kilbourn Hall, just a solid concert. Green had great support in the bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, who are not related but probably have played together more than any other musicians in New York. The program featured salutes to colleagues, including […]
Posted inMusic
JAZZ FEST 2012, Day 4: Eldar, Terence Blanchard, Nicholas Payton
You can have Heaven. Hearing Eldar play “Rhapsody In Blue” on a perfectly tuned Steinway piano in Hatch Hall Monday night is enough for me. He played it a little faster than usual, and a little bluesier, kind of like the original rendition by George Gershwin himself. It was the perfect ending (save the encore) […]
Posted inMusic
JAZZ FEST 2012, Day 3: Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Ninety Miles, Breach
Last time Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey appeared at the RIJF, it was obvious the band members were excellent musicians, but the set didn’t impress me as anything special. Sunday night at Xerox Auditorium the group rose to a higher level. Aside from some personnel changes, JFJO, which hails from Tulsa, OK, recently recorded an ambitious […]
Posted inMusic
JAZZ FEST 2012, Day 2: Yggdrasil, Tom Harrell, Bill Cunliffe
Yggdrasil has played at the LutheranChurch several times at past XRIJFs, but I’ve never taken in a set until Saturday night. I was afraid they might be a little too new-agey for my taste. Instead, I was blown away by not only the talent of all seven members of the group, but also by their […]
Posted inMusic
JAZZ FEST 2012, Day 1: Tessa Souter, Get the Blessing, Karrin Allyson
You might say that Tessa Souter chooses her collaborators wisely. We’re talking guys like Beethoven, Faurรฉ, and Chopin. Her new album, “Beyond The Blue,” features her lyrics set to some of the greatest melodies ever written, and she sang a lot of them Friday night during her first set at Montage Grill. Even though they […]
Posted inMusic
JAZZ FEST 2012: Meet Ron Netsky (Day 1 Preview)
This year’s Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival may not have too many hardcore jazz headliners. But the ClubPass venues are so full of excellent acts, it’s going to be tough to choose what to see on more than a few nights. I’m going to start the festival Friday with one of my favorite artists from […]
Posted inMusic
Dino Dinicolo
How many things can you do with a five-string bass and a human voice? If you’re Dino Dinicolo the answer is an infinite amount. On the bass he runs the gamut from Jaco Pastorius-like harmonics to Victor Wooten-esque rhythmic slapping. As far as his voice goes, singing is merely the start. His beatboxing seems to […]
Posted inSpecial Sections
SUMMER GUIDE ’12: Audiobook guide
So you’re taking a trip involving hours in a car, bus, train, or plane. The songs on your iPod are getting old and radio just isn’t what it used to be. So why not do something useful with all that time? Read a book. With your ears. Just plug in your iPod and have the […]
Posted inMusic
PROFILE: Paul Smoker
Paul Smoker can trace his roots back to Berne, Switzerland, where the family name was Schmucker. That means jeweler in German, but there were no jewelers in the family. When the clan immigrated to the United States in the 19th century, the name was changed to Smoker. That means burning jazz artist in English, and […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Left laughing
Stephanie Miller moves from Sister Sleaze to progressive radio queen
