The David Berkman Sextet ‘Six of One’ Palmetto Records davidberkman.com There’s an apt quote from pianist David Berkman’s wife in the liner notes for his new album “Six of One.” She compares the music to a “scramble intersection,” a six-way pedestrian crossing in her native Japan. Organized chaos is a wonderful metaphor for the bold […]
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Laura Dubin Trio brings ‘West Side Story’ to 2019 CGI RIJF
Two young people from different backgrounds meet and fall in love — and society tears them apart. You may recognize that as “West Side Story.” Here’s another story: Two young people from different backgrounds meet and fall in love — and end up making music together all over the world.
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2019 CGI RIJF offers daytime concerts, workshops
The 2019 CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival will host 12 p.m. performances at the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County and 1 p.m. jazz workshops at the Eastman School of Music’s Ray Wright Room, Monday June 24 through Friday, June 28.
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Album review: ‘Cuerno Exotica’
Ken Wiley ‘Cuerno Exotica’ Krug Park Music kenwiley.com French horn may not be the first instrument that comes to mind when you think of jazz, but when played by Ken Wiley, it works beautifully. Wiley is a top Los Angeles studio musician who plays regularly on the soundtracks of TV shows like “Family Guy.” But […]
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Album review: ‘Connect the Dots’
The Verve Jazz Ensemble ‘Connect the Dots’ LightGroove Media verve-jazz.com When I first put on The Verve Jazz Ensemble’s “Connect the Dots,” I couldn’t help thinking it must be some generic group the famous label threw together. But during the opening tune, Lalo Shifrin’s “Bistro,” I found myself thinking, who is this great flute player? […]
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Lexi Weege returns to Rochester
A quiet gym receptionist by day and a sultry diva by night, Lexi Weege is stomping back into town on May 31, this time with her band The Wondertwins.
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Album review: ‘Future Memories’
Yotam Silberstein ‘Future Memories’ Jazz&People yotammusic.com Since landing in New York in 2005, Yotam Silberstein has been enlisted by top artists like The Heath Brothers, James Moody, Roy Hargrove, and many others. Rochester jazz festival attendees have heard his wonderful solos and sensitive coloration supporting Tessa Souter. On “Future Memories,” his sixth album as a […]
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Album review: ‘The Transitory Poems’
Vijay Iyer and Craig Taborn ‘The Transitory Poems’ ECM vijay-iyer.com When two fascinating people converse, a great dialogue can result. The same came be said for a musical conversation between two exceptional pianists. “The Transitory Poems” is the result of just such a dialogue between Vijay Iyer and Craig Taborn. The live piano duo performance […]
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Saxophonist Billy Harper comes to Eastman
Billy Harper may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of tenor saxophonists of the last half-century, but he’s been at the center of some great jazz. Harper will be a guest artist with the Eastman Jazz Lab Band, directed by Rich Thompson, Friday night at Kilbourn Hall.
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Aaron Diehl: paradox at the piano
Pianist Aaron Diehl grew up loving jazz and classical music, and he’s still dedicated to both. That dichotomy forms the basis of “Paradoxes in Performance,” the title of his concert Saturday night at Nazareth College’s new and acoustically excellent Glazer Performance Hall.
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Jazz festival announces its lineup
This year’s Rochester International Jazz Festival, now sponsored by CGI, will offer performances by more than 1,500 musicians. The lineup, announced this morning, is certainly not lacking in quality or variety. Among the jazz acts returning to the festival, which runs from June 21 to 29: vocalist Catherine Russell, organist Joey DeFrancesco, and guitarist Bill Frisell, with his trio.
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Album review: ‘HyperGiant Hi-Fi’
Orkestra Eustoria ‘HyperGiant Hi-Fi’ Self-released petersparacino.com When you first encounter the impressive debut of Orkestra Eustoria, the ensemble’s name and album title, “HyperGiant Hi-Fi,” seem to perfectly fit the otherworldly sound. But the key to the band’s success lies in the expansive musical scope of this world. Founded by saxophonist Peter Sparacino in the ethnically […]
