George Cables

One of the most accomplished pianists of his generation, George Cables recently received a liver and kidney transplant. Now recuperating at home in New York, Cables will be unable to perform for at least six months. On January 25-26, a benefit will be held for Cables at Sweet Rhythm in Manhattan, featuring a long list of his friends and colleagues on the bandstand. A similar event was held on the west coast last month at Yoshi’s in Oakland.

Native New Yorker George Cables attended the “Fame” high school (High School of the Performing Arts) in Manhattan as a classically trained pianist. But he was soon inspired by such pianists at Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, as well as by the giants of the time, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. He attended the Manhattan School of Music for two years, but soon was busy gigging around New York, including brief stints with Max Roach and Art Blakey. He landed on the West Coast touring with Sonny Rollins and soon was a fixture on the LA jazz scene. His reputation grew as he worked with Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Bobby Hutcherson, as well as Rollins. In the late 70s and beyond, Cables worked extensively with Dexter Gordon and Art Pepper. Most recently, Cables has worked on a tribute to Dexter Gordon with Victor Lewis and Rufus Reid, performed with Frank Morgan’s Quartet, and with his current quartet project with Gary Bartz, Eric Revis and Jeff Watts.

A Morning in Paris

Vocalist, composer, lyricist Sathima Bea Benjamin made sure Duke Ellington listened to her future husband—pianist Dollar Brand (later Abdullah Ibrahim)--during a gig in Zurich. But the Duke was equally captivated by the young vocalist and set up a recording session in Paris for both musicians. Brand’s career took off with the subsequent release of Duke Ellington Presents the Dollar Brand Trio. For Benjamin, however, the recording, which included Brand, Ellington and Billy Strayhorn on piano, stayed in a vault for thirty years before resurfacing in 1995. On January 23rd, Benjamin will be at Sweet Rhythm to celebrate the re-release of the belatedly issued A Morning in Paris (Ekapa Records).

“…Newman employs a vigorous attack, exotic trills, rangy arpeggios, blues-tinged runs and a ripe vibrato to tell his story.” -- Owen Cordle, Jazz Times (2007)

One of the last of a generation of “Texas Tenors,” David “Fathead” Newman will celebrate his 75th birthday (and new CD release) with a four-night run at the Iridium, January 24-27. In addition to his quartet (Warren Bernhardt on piano, John Menegon on bass, and Yoron Israel on drums), Newman will be feted by a long list of guest artists including Phil Woods, Jimmy Heath, Cedar Walton, Jimmy Cobb and many others throughout the week.

Newman was born in Corsicana, Texas and spent his childhood in Dallas. His parents introduced him to jazz through the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, and Duke Ellington. "And of course, there was the blues background,” said Newman. “T-Bone Walker and Lowell Fulson were from the Dallas, Tex., area, and you were just surrounded by the blues. It was all so natural." Although he preferred jazz, Newman said learning other musical styles was a necessity. “I loved the bebop jazz of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, but during my younger years bebop wasn't accepted by a majority of the people," he said. "You couldn't make a living playing just bebop. You had to play some blues or some swing."

Thelonious Monk (courtesy, Monk Institute)

“You know, anybody can play a composition and use far-out chords and make it sound wrong. It’s making it sound right that’s not easy." -- Thelonious Monk, 1961 

He was, and remains, one of the most influential and controversial figures in the history of jazz. On January 26th, the 90th birthday of Thelonious Monk will be celebrated at the Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom in New York City. Hosted by Bill Cosby and featuring an all-star cast of artists, including Ronnie Matthews, Ben Riley’s Monk Legacy Septet, and Monk’s son, T.S. Monk, the multi-media tribute will include rare footage of the late legend performing live in Europe and a performance by the winners of the 2007 Thelonious Monk International Trumpet Competition.