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“There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind.” -Duke Ellington

Friday, 09 January 2009

And Down the Street From IAJE: Club Gigs in Manhattan

Written by Andrea Canter, Contributing Editor

Wednesday, 03 January 2007

Nicholas Payton

About 7500 jazz educators, performers, journalists, students, and aficionados will be clustered in Midtown Manhattan for the annual conference of the International Association for Jazz Education, January 10-13. In addition to clinics, workshops, panel discussions, and research presentations, there will be four days filled with performances, from morning til… well, til it’s morning again. Performers this year include many high school and college ensembles as well as such established artists as One For All, Joann Brackeen, Marcus Strickland, Joey DeFrancesco, the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Band, and Charlie Haden’s Liberation Orchestra. Of course this is just the line-up inside the convention hotels. Outside the IAJE space, there’s all of Manhattan—more jazz clubs per square mile than anywhere else on earth. And during IAJE, the clubs are teeming with world-renowned artists, often offering discounts to those who can show their IAJE badge. So whether you are in town for IAJE, just visiting, or a resident of the New York metro area, the second week of January promises to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, for finding your favorites in the Big Apple. So much jazz, so little time! Here’s a quick look at who’s in town:

Birdland (315 W. 44^th St; www.birdlandjazz.com)

Near the IAJE hotels in Midtown. Classy but not pretentious, this is a revival of the original club named for Charlie “Yardbird” Parker.

January 9-14, 9 & 11 pm, Jason Moran Trio; $30 cover. Moran is one of the younger generation of exciting keyboard innovators. His most recent release, Artist in Residence, includes commissioned works for major museums like the Walker Art Center.

Blue Note (131 W. 3^rd Street; www.bluenote.net)

Bigger and more touristy than the rest and maybe more noisy, but you still get the best in jazz at the Blue Note, a classic nightspot in the Village.

January 9-14, 8 & 10:30 pm, The Crusaders with Joe Sample, Wilton Felder and Steve Gadd. $30 bar/$45 table. Founding members Sample and Felder are still with the famed jazz/soul/fusion band that rose to popularity in the 1960s and 70s.

Cornelia Street Café (29 Cornelia Street; www.corneliastreetcafe.com)

It’s a bar, a caberet, a jazz club—a hub for Village night life with cutting edge music from the metro’s young lions.

January 10, 8:30 pm. Gnu Vox IAJE Special: Dominique Eade and Rachel Caswell (vocals) with Brad Shepik (guitar) and Ben Street (bass), $10. Two acclaimed vocalists with two modern stringmen.
January 11, 8:30 pm. Pete Zimmer Quintet with Joel Frahm, sax. $10/$8 with IAJE credentials. Burnin’ straight ahead for the 21^st century, led by one of his generation’s top drummers.
January 12, 9 & 10:30 pm, Chris Lightcap Group with Tony Malaby, Chris Cheek, Gerald Clever, $12/$10 with IAJE credentials. One of the most innovative modern bassists with some equally clever horns.
January 13, 9 & 10:30 pm, John Hollenback’s Claudia Quintet, $12/$10 with IAJE credentials. You can also catch Hollenback at IAJE. Some of New York’s most forward-thinking musicians in one ensemble—accessible and propulsive.

Lewis Nash

Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola (Jazz at Lincoln Center, Columbus Circle; www.jalc.org)

The intimate space in the new Rose Hall complex, Dizzy’s offers the top echelon of jazz artists with the most spectacular view behind the stage—the lights of Manhattan.

January 9-13, 7:30, 9:30, and Friday/Saturday late set at 11:30 pm 10, Lewis Nash Quintet with Rene Rosnes, Peter Washington, Jeremy Pelt and Jimmy Greene ($30). Nash is a master drummer and ensemble leader, and his virtuoso cohorts will get plenty of solo opportunities. And the view is almost as spectacular as the music.

Iridium (1650 Broadway; www.iridiumjazzclub.com)

Upscale and Midtown, Iridium presents guitar legend Les Paul every Monday night and legends from McCoy Tyner to Cecil Taylor throughout the week.

January 9-13, 8:30 & 10:30 pm, Nicholas Payton ($35). New Orleans’ native and trumpet legend still in his 30s, Payton’s ensembles are always filled with the next big stars.
January 11, “Round Midnight” with Vijay Iyer Quartet ($10). On the edge piano ensemble.
January 13, “Round Midnight” with David Binny ($10). One of the young masters of modern sax.

Jazz Gallery (290 Hudson Street, www.jazzgallery.org)

Small nonprofit center for visual, literary and musical arts centered on jazz. Chartered as a New York State museum, it’s one of the cultural treasures of Soho. Sets at 9 and 10:30 each event.

January 11, Sherisse Rogers Big Band ($12)
January 12, Aaron Parks Quartet ($15)
January 13, Gerald Clayton Trio ($15)

Jazz Standard (116 E. 27^th Street; www.jazzstandard.com). Down home ambience and zesty Cajun menu, but best of all is the intimate communication between audience and jazz stars on stage. Special series for IAJE week!

Geoffrey Keezer © Andrea Canter

January 10, 7:30 & 9:30 pm, Nancy King with Geoffrey Keezer Trio ($30). One of most interesting vocalist on the scene joins forces with an equally innovative young pianist and his trio. A match made in Jazz Heaven.
January 11, 7:30 & 9:30 pm, Steve Wilson Quartet ($30). Master of alto, soprano and flute, Wilson and his ensemble are sublime magicians.
January 12, 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30 pm, Eric Reed Quartet ($30). He’s been releasing one great piano trio or quartet date after another for the past decade and more.
January 13, 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30 pm, Terell Stafford Quintet ($30). Modern trumpet master always pulls together a simpatico ensemble.

The Kitano (66 Park Av; www.kitano.com).

The upstairs bar in an elegant Japanese hotel is one of the best kept secrets of the NY jazz scene. Piano-based ensembles Wednesday-Sunday nights, and often no cover. Like a cozy piano bar, but this is not cabaret music! Warning—very small capacity!

January 10, 8 & 9:45 pm, Marvin Stamm Quartet (no cover); trumpet quartet.
January 11, 8 & 9:45 pm, Michael Weiss Quartet (no cover); quartet led by Johnny Griffin’s pianist.
January 12-13, 8 & 9:45 pm, Tom Harrell Duo ($20). One of the most exciting trumpeters on the scene, New York or anywhere else. In duo with Baptiste Trotignon on piano.

Knitting Factory (74 Leonard Street, www.knittingfactory.com)

More a contemporary music space than jazz club, the Knitting Factory will host a “Jazz Festival” to tempt IAJE-goers away from the opening night gala.

January 10, 6 pm, “NYC Winter Jazz Fest”, $25; IAJE registrants will receive a full festival pass. A long list of cutting edge ensembles including Joel Harrison’s End Time, Liberty Ellman Quintet, Lionel Loueke, Maurice Brown, Mini Agossi, Mino Cinelu, Rudresh Mahanthappa Quartet (featuring Craig Taborn), and more!

Smalls/Fat Cat (183 W. 10^th Street; www.fatcatjazz.com).

Revitalized edition of the 90s favorite, this Village basement classic is indeed small (60 seats); covers usually $10. On stage you’ll usually find the best of the new generation of jazz talent. Early shows every night at 7:30 pm. First sets free, music til 3 am. Check website or call for schedule this week.

Smoke (2751 Broadway; www.smokejazz.com).

The smoke is gone of course but the ambience of the traditional NY little club remains here on the Upper West Side. No cover Sunday-Thursday but a $20 minimum.

January 9, 8, 10 & 11:30 pm, B-3 Night with the Mike LaDonne Quartet
January 11, 8, 10 &11:30 pm, Mike DiRubbo Quartet.
January 12-13, 8, 10 & 11:30 pm, Al Foster Quartet (Al’s Birthday!) ($25). One of the great drummers in an intimate setting.

The Stone (Avenue C and 2^nd St; www.thestonenyc.com)

A nonprofit space for musicians run by John Zorn, dedicated to experimental and avant garde music. Just music, no refreshments, no frills. Cover $10.

Steve Coleman

January 10, 8 & 10 pm, Modular Theatre with Ralph Alessi (trumpet), Peter Epstein (saxophone), Ben Street (bass), Tom Rainey (drums), Will Jennings (voice).
January 11, 8 & 10 pm, Steve Coleman and Five Elements
January 12, 8 & 10 pm, The Human Voice (vocal ensemble with brass)
January 13, 8 pm, Bleeding Vector (voice and guitar); 10 pm, Jonathan Finlayson and Steve Lehman (trumpet and sax)

Village Vanguard (178 W. 7^th Avenue South; www.villagevanguard.com)

You better be quiet or owner Lorraine will be on your case! This is surely the most serious listening environment you’ll ever find. The “temple” of jazz has been in this location more than 50 years and that’s probably the last time anyone fussed with the décor or furnishings. And who cares, you come to the Vanguard to hear the best jazz musicians in the world, not be be comfortable! No food, just drinks, and you better order those before the music begins!