 Sonny Rollins (left) with fellow Kennedy Center Honorees Barbara Cook and Neil Diamond (Photo: John Paul Filo/CBS)
Sonny Rollins Receives
Kennedy Center Honor
Saxophone virtuoso Sonny Rollins is among the artists in the current class of Kennedy Center Honorees. Each of the honorees in the 2011 class, which also includes singer Barbara Cook, singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and actress Meryl Streep, was the subject of a star-studded tribute on Dec. 4 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
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 HEADLINES
Chick Corea, who turned 70 this year, celebrated his birthday with a monthlong residency at New York’s Blue Note in November.
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It was a classic New York evening at Jilly’s, the legendary bar founded by Frank Sinatra’s pal Jilly Rizzo.
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Like an opening set, the 25-year-old Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild (MCG) is just getting warmed up.
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Bob Brookmeyer, a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master whose talents ranged from valve trombonist to composer, arranger and educator, died on Dec. 15 in New London, N.H., from heart disease.
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REVIEWS // EDITORS’ PICKS
BY AARON COHEN
Seventeen years ago, bassist Charlie Haden and pianist Hank Jones teamed up for the striking duo recording Steal Away. In February 2010, they reunited to record another collection …
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BY BOBBY REED
Trumpeter Claudio Roditi, 65, has been a sideman to Paquito D’Rivera, Herbie Mann and McCoy Tyner, he has released about 20 albums as a leader, and he has been based in New York since 1976. …
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BY FRANK ALKYER
David Baker deserves a statue. He might be the most unassuming, larger-than-life figure I’ve met during my two decades at DownBeat. …
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BY FRANK ALKYER
There’s something perfect about the piano trio—piano, bass and drums engaged in the art of point and counterpoint, give and take, listen and respond—the bare essentials of beauty. …
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BY FRANK ALKYER
The Smalls Live label does a terrific job of capturing the vibe of the New York club’s jazz scene. And this contribution from guitarist Peter Bernstein, organist Larry Goldings …
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BY BOBBY REED
Singer Sophie Milman was born in Russia’s Ural Mountains, raised in Israel and is now based in Toronto. That seems like a rather unusual background for a velvety singer who sounds so completely comfortable …
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BY HILARY BROWN
I’ve always found Indian ragas to be much like their land of origin: majestic, exotic and busy. Each raga is a vast musical tapestry …
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BY BOBBY REED
On his Sunnyside debut, vibes/marimba player Erik Charlston pays tribute to composer Hermeto Pascoal, who rose to prominence in the ’60s in his native Brazil …
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BY AARON COHEN
Canadian singer Kiran Ahluwalia’s global musical connections sound as imaginative and resolute as her idealism. She’s blended an expertise in South Asian idioms—particularly qawwali …
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BY AARON COHEN
While fusion was taking off in the early 1970s, Calvin Keys had a distinctive approach to playing the electric guitar. He usually avoided distortion, favoring clean and fast lines, and his exchanges …
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BY HILARY BROWN
Another piteous narrative about a drug dealer’s self-reflection? Initially, I wondered whether Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and company might be making a misstep by basing their 10th venture on a recycled hip-hop trope. …
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JAZZ SCHOOL // TOOLSHED
Avid’s new Pro Tools 10 software offers 24-hour timeline capability and the ability to use multiple file formats and mixed bit depths in the same
project …
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Marshall’s new Marshall White headphones include the original Major and Minor models in white. …
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Vox Amplification’s AC15C2 Twin combo tube amp is an enhanced version of the AC15C1 that adds a second speaker. Providing two 12-inch Celestion Greenbacks …
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Korg’s SV-1 keyboard features the sounds of both Japanese and German grand pianos. …
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The Latin Real Easy Book from Sher Music contains an in-depth selection of Afro-Cuban classics, Brazilian music and Latin jazz tunes. It can be used by music teachers, students and pros alike. …
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