 Clockwise from top: Lorraine Gordon (Photo: Eric Ogden), Mose Allison (Photo: Michael Wilson), Eddie Palmieri and Lou Donaldson (Photo: Bob Lasky)
National Endowment for the Arts Announces 2013 Jazz Masters
The National Endowment for the Arts announced the names of the 2013 NEA Jazz Masters, the nation’s highest honor in jazz, on July 18. The honorees are pianist Mose Allison, saxophonist Lou Donaldson, Village Vanguard jazz club owner Lorraine Gordon and pianist/bandleader Eddie Palmieri.
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 HEADLINES
With nearly 1,000 concerts spread across 10 days, the Copenhagen Jazz Festival is one of the most prominent jazz fests in the world. …
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After two weeks of tributes and memorials, a crowd of 400—500 people said their final goodbyes to Treme Brass Band singer and bass drummer Lionel Batiste Sr. on July 23. …
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Neil Cowley and Cedar Walton, two exceptional pianists of differing persuasions, brought trios to L’Astral and Gèsu on July 6, the penultimate night of the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal. …
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A great artist can shrink a venue. During Diana Krall’s July 17 performance at Ravinia, the pianist/singer accomplished something that Tony Bennett has done multiple times at this Highland Park, Ill. …
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Votes are pouring in for the 77th Annual DownBeat Readers Poll, which opened on July 23. Readers will vote in 34 categories, and the results will be published in the December issue of DownBeat. …
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REVIEWS // EDITORS’ PICKS
BY AARON COHEN
Nicaragua-born jazz pianist Donald Vega has, at 37, already accumulated a notable collection of experiences: from his childhood classical training to arriving in Los Angeles at 14, speaking no English, yet going on to earn a master’s degree at the Manhattan School …
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BY AARON COHEN
For the past five years, Chicago-based cornetist Josh Berman has dug deeply into his city’s early jazz traditions to craft an inventive take on the 1920s repertoire of the Austin High Gang, particularly Eddie Condon, Bud Freeman and Dave Tough. …
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BY FRANK ALKYER
If you’re looking for a killer straightahead record, grab a copy of Steve Davis’ Gettin’ It Done. The trombone veteran has a blue-chip pedigree as a sideman with the likes of Art Blakey and Jackie McLean—and a fine string of releases as a leader, too. …
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BY BOBBY REED
Los Angeles-based photographer Bob Willoughby (1927–2009) was renowned for his motion picture stills, which often appeared in Look and Life magazines. But before Willoughby became famous for shooting silver-screen icons like John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe …
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BY BOBBY REED
The CD packaging of German pianist/composer Jürgen Friedrich’s Monosuite—For String Orchestra And Improvisers exemplifies a design that conveys an integral aspect of the music contained therein. …
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BY FRANK ALKYER
I’ve always felt that the best jazz records have a great back-story. Upon reading the story behind Rayuela, the new album by saxophonist Miguel Zenón and pianist Laurent Coq, I was intrigued. After hearing the music, I’m flat-out hooked. …
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BY HILARY BROWN
Detroit knows a thing or two about Paris. Guitarists Paul Brady and Evan Perri have always done a great job contemporizing the quixotic, resolute riffing of the Quintette du Hot Club de France. …
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BY BOBBY REED
Stacey Kent proves it onstage. A buzz of critical acclaim has surrounded the singer for years—the New Jersey native has released a dozen studio albums—and with her first concert disc, Kent illustrates how splendidly her artistry translates to the stage. …
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BY AARON COHEN
Two days before pianist Cecil Taylor recorded this solo album at the MPS studio in the German Black Forest, he practiced for five hours. The following day, he rehearsed for nine hours. And on the recording date, he drilled himself for eight hours, and recorded for three. …
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JAZZ SCHOOL // TOOLSHED
Charlie Hunter: Looped, Vol. 1 is an 859-loop, 1.65GB collection of jazzy, funky stuff from the seven-string guitarist. The collection includes 14 separate sessions recorded exclusively for The Loop Loft. …
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AKG has added the K44 Perception, K77 Perception and K99 Perception (pictured) to its line of professional headphones. Both the K44 and K77 are over-ear, closed-back headphones that include leatherette ear pads and a self-adjusting headband. …
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Pahu International’s Black Widow Drum Web prevents any drum set from slipping, sliding or moving under even the most aggressive players. …
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Ableton, in conjunction with Soniccouture, has launched Electric Pianos, a software package consisting of two sampled classic electric pianos—the Rhodes Stage 73 and the Wurlitzer 200A. …
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Conn-Selmer and Vincent Bach have launched new trumpet and trombone cases that draw on vintage 1920s styling but are designed to accommodate contemporary players. …
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