July 2021

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Cover

Julian Lage

Jazz Love Affair

The virtuoso guitarist braved the challenges of COVID year and pulled together his trio with drummer Dave King and bassist Jorge Roeder to deliver a brilliant recording on Blue Note Records, his new label. Contributor Phillip Lutz catches up with the exuberant 33-year-old to discuss this major milestone in his career as a composer and bandleader.

Features
  • Roy Hargrove & Mulgrew Miller

    In Harmony

    In Harmony serves as a beautiful document of a previously unreleased recording of two concert dates with modern-day legends trumpeter Roy Hargrove (who died in 2018 at age 49) and pianist Mulgrew Miller (who died in 2013 at age 57).

  • A Record Store Day Tribute

    We Love Vinyl

    Lovers of the needle drop, unite. In honor of Record Store Day’s 2021 RSD Drops on June 12 and July 17, the DownBeat staff has gone out, dug deep and brought back nearly 50 titles of great vinyl that have been released recently or will be coming out soon. Some are part of RSD Drops, while others are just titles our editors and writers got wind of … and began to lust over. It must be noted that many of these titles are on a limited vinyl run, so get your orders in and enjoy.

Blindfold Test

Composer and trumpeter Tim Hagans takes this month’s test. Here are the tracks he checked out.

  • Conte Candoli/Lee Morgan: “Moto” from Double Or Nothin' (Fresh Sound, 1992)
  • Art Blakey: “Anthenagin” from Anthenagin (Prestige, 1973)
  • Ambrose Akinmusire: “Blues (We Measure The Heart With A Fish)” from On The Tender Spot Of Every Calloused Moment (Blue Note, 2020)
  • Roy Hargrove/Mulgrew Miller: “This Is Always” from In Harmony (Resonance, 2021)
  • Nicholas Payton: “Tea For Two” from Relaxin' With Nick (Smoke Sessions, 2019)
  • Cuong Vu Trio: “Not Crazy (Just Giddy Upping)(For Vina)” from Cuong Vu Trio Meets Pat Metheny (Nonesuch, 2016)
  • Charles Mingus: “What Is This Thing Called Love” from The Jazz Experiments of Charles Mingus (Bethlehem, 1955)
Also in this Issue
2021 Festival Guide
  • A Careful Reopening
Woodshed — Master Class
  • A Jazz Perspective on Through-Composition, by Aaron Germain
Woodshed — Solo
  • Tal Wilkenfeld's bass Solo on 'River Of Life,' by Jimi Durso
Toolshed — Reviews
  • Gibson's Slim Harpo 'Lovell' ES-330
  • ZT Amplifiers Lunchbox Reverb
Toolshed — Gear Box
  • Supro Delta King 8,10 and 12 combo amps
  • Guitar Slip No More
  • GrooveTech Tools Mini-Multi
  • Alvarez Guitars' new acoustic-electric eight-string grand auditorium model
  • Vox Mini Go
  • Levy's Leathers MM14 Wireless Bodypack Holder


PLUS: Dozens of album reviews, product reviews and much more!