Mar 4, 2025 1:29 PM
Changing of the Guard at Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
On October 23, Ted Nash – having toured the world playing alto, soprano and tenor saxophone, clarinet and bass…
“The Night Tripper” cast a spell on jazz fest yesterday, playing classics mixed with tunes from his new album, “Dis, Dat and Dudda,” at the fairgrounds. Like his earlier work, Dr. John’s new songs tell long, involved stories about the dark side of the swamp, and his annual Jazz Fest performance is always a local favorite.
Another standout on yesterday’s Jazz Fest program were sacred steel stars, the Campbell Brothers, who tore it up at the blues tent, with three pedal steel guitars, a six string bass and two gospel singers. The band hails from New York, but their backwater blues sound is reminiscent of the North Mississippi Allstars’ jams, with lines that build and build to crescendos then break back down to their steel roots like the singers’ hymnal lyrics.
Before a crowd of would be second liners, the afternoon wrapped up with sets by Big Chief Bo Dollis and the Hot 8 Brass Band at the new Jazz and Heritage stage. As clubs opened their doors to bands around town last night, Bingo! at Preservation Hall’s late night series stole the title for the most innovative act. The band, which hasn’t played together in a year, digs back into the history of Appalachian music for its repertoire, covering dusty tunes with drums, upright bass and a keyboard player who has more than few tricks up his sleeve. Singing into a bullhorn and inviting circus performers onstage, he played along to the silent film behind him as the Hall’s Ben Jaffe and Galactic’s Stanton Moore danced across the tiny wooden room.
The Jazz Fest continues next weekend, with Nicholas Payton, Terence Blanchard and Astral Project.
As Ted Nash, left, departs the alto saxophone chair for LCJO, Alexa Tarantino steps in as the band’s first female full-time member.
Mar 4, 2025 1:29 PM
On October 23, Ted Nash – having toured the world playing alto, soprano and tenor saxophone, clarinet and bass…
Larry Appelbaum with Wayne Shorter in 2012.
Feb 25, 2025 10:49 AM
Larry Appelbaum, a distinguished audio engineer, jazz journalist, historian and broadcaster, died Feb. 21, 2025, in…
“This is one of the great gifts that Coltrane gave us — he gave us a key to the cosmos in this recording,” says John McLaughlin.
Mar 18, 2025 3:00 PM
In his original liner notes to A Love Supreme, John Coltrane wrote: “Yes, it is true — ‘seek and ye shall…
The Blue Note Jazz Festival New York kicks off May 27 with a James Moody 100th Birthday Celebration at Sony Hall.
Apr 8, 2025 1:23 PM
Blue Note Entertainment Group has unveiled the lineup for the 14th annual Blue Note Jazz Festival New York, featuring…
“You’ve got to trust that inner child, keep exploring, even though people think it’s wrong,” says Fortner.
Feb 25, 2025 11:20 AM
Every week at the Village Vanguard fosters its own sound. No one really knows how the music might evolve by Sunday, but…