The State of Jazz in the Crescent City

Just recently spent a couple of weeks in the Crescent City. New Orleans. First of all, it is HOT. I mean like 95 degrees and 80 percent humidity. I ate enough seafood to singlehandedly ressurect the Gulf Shrimp industry. They say it is safe to eat. I hope so. I am counting on it. Anyway, aside from all of the culinary delights, another thing that is great to see post- Katrina is the music scene coming back to life. Katrina forced so many to flee to safety. Musicians included. That would have broken the back of many a city, but the good folks of NOLA have perservered. As tourism has come back, and businesses have reopened now six years on, the music scene is alive and well. I enjoy how "in your face" jazz is in this place. In an ordinary city, the aficianado must seek out his jazz fix. Not so in New Orleans. It will track YOU down... Much good jazz on the FM radio as well. Hey, where else can you hear Zydeco on the radio as well. You can't keep good folks down. From the time you touch down at Louis Armstrong Airport, you will feel the jazz vibe EVERYWHERE. Keep up the good work folks!

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy- Back and Badder than Ever!

big bad voodoo daddy
Originally uploaded by amandavisualzen

Around the turn of the millenium, there was a so-called swing revival. Bands such as Cherry Poppin Daddies, BBVD, Royal Crown Review and Big Time Operator were harkening back to the swing sounds of the 40's and 50's. As all trends come and go, there are still some great musicians out there throwin it down. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is one such band. All highly skilled jazz musicians, they rock the swing tunes HARD. They bring an energy that rocks the house, and they have the chops to do it. Their new album is 11 tracks of classic swing from Cab Calloway. Cab was about the hepest cat EVER. The cd is called "How Big Can You Get" and it sounds great. I grew up with an appreciation of music with horns (I am a sax player) and got a love of swing music from my WWII-era dad. BBVD bring the sound FRESH, without sounding nostalgic or tribute-band-esque. They will tour on support of this cd. They get no closer to me than Evansville, but I just might make the trip.

Bela Fleck - Flecktones Saturday Dec 6 in Louisville!

Bela Fleck and FutureMan
Originally uploaded by Melissa Vivari

If you have never seen or heard of Bela Fleck, shame on you. He will be appearing at the Kentucky Center for the Arts on Saturday, December 6th.
Bela Fleck and his band, the Flecktones morph all musical boundaries in their sound. Bela is a banjo virtuoso who plays classical, folk, jazz and bluegrass with equal ease. Bassist Victor Wooten is a virtuoso of the funk slap bass, and a very melodic player as well. Wooten's brother, known as "FutureMan" plays a drumitar. This is an instrument he invented that is shaped like a guitar, but features drum triggers that he plays with his fingers. The sound is amazing, and he can do things an accoustic drummer can not. Other musicians may or may not be part of the sound, but that is the core of the Flecktones lineup. One of my favorite cd's to chill out to is "Live at the Quick" which is a 2002 release. I cannot recommend this recording ENOUGH. I am not one to rave about artists or cd's, but I do this one...
If you are in Louisville and want some great entertainment, or if you are elsewhere, check out his tour schedule. It is worth the effort.

New Release of Eva Cassidy Material

If you aren't familiar with Eva Cassidy, she was one of the most pure voices I have ever heard. Seldom does a singer come along with such a true voice. Emmylou Harris and Joni Mitchell are such voices. So is Eva Cassidy. Her material spanned diverse categories, recording folk, jazz, blues, and pop in her short career. Eva's life reads like the script from a Lifetime Network movie. Just at the time she is about to fulfill her dreams, she is told she is dying from malignant melanoma.
It has been over 10 years since Eva Cassidy's death, but their is still strong interest in her recordings. This new release, entitled "Somewhere" is a collection of cover tunes and standards along with a pair of original tunes she wrote. It is available at Amazon and other outlets around the web.
Listening to Eva's music is a mixture of joy and sadness for me. Joy at the beauty of a true artisan, and sadness that she is no longer with us, her great talent unfulfilled.

Ten Essential Jazz Guitarists to Know

Here is another of my endless lists of artists you should know in a certain genre. I enjoy doing these because if you are interested in a certain style, this will give you an idea of where to start. As alway, the artists are in no particular order. Just a list of great artists in the genre.
1. Charlie Christian
All discussion of jazz on a guitar starts right here with Charlie. He was an originator and innovator in the genre. Using the guitar as a solo instrument in jazz was not really done that much before him. He used chord voicings that were like a little horn section, playing chord solos on the amplified electric archtop guitar, with the swing of a Coletrain or Monk. All jazz guitarists can trace at least some of their technique and style to Charlie Christian.
2. Wes Montgomery
Described as a natural extension of Charlie Christian, Wes picked up the torch and carried it forward. Wes used a heavy tone and a thumb stroke to produce his trademark tones. Soloing in single notes, octaves and then chord fragments, Wes played difficult passages with the upmost of ease. I recommend ALL of his recordings. I have never been disappointed by a Wes Montgomery recording. The Riverside sessions, as well as the Verve sides, were are great. Wes is my all time favorite guitarist and jazz artist.
2. Barney Kessel
An early electric guitarist, Barney Kessell was both a commercial studio musician and a sought- after jazz player. In the era after Charlie Christian, Kessell picked up the torch of the jazz guitar and carried it forward. He cut his teeth performing with greats like Artie Shaw and Oscar Peterson. In the 70s, Kessel played with a guitar trio with Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd. Talk about an all-star team! I loved Kessel's smooth "west coast" style.
3. Herb Ellis
Herb played Bop with a western drawl, they say. Including elements of bop and western swing style riffs, Herb was an excellent guitarist. Herb has done trio work with Joe Pass and Barney Kessel, and his fluid style rings through. Herb played with Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, and a myriad of others.
4. Joe Pass
Joe was a great guitarist and creator of his own "virtuoso" style, as can be heard on his "Vitruoso" album series on Pablo records. He would play impossible arrangements of standards on the solo guitar, unaccompanied. In a group setting, Joe played with Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn, as well as Oscar Peterson, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. His expressive solo runs on guitar and beautiful chord voicings. You gotta check out some Joe!
5. Django Reinhardt
Here is a pre-electric guitarist who had a great influence on the jazz scene. He used an "outside the box" approach to solos and melodies that hearkened back to his gypsy soul. Django took the humble accoustic guitar and put it front and center on the bandstand alongside "serious" jazz instruments. He passed away at the dawn of the electric age, but his style and influence will not be forgotten.
6. Jim Hall
I include Jim Hall because I like his non-flashy style of playing. His style is more laid back and he likes to create beautiful sonic landscapes with his chords. Jim does not try to impress with hot licks, but to find the right chord and tone to fit the song. He is creates some of jazz guitar's most beautiful music because of his fundamental style.
7. Kenny Burrell
Duke Ellington listed Kenny as his favorite guitar player. Not a bad endorsement. No doubt it was for his tasteful, swinging style and cool bop. He played on sesions with Dizzy Gillespie, Coltrane and Billie Holiday to name a few. Kenny did a lot of nice solo work as well as the sides he cut with the aforementioned jazz legends.
8. Pat Martino
Pat has been a great innovator in jazz guitar, emerging in the 60s. Pat incorporated jazz, rock and world music into his style, and created something entirely new. Pat had a stroke at age 36 and had to completely relearn the guitar. He did, and is still a great guitarist.
9. Pat Metheny
Pat is not afraid to take chances. That is for sure. Like artillery, some of it hits the target and some of it doesn't. Pat is both a talented player and fearless innovator. That said, be careful of his material because some of it is very challenging to the listener. Pat brings modern- era playing into jazz guitar using world, avant garde, rock etc. into his technique.
10. Al Di Meola
I put Al on the list because it's my list and I wanted him there... But seriously, I have been a fan of Al's beautiful playing since I caught on with him in the 70s with Return to Forever. Al plays a fusion of world, flamenco, latin and classic jazz riffs and blends them into a nice mix. One of the most melodic and romantic players of the modern era.
These are the guys I would check out if I was interested in getting into a jazz cd collection and liked guitar music. There are an incredible amount of great jazz guitarists, and I had to leave a lot of greats off the list, but these are the ten I feel have had the most influence. Happy Listening!