Monday, May 28, 2012

Danny Hull: Musically This Week Vol XIV, No 38


Tuesday, 5/29 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:30
John Whitney, piano     Bruce Johnstone, baritone saxophone     Wayne Moose, bass     your host, drum set
Three talents, none from Buffalo, all on one Buffalo stage...  By now, most of you know Bruce Johnstone's story:  born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand, 4 years and 3 albums with Maynard Ferguson, 10 years in the #3 spot in the Downbeat Readers Poll for baritone saxophone behind only Gerry Mulligan & Pepper Adams, tours & recordings with Woody Herman, and now Director of Jazz Studies at SUNY Fredonia.  John Whitney's bio is equally impressive:  born and raised in Glens Falls, NY, degrees from Ithaca College & the New England Conservatory, 20 years at the University of Central Florida leading the orchestra and the jazz lab band, appearances at both the Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals, and now the founder, conductor and music director of the Southern Tier Symphony.  And Wayne Moose, native of the Rochester area, is conductor of the Williamsville East High School Orchestra, and a first call bassist here in town.  This Tuesday, we bring these seasoned musicians together for a first time performance at the Iris.  Rest up from your Memorial Day festivities, keeping in mind that the holiday is more than the summer season kick-off, and join us for this rare and special performance.    Only this week at the Iris Restaurant, in the plaza at the intersection of Maple & Sweet Home Roads in Amherst.  Good music, good food, good people, chilled spirits, world class artists, and a great hang.
next Tuesday, 6/5 at the Iris      7:30 - 10:30
Vince Ercolomento, saxophone     George Caldwell, piano     Fred Stone, bass     your host, drum set
upcoming at the Iris Restaurant...
Tuesday, 6/19 Barbara Jean
Tuesday, 7/3 Ron Corsaro & the Upstate Express
Tuesday, 7/17 Laurie Bordonaro
Tuesday, 7/31 Bill Todd
Tuesday, 8/7 Larry Covelli
Tuesday, 8/14 Don Menza
Tuesday, 8/21 Kenny Kuriscak & Tim Clarke
links...

Honor and thanks from a grateful people...
On thy grave the rain shall fall from the eyes of a mighty nation!
 - Thomas William Parsons

Health,
Hope,
Dialogue,
Gratitude,
Respect,
Tolerance,
and Friendships.
dan

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Danny Hull: Musically This Week Vol XIV, No 37


Tuesday, 5/22 at the Iris Restaurant      7:30 - 10:30
Steve Davis & John Hasselback, Jr - trombone     Lisa Hasselback - piano     Jim Colemon - bass     your host - drum set
photo3.jpg
Steve Davis

We've had some big names appear at our continuing jazz experiment over these last 13 years.  And it seldom happens without the help of a friend.  Remember Freddy Cole at our curiously lit location?  Wayne Moose hooked that up.  Gene Bertoncini last fall at the Iris?  Cindy Miller.  Bill Dobbins two weeks ago?  Mike Kaupa.  And this week?  John Hasselback, Jr is featuring his best friend and college roommate in concert with his high school band at West Seneca West this Monday night, 5/21 at 7:30.  And rather than hurry back to his home in Hartford, Connecticut to host his regular Tuesday gig at the Russian Lady, Steve Davis is staying with John & Lisa and doing our gig at the Iris.  This is huge!  What's the big deal?  Only that Steve Davis is one of the top call trombonists on the planet.  Literally.  He was the very last Messenger hired by Art Blakey.  He toured the world with Chick Corea and Origin, and was featured in a Downbeat cover story with Chick.  He is on Grammy winning records with Wayne Shorter, the aforementioned Chick Corea, & Christian McBride.  He has shared the bandstand with legends Jackie McLean, Benny Golson, Hank Jones, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, and Horace Silver.  Steve Davis is the real deal, on a global scale.  And were it not for the special friendship shared by John & Steve, we could not offer this world-class musician's talents to our Savvy & Informed audience.  You don't want to miss this uniquely singular night.  Our sincere gratitude to John Hasselback, Jr for making it happen.  Only this week at the Iris Restaurant, in the plaza at the intersection of Maple & Sweet Home Roads in Amherst.  Good music, good food, good people, chilled spirits, world class artists, and a great hang.
Wednesday, 5/23 at Williamsville East High School
vocalist Jane Monheit with the Williamsville East Jazz Orchestra
also featuring Wayne Moose, orchestra conductor & bassist     Lisa Hasselback, piano     your correspondent, drum set

And speaking of big names...  Bassist Wayne Moose has a heavy day gig at Williamsville East High School where he conducts the orchestra and the jazz ensemble, and instructs the string players.  Among his other responsibilities is the Legends of Jazz Series, offered to the Williamsville School District's music community and the general public every spring.  In fact, the very reason we were able to present Freddy Cole at Bobby McGee's back in 2009 was because Wayne featured him in just such a concert event, and persuaded him to do the gig with us on Freddy's night off!  This week vocalist Jane Monheit is featured both in a trio setting and with the Williamsville Jazz Orchestra.  Tickets are available at the door or by pre-sale:  726-626-8425 or legendsofjazz@gmail.com
Thursday, 5/23 at Dick & Jenny's Bake & Brew
Chris Ziemba, piano     Wayne Moose, bass     yours truly, drum set
Dick & Jenny's has the best food on Grand Island.  I know this for a fact, being a regular customer myself.  And now they have the best music.  Pianist Chris Ziemba is home from his studies at the Julliard School for a brief visit, so serendipity seemed to smile in both directions on this one.  And fresh off our concert with Jane Monheit on Wednesday, Wayne & I get to relive some moments musical in a relaxed and genial setting.  Here's a Thursday night idea you haven't tried.  The Grand Island bridge from either direction is free and easy at 6:30 on a weeknight.
next Tuesday, 5/29 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:30
John Whitney, piano     Bruce Johnstone, baritone saxophone     Wayne Moose, bass     your host, drum set
upcoming at the Iris Restaurant...
Tuesday, 6/5 Fred Stone & Vince Ercolomento
Tuesday, 6/19 Barbara Jean
Tuesday, 7/3 Ron Corsaro & the Upstate Express
Tuesday, 7/17 Laurie Bordonaro
Tuesday, 7/31 Bill Todd
Tuesday, 8/7 Larry Covelli
Tuesday, 8/14 Don Menza
Tuesday, 8/21 Kenny Kuriscak & Tim Clarke
links...
Every word, every action, every decision...
Every note has your name on it.
 - Sammy Nestico

Health,
Hope,
Dialogue,
Respect,
Tolerance,
and Friendships.
dan

Monday, May 14, 2012

Danny Hull: Musically This Week Vol XIV, No 36


Hello friends.  Hope you can make it...

Tuesday, 5/15 at the Iris Restaurant      7:30 - 10:30
Bob Sneider, guitar     Danny Ziemann, bass     your host, drum set
“Guitar Explosion”.  That’s how Bob Sneider foresees the night.  In discussing whether we would go trio or quartet, Bob’s idea was to invite his rising-star students from the Eastman School:  Matt Michaud, VJ Brown & Alex Patrick.  Matt, who only this month earned his Masters in Jazz Performance, was locally discovered by the late, great Chu Nero.  VJ Brown got my attention when he sat in with Russ Carere back in March.  And Alex Patrick is a name new to me, but certainly familiar to Bob.  Among our embarrassment of riches, the Eastman pedigree continues to supply talent to our weekly jazz experiment.  Note to Eastman non-guitarists:  bring your horn.  Join us.  Your school year is over.  It’s time to celebrate (in one of ) the best ways you know how.   The Iris Restaurant, in the plaza at the intersection of Maple & Sweet Home Roads in Amherst.  Good music, good food, good people, chilled spirits, and a great hang.
next Tuesday, 5/22 at the Iris Restaurant      7:30 - 10:30
Steve Davis & John Hasselback, Jr - trombone     Lisa Hasselback - piano     Jim Colemon - bass     your host - drum set
next Wednesday, 5/23 at Williamsville East High School
vocalist Jane Monheit with the Williamsville East Jazz Orchestra
also featuring Wayne Moose, orchestra conductor & bassist     Lisa Hasselback, piano     your correspondent, drum set


upcoming at the Iris Restaurant...
Tuesday, 5/29 John Whitney & Bruce Johnstone
Tuesday, 6/5 Fred Stone & Vince Ercolomento
Tuesday, 6/19 Barbara Jean
Tuesday, 7/3 Ron Corsaro & the Upstate Express
Tuesday, 7/24 Laurie Bordonaro
Tuesday, 7/31 Bill Todd
Tuesday, 8/7 Larry Covelli
Tuesday, 8/14 Don Menza
Tuesday, 8/21 Kenny Kuriscak & Tim Clarke
links...
Blessed to still have her...
If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been.
 - Robert Brault

Health,
Hope,
Dialogue,
Respect,
Tolerance,
and Friendships.
dan

Monday, May 7, 2012

Danny Hull: Musically This Week Vol XIV, No 35


Tuesday, 5/8/2012 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:30
Jeff Hackworth, tenor saxophone     Michael T. Jones, piano     Dave Arenius, bass     your host, drum set
You know this already, but it bears repeating:  One of the many benefits of this great gig lies in the opportunity to offer a venue to Buffalo-born musicians who have found their artistic fortunes elsewhere.  This week the honor falls to Jeff Hackworth, and by extension, to us.  At the turn of the millennium Jeff confidently left the embrace of his home town for the challenges of New York City.  In the years since his maiden release, What a Wonderful World with Bobby Jones and Kent Leach, Jeff has recorded two more critically acclaimed CD's, each produced by Houston Person.  Here are some Jeff Simon observations on Jeff's most recent effort, Night Owl:  Hackworth has a variant of that big "chitlin circuit" tenor sound that people loved so much in Gene Ammons, David "Fathead" Newman and Houston Person.  But he's not afraid of the multiphonic screams and furious flurries of notes that distinguished the tenor generations that came after them.  There's no question that the music of Hackworth's quartet here -- with vibraphonist Jay Hoggard, Hammond B-3 player Radam Schwartz and drummer Earl Grice -- is in the tradition of the music that once held sway at great Blue Collar Buffalo jazz clubs such as the Pine Grill, the Bon Ton and Jan's, but it's all played by the kind of musician who, as someone once described a politician, is not the kind of fellow who's ever hesitant about which opening in a revolving door to enter.  And there's also no question that vibist Hoggard adds an element here you don't often hear with such groups. It couldn't be more welcome, in this case.  

And Simon again on Where The Blue BeginsJeff's first effort under Houston Person:  Buried treasure here and a bit out of the blue too. Hackworth is a tenor saxophonist of soul, facility and behemoth sound who grew up in Buffalo and steeped himself in the working class tenor traditions of the Pine Grill the whole Gene Ammons, Stanley Turrentine, Ike Quebec and Houston Person line that also, in a different way, so impressed and formed Grover Washington Jr.  Hackworth's tone is harder than, say, Quebec's and his attack more nimble, but he's got that ballad-and-blues soaked club jazz feel that no school has ever taught or ever will.  When Hackworth moved to New York eight years ago, he eventually hooked up with Person himself who has now produced two savory meat and potatoes soul jazz discs with Hackworth.  Person picked the players and they're solid as oak.  The repertoire is mostly as traditional as Ellington's "Just Sitting and a Rockin'."  Put it this way the newest tune on the disc is Elvis' "Can't Help Falling in Love."  Among the players chosen by Person are the redoubtable Lafayette Harris Jr.  This is the music where retro and timeless meet.

Not too bad an endorsement from a Buffalo News critic who has a reputation for being stingy with his compliments...  And more impressive?  Jeff has recorded three albums with actor and singer Danny Aiello, (Bridges, Live from Atlantic City, and a holiday disc), and has subbed both with Blood, Sweat & Tears and on Broadway for Hairspray.  What else?  Two years with Chubby Checker, two more years touring with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, a TV appearance with Buddy Rich, and performances with The Temptations, Mel Torme. Jack Jones, Ben Vereen, Doc Severinson, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, The Goo Goo Dolls, Gary US Bonds, and countless others.

Jeff Hackworth's success is our success.  The craft he honed while practicing, listening, and haunting the clubs in his home town lives in every note, whether on the big stage in the big apple, or in a return visit to his very roots.  Please join us.  The Iris Restaurant, in the plaza at the intersection of Maple & Sweet Home Roads in Amherst.  Good music, good food, good people, chilled spirits, and a great hang.
Wednesday, 5/9 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 9:30
Buffalo Brass open rehearsal
In rehearsal at the Iris, and you're invited...  Here's a chance to hear a big band work through the musical concepts that attempts to organize 17 disparate musicians under one artistic umbrella.  And it's a great night out.
Friday, 5/11 at the Iris Restaurant     8:00 - 10:30
Bill Dobbins, piano     Mike Kaupa, trumpet     Danny Vitale, bass     yours truly, drum set
This is huge.  If I were wealthy, I’d endow the Eastman School upon my transition. 

The list is long, of both student and instructor who have privileged our venue with their artistry.  But Bill Dobbins at the Iris is yet another level indeed.  To present Bill in a quartet setting is a most extraordinary opportunity, both for your correspondent as accompanist, and for the jazz programming at our venue.

Bill Dobbins is known internationally as an inspired jazz pianist, steeped in the history and traditions of our American music, and his name is globally synonymous with jazz education.  His distinguished association with the Eastman School goes back to 1973, and in the time since, his students have gone on to gigs with Count Basie, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Chuck Mangione, and Maria Schneider.  Some are working in the Los Angeles television and film music industry; others are on the faculties of jazz programs in many of the world’s leading music schools.
His contribution is immeasurable.  Presently, he’s teaching jazz composition and arranging, and directs both the Eastman Jazz Ensemble and the Eastman Studio Orchestra.  He has performed and recorded with the likes of Clark Terry, Al Cohn, Red Mitchell, Phil Woods, Bill Goodwin, Dave Liebman, Kevin Mahogany, Paquito D’Rivera, and Peter Erskine, among countless others.
And this Friday, he’s with us.  Reservations are recommended (831-3271), but barring a sell-out, $10 tickets will also be available at the door.  My thanks to Mike Kaupa for his assistance with this booking, and to Vincent Lesh at the Iris for his confidence in our continuing mission to serve the Western New York jazz community.
Saturday, 5/12 at The Little Theater, Rochester     8:30 - 10:30
Fred Stone, bass     Nick Weiser, piano     your correspondent, drum set
This is a first for yours truly.  My thanks to Fred Stone for the invitation, subbing for Rich Thompson.
next Tuesday, 5/15 at the Iris Restaurant      7:30 - 10:30
Bob Sneider, guitar     Danny Ziemann, bass     your host, drum set
upcoming at the Iris Restaurant...
Tuesday, 5/22 Steve Davis & John Hasselback, Jr
Tuesday, 5/29 John Whitney & Bruce Johnstone
Tuesday, 6/5 Fred Stone & Vince Ercolomento
Tuesday, 6/19 Barbara Jean
Tuesday, 7/3 Ron Corsaro & the Upstate Express
Tuesday, 7/24 Laurie Bordonaro
Tuesday, 7/31 Bill Todd
Tuesday, 8/7 Larry Covelli
Tuesday, 8/14 Don Menza
Tuesday, 8/21 Kenny Kuriscak & Tim Clarke
links...
Listening...
Donald Byrd     at the Half Note Cafe     1960     Pepper Adams, Duke Pearson, Laymon Jackson (bs), Lex Humphries
 - check out Kimayas.  Seductive bass & piano vamp at the intro.... Then Lex Humphries kills with an intense Afro-Cuban groove.  Also listen to his brush work on the piano solo.  Fearless.
Pat Metheny Trio 99>00     Bill Stewart's soloing is other-worldly
Chick Corea     Now He Sings, Now he Sobs     1968     Miroslav Vitous & Roy Haynes - Dig into Steps - What Was.  Listen to Roy Haynes' crisp touch on that flat ride, and his extended solo.  Legend has it that Chick owned that flat ride & asked Roy Haynes to play it.  You can also hear on this tune what eventually became Chick's brilliant classic, Spain.

Jeff Hackworth...
You've achieved success in your field when you don't know whether what you're doing is work or play.
 - Warren Beaty

Health,
Hope,
Dialogue,
Respect,
Tolerance,
and Friendships.
dan