Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Ami Nakazono was born on October 6, 1986 in Kagoshima, Japan and began classical piano lessons at the age of 4. By 12 she was playing the alto saxophone and joined her school brass band. After two years, she won the “City Solo Instrumental Competition.” At the same time she was offered a full scholarship to study music at Fukuoka Daiichi High School in Fukuoka, Japan, where she studied classical music, theory, ear training, harmony, and brass band skills.

After graduation, she entered Senzoku Gakuen University, Japan’s most prestigious university, with a jazz major. During this time, Ami formed her own band and began playing gigs in and around Tokyo, Japan. Again two years later in 2007 she accepted a scholarship from Berklee College of Music, moved to Boston, Massachusetts and continued to perform and study under Walter Beasley, Dino Govoni, Bill Pierce, Shannon LeClaire and Jeff Harrington, and flute with Mia Olson. In 2008 with mentor and inspiration George W. Russell Jr., the two worked on several collaborations during this period at Berklee.

Nakazono began performing internationally with the acclaimed band, Violette, headed by French jazz singer~songwriter Violette De Bartillat. In 2010 she recorded for two critically praised albums, Joie de Vivre with Violette and Shine with George W Russell Jr.

Saxophonist Ami Nakazono is currently an active member of Boston’s entertainment group Raw Ambition and continues to perform at prestigious venues and festivals across the United States.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Olivia Meyer was born on July 15, 1990 in Rochester, New York and first encountered her father’s tenor saxophone when looking under his bedroom dresser. There she discovered a large black case covered with dust containing a Mark VI. Her fathe rnot only gifted her the saxophone but once she played it was smitten and the decision to pursue the saxophone was cemented. They would go to the public library, check out the maximum number of cds and listen to them together.

At the age of nine, Olivia played and studied in the programs provided by the inner city schools she attended. She began private lessons in classical and jazz piano and ultimately jazz and classical saxophone. By fifteen, she was splitting her time between the School of the Arts and the Eastman School of Music, studying music history, theory, jazz composition, and classical and jazz saxophone.

As a member of the Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra, she also worked and studied regularly with visiting artists Eric Alexander, Peter Bernstein, Paquito D’Rivera, Victor Goines, Wycliffe Gordon, Vincent Herring, Pat Labarbera, Ralph Lalama, Joe Locke, Gerry Niewood, and Grant Stewart.

After graduating from the School of the Arts, she received a scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. She has played gigs in and around Rochester, and while in Boston she headlined a quartet as a part of the new “Birth of La Femme” series at Wally’s Jazz Café in Boston. Tenor saxophonist Olivia Meyer, has yet to record her debut album, is currently a Brand, Sales and Marketing Associate at Jazz At Lincoln Center.

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

As the virus is continuing to evolve the Jazz Voyager is staying close to home, especially since the country has lifted the masking mandate and it appears that everything is “back to normal”, even though it is not yet. Supply chain is still limiting production and delivery of items. As you travel around your city, state, country, and internationally please continue to be careful and protect yourself and others.

Carnaval is an album recorded Live Under The Sky in Denen Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan on July 30, 1978 by bassist Ron Carter, pianist Hank Jones, saxophonist Sadao Watanabe and drummer Tony Williams. The album was produced by Ed Michel and released five years later in 1983 on the Galaxy record label.

he art direction for the album was performed by Phil Carroll, the recording engineer was Jim Stern, mastered by George Horn, and the remix was done by Allen Sudduth.

1. Chelsea Bridge (Billy Strayhorn) ~ 10:12
2. Manhã de Carnaval (Luiz Bonfá, Antônio Maria) ~ 9:01
3. I’m Old Fashioned (Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer) ~ 8:18
4. Confirmation (Charlie Parker) ~ 6:40
5. Moose the Mooche (Parker) ~ 8:05

• Ron Carter ~ bass
• Hank Jones ~ piano
• Sadao Watanabe ~ alto saxophone
• Tony Williams ~ drums

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Brandee Younger was born on July 1, 1983 in Hempstead, New York and grew up between her birth city and Uniondale, New York. She began her harp studies as a teen under the tutelage of Karen Strauss and continued with several harpists and bassist Nat Reeves. On to undergrad she earned degrees in Harp Performance and Music Business from The Hartt School of the University of Hartford. While at the latter she was mentored by Jackie McLean and the faculty of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz and African American Studies.

Off to New York University for grad school six months later with an impressive résumé, she opened for Slide Hampton as a member of Hartford-based collective The New Jazz Workshop. Younger then developed a working relationship with Grammy-nominated producer and artist Ryan Leslie and Grammy Award-winning producer Omen. Building upon that foundation, Younger began working with saxophonist Ravi Coltrane on a series of concerts honoring the music of his late mother, harpist Alice Coltrane.

Over time, Younger has built her career as an educator, concert curator, performer, and bandleader of the Brandee Younger Quartet. Her debut recording as a leader came with Prelude, released in 2011 with Dezron Douglas, E.J. Strickland and vocalist Niia. Since that auspicious moment she has performed with The Harlem Chamber Players, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Waterbury Symphony, Soulful Symphony, Ensemble Du Monde, Camerata New York and the Red Bull Artsehcro.

Younger is on the teaching artist faculty (harp) at New York University and The New School College of Performing Arts. She has taught at Adelphi University, Nassau Community College, The Hartt School Community Division at the University of Hartford and has lectured on both sides of the pond.  As a leader she has released 6 albums and two compilations since her debut album Prelude in 2011. As a sidewoman/contributor since 2006 she has 38 albums to her credit with folks like E. J. Strickland, Ravi Coltrane, Jeremy Pelt, Common, Robert Glasper, Jane Monheit, Christian McBroide, Lauryn Hill, Drake, and more.

Harpist Brandee Younger infuses classical, jazz, soul, and funk influences to the harp tradition pioneered by her predecessors and idols Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane. She continues to explore and expand her musical vocabulary.

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Requisites

Curtain Call ~ Hank Mobley | By Eddie Carter

Hank Mobley was one of the most productive musicians on Blue Note during the fifties, recording as a leader and with some of the label’s best artists. This morning’s subject is a recent acquisition to the library that was originally recorded in 1957 but remained shelved until a 1984 Japanese release. Curtain Call (Blue Note BST 61006) is an excellent quintet session by the tenor saxophonist featuring Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Sonny Clark on piano, Jimmy Rowser on bass, and Art Taylor on drums. My copy used in this report is the 2022 Blue Note Tone Poet Series Stereo audiophile reissue, the first US vinyl release.

Side One starts with the first of four tunes by Hank Mobley. Don’t Get Too Hip is an easy-flowing midtempo blues that Clark introduces preceding the quintet’s collective theme. Sonny is up first with an easygoing attitude on the first statement. Kenny continues this pleasant exercise with a lengthy solo spot. Hank takes center stage next and sails smoothly through the third reading. Jimmy applies the finishing touch on a short statement ahead of the group’s reprise and ending. Curtain Call is off to the races on the ensemble’s speedy melody. Hank moves with astonishing velocity in the opening statement. Kenny drives the second reading with intense emotion, then Sonny takes an exhilarating turn. Art shares the final solo with the front line briefly before the close.

Deep In a Dream by Eddie DeLange and Jimmy Van Heusen is a gorgeous quartet performance illustrating Hank’s ability to interpret a ballad. Mobley and the trio begin with a delicately tasteful melody. He continues with an exquisitely beautiful opening statement. Clark expresses great warmth to the second solo, then Hank adds the exclamation point with sensitive delicacy into the foursome’s luscious ending. The quintet raises the curtain on Side Two with The Mobe. The ensemble begins the happy theme in unison, then Hank takes off on a terrifically agile first solo. Kenny takes over, feeling right at home on the second reading. Sonny spreads some joyful enthusiasm on the next statement. The front-line reappears to exchange a few final verses leading to the finish.

My Reverie by Claude Debussy and Larry Clinton is one of the delights of the set. Dorham has the spotlight to himself on the melody and first solo, handling both with equal effectiveness. Clark comes on next with an intriguing interpretation, followed by Mobley who delivers the next statement confidently. Dorham returns to take the song out with Mobley shadowing him in the background. On The Bright Side ends the album on a cheerful note beginning with the quintet’s brisk melody. Kenny draws us into the song with a lively opening statement. Sonny gives a sterling account on the second solo. Hank endows the third interpretation with a feisty spirit, and Taylor sparkles in a brief exchange with Dorham and Mobley into the closing theme.

Curtain Call was originally produced by Alfred Lion and Rudy Van Gelder was the man behind the dials. Joe Harley supervised this reissue and Kevin Gray did the mastering. The sound quality is breathtaking with a terrific soundstage that transports the musicians to your listening room as you enjoy the album. The cover’s worthy of hanging on your wall and the gatefold photos are gorgeous. The record is pressed on 180-gram audiophile vinyl and is incredibly quiet until the music starts. If you enjoy Hank Mobley and love good Hard-Bop, I invite you to check out Curtain Call on your next vinyl treasure hunt. In my opinion, it’s one of his best fifties recordings and one listen is sure to hook you, just as one listen sold me!

~ Hank Mobley Quintet Featuring Sonny Clark (Blue Note BNJ 61006) – Source: Discogs.com ~ My Reverie – Source: Wikipedia.org © 2022 by Edward Thomas Carter

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