PAUL CORNISH

One of today’s most exciting emerging voices on piano, Paul Cornish and his trio make their Bop Stop debut as they tour to promote Cornish’s debut album as a leader, You’re Exaggerating! The album was released on Blue Note Records on August 22nd.

Every artist who records for Blue Note is part of a grand legacy, now in its 86th year. But pianist Paul Cornish is a torchbearer for several remarkable Blue Note legacies, all at once. Which makes You’re Exaggerating!, his powerfully lyrical trio debut for the label, a mission statement for Blue Note’s next generation.

To begin, Cornish is part of a great heritage of jazz piano that has unfolded at the label, from Blue Note’s first 78-rpm releases by Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons through Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Hill, Don Pullen, Geri Allen, Jacky Terrasson, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Renee Rosnes, Aaron Parks, Gerald Clayton and beyond.

Then, he’s part of a lineage of Blue Note artists, past and present, who hail from Houston, Texas, and developed at the city’s Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, a.k.a. HSPVA. That more recent hall of fame includes Jason Moran, Robert Glasper, Walter Smith III, Kendrick Scott, Chris Dave and James Francies and, now, Cornish, who was born and raised in Houston and has been based in Los Angeles for over a decade.

Featuring:

• Paul Cornish, piano
• Jermaine Paul, bass
• Jonathan Pinson, drums

Cover: $25 each in advance, $30 day of show.

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CATHERINE RUSSELL

Vocalist Catherine Russell is a native New Yorker, born into musical royalty. Her father, the late Luis Russell, was a legendary pianist, composer, bandleader, and Louis Armstrong’s long-time musical director. Her mother, the late Carline Ray, was a pioneering vocalist / guitarist / bassist who performed with International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams, and Sy Oliver.

Catherine’s professional life began early. After graduating with honors from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she toured and recorded with Carrie Smith, Steely Dan, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, Levon Helm, Toshi Reagon and Rosanne Cash, among others, appearing on over 200 albums.

Cover: $45.76 ~ $56.06

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DANIEL HARRIS III

Daniel Harris III – Debut Album Release

The visionary artist, dynamic trumpeter, community organizer, and cultural innovator has a multifaceted career that is creating an indelible mark on the jazz and creative scenes across California and beyond.

With a string of high-profile performances, Daniel has captivated audiences at prestigious venues such as Yoshi’s Jazz Club performing with Kev Choice and Ayo Brame, headlining shows at San Francisco’s premier Black Cat Jazz Supper Club, and performed the National Anthem as a soloist for the Oakland Ballers.

His collaborations include sharing stages with Isaiah Collier and The Chosen Few in Chicago and in San Francisco, performing with award-winning pianist Jahari Stampley and his Family Band, and joining Terrace Martin for the Los Angeles Jazz Festival Foundation Celebration. Daniel has also graced the Mendocino Music Festival as part of their premier Big Band and headlined the inaugural Just Jazz Future is Now Festival in Monterey.

The Band:

Daniel Harr III: Trumpet
Roy Mendiola: Piano
Ryan Embola: Bass
Jayla Hernandez: Drums

Cover: $35.50~$45.50

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LIZ CALLAWAY

Emmy winner, Tony and Grammy nominee Lizz Callaway sings the songs of Stephen Schwartz with her show The Wizard and I. It is a collection of songs from a career over 60 years.

Her performance features Oscar winning tunes from Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, The Baker’s Wife as well as lending her voice to animated movies Anastacia.

Piano & Music Director: Alex Rybeck

Bass: Ritt Henn

Drums: Ron Tierno

Cover: $73.50 ~ $139.50

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Requisites

Coltrane ~ John Coltrane | By Eddie Carter

As someone who has enjoyed John Coltrane’s music for years, I’ve revisited this morning’s album from the library countless times, and each time I listen, it reveals something fresh and exciting. Coltrane (Prestige PRLP 7105) is the first chapter in a body of work that continues to challenge, inspire, and uplift listeners. John Coltrane’s path to his debut album was anything but easy. He grappled with addiction and periods of self-doubt, which eventually led to his dismissal from Miles Davis’s quintet. After returning to Philadelphia to end his addiction, John overcame his dependencies and embarked on a profound spiritual journey, allowing him to discover his singular musical voice and ultimately his first Prestige recording session.

Joining the tenor saxophonist are Johnnie Splawn on trumpet (tracks: A1, B1 to B3), Sahib Shihab on baritone sax (A1, B1, B3), Red Garland (A1 to A3), and Mal Waldron (B1 to B3) on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Albert “Tootie” Heath on drums. My copy of this album is the 2023 Analogue Productions mono audiophile reissue, sharing the original catalog number. “Bakai” by Cal Massey opens the first side, unveiling the ensemble’s relaxing melody. Red initiates the solos with a gentle and lyrical touch, as smooth as a calm sea. John’s following statement is grounded in a steady, unwavering rhythm of harmonic exploration. Sahib then steps in with an exquisite statement that nearly steals the show, leading back to the sextet’s theme restatement and ending.

Violets For Your Furs is a charming ballad from the 1940s by Tom Adair and Matt Dennis, which Red brings to life with a tender introduction to Coltrane’s lyrical sensitivity in the quartet’s theme, and a softer, more romantic side in the opening solo. Garland comes in next for a thoughtful, reflective reading until Coltrane gracefully reenters for the theme’s elegant climax. “Time Was” by Gabriel Luna de la Fuente, Paz Miguel Prado, and Bob Russell moves the beat upward for the quartet to give a lively melody. John leads off the solos with an abundance of passion, then Red continues soaring with joyful exuberance in the second reading. Paul has the last word and takes a short walk ahead of the theme’s return and finish.

Straight Street by John Coltrane gets the second side off to a good start. This song announces the spiritual dimension that would become central to his later albums. The sextet returns to full voice for a swinging melody with Mal taking over the piano duties. Coltrane gets right to work and wails on the opening statement. Splawn steps in next, firing on all cylinders, then Waldron takes the final spotlight preceding the group’s return for a vivacious exit. The pace slows down again for the album’s second 1940s ballad, “While My Lady Sleeps,” by Gus Kahn and Bronislaw Kaper. The ensemble presents a splendid study in soulful improvisation, with John paving the way through the melody into an affectionately intimate reading that ends as beautiful as it began.

Chronic Blues by John Coltrane opens with the sextet easing into the theme at a laid-back, comfortable tempo. Shihab launches the opening solo with rhythmic grace and effortless flow. Coltrane next delivers a smooth and inviting swing, as warm and familiar as a favorite homemade dish. Splawn’s turn brings a light and airy touch, infusing the piece with an appealing charm. Waldron closes things out with a breezy reading that leaves the sextet’s finale deeply satisfying. Bob Weinstock supervised the initial session, and Rudy Van Gelder was behind the recording dials. Kevin Gray mastered this audiophile reissue at Cohearant Audio. The album’s sound quality is spectacular, with a gorgeous soundstage that places the musicians directly in front of your sweet spot.

The record was pressed on 180-gram audiophile vinyl and offers an absolutely silent background until the music unfolds. Upon its release, “Coltrane” was met with excitement from jazz lovers and critics alike, though it didn’t propel John Coltrane to instant fame. That recognition would eventually arrive with “Giant Steps,” “My Favorite Things,” and “A Love Supreme.” Still, his debut firmly established Coltrane as a bandleader, composer, and innovator. It also marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey, where he would push the boundaries of jazz, explore spiritual themes, and redefine musical expression. If you haven’t experienced “Coltrane” yet, I highly recommend searching for it on your next record store visit. It’s an outstanding album by John Coltrane that provides a calming, immersive listening experience, gently enveloping you in its soothing melodies from the very first note!

A Love Supreme (Impulse A-77/AS-77), Giant Steps (Atlantic 1311/SD 1311), My Favorite Things (Atlantic 1361/SD

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