Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Ron Horton was born on February 12, 1960 in Bethesda, Maryland and attended Berklee College of Music from 1978 to 1980. He moved to New York City two years later where, as a longtime member of Jane Ira Bloom’s band (1983-2000), he became an integral part of the jazz scene.

Since 1992 Ron has been a member of the New York Jazz Composers Collective and the Herbie Nichols Project under Frank Kimbrough and Ben Allison. From 1998 to 2003 he was also a member of Andrew Hill’s sextet, and appeared on his album Dusk (1999).

Horton worked as a sideman with Ted Nash, Allan Chase, Bill Mays, Jon Gordon, Andy Laster, Phillip Johnston, Matt Wilson, Roberta Piket, Rez Abbasi, Walter Thompson, Pete Malinverni, Jamie Baum, Bill Gerhardt, Rich Rosenzweig, John McKenna, Michael Jefry Stevens, Peggy Stern and others.

He has given master classes and workshops at The New School in New York, the New England Conservatory of Music, the University of North Carolina, and Oxford University.

Trumpeter Ron Horton, who released his debut album as a leader in 1999, continues to perform and record.

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Requisites

The Meeting, Vol. 1 ~ Jackie McLean Featuring Dexter Gordon | By Eddie Carter

I was looking for something to listen to after dinner a few nights ago when I came across a title I hadn’t heard in a while by two of my favorite saxophonists, Jackie McLean and Dexter Gordon. This morning’s record from the library is The Meeting, Vol. 1 (SteepleChase SCS-1006). It hit the Danish and Japanese stores in 1974 and is the first of two live albums recorded a year earlier on July 20 and 21 at Montmartre Jazzhus in Copenhagen. The front line is Jackie McLean on the alto sax and Dexter Gordon on the tenor sax. The supporting cast for both sets is a magical rhythm section: Kenny Drew on piano, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen on bass, and Alex Riel on drums. My copy is the 1976 U.S. Stereo reissue (Inner City IC 2006).

Side One opens with Jackie’s introduction of the quintet ahead of the rhythm section’s introduction to All Clean by Dexter Gordon. Both horns enter next to introduce the vibrant melody. Dexter goes to work first on a lengthy opening solo. Jackie checks in next and keeps the flame burning. Kenny makes a vigorous contribution next, and then Niels-Henning takes a brisk walk in the following reading. Dexter and Jackie return to have a spirited conversation, leading to the song’s conclusion. Rue De La Harpe by Sahib Shihab begins with the ensemble’s mid-tempo theme. Jackie has the opening chorus and takes command effectively. Dexter flies straight ahead into the following solo, and Kenny keeps things moving with considerable passion until the theme’s climax.

Side Two starts with Sunset, a hauntingly beautiful ballad by Kenny Drew that he initially recorded on Everything I Love. Both horns introduce the song, proceeding to the ensemble’s delicately tender melody. Jackie begins the opening statement gently. Dexter follows with an extremely personal interpretation, and Kenny adds a meaningful comment preceding the theme’s restatement. On The Trail by Ferdé Grofé is the third of five movements in his Grand Canyon Suite. Jackie kicks off the theme’s first chorus. Dexter takes the baton in the second chorus and then makes a distinctive impression on the first solo. Jackie speaks with captivating inspiration in the following reading. Kenny executes a rewarding performance in the closer ahead of the finale.

Nils Winther did double duty on this release. He produced and recorded The Meeting, Vol. 1. The reissue’s sound quality is excellent, with a superb soundstage that transports the listener to a front-row seat in the Montmartre audience as the musicians are performing. Since I have this album in my library, I’ll be on the lookout for its companion, The Source, Vol. 2. If you’re a fan of Jackie McLean and Dexter Gordon, I invite you to attend The Meeting, Vol. 1 on your next record shopping trip. It’s a stellar lineup with great playing from each member of the quintet and a wonderful document of a live set that anyone can revisit anytime the album is on the turntable!

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Okay Temiz was born on February 11, 1939 in Istanbul, Turkey and was influenced in his early years by his mother, Naciye, who was classically schooled in music.

Temiz started playing professionally in 1955 while studying at the Ankara Conservatory and at the Tophane Art Institute. After meeting Maffy Falay and Don Cherry, he settled in Sweden. With Cherry and bassist Johnny Dyani he toured US and Europe in 1971.

In 1972, he founded the band Xaba with Dyani and trumpeter Mongezi Feza. His drums are of his own invention, and are constructed using hand-beaten copper, in the style of Turkish debuka’s.

Fusion jazz percussionist and drummer Okay Temiz has recorded seventy-two albums and continues to perform and record.

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KATHLEEN BERTRAND

Multifaceted recording artist and writer Kathleen Bertrand is a native Atlantan and Spelman College graduate, whose performances have ranged from two Olympic Games to performances before two presidents, as well as appearances at jazz festivals world-wide. Bertrand toured and recorded as vocalist with jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers.

This three-octave vocal artist has been an invited performer at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland on three occasions and has made multiple appearances at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, including that of headliner in 2012, as part of the Nina Simone Tribute Ensemble in 2015, and most recently as 2017 producer of  “Celebrating Sarah, Honoring the Music of SarahVaughan” featuring Bertrand and 6 other vocalists. She has opened for many of America’s finest jazz artists, including Ray Charles, Will Downing, Rachelle Ferrell, Najee, Roy Ayers, and Kenny G. Her fan base includes radio and internet listeners across the USA as well as in England, Japan, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, New Zealand, France, the Netherlands, and Brazil among others.

As a songwriter, she penned the national theme song for the 100 Black Men of America – “What They See is What They’ll Be” – as well as several songs on her CDs All of Me, No Regrets, Reasons for the Season, New Standards, and Katharsis,which was released in June 2011 and is still receiving nationwide and world-wide airplay, including 14 weeks on the UK Soul Chart top 30, 6 weeks in the UK Soul Charts Top 10, and 2 weeks at #1.  In November, 2017, her most recent CD, It’s Time to Love, was released, and is already receiving international airplay.

Bertrand has received numerous honors for her jazzy vocal stylings and arts contributions including the Kuumba Award given by East Point/College Park, GA Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, the inaugural Impact Award from Black Women In Jazz, recognition by the United Negro College Fund as one of “Atlanta’s Legends,” the “Contribution to the Arts” Award by the Pi Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the 2016 Georgia Highlight Award given by the Georgia Entertainment Gala, the Civic Award for the Arts presented by the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated, and recognition by Spelman College with its distinguished “Alumnae Achievement Award for the Arts & Entertainment.” In 2015, she was voted Jazz Vocalist of the Year by Black Women in Jazz.

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EUGENIE JONES

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