TRIBUTE TO MCCOY TYNER

Opening night of this week celebrating the 10th anniversary of the SFJAZZ Center honors the life, music, and legacy of the late pianist and composer McCoy Tyner, featuring a stellar lineup of musicians who recorded and performed with him. As part of the 10 anniversary celebration of SFJAZZ, and honored to be part of this wonderful show with Joe Lovano (Music Director), Gary Bartz, Kenny Barron, Eddie Henderson, Gerald Cannon, and Jeff “Tain” Watts.

From his early work with John Coltrane to his peerless career as a composer and bandleader, Tyner’s impact on jazz has been monumental. He was a major figure in SFJAZZ’s evolution as well, appearing over 10 times on our stages including the historic Opening Night concert at the SFJAZZ Center in January 2013 and his final appearance in June 2016 for an all-star tribute to him featuring Chick Corea, Geri Allen, Kenny Barron, and others.

 

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RANEE LEE

DARK DIVAS ~ A  musical journey about the lives and times of a few of the many popular Black female entertainers of an era! Featuring music and songs by Josephine Baker, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Pearl Bailey, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, and Ella Fitzgerald.

Ranee Lee, CM (born October 26, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York City) is an American jazz singer and musician who resides in Montreal, Quebec. She is also an actor, author, educator and television host. Referred as “Montreal’s Queen of Jazz”, Lee is a Juno Award winner, two-time Top Canadian Female Jazz Vocalist by Jazz Report Magazine[2] and was honored with the International Association of Jazz Educators Awards for her outstanding contribution to jazz music.

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JOE LOVANO

JOE LOVANO AND FRIENDS: A CELEBRATION OF LIFE AND MUSIC @ BOP STOP

We are excited to close out 2022 with one of Cleveland’s favorite sons, renowned saxophonist Joe Lovano, in a special New Years Eve Eve performance featuring a host of local talent. Join us as we celebrate all that 2022 has taught us, and all that 2023 has to offer. Tickets to this final BOP STOP show of the year are $35. This concert will not be livestreamed.

Featuring:

  • Judi Silvano, voice
  • Anthony Fuoco, piano
  • Aidan Plank, bass
  • Carmen Castaldi, drums
  • Jamey Haddad, drums
  • Gary Jenkins, drums
  • Anthony Lovano, drums
  • David Thomas, organ

And special guest appearances:

  • Ernie Krivda, tenor saxophone
  • Dominick Farinacci, trumpet

Hailed by the New York Times as “one of the greatest musicians in jazz history,” Grammy Award winning saxophone giant Joe Lovano has distinguished himself for some three decades as a prescient and path finding force in the arena of creative music. The secret to Lovano’s success is his fearless ability to push the conceptual and thematic choices he has made in his quest to find new modes of artistic expression within the jazz idiom.

Since 2009, Lovano’s main vehicle for his exploration has been Us Five a dynamic young band—which features drummers Otis Brown III and Francisco Mela, bassist Esperanza Spalding, and pianist James Weidman The band’s most recent release – Bird Songs— Lovano’s 22nd album for Blue Note Records (the release of which marked his 20th year on the label) is an exploration of the Charlie Parker songbook that breaks the mold of Bird tribute records. “I didn’t approach this as a tribute record,” states Joe Lovano, dispelling right off the bat any preconception that his latest album is a mere retread. In 2011 the JJA (Jazz Journalist’s Association) named Bird Songs Recording of the the Year and named Us Five Small Ensemble of the Year. It was also the Downbeat Editor’s Pick for Album of the Year. Us Five’s debut recording—2009’s Folk Art—was a wide-ranging set of Lovano’s original compositions that resulted in Us Five being awarded Best Small Ensemble of the Year at the 2010 JJA Jazz Awards and winning the Best Jazz Group of the Year category in the 2010 DownBeat Critics Poll. Lovano completed a double-triple of awards by also winning the JJA’s Musician and Tenor Saxophonist of the Year, and DownBeat’s Jazz Artist and Tenor Saxophonist of the Year.

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EMMET COHEN

Live From Emmet’s Place ~ Shelly Berg • Emmet Cohen • Wycliffe Gordon • James Morrison • Yasushi Nakamura • Lewis Nash • Ken Peplowski • Kyle Poole • Tierney Sutton

At the onset of the COVID pandemic, Emmet Cohen created a weekly streaming jazz performance, Live From EMMET’S PLACE, which quickly became the most watched streaming series in the jazz world.

Now, as the world returns to live performances, Emmet Cohen is bringing his trio and six jazz greats to the Miami Jazz Cooperative for an evening of jazz which will be remembered in South Florida for years.

This will be an intimate performance with fewer than 200 seats.

Reserved seats will be at tables of four closest to the stage and will be sold in groups of two. SOLD OUT!!!

Behind the reserved seats will be rows of chairs for general admission. The last row of general admission seats will be approximately 40 feet from the stage.

Discounted early ticketing begins on December 1, 2021. Prices will increase on December 15. Don’t miss out.

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Requisites

Nica’s Dream ~ Red Holloway Quartet | By Eddie Carter

For my discussion this morning, I’ve chosen a swinging 1984 session by The Red Holloway Quartet. Nica’s Dream (SteepleChase Records SCS 1192) highlights the group in a program of jazz standards and original tunes. Red was born James Wesley Holloway in Helena, Arkansas. He began playing the banjo and harmonica as a child before graduating to the tenor sax at age twelve. In this session, he is equally skilled on the alto sax (tracks: A2, B2, B4) and tenor sax (A1, A3, B1, B3). Red is joined on this date by an excellent rhythm section, Horace Parlan on piano, Jesper Lundgaard on bass, and Aage Tanggard on drums. My copy used in this report is the original Danish Stereo release.

Side One starts with Reshma Rani Barnase, an uptempo original by Red Holloway. Red initiates the song’s lively theme, then gives an enthusiastic opening solo. Horace takes the baton and sprints through the following reading. Jesper does a bit of brisk walking next; afterward, Red returns to add a few more spirited remarks ahead of the finale. The leader switches to the alto for a gorgeous rendition of Lover Man by Jimmy Davis, Roger Ramirez, and Jimmy Sherman. The quartet begins with a lovely melody that leads to a stunning opening statement by Holloway. Parlan demonstrates his affection for this song in the next delicately tender performance. The saxophonist concludes the piece in fine form with a dreamy climax.

Love For Sale by Cole Porter places Red back on tenor for a gentle introduction that climbs to the ensemble’s festive theme. Red opens with a lusty statement that’s full of energy. He shares the next reading with Jesper in a robust exchange before the quartet’s closing chorus fades into nothingness. Side Two starts with Nica’s Dream by Horace Silver. It was composed in honor of Baroness Kathleen Annie Pannonica de Koenigswarter, a friend and patron of jazz musicians. This one starts from the group’s swift melody and does not let up until the final note. Holloway charges into the opening statement with a blazing interpretation. Parlan ignites the second statement with intense heat, and Red and Aage get their licks in an immensely satisfying finale.

Georgia on My Mind by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell gets going with Red back on alto for the medium theme and the tasty treat he delivers with deceptive ease on the opening solo. Horace takes the second spot with an endearing presentation he handles skillfully. Aage gets the last word and strolls in the finale toward the foursome’s closing chorus. Red Holloway’s 369 Blues is a happy groove that commences with the quartet’s collective melody that gets your foot tapping along from the outset. Holloway provides plenty of enjoyment on the opening tenor solo. Parlan steps up next to take a short, exhilarating ride, then Red and Tanggard engage in a delightful conversation ahead of the theme’s return.

Wee by Denzil Best brings the album to a close with the quick notes of the ensemble’s melody. Red takes his final turn on the alto sax and flies furiously through the first solo. Horace continues the aggressive pace on the second interpretation. Red and Aage bring a few more fireworks in a fleet interchange of ideas before the quartet wraps it up. Nils Winther produced Nica’s Dream, and Thomas Brekling was the recording engineer. The sound quality is superb, and the musicians draw the listener into the music. If you’re new to Red Holloway or are a longtime fan, I would like to offer Nica’s Dream by The Red Holloway Quartet for your consideration. It’s an enjoyable album that would make a terrific addition to any library and is worth every penny!

~ Georgia on My Mind, Love For Sale, Lover Man – Source: JazzStandards.com ~ Nica’s Dream, Red Holloway – Source: Wikipedia.org ~ © 2022 by Edward Thomas Carter

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