The Jazz Voyager

While the Jazz Voyager is on the West Coast he’s heading to northern California to find the heart he left in the city on the bay, well Oakland, that is. There I know I will be in good company for a performance of the Count Basie Orchestra as they celebrate over 80 years at Yoshi’s. This well known and respected jazz spot began in 1972 as a small, North Berkeley sushi bar owned by founder and namesake, Yoshie Akiba, alongside her two best friends Kaz Kajimura, a journalist and carpenter, and Hiroyuki Hori, a painter and Japanese cook.

With 310 seats, a state-of-the-art sound system and 17,00 square feet in the heart of Jack London Square, at 510 Embarcadero West 94607, they have expanded their roster to include broader genres of musical and comedic tastes.. So If you’re planning a visit check the calendar to insure your night of choice is jazz that you want to hear.

Always one for the late show this Jazz Voyager will be arriving Friday for the 10:00pm and not the 8. Tickets are reasonable at $37 and $34, respectively, and partake of some excellent Japanese cuisine. Reservations are always recommended at 510-238-9200.  #wannabewhereyouare

GRIOTS GALLERY

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Requisites

Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie recorded the live bebop album Jazz At Massey Hall on May 15, 1953 in Toronto, Canada. With him on this date were bassist Charles Mingus, drummer Max Roach, pianist Bud Powell and saxophonist Charlie Parker who is billed as Charlie Chan for contractual reasons, an allusion to the fictional detective and to Parker’s wife Chan. It was the only time these five men recorded as a unit and the last recorded meeting of Parker and Gillespie.

The session was produced by Charles Mingus, and was originally released on Mingus’s label Debut, from a recording made by the Toronto New Jazz Society. Due to under-recording of the bass lines, Mingus took the recording to New York where he and Max Roach dubbed in the bass lines on most of the tunes, exchanging Mingus soloing on All The Things You Are. However, a 2004 reissue, Complete Jazz At Massey Hall contains the full concert without the overdubbing.

The original issue was as a two 10” LPs, 46:54 in length and and the cover design had five playing cards, with Gillespie as the Joker. The set on Volume 1 contains the tracks Perdido, Salt Peanuts, All The Things You Are and 52nd Street Theme. Volume 3 has Wee, Hot House and A Night In Tunisia. Volume 2 consisted of the trio recordings of Powell, Mingus and Roach from the same date all but I’ve Got You Under My Skin and one track by Billy Taylor with Mingus and Roach from a later date.

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The Jazz Voyager

The West Coast is calling for the return of The Jazz Voyager to the City of Angels for the destination located at 6725 W Sunset Boulevard, Ste 100, Los Angeles, CA 90028. I’ve called ahead to 323-466-2210 and made my reservation at the Catalina Jazz Club, noted to be one of LA’s go-to jazz spots. I will be spending an evening with the Chick Corea Elektric Band with John Patitucci, Dave Weckl, Frank Gambale and Eric Marienthal.

They will be there through the weekend with two shows each night at 8:30 and 10:30 with ticket prices $55 and $50, respectively. Will probably  nosh on some calamari to take the edge off any hunger I may experience during the second set having already dined a few hours earlier by the time I arrive. For those of you who desire dinner and a show they have starters, salads, pastas and a variety of surf and turf to choose from.

Looking forward to checking out the ambience, service and sounds knowing that Corea is always a good hit. #wannabewhereyouare

GRIOTS GALLERY

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Requisites

Ella Swings Lightly is an album released in 1958 by Ella Fitzgerald for Verve Records. Recorded on November 23rd and 24th with the Marty Paich Dek-tette, the 58:34 minute long session was produced by Norman Granz. Sheldon Marks created the cover design with photography by Phil Stern..

Comprised of sixteen jazz and musical standards of the day Side 1 featured Little White Lies, You Hit The Spot, What’s Your Story Morning Glory, Just You Just Me, As Long As I Live, Teardrops From My Eyes, Gotta Be This Or That and Moonlight On The Ganges. The first track on Side 2 is My Kind Of Lover, followed by Blues In The Night, If I Were A Bell, You’re An Old Smoothie, Little Jazz, You Brought A New kind Of Love To Me, Knock Me A Kiss and 720 In The Books.

Verve offered four bonus tracks on the CD reissue which are Oh What A Night To Love, Little Jazz (Alternate Take), Dreams Are Made For Children (Previously Unreleased) and Oh What A Night For Love (45 rpm 7” Single Version)

The Dek-tette brought in Bud Shank (alto sax), Bill Holman (tenor sax),Med Flory (baritone sax), Lou Levy (piano), Joe Mondragon (bass), Mel Lewis (drums), Don Fagerquist, Al Porcino (trumpet), Bob Enevoldsen (valve trombone, tenor sax) and Vincent DeRosa (French horn).

The album won Ella the 1960 Grammy award for Best Improvised Jazz Solo.

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The Jazz Voyager

The Jazz Voyager is heading back to the South to partake of the Atlanta Jazz Festival and its fabulous 2018 lineup  #whereyouwannabe

Schedule of performances:

Saturday, May 26th

Next Gen Stage:

12:30 p.m. Sasha Berliner Escapades/ 2:30 p.m. Camille Thurman / 4:30 p.m. Shayna Steele / 6:30 p.m. Linda May Han Oh Quintet

Contemporary Stage:

1:30 p.m. Thumbscrew: Mary Halvorson, Michael Formanek & Tomas Fujiwara / 3:30 p.m. Terri Lyne Carrington and Social Science / 5:30 p.m. Anat Cohen Quartet / 7:30 p.m. Jazzmeia Horn

Legends Stage:

1 p.m. Yoko Miwa Trio / 3 p.m. Jane Bunnett & Maqueque / 5 p.m. The Ingrid Jensen Collective / 7 p.m. Tia Fuller Quartet / 9 p.m. Dianne Reeves

Sunday, May 27th

Next Gen Stage:

12:30 p.m. Rialto Jazz for Kids / 2:30 p.m. Antoine Roney Trio featuring Kojo Roney / 4:30 p.m. Morgan Guerin / 6:30 p.m. Matthew Whitaker

Contemporary Stage:

1:30 p.m. The Georgia Horns / 3:30 p.m. Richie Goods & the Goods Project / 5:30 p.m Sidewalk Chalk / 7:30 p.m. Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles

Legends Stage:

1 p.m. The Lao Tizer Quartet featuring Eric Marienthal / 3 p.m. The Russell Malone Quartet / 5 p.m. M.F. Production’s Latin Jazz All Stars / 7 p.m. The Bad Plus / 9 p.m. Jon Batiste with the Dap-Kings

GRIOTS GALLERY

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