The Jazz Voyager

Masked up and on the wing to that city by the bay is the next stop for this Jazz Voyager to take in an evening at the Comstock Saloon situated at the crossroads of North Beach, Chinatown, Financial District and Jackson Square. I’ve been hearing about Gaucho Jazz, and having sparked my curiosity, decided to satisfy or see if it will kill this cat. So it’s off to hear them live and experience a performance for myself.

Of course while I’m in this city I’ll ride another trolley, make my way down the crooked street, roll across the bridge to Berkeley, go hang in the Tenderloin, Haight~Ashbury and Nob Hill and just enjoy the sights and sounds. I’ve also heard about this Dynamo Spiced Chocolate Donut that the saloon serves up with vanilla ice cream and during the night I’m going to see what this dessert hoopla is all about.

Showtime is 8:00pm ~ 11:00pm and there is no mention of a cover or reservations required. I guess I’ll be dropping in a little before showtime. The address of the Comstock Saloon is 155 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, California 94133. For more information, the number is 415-617-0071 or comstocksaloon.com.

CALIFORNIA JAZZ FOUNDATION

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ROY HARGROVE BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE

CELEBRATING THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE JAZZ GALLERY

Jaleel Shaw ~ saxophones
Giveton Gelin – trumpet
Orrin Evans -piano
Mimi Jones -bass
Johnathan Blake –drums

With Special Guests
Renee Neufville -vocals
Tadataka Unno -piano
Justin Robinson –saxophone

Guest MC: Lezlie Harrison

Sets at 7.30pm + 9.30pm ET
$30/$10 members; cabaret seating: $40/$20 members; LIVESTREAM: $20/$5 members

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FRED HERSCH TRIO

In the quest to describe the music of Fred Hersch in a word — a preposterous task, but not a pointless one — you could do a lot worse than “refinement.” Mr. Hersch is a pianist of cultivated taste and erudition; he’s also the sort of jazz musician who brings a lissome elegance to his playing, disinclined to accentuate the effort behind it all. But there’s another definition of refinement that has to do with painstaking progress, the incremental stretch toward an elusive ideal.

Fred Hersch – Piano

Drew Gress – Bass

Jochen Rückert – Drums

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KENNY BARRON QUINTET

w/ Kiyoshi Kitagawa, Johnathan Blake, Mike Rodriguez, Dayna Stephens

Kenny Barron is an American jazz pianist, who has appeared on hundreds of recordings as leader and sideman and is considered one of the most influential mainstream jazz pianists since the bebop era.

 

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Requisites

Sonny’s Crib ~ Sonny Clark | By Eddie Carter

Sonny Clark steps into the spotlight with his third LP as a leader, Sonny’s Crib (Blue Note BLP 1576/BST 81576), released in 1957. He was considered the label’s house pianist appearing on many albums with some incredible musicians. On this date, he heads a stellar sextet of heavy hitters; Donald Byrd on trumpet; Curtis Fuller on trombone; John Coltrane on tenor sax; Paul Chambers on bass; and Art Taylor on drums. My copy used in this report is the 1990 Toshiba-EMI Limited Japanese Mono reissue (Blue Note BLP 1576 – BN 1576).

Side One starts with a rapid burner; the 1929 show tune With a Song In My Heart by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. The sextet takes off on a brisk run through the melody stepping aside for Byrd who gives an electrifying first solo. Coltrane emerges with a vengeance delivering passionate fire at a high velocity on the next reading. Fuller responds with a robust, resonant tone releasing plenty of energy during his turn. Afterward, Clark offers an exhilarating reading that cooks and swings into the climax.

Speak Low by Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash is a popular song from 1943 that starts at mid-tempo. John takes the lead on the Latin-flavored melody with the ensemble manufacturing a firm foundation behind him. He continues with a fervent opening statement that heightens the trio’s flawless accompaniment. Curtis and Donald share the next reading; both men bring out the best in each other with two presentations showcasing their technical chops. Sonny steps in last, summing up the song with a captivating solo before the close. Come Rain or Come Shine by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer brings the first side to a close as a beautiful slow-tempo ballad.  Fuller opens the melody with a simple statement that’s seductively tender. Clark guides his way sensuously through the next reading presenting an ardently touching interpretation. Coltrane follows with a beautifully constructed, elegant reading and Byrd takes the ensemble home on the ending theme into a gentle climax.

The final two tracks are by the leader Clark and occupy Side Two. Sonny’s Crib is a blues with everyone laid-back and taking it easy on the carefree melody. John goes first swinging expressively with rhythmic verses that are enjoyable listening; Curtis comes in next also contributing some fine solo work. Donald takes the next turn, making his mark with an easy swing that’s cheerfully bright. Sonny is artfully tasteful on the next solo with nimble piano lines that affirm his capability as a great interpreter of Hard-Bop. Paul cuts into the final reading with an exceptionally articulate statement that says plenty about the ensemble’s exit.

Sonny’s News For Lulu closes out the album giving everyone a solo opportunity except Art. The song opens with a brief introduction by the trio followed by a collective midtempo melody presentation and the solo order is piano, trumpet, tenor sax, trombone, and bass. The leader’s opening statement shows his rhythmic vitality on spirited lines that move freely and confidently. Donald reciprocates with a happy, infectious groove on the next solo that shows the workings of a very creative mind. John comes in next, infusing his performance with an energetic effervescence that’s bold, and assertive. Curtis sparkles on the fourth reading with a flow of musical ideas that are brimming with vitality. The finale is a delectable dish served up by Paul anchored by just Art’s tranquil brushwork that swings very nicely into the sextet’s closing chorus and the album’s climax concluding an enjoyable album.

The original recording by Rudy Van Gelder has been lovingly remastered by Toshiba-EMI Limited with a superb soundstage that surrounds your listening spot as if you’re in the studio with the musicians. In addition to Sonny’s Crib, Clark recorded eight more albums for Blue Note as a leader and with many other stars on the label as a sideman. He passed away on January 13, 1963, at the age of thirty-one from a heroin overdose in New York City although the official cause was listed as a heart attack. On this album, Clark and his colleagues leave a lasting impression on the listener through their outstanding interplay together that makes the music come alive. If you’re seeking some Hard-Bop on your next vinyl hunt, I offer for your consideration, Sonny’s Crib by Sonny Clark. It’s an excellent album of good tunes with great solos by six remarkable musicians who together, make highly delectable listening that should appeal to any jazz collector who’s also a fan of jazz piano!

~ Come Rain or Come Shine, Speak Low – Source: JazzStandards.com ~ Sonny Clark, With a Song In My Heart – Source: Wikipedia.org © 2022 by Edward Thomas Carter

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