How Blue Note Helped Lou Donaldson Become A "Major Leaguer"

"The most successful type of major league baseball team can usually point to a strong farm system as one of the main reasons for prolonged success. The parent team is constantly stocked with players developed within its own organization. It takes good scouts to find this talent. Blue Note has got a good scout (and manager) in Alfred Lion, as witness the parade of home-grown talent on the Blue Note roster. Horace Silver, Jimmy Smith, Art Blakey, Lee Morgan and, the man in motion on this album, Lou Donaldson are all good examples. These players were introduced on the Blue Note label and have developed into major leaguers here."

IRA GITLER
Blues Walk Liner Notes

Hampton Hawes (1928-1977): Raise Up Off Me Alley

 

In honor of Hampton Hawes (1928–1977), whose birthday falls on November 13, we'd like to draw attention to a unique tribute you can find at the SFJAZZ Center.

The loading area and passageway on the west side of the building is named “Raise Up Off Me Alley” in tribute to the West Coast jazz piano great and his incendiary autobiography Raise Up Off Me. The memoir chronicles Hawes’ meteoric career that included the 1956 DownBeat award for New Star of the Year and work with Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, and Dexter Gordon, as well as Hawes’ struggle with heroin, his five-year imprisonment on drug charges, and his ultimate redemption with an Executive Pardon by President John F. Kennedy in 1963. He lived in the Bay Area in the 1970s, and died of a brain hemorrhage at age 48.

The Five Spot: Happenings In The Jazz World (11/8-13)

•  Jazz organ legend Dr. Lonnie Smith returns to Blue Note Records, announces new LP featuring Robert Glasper.
• In honor of Veterans Day, a salute to many of the jazz legends who served.
• Music legend Allen Toussaint passes at age 77. Read Tribute.
• Vanity Fair writes feature on The Jazz Youth-Quake: Others on the Upswing.
• Producer Orrin Keepnews to be honored at a Memorial Concert at Yoshi's, Oakland, on Nov. 29

The Five Spot pulls together the five most important happenings in the jazz world each week.

Jazz Musicians Who've Served In The U.S. Military

In honor of Veterans Day, we take a look back, and salute many of the jazz legends who've served in the U.S. Military - many lending their musical talents to boost troop moral.

 

Allen Toussaint (U.S. Army)

 

Artie Shaw (U.S. Navy)

 

Clark Terry (U.S. Navy)

 

John Coltrane (Seaman First Class, U.S. Navy)

 Glenn Miller (Major, U.S. Air Force)

Vince Guaraldi (U.S. Army)

Hampton Hawes (U.S. Army)

 Jo Jones (U.S. Army)

Lester Young (U.S. Army)

Tony Bennett (U.S. Army)

Wayne Shorter (U.S. Army)

Any additions? Please share on Facebook or Twitter.

5 Jazz Covers of Radiohead

"Exit Music (For A Film)" (Brad Mehldau)

Perhaps no one has interpreted Radiohead as well as pianist Brad Mehldau. His covers not only do justice to the mood, melodies and textures we love Radiohead for, but they are always distinctly Mehldau (one of the reasons he's garnered such a following). Keep an ear out for "Exit Music" and more Mehldau-Radiohead covers ("Paranoid Android," "Knives Out") when Mehldau's Trio comes to SFJAZZ Novemeber 10-11.

"Maiden Voyage / Everything In Its Right Place" (Robert Glasper)

At a time when mash-ups were the rage, Robert Glasper (always hip to the times) mashed Herbie Hancock's classic "Maiden Voyage" melody over Radiohead's heady, odd-time "Everything In Its Right Place." Runner-up goes to Glasper Trio's sumptuous cover of Radiohead's "Reckoner," heard at the 33rd Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival back in June (find it on his new album Covered).

"The Eraser" (Christian Scott)

Although technically not a Radiohead cover ("The Eraser" is the title track off Thom York's debut solo album), Christian Scott captures the mood beautifully with his Harmon-induced "whisper technique" over a grainy piano vamp. Even York dug it,  inviting Scott up to the stage to perform "The Eraser" at the Roseland Ballroom back in 2010!

"Karma Police" (The Bad Plus)

Known well for its covers, The Bad Plus have interpreted Nirvana, Niel Young, Aphex Twin, Black Sabbath, Pixies and Stravinsky. Not until the compilation album Exit Music: Songs With Radio Heads did the longstanding trio put its sonic stamp on Radiohead's "Karma Police." Now, if only Joshua Redman got on this track when The Bad Plus Joshua Redman comes to town in December!

"The National Anthem" (Chris Dave / Meshell Ndegeocello)

Off the same Exit Music compilation, Chris Dave and Meshell Ndegeocello's "The National Anthem" takes the edgy rock vamp of Radiohead's original and makes it super funky. Ndegeocello, using tasteful effects, doesn't imitate Thom York (impossible to do, which is why most Radiohead covers here are instrumental). The go-go veteran does her own thing, and it works. Fans of "The National Anthem" probably dig the raw horn lines. Chris "Daddy" Dave gives the horns even more space to experiment.

Want more Radiohead covers? Check out SFJAZZ's "Radiohead Meets Jazz" Playlist!

Five Spot: Happenings In The Jazz World This Week (11/2-7)

Raul Rekow, 1954-2015

• Percussion great and longtime Santana conguero Raul Rekow passed at age 61.
• Chucho Valdés reflects on Irakere and his career (The New York Times).
• Bay Area latin jazz maestro John Santos turns 60, celebrates at SFJAZZ.
• The Jaco Pastorious Documentary is set for a red-carpet premiere.
• John Coppola, endeared SF trumpeter (Green Street Mortuary Band), passed at age 86.

Django Reinhardt: 5 Deep Cuts

Pioneering Gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt lamented that he might be neglected by history, but today the swinging “jazz manouche” sound he created with French violinist Stéphane Grappelli is more pervasive than ever—a big reason why SFJAZZ continues to present French guitarist and violinist Dorado Schmitt and his Django All-Stars.

Before Schmitt kicks off his four-night SFJAZZ Residency celebrating the music of Reinhardt, dig into five deep cuts from the man they called "Three Fingered Lightning"—from lesser-known collaborations with Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter, to a rare improvisation and a musical homage to Brazil.

Five Spot: Happenings In The Jazz World This Week (10/26-31)

• Gilles Peterson compiles an epic new Sun Ra collection To Those Of Earth... And Other Planets
• Drummer Antonio Sánchez won Score of the Year and Discovery of the Year (for Birdman) at the World Soundtrack Awards in Belgium.
• DownBeat Readers Poll announced - Chick Corea, Tony Bennett & Wayne Shorter among top honors
• Pioneering guitarist Lionel Loueke drops new album GAÏA on Blue Note Records
• Jazz-playing robots will explore human–computer relations

All set for two #BirdmanMovie screenings tonight. Antonio Sanchez plays the live drum score! #FilmAndMusic #SFJAZZ #SoldOut 📷: @jfshigeru

A photo posted by SFJAZZ (@sfjazz) on Aug 22, 2015 at 7:05pm PDT

11 Irakere & Chucho Valdés Songs You Must Hear (by Rebeca Mauleón)

Bacalao con pan (Grandes Momentos) - One of Irakere's 1970s dance hits, "Bacalao Con Pan" (literally translated as "cod fish with bread"), represents the obvious influence of iconic American groups such as Blood, Sweat and Tears, and featured late guitarist Carlos Emilio Morales in full-on "wah-wah" pedal mode. While the album credits the song to Raúl Valdés (Chucho Valdés; brother), it was, in fact, penned by Chucho. The juxtaposition of electric guitar, vintage Farfisa organ and sacred batá drums is precisely what has defined Irakere as one of the most genre-defying Cuban bands of all time.

Anabis (Felicidad) - While there are several renditions of this on different albums, my personal favorite is the live version, given I was sitting in the audience at Ronnie Scott's club in London when Irakere recorded it! The haunting intensity of Chucho's piano intro is matched by the frenetic tempo of the main theme, not to mention the crackling ensemble breaks that highlight the extraordinary precision of rhythm section members Miguel Angá Diaz (congas, who takes an amazing solo), Enrique Plá (drums), Oscar Valdés (timbales) and Carlos Del Puerto (bass). This was the second iteration of the Irakere band, encompassing most of the 1980s and into the early 90s.

Contradanza (Felicidad) - Another tune from the same live album, "Contradanza" is Chucho's homage to the 19th century nationalist genre that coalesced as an extension (or collision) of both European and African influences. After the synth-laden introduction, the remarkable horn section takes off, and highlights the extraordinary flute work of a then very young Orlando "Maraca" Valle, just fresh out of the School of the Arts in Havana.

Misa Negra (The Best of Irakere) - The studio version of this suite brought to light a more constrained, almost theatrical interpretation of Chucho's opus, but the live version is undoubtedly one of the most memorable performances Irakere has ever given. With the first iteration of the band - featuring legendary figures Paquito D'Rivera and Arturo Sandoval, among others - this tribute to the deep African roots of Cuban music melds the sacred and the secular, informed by jazz and splattered with funk and rock. It is, simply put, epic.

Nanu (New Conceptions) - Some of Chucho's most brilliant solo piano work wasn't necessarily limited to the few solo albums he recorded. This piece is mostly piano solo with the Maestro at his most lyrical and tender, evoking an exquisite and almost heart-wrenching honesty. An amalgam of Chopin, Lecuona, McCoy Tyner and Bill Evans, Chucho's mastery is clearly evident in this gorgeous piece.

Mambo Influenciado (Lucumi Piano Solo) - Contributing to a musical canon often referred to as "Latin Jazz" is Chucho's now standard minor blues piece, "Mambo Influenciado." Recorded in the 1960s with the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna (the Cuban Modern Music Orchestra) in the decade before Irakere's formation, this piece was originally conceived as a jazz tune influenced by the Cuban tinge. Chucho's solo piano recording on the Termidor label is by far the supreme version, but the tune is now part of Latin Jazz standard repertoire and is played by bands around the globe.

Chucho's Steps (Chucho's Steps) - Inspired by the Coltrane composition "Giant Steps," and also a challenge to deconstruct the jazz standard, Valdés deliberately sought out to reframe the typical jazz composition by creating an extended form with one continuous melodic line. "Chucho's Steps" is built as a 50-measure head with no bridge, and also manages to modulate through multiple keys in a seamless and fluid way. This recording marks Valdés' new venture into a more Blakey-inspired role with his newly formed Afro-Cuban Messengers ensemble, a smaller group of much younger musicians, many of whom grew up listening to and learning from Irakere.

Aguanile (The Best of Irakere) - The first time I heard Irakere's live 1979 Newport Jazz recording, I immediately imagined what it must have been like for those innocent jazz fans to witness this as yet unknown ensemble of future heavyweights. If there is one song on the album that highlights how incredibly tight, funky and mind-boggling this band was, "Aguanile" is it! Featuring vocalist/percussionist Oscar Valdés and the blazing horn section, this piece highlight's the band's penchant for transforming sacred Yoruban chants, and is relentless in its danceability.

Xiomara (Live at Ronnie Scott's) - Cubans tend to love anything they can dance to, and as Irakere often discovered, their main obligation to their home crowd was to keep them happy! Combining funk, jazz, and Cuban rumba, "Xiomara" takes a folkloric concept to new heights and gives both listeners and dancers something to agree on.

El Duke (Misa Negra) - Irakere's cover of Dave Brubeck's tune is a prime example of how informed Chucho Valdés has always been by the jazz canon, as well as his admiration for the titans of the music. He has an uncanny ability to embrace many musical elements and create one seamless expression that is distinctly his, while creating the perfect opportunity for his amazing musicians to shine, much like Duke Ellington did for his players.

Bailando Así (Live at Ronnie Scott's) - Unabashedly danceable, this tune is another example of how the groove can be the most important part of any song, no matter how simple. "Bailando Así" is, much like "Xiomara" (mentioned above), for the dancers!

— Rebeca Mauleón

Chucho Valdés & Irakere perform at SFJAZZ October 29 - November 1, 2015.

Five Spot: Happenings In The Jazz World This Week

Archie Shepp, 2016 NEA Jazz Master

• 'Cuba: The Conversation Continues' w/ Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra on NPR Music's Jazz Night In America.
• Endeared jazz vocalist Mark Murphy passed at age 83.
• National Endowment for the Arts announced the 2016 NEA Jazz Masters.
• Herbie Hancock is working on new music with Flying Lotus, Thundercat, Pharrell & more.
• SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director Esperanza Spalding rocks new single “One” on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

SFJAZZ Collective Previews Michael Jackson Arrangements

SFJAZZ Collective's Sean Jones, Matt Penman and Robin Eubanks kicked off the Collective's SFJAZZ Center Residency on Wednesday (10/21) with a special Members Listening Party. To give you a teaser, we asked each of them about the Michael Jackson song they chose to arrange.

Sean Jones on "Rock With You"

My song choice, "Rock With You" (Off The Wall), is based on a few things: I absolutely love the tune and the feeling it gives me. Also I, at times, write with a sense of humor. The bridge of the tune starts with the lyric, "and when the groove is dead and gone"... So, I decided to make the groove "dead and gone" during the solo section by making the top of the phrase land in the middle of the solo form. The top of the arrangement also works this way with a piece of the chorus thrown in.



Matt Penman on "Blame It On The Boogie"

I chose the Jacksons' "Blame it on the Boogie" (Destiny) because it's a perfect mantra for abdicating all personal responsibility. Just kidding! I love it because it's infectiously fun and funky, has nice chords and mentions 'Frisco in the lyrics!

Robin Eubanks on "The Love You Save"

I went back to the beginning of Michael Jackson's career, with the Jackson 5. I arranged one of their first hits, "The Love You Save" (ABC). It's a light hearted song but it has a nice groove section that resonated with me and I thought I could develop it into a arrangement for the Collective. Here is a section of Michaels vocals demonstrating how talented he was at such a young age. 

List of Collective Arrangements:

"Rock With You" (Sean Jones)
"Blame It On The Boogie" (Matt Penman)
"Thriller" (Obed Calvaire)
"The Love You Save" (Robin Eubanks)
"Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough" (David Sanchez)
"Smooth Criminal" (Miguel Zenon)
"Human Nature" (Warren Wolf)
"This Place Hotel" (Edward Simon)

(Each SFJAZZ Collective member was also commissioned to compose an original for the all-star octet.)

> SFJAZZ Collective Tour Dates.

SFJAZZ Collective performs Michael Jackson's "Working Day And Night"

The SFJAZZ Collective debuts new compositions and fresh arrangements of the music of Michael Jackson during its 2015-16 Tour, including an upcoming 4-night run at the SFJAZZ Center (10/22-25). Here's a performance of Jackson's "Working Day And Night" arranged by vibraphonist Warren Wolf at NYC's Subculture during Winter Jazz Festival 2015.

© KIDAM / MEZZO / BD2P 2014
Directed by Mathieu Mastin
Director of Photography Stephane Puccini
Editing by Mathieu Mastin and Louis Macera
Post Production by François Nabos

Five Spot: Happenings In The Jazz World This Week

 

Esperanza Spalding performs at the White House

• Barack & Michelle Obama host "In Performance at White House: A Celebration of American Creativity" featuring Esperanza Spalding, Trombone Shorty, Buddy Guy & more.
• Seattle Weekly takes a look back at "The Night That John Coltrane Played Seattle & Pushed Afro Futurism Forward" 50 years later.
• Another clip from Don Cheadle's "Miles Ahead" was leaked—a conversation between Cheadle (Miles Davis) and Ewan McGregor (journalist).
• Amoeba Records wants to convert its "jazz room" into Berkeley's newest medical marijuana dispensary.
• U of Illinois professor is building a jazz-improvisation computer.

Wayne Shorter: Five Deep Cuts

It's never a bad time to pull together some deep cuts from saxophone legend Wayne Shorter, who at age 82 keeps producing and producing. Although Shorter started out working with two of the greatest bands in jazz (Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis Quintet), his eclectic body of work (Milton Nascimento, Weather Report, Joni Mitchell, Santana, Imani Winds) defies genre. Let's just say everything he touches is of the finest quality – here's five that often fly under the radar.

— — —

Shorter joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in 1959, later becoming musical director and principal composer before joining Miles Davis' Quintet in 1964. Shorter's "One By One" (Ugetsu, 1963) stands as one of greatest compositions in the Blakey book.

Through the mid-late 60s, many of Shorter's best-known compositions were recorded with Miles Davis' Second Great Quintet. Meanwhile, Shorter signed with Blue Note Records and released 11 albums over six years, including Et Cetera (1965).

Shorter's saxophone playing is integral to the revolutionary sound of In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew. The ballad "Sanctuary" (Bitches Brew, 1969) would be the final composition Shorter recorded with Miles Davis.

In the 70s, Shorter bridged the funky sounds and styles of Weather Report (of which Shorter was a founding member) with genius Brazilian singer-songwriter Milton Nascimento on Native Dancer (Columbia Records, 1974).

Before assembling his longstanding "Footprints Quartet" (Danilo Perez, John Patitucci and Brian Blade), Shorter teamed up with longtime collaborator Herbie Hancock for the introspective duet album 1+1 (Verve, 1997), with composition "Aung San Suu Kyi," named after the renowned Burmese activist.

• Wayne Shorter Quartet returns to SFJAZZ October 15-18, 2015. 
• For more Wayne Shorter deep cuts, follow the Wayne's World Playlist.

Five Spot: Happenings In The Jazz World This Week

• Don Cheadle's Miles Davis biopic Miles Ahead debuts at the New York Film Festival on Sunday. Here's a sneak peak.
• Jason Moran plays Thelonious Monk's Town Hall Concert on NPR's Jazz Night (originally commissioned by SFJAZZ in 2008).
• Trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah plays NPR's Tiny Desk (featuring rising flutist and SFJAZZ High School All-Star alum Elena Pinderhughes).
• All-star jazz octet SFJAZZ Collective rehearses the music of Michael Jackson, kicks off Fall Tour.
• France seeks to tackle music's digital future, provide artists a minimum wage.

Five Things In The Jazz World This Week (9/28-10/2)

• Two jazz legends left us this week: alto saxophonist Phil Woods (age 83) and saxophonist/bassist Wilton Felder (age 75) of The Crusaders.
• National Endowment of the Arts, longtime supporters of the SFJAZZ Collective, celebrates its 50th Anniversary.
• Chucho Valdés and young players celebrate the 40th anniversary of pioneering Havana group Irakere, bring revival tour to U.S.
• Another Nina Simone documentary? The Amazing Nina Simone promises to be an even deeper exploration of the jazz and folk giant’s career.
• Bass legend Dave Holland celebrates 69th Birthday at SFJAZZ with Zakir Hussain and friends.

A photo posted by SFJAZZ (@sfjazz) on Oct 1, 2015 at 9:04pm PDT

Billy Strayhorn Centennial: 5 Deep Cuts

Portrait of Billy Strayhorn

William Gottlieb Collection (c. 1946)

Billy Strayhorn's centennial is coming up in November! We're getting the celebration started early with Allan Harris Quartet with Eric Reed's Tribute (10/1-4). And to ready ourselves for the music of one of America's greatest composers, we've dug deep into Strayhorn's discography to bring you five deep cuts you must hear.

— — —

Most Strayhorn fans are well aware of "The Star-Crossed Lovers" off Such Sweet Thunder (a suite very personal to Strayhorn, an avid reader of William Shakespeare). However, this Johnny Hodges feature was actually recorded a few years earlier on Hodges' Creamy under the title "Pretty Little Girl."

Late in his career, Strayhorn gravitated toward classical composition. "Suite for Horn and Piano" might be the most beautiful thing Strayhorn ever wrote. Although classical in form, it is unmistakably Strayhorn in its dense harmony and ponderous, gorgeous melody.

While "Lush Life" is without a doubt his most famous composition, this lesser-known recording features Strayhorn himself on piano and voice. It's far from perfect. His voice cracks, and is out of tune at times. But this matter-of-fact, conversational rendition captures the essence of the song more than any other recording.

Strayhorn wrote "Upper Manhattan Medical Group" for the medical staff (in particular Duke Ellington's personal physician, Dr. Arthur Logan, a dear friend) who took care of him after his cancer diagnosis in 1964. Ellington & His Orchestra recorded "U.M.M.G" on ...And His Mother Called Him Bill (1967) shortly after Strayhorn's death.

Strayhorn was especially talented at writing ballads. "A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing" stands as one of his most beautiful ballads, in particular a 1961 recording done in Paris, featuring the Paris String Quartet and Strayhorn himself on piano (originally released on The Peaceful Side in 1963).

PLAYLIST: 15 Active Jazz-Rock Groups

From Hiromi's head-banging math-jazz and Mehliana's (Brad Mehldau & Mark Guiliana) atmospheric fusion, to Marc Ribot's edgy Ceramic Dog and Darcy James Argue's indie-rock big band Secret Society—here's a compilation of 15 groups in the intersection of rock and jazz you should hip yourself to.

Hiromi's The Trio Project performs at the SFJAZZ Center September 24-27. Dave Holland performs with Zakir Hussain October 1-4. The Brad Mehldau Trio performs November 10-11. The Bad Plus (Joshua Redman) performs December 10-13.

5 Things In The Jazz World This Week

50th Anniversary of Duke Ellington's 'Concert of Sacred Music'

Photos by Ronald Davis

• The 50th Anniversary of Duke Ellington's 'Concert of Sacred Music.'
• 58th Monterey Jazz Festival kicked off. The SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra performs on the Night Club stage at 2pm on Saturday (9/19)!
• Ethan Hawke stars in Robert Budreau's Chet Baker non-biopic ‘Born to Be Blue.’
• Christian Scott released Stretch Music, featuring SFJAZZ High School All-Stars alum Elena Pinderhughes (flute). The release also includes an App, which let's fans play along with the record.
• Danilo Perez, John Patitucci and Brian Blade (Wayne Shorter Quartet minus Wayne) released Children of The Light.

Through The Years: SFJAZZ at Grace Cathedral

With tonight's Clarinet Summit (David Murray, Don Byron, Anat Byron & Todd Marcus) in store, we've compiled a highlight reel of a number of artists SFJAZZ has presented at San Francisco's iconic Grace Cathedral through the years.

Yusef Lateef & Adam Randolph

1998 San Francisco Jazz Festival

Anthony Braxton

World Premiere of Composition No. 132

1986 Jazz In The City

Cecil Taylor

1991 San Francisco Jazz Festival

Tom Harrell & Charlie Haden

1998 San Francisco Jazz Festival

Bill Frisell

2007 San Francisco Jazz Festival

Zakir Hussain & Charles Lloyd

2001 San Francisco Jazz Festival

Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares

2006 Spring Season

Cameron Carpenter

SFJAZZ Season 2 (2014)

Branford Marsalis (2012)

(No photograph on record, however Marsalis released the performance in 2014)