New Cats?

[Bag's Groove]

Okay, so you could say that by looking at my record collection that my taste in jazz music more or less falls under two categories:

1.) Pioneers/innovators/stylists in the field who unfortunately are no longer with us (Miles, Duke, Louis, Monk, Parker, Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley, Dexter, Art Blakey, etc.)

2.) Living legends of the field who are still doing it as we speak (Ornette, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, etc.)

In short, I dig the "classics" if you will. But I do know that there are lots of younger cats out there trying to get it done as well, and unfortunately I wouldn't know ANY of these guys if they stepped on me, and seeing as how some time down the road I'm hoping to be one of these guys, I think I need to hear some new sounds. So basically what I'm asking is who or what is out there NOW that might be worth checking out. Obviously I'm into the old school quintet/quartet hard bop sound, so any artist out there doin' that I've love to hear about. Also as far as "newer" more experimental stuff that I've heard I dig Medeski, Martin & Wood (I love Combustication!), St. Germain, and Madlib.

Any recommendations/input would be greatly appreciated. Great art, especially music does not stand still in a particular era and it's always good to keep an ear on what's happening now.

Thanks in advance,

Bags

[Bag's Groove]

oh btw, I really dig good Cuban jazz too!

[D.D.]

http://forums.allaboutjazz.com/showt...?s=&threadid=3

http://forums.allaboutjazz.com/showt...&threadid=1027

[clifton]

Let me second the recommendation for "The Vastness Of Space". Also Iverson's "The Minor Passions" is terrific. Saxophonist Marcus Strickland and his twin brother, drummer E.J.Strickland, are young and brilliant. I gave Marcus' CD "Brotherhood" a very positive review right here on AAJ, and if you want a sort of 21st Century hard bop/post bop, "Brotherhood" sure delivers. Also: just about any Roy Hargrove CD except "Hard Groove" (it's r 'n' b/funk, and very good, but not his usual straight ahead). Also if you haven't heard Terence Blanchard lately (or at all) be sure to get "Bounce", a classic-in-the-making IMHO.

[jlhoots]

Eric Alexander

[omar zamora]

Check out anything by Ben Allison or his JCC cohorts.

[gdogus]

We may be missing the middle ground between musicians of the decades that Bags names, and the emerging talent that others point to in posts above. The folks listed below aren't "new cats" - in fact, they're positively venerable at this point - but they're of much more recent vintage than anyone Bags named as a favorite, and they work in (or in reference to) hard and post bop idioms. Sorry if these are obvious, or seem like out-dated reference points, but Bags didn't indicate that he might know much of them.

Joe Lovano is often cited as the giant of tenor playing in the 1990s and beyond. He's certainly one of the best examples of looking backwards and moving forwards at the same time. Check out From the Soul, a 1992 quartet date with pianist Michel Petrucciani, bassist Dave Holland, and drummer Ed Blackwell. I'd also strongly recommend Lovano's Quartets Live at the Village Vanguard.

Branford Marsalis you've got to have heard of. Whatever you may think of brother Wynton's take on contemporary jazz, Branford is the business - a great, searching tenor and soprano player, innovative and visionary. I recommend the early Trio Jeepy (1988), with bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts, and The Beautyful Ones are Not Yet Born (1991).

Joshua Redman is the son of tenorman Dewey Redman (Ornette Coleman, Keith Jarrett), and caused a huge stir when he arrived on the scene in the early 1990s. A formidable tenor talent, both traditional and experimental by turns. Some great albums include Wish, with Pat Metheny (guitar), Charlie Haden (bass), and Billy Higgins (drums) - all of whom, like Redman's father, played in Ornette's groups at some point - Moodswing, with pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Brian Blade, and Spirit of the Moment: Live at the Village Vanguard, with a very hot quartet.

John Scofield is a guitarist who's played with Miles, had Lovano (above) as a member of his earlier groups, and has recently worked a good bit with Medeski, Martin and Wood. Some jam band leanings here lately, but earlier rooted in progressive post-bop.

Just a few folks that came to mind reading Bags's post.

[Bag's Groove]

Hey everyone,

First off, thank you for ALL of your suggestions!

Adam: Where abouts in Brighton do you live? I technically live in Lower Allston (what's "lower" about it I have NO idea...not the rent that's for damn sure). I'm about I'd say a twelve minute walk to Harvard Square and maybe a ten minutes away from Harvard and Comm. Ave where the Wonderbar is. I've been there a few times and despite all the indie scenesters there who harbor a fierce grudge towards that place, I rather like it. I don't go there much though due to the fact that a Guiness there is like $6, lol! One thing I do find infuriating about that bar though is how NOBODY there seems to be listening to the bands, which is a real shame because the musicians who play there are top notch. I actually play around here as well in a pretty cool little gothic jazz/latin/blues/rock outfit called Reverand Bob & The Darkness where I pretty much do tastefull comping on my trumpet and sing backup. I've only been playing for about two years (I'm a quick learner), so I'm going to need a few more under my belt (I need to get my improv and music reading skills in order before I can set out and really create my own myth if you will as a serious jazz musician.

Clifton: Thanks for the input. I've been familiar with Terrance Blanchard's movie scores for a while now (have you ever seen "Salton Sea"? He plays a beautiful rendition of "Saeta" from Sketches Of Spain in the films opening sequence) but have been curious about his jazz recordings for a while now. I've now got "Bounce" playing as we speak and it's great!

gdogus: Your suggestions are neither "obvious" or "outdated". What I've heard from Branford and Schofield I've enjoyed immensely and while I know OF Lovano and Redman, I'm rather embarrased to admit that I've heard little if anything from them....yet. So they might as well be new to me.

Thanks again guys!

Bags

[clifton]

BagsG: Thanks backatcha. Yeah I've seen "Salton Sea", excellent movie, beautiful Blanchard work. BTW gdogus' recs are also excellent. I'd like to add anything by Dave Holland, and ScoLoHoFo, which is Lovano, Scofield, Holland, and Al Foster. "Oh!" is a nice record.

[Bag's Groove]

clifton; I'll definitely check those out. I'm dying to hear Lovanno's "From The Soul" now. The lineup w/ Petrucciani, Holland & Blackwell sounds it would be a hell of a recording!

[gdogus]

Originally posted by Bag's Groove
I'm dying to hear Lovanno's "From The Soul" now. The lineup w/ Petrucciani, Holland & Blackwell sounds it would be a hell of a recording!

Oh, it is, it is. And to back clifton up on his Dave Holland recommendation: I really like The Dave Holland Quintet's Extended Play: Live at Birdland.

[3pointdeli]

i just got a new cat last week. his name is harry.

[boptilUdrop]

Based on you user name, I'd suggest Stefon Harris, especially Black Action Figure.

He brings kind of a new approach to the vibes, mixing straight-ahead jazz with some further-out stuff, loops, etc.

[Hardbop]

Living in New York you watch these guys rise up. They appear as sidemen and then you see them lead at some of the smaller venues like the Up Over Cafe, the Jazz Gallery, the Zinc Bar and Fat Cat.

A few "new names:"

I went to a jam session at Fat Cat a couple of years ago and there were all these interesting musicians, most new to me, on the gig. I've seen there names since as sideman, at leaders at some of the aforementioned venues and even on disc.

Here are a few:

Trumpet

LeRon Thomas. I've seen him with Billy Harper and on his own leading a band. He's one to watch.

Keyon Harrold. Like Thomas, Harrold was on that Fat Cat jam session I attended, gigs with Harper and leads bands of his own. Another comer.

Jeremy Pelt. He's further along than Thomas & Harrold in terms of being on the scene longer and recording, but right now he is the hot new thing in NYC on trumpet. He's already had three discs out, the most recent being his debut on the Maxjazz label.

Sax.

Marcus Strickland. He's playing with everyone and seems to be everywhere. He has a couple of discs out on the Fresh Sound New Talent label, which, like the longer-established Criss Cross label, does an important job documenting young musicians starting out.


Drums.

E.J. Strickland. Marcus' twin who can usually be found on the bandstand with him.

Kim Thompson. She's been raising eyebrows with her playing and is a member of Kenny Barron's new band. She was on his recent high-profile Zankel Hall gig and Kenny is coming into the Vanguard next week with a sextet and I wonder if Kim will be on the gig.

Damian Reed. Another one who was at that Fat Cat jam session. He's been gigging around lately as a sideman.

Rodney Green. A little further along with Ms. Thompson or Mr. Reed, Green had a high-profile gig a few years ago when he was plucked out of obscurity by alto player Greg Osby. I remember seeing Osby's band in the Vanguard one night and who shows up, but Tain Watts and Billy Higgins and they sat right on the banquettes right behind Green. You know who they were there for. Talk about pressure with those two giants looking over your shoulder. Green, I'm proud to report, handling it with full diplomatic aplomb.

Piano.

Robert Glasper. He's been gigging around and raising some eyebrows and is starting to make a name for himself as a leader in his own right. He has a disc out on the Fresh Sound New Talent Label, usually a sign that you are an up 'n comer.

Helen Sung. She's been gigging around NYC for a few years now and I'd seen her name at the Up Over Jazz Cafe, the Kavhaus and Cleo's Needle, where I caught her trio a few months ago. Well, her profile has continue to rise as she's gigged with people like Steve Wilson and Steve Turre and has a gig of her own, on a double-bill with Jason Lindner, at a high profile NYC jazz club, the Jazz Standard and it is being billed as a CD release party so now she has a CD out.

Takana Miyamoto. I don't know much about her, but she is in singer Nneena Freelon's band. I caught Nneena's gig at the Blue Note almost three years ago but haven't heard from Ms. Miyamoto since, though I think she is still with Ms. Freelon. I was impressed with what I heard that night at the Blue Note and would like to hear more from her.

[Bag's Groove]

Well, I've been able to check out a few suggestions so far with the Rhapsody player I have on my computer, and so far all I have to say is this: Do you have ANY idea how much of a dent ya'll are going to be putting on my paycheck come Friday???

Adam; Yeah I heard about the renewal project Harvard has planned. Frankly I'm surprised Boston let this happen. Boston and Cambridge seem to have had this ridiculous Hatfield vs. McCoys fued for as long as I can remember anyways. But by the time all's been said and done with that project I'll be an NYC resident. Unfortunately I'll be away this weekend so I won't be able to see Haynes at Scullers. I need to check out more shows there however seeing as how I could practically walk there if I wanted to (I'd just have to be a little crafty dodging traffic crossing near the pike exit).

gdogus; I got the chance to listen to From The Soul last night and all I can say is wow. Absolutely beautiful. I'll check out the Dave Holland asap too.

boptilUdrop; I'm a total sucker for vibes so thanks for the Stephon Harris suggestion. I'm really diggin' Black Action Figure.

Hardbop; I'll definitely keep my eyes and ears open for the musicians you listed. *ponders a Manhattan expedition for my next vacation*