Coming Attractions in Jazz: (late) August 2012

By J. R. Carroll.

Trumpeter Arthur Brooks

Trumpeter Arthur Brooks

A rare visit from trumpeter and composing improviser/improvising composer Arthur Brooks, a farewell evening of Ecuadorian fusion by ÑAWI, and trumpeter Brian Lynch’s “Unsung Heroes” project are the high points in a surprisingly full second half of August.

I’m sure there’s a story behind drummer Gary Fieldman‘s Bagels the Dog project—you’ll have to ask him when they come to the Acton Jazz Cafe at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 17. Meanwhile, at the same hour, violinist Mimi Rabson brings her trio of string players (with Junko Fujiwara and Helen Sherrah-Davies) to the Lily Pad.

Catch a slow boat to Boston Harbor’s Georges Island on Saturday, August 18, for a 2 p.m. performance by vocalist Julia Easterlin as part of Berklee Summer in the City.

That evening at 7:30 p.m., the Regattabar welcomes pianist Kenny Werner and his Trio, while at 8 p.m., on the North Shore, guitarist Julian Lage closes out this year’s Marblehead Summer Jazz series.

More music of the islands at 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 19, as Berklee Summer in the City brings pianist Matt Savage to Spectacle Island.

It’s another Berklee evening on Monday, August 20, as Summer in the City presents vocalist Vanisha-Arleen Gould at the Regattabar Courtyard at 6 p.m. Then, back at the mothership at 7:30 p.m., the Berklee Performance Center features the Bebop Guitars with John Baboian.

There’s free music in East Boston at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21, as ZUMIX brings pianist Juan Perez Rodriguez and his trio to Bremen St. Park. The same evening, at 7:30 p.m., Berklee Performance Center has more guitar wizardry in store with Mike Stern and his trio.

At noon on Wednesday, August 22, clarinetist Felix Peikli, a recent addition to drummer Ralph Peterson’s Fo’Tet, steps out with his own band on City Hall Plaza as part of Berklee Summer in the City.

In the evening, Boston bids a probable farewell to the Ecuadorian fusion of ÑAWI, the collaborative project of bassist/vocalist/composer Alex Alvear and members of Yarina, at 7:30 p.m. at the Regattabar.

Afterwards, head over to Ryles for a 9 p.m. performance by Brazilian vocalist Verônica Nunes and guitarist Ricardo Vogt.

At 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 23, pianist Manami Morita plays at Brewer Plaza as part of Berklee Summer in the City.

Then, at 8 p.m., Scullers welcomes the exceptional vocalist and songwriter Gregory Porter.

Back at Scullers on the surprisingly overstuffed Friday of August 24, Kendrick Oliver leads his New Life Jazz Orchestra, with special guests vocalist Rachael Price and vibraphonist Warren Wolf, in 8 and 10 p.m. performances.

Here’s a truly not-to-be-missed event: trumpeter/composer Arthur Brooks, a long-time associate (at Bennington College) of the late trumpeter/composer/bandleader Bill Dixon and a gifted traverser of the border between composition and improvisation, makes a rare excursion outside Vermont to perform with the current edition of his long-standing Ensemble V (trumpeter Barry Ries, cellists Polly Vanderputten and Nelson Caldwell, and guitarist Michael Chorney) at Outpost 186 on Saturday, August 25, at 8 p.m. A student of Cecil Taylor in the late 1960s at Antioch College, Brooks in the 1970s was a member of the short-lived but impressive Brute Force (which included Boston saxophonist/vocalist Stan Strickland and guitarist Sonny Sharrock), the Boston Art Ensemble (with Brute Force drummer Sydney Smart), and, of course, numerous ensembles led by Bill Dixon (with whom he shared a life-long interest in collaboration with improvising dancers, especially Penny Campbell). Since 2008 he has also been a member of the Collective 4tet (with pianist Mark Hennen, bassist William Parker, and percussionist Heinz Geisser) and has an ongoing residency with Ensemble V at Burlington’s Radio Bean.

On Sunday, August 26, ZUMIX brings saxophonist Phillip Young to Piers Park in East Boston.

At 6 p.m. on Monday, August 27, in the Regattabar Courtyard, Berklee Summer in the City features pianist Caili O’Doherty. Then at 9 p.m., vocalist Tammy Scheffer and her sextet come to the Beehive.

Back in East Boston on Tuesday, August 28, ZUMIX presents vocalist Rajdulari and her eponymous band at 6 p.m. in Bremen St. Park.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phQyN2XHj2g

Across the river, Ryles welcomes violinist Tomoko Omura and her quartet at 8:30 p.m.

There’s more at Ryles on Wednesday, August 29, at 9 p.m. as Portuguese vocalist Caterina Dos Santos and Brazilian percussionist Fernando Saci offer an evening of pan-lusophonic music from Portugal, Angola, Cape Verde, and Brazil.

Pianist Manami Morita returns to Brewer Plaza on Thursday, August 30, at 5 p.m. as part of Berklee Summer in the City.

At 8 p.m. at Scullers, trumpeter Brian Lynch pays homage to “Unsung Heroes” of the trumpet, including Tommy Turrentine, Howard McGhee, Joe Gordon, Idrees Sulieman, Charles Tolliver, Claudio Roditi, Louis Smith, and Kamau Adilifu (Charles Sullivan). Lynch is joined by saxophonist Bill Pierce, pianist Rob Schneiderman, and drummer Peter Van Nostrand.

As we head into Labor Day weekend, saxophonist Tom Hall brings his Jazz Time Machine to Boston Public Library’s free Concerts in the Courtyard at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, August 31.

And that’s a wrap for August. If you thought, this was a busy month, wait until September.

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