Coming Attractions in Jazz: Early March 2011
[Update: Tomas Fujiwara’s Ryles gig is on Friday, March 11, not Sunday, March 13.] Mardi Gras and Carnaval promise warmer days ahead, two keyboard giants team up, Colombian jazz fusion comes to town, and the Boston Jewish Music Festival gathers a fascinating variety of performers.
By J. R. Carroll.
Kicking off the month, on Tuesday, March 1, guitarist Mike Stern begins a two-night stand at the Regattabar with shows at 7:30 and 10 p.m.
Pianist Steve Kuhn will be at Scullers at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2, and, at 9 p.m., Mark Walker’s Rhythm of the Americas returns to Ryles.
There’ll be more guitar stylings on Thursday, March 3, at 8 p.m., as guitarist Mimi Fox pays a visit to Scullers.
Also at 8 p.m., drummer George Schuller and his Trio (pianist Dan Tepfer and bassist Jeremy Stratton) will perform at Vernissage in Brookline. Afterwards, head across the street to the Fireplace to catch the Uruguayan rhythms of the Florencia Gonzalez Candombe Project at 9:30 p.m.
Pianist Pablo Mayor and Folklore Urbano have created an amazing fusion of jazz with cumbia and other Colombian styles; they’ll make a special appearance at the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 4.
Friday also features an intriguing double bill at 7:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, opening with a CD release event for pianist Ben Schwendener, followed at 9 p.m. by the exploratory vocalist Judi Silvano and her group.
The same evening, the Acton Jazz Cafe offers a bit of Carnaval with a double bill of its own; at 7 p.m., the Sergio Mendes Project return with their tribute, To Sergio with Love, and, at 9 p.m., Receita de Samba celebrates Brazilian traditions.
Back at the Acton Jazz Cafe the next night at 7 p.m., trumpeter Jerry Sabatini’s Sonic Explorers lead their audiences into exotic new territory, as do pianist Landon Knoblock and drummer Jason Furman at the Lily Pad, also at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, at 7:30 p.m., Filipino vocalist Charmaine Clamor journeys to the Regattabar, and, at 9 p.m., Ryles cooks up a pot of gumbo with the Charles Neville–Harvey Diamond Quartet.
The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra weaves a New Orleans theme into its performance at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Beverly on Sunday, March 6, at 4 p.m.
Swiss-born vocalist Gabriella Martina comes to the Beehive at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 7. Then, at 9 p.m., Atwoods welcomes back Grand Fatilla.
The highlight of Tuesday, March 8, has to be the pairing of pianists Fred Hersch and Jason Moran in a free duo performance at 8 p.m. at New England Conservatory”s Jordan Hall.
And now that it’s finally Fat Tuesday, you can join the parade to the Regattabar at 7:30 and 10 p.m. to hear New Orleans pianist Jonathan Batiste, or else you can celebrate the final night of Carnaval at 8:30 p.m. at Ryles with the Gilson Schachnik Brazilian Fusion Group and guests Yulia Musayelian and the Italo Cunha Group.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SldxGMQumOc
The Boston Jewish Music Festival gets into high gear on Wednesday, March 9, with the amazing Ladino vocalist Yasmin Levy; she’ll be at the Somerville Theatre at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday also provides an unusual opportunity to hear pianist Yoko Miwa in the foreground; she and her Trio will be at the Regattabar at 7:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, across the river at Scullers, saxophonist Donny McCaslin brings his Quartet (pianist Taylor Eigsti, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Antonio Sanchez) to town at 8 p.m.
http://vimeo.com/16218560
2011 marks the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International, and on Thursday, March 10, at 8 p.m., Johnny D’s hosts a benefit concert with the Bruno Raberg World Music Ensemble and Eliyahu Sills and Qadim.
Thursday brings another fascinating performance to the Boston Jewish Music Festival when Ravid Kahalani and Yemen Blues appear at the Somerville Theatre, also at 8 p.m.
And at the other end of the state, Williams College welcomes the Greg Hopkins–Dino Govoni Quintet at 8 p.m.
Friday, March 11, offers another interesting double bill at the Acton Jazz Cafe; at 7 p.m., pianist Mark Shilansky is joined by vocalists Julie Hardy, Rachel Caswell and David Devoe, followed at 9 p.m. by the Gypsy jazz of Ameranouche.
Back in town the same evening, guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel plays at 7:30 and 10 p.m. at the Regattabar, while at 8 and 10 p.m., pianist Kenny Werner performs at Scullers (he’s back the next night as well).
Also on Friday, drummer Tomas Fujiwara brings his powerful quintet, The Hook Up (which includes innovative, Boston-born guitarist Mary Halvorson), to Ryles at 8:30 p.m. And, up in Beverly, MA, at Chianti, you can catch the Rusty Scott Trio at 9 p.m.
Two major events are featured on Saturday, March 12, at 8 p.m. The Boston Jewish Music Festival presents an all-star ensemble led by Frank London of the Klezmatics on trumpet; Anthony Coleman on keyboards; 26-year-old, Orthodox, cantorial sensation Yaakov Lemmer; and Moroccan Cantor /Oudist Aaron Bensoussan at the Berklee Performance Center.
Meanwhile, over in Cambridge at Sanders Theatre, Brad Mehldau appears with pianist Timothy Andres, vocalist Becca Stevens, and an amazing sextet of saxophonists (Chris Cheek, Chris Potter, Joshua Redman, Joris Roelofs, Sam Sadigursky, and Greg Tardy) to perform his recent Rock ‘n’ Roll Dances No. 3 & 4.
Down in New London, CT, at 8 p.m., the Jazz Underground hosts the Kent Hewitt Trio. And in Beverly, MA, at 9 p.m., saxophonist Dino Govoni plays at Chianti.
The following evening at 7:30 p.m., the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown continues its Berklee Jazz Series with the Rick DeMuzio Quintet.
Tuesday, March 15, gives you your pick of Jasons: At 7:30 p.m., the Regattabar hosts a CD release for pianist Jason Yeager, while at 8 p.m., Scullers presents trumpeter Jason Palmer.
Johnny D’s welcomes back Matuto and their singular fusion of music from Brazil’s nordeste and the Appalachians at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0wgoumyMlA
At the same time, Framingham’s Amazing Things Arts Center presents Manolo Mairena and Curubande with a program spanning classic son montuno and present-day timba.
And also at 8 p.m., at the Beehive, pianist Julian Shore and his Band bring us to mid-month.
Not to worry, there’ll be much more to come in the Coming Attractions in Jazz for late March.