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You are here: Home / Preview / Coming Attractions / Coming Attractions in Jazz: February 2010

Coming Attractions in Jazz: February 2010

February 1, 2010 Leave a Comment

There may not be any Lester Young tributes scheduled for Presidents’ Day, but the entire month of February is nothing less than a valentine to jazz piano.

By J. R. Carroll

Indefatigable improviser Jason Moran
Indefatigable improviser Jason Moran

Pianist Jason Moran hasn’t yet encountered a piece of music (or even raw sound) that he couldn’t transform into a jaw-dropping improvisation. Johannes Brahms, James P. Johnson, Afrika Bambaataa, even a Turkish telephone conversation have all found a place in his repertoire. Moran brings his voracious curiosity to a week-long residency at the New England Conservatory (NEC), with two 1 p.m. master classes (trios on Feb. 1, small ensembles on Feb. 2) and a final concert of his music with NEC students at 8 p.m. on Feb. 4, all free and open to the public.

In 2006 guitarist Allan Holdsworth reunited with fellow emeritus of the mid-70s Tony Williams Lifetime group, keyboard player Alan Pasqua, along with Yellowjackets bassist Jimmy Haslip and Holdsworth’s frequent collaborator, drummer Chad Wackerman, for a series of tribute concerts that yielded last year’s live CD, Blues for Tony. This New Tony Williams Lifetime project comes to Scullers on Feb. 2 at 10 p.m. (the early show is already sold out) and Northampton’s Iron Horse at 7 p.m. on Feb. 3.

There’s more keyboard wizardry in store when the Beehive hosts the Nando Michelin Trio at 8 p.m. on Feb. 2 (check out Jon Garelick’s profile in The Boston Phoenix) and Brad Mehldau offers a solo concert at Sanders Theatre on Feb. 5 at 8 p.m.

On the same evening, the eclectic and delightfully unpredictable Jazz Marauders come to the Acton Jazz Cafe at 9:30 p.m., and saxophonist Dan Moretti brings his Tres Muse project to New London’s Jazz Underground at 8 p.m.

On Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m., Berklee presents Benin-born guitarist/vocalist Lionel Loueke in its David Friend Recital Hall as part of Berklee’s month-long Roots and Reason series. The same night, Berklee continues its Artist Series at Scullers at 8 p.m. with Marc Rossi and guests, vocalist Sidhart Sriram and saxophonist Stan Strickland.

On Feb. 11 at 8 p.m., expect fireworks when what is billed as the Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour brings together an amazing quartet (vocalist Kurt Elling, violinist Regina Carter, guitarist Russell Malone and pianist Kenny Barron) at the Berklee Performance Center.

On Feb. 12-13, Brazilian pianist/vocalist Eliane Elias celebrates bossa nova with 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. shows at Scullers.

Pianist Ramona Borthwick
Pianist Ramona Borthwick

A tough choice for keyboard mavens on Feb. 17: Ramona Borthwick launches her long-awaited second CD, One of Us (featuring special guest trumpeter Ingrid Jensen), at 9 p.m. as part of Ryles World Wednesdays series. Meanwhile, over at NEC’s Jordan Hall pianist Fred Hersch offers a solo concert (something he does exceedingly well) at 8 p.m., and at the Beehive Venezuelan pianist Leo Blanco leads the trio edition (with bassist Fernando Huergo and drummer Jamey Haddad) of his World Jazz Ensemble at 8 p.m.

Vocal music gets a turn next: The Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center presents Colombia’s Marta Gomez at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Feb. 19, and on Feb. 25 Berklee showcases faculty member Lisa Thorson at 7:30 p.m. in its David Friend Recital Hall.

Wrap up February at the Reggatabar on Feb. 26 with 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. shows with the Afro-Latin funk of Ecuadorean bassist/vocalist/composer Alex Alvear’s amazing Mango Blue.

Robert Glasper: Hip-hop + jazz
Robert Glasper: Hip-hop + jazz

And back at the Regattabar the next evening at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. the fascinating pianist Robert Glasper, who has achieved the most nuanced fusion I’ve ever heard of jazz (he’s played with Terence Blanchard, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, and others) and hip-hop (he’s Mos Def’s music director and has played with the Roots, Talib Kweli, Jay-Z, and many more), provides a perfect bookend to the month.

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By: J. R. Carroll Filed Under: Coming Attractions, Jazz, Music Tagged: Acton Jazz Cafe, Alex Alvear, Allan Holdsworth, Beehive, Berklee College of Music, Brad Mehldau, Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, Dan Moretti, Eliane Elias, Fred Hersch, Hip Hop, Iron Horse Music Hall, Jason Moran, Jazz Marauders, Jazz Underground, Kenny Barron, Kurt Elling, Leo Blanco, Lionel Loueke, Lisa Thorson, Mango Blue, Marc Rossi, Marta Gomez, Nando Michelin, New England Conservatory, Ramona Borthwick, Regattabar, Regina Carter, Robert Glasper, Russell Malone, Ryles, Sanders Theatre, Scullers, Tony Williams Lifetime

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