Earshot Jazz July 2011, Vol. 27, No. 07 By Steve Griggs Four members of the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame can be seen in one place every week of the year – the New Orleans Creole Restaurant. During a recent week, seven Hall of Fame inductees were spotted there. This heart of Seattle jazz beats where the
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San Jose, Calif., — Mike Portnoy, considered one of the most powerful players in the world, has garnered his first “Drummer” Of The Year” award in Enter Music Publishing’s 16th Annual Drummies reader’s poll awards. Definitely a dream come true for Portnoy, he also took “Best Metal Drummer” and came in second place in the
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Outward Bound, one of Philadelphia’s newest ensembles headed by saxophonist Andrew Hanna, released the epic narrative piece Prophecies of War in April 2004. Prophecies of War, composed by Hanna, is a piece that resurrects the old Wagnerian concept of collective arts, yet it is innovative with the design and production. Prophecies of War depicts war primarily through music and is accompanied by poetry and multimedia. Emotionally, the music is calm and angular and at other times it is violent and turbulent.

Bill McBirnie (Featuring Mark Eisenman & The Trio) “Nature Boy”

After contributing as a sideman to a wide range of recordings (including works by Junior Mance, Memo Acevedo, Irakere and Da) and, in addition, after producing his own more recent Extreme Flute projects, the illustrious Canadian flutist, Bill McBirnie, is now cast in a straight-ahead acoustic jazz setting.

Free Music by Local Artists to be Given Out at Weekly Shows

In an effort to increase audience awareness of Los Angeles-based talent, the Knitting Factory Hollywood has launched a CD project entitled “Knowing the Knitting Factory Knowing You.” Beginning Tuesday, January 7, the club will run a weekly night featuring artists involved in the project.

Presenting OH!, The debut CD by the jazz all-star collective ScoLoHoFo, comprising guitarist John Scofield, saxophonist Joe Lovano, bassist Dave Holland & drummer Al Foster.

Throughout the history of jazz, artists have banded together in all-star configurations to explore the music. Some summits are one-shot deals for special events or tours; some are groupings of musicians under contract by the same record label; others are guest-spot gigs, where a leader enlists the support of fellow improvisers.

The 22 selections on this 2 CD set span 29 years and paint a vivid portrait of one of the least flamboyant and most original musical minds in the history of jazz. From his saxophone solos to his compositions to his conversations, it is immediately evident that Wayne Shorter sees things from an entirely different angle than the rest of us. Like Thelonious Monk, his music seems off-center, but always feels just right.

Juno award winner Jane Bunnett delivers a true Cuban Odyssey, the musical soundtrack to the NFB documentary Spirits Of Havana, which includes complete performances of the music heard throughout the film along with some brand new performances. Featuring many of Cuba’s legendary musicians including the late Merciditas Valdes, Guillermo Rubalcaba, Los Muñequitos, and a ten-voice choir, Desandann along with some newly discovered talent, Vladimir Paisant and eighteen year-old pianist & composer David Virelles.

Cuban Odyssey will take the listener on a musical adventure that they’ll want to explore and visit again and again.

BOSTON, MA — Boston-based jazz vocalist, composer, and Berklee College of Music professor Mili Bermejo is proud to announce her involvement with the Respond II compilation, a 2-CD set featuring prominent female musicians like Joan Baez, Dolly Parton, Sarah McLaughlin, the Indigo Girls, Aimee Mann and Odetta, which benefits families affected by domestic violence. Bermejo’s composition, Cómo Hacemos, originally appeared on her newest release Pienso el Sur (Pentagrama), featuring her sextet of Claudio Ragazzi (guitar), Evan Harlan (accordion), Tim Ray (piano), Dan Greenspan (bass), Steve Langone (drums).

Visiting maestro follows up master class with free concert

Ramsay Short

Daily Star staff

The last time Alex Wilson was in Lebanon he was stuck in a hotel band playing piano at a club in Kaslik. Contracted for three months, the experience was so bad he left after just one.

“The management of that place was terrible, we were stuck in a hotel on a hill, couldn’t really move around, everything that could go wrong went wrong,” he says.