Jazz Treasures: Legacy, Legend & Heritage

Jazz Treasures: Legacy, Legend & Heritage Awards Ceremony: May 11 @ Schomburg Center For Research, New York, NY

To commemorate the 10th Anniversary of their Jazz In The Valley concerts, Transart & Cultural Services decided to celebrate the excellence of those in the field of jazz. The inaugural Jazz Treasures: Legacy, Legend & Heritage award ceremony took place Tuesday night in front of a who's who of artists, educators and pioneers, honoring those who do their thing in the field be it on-stage or behind the scenes.

The honorees ...

Jonathan Batiste, the 23 year old pianist from New Orleans, received the Jazz Heritage Award. Before being presented his award by Noor Rahman, he gave us a performance that showed why he's a cat to keep an eye on.

Jonathan Batiste

Carolyn McClair, the PR maven who hates the spotlight but is brilliant at making it shine bright on others, was presented the Cultural Luminary Award by WBGO's Dorthaan Kirk. McClair who works tirelessly providing clients with hands-on, personalized campaigns not only in jazz and entertainment but, corporate, non-profit and other industries as well. We (that would be me since I'm a one woman show) at Quirky NY Chick are exceptionally proud; during regular business hours we like to call this terrific woman, boss. Congratulations boss lady!

Dorthaan Kirk and Carolyn McClair

Carolyn McClair with Transart President and Founder Greer Smith

Les McCann, the feisty pianist and singer was presented with the Jazz Legend Award by pianist Randy Weston. After being presented with his award, he showed exactly why he's called a legend. McCann brought down the house, strong voiced, full of wit and charm with his classic "Compared To What." It was a performance that had those in attendance singing along and a treat to witness.

Les McCann

The evening's MC Sharif Abdus Salaam (WKCR-FM) and Randy Weston

The evening also brought about a Tribute to Abbey Lincoln. After a career retrospective video presentation to the legendary singer, songwriter and actress, she was honored in a musical tribute. The Javon Jackson Band (who also backed McCann during his performance) with Aaron Graves on piano led Melba Joyce and Jann Parker through a song each.

Melba Joyce w/Javon Jackson Band

Jann Parker w/Javon Jackson Band

Congratulations to all!

Jazz lovers, this year's Jazz In The Valley will take place on August 15. Sounds like the perfect reason to have yourself a little road trip.

New Video From Freshlyground

South African band Freshlyground have released a video for "Fire Is Low."  The song is from their recently released album Radio Africa.   Check it out below.

www.freshlyground.com
www.myspace.com/freshlygroundsa
twitter.com/freshlygroundsa

Earl Greyhound Releases Video For "Shotgun"

Earl Greyhound have a new record, Suspicious Package, that came out sometime last month.  If you haven't already, check out this band ... seriously heavy cats.  Now, they've hit us with a video of "Shotgun" from the record.  The clip was directed by Chell Stephen.  Check it out below.

www.earlgreyhound.com
www.myspace.com/earlgreyhound
www.facebook.com/earlgreyhound

IFC premieres Bob Schneider's 40 Dogs (Like Romeo & Juliet) Video

IFC will premier the Bob Schneider video for "40 Dogs (Like Romeo & Juliet) tonight, May 4 at 9:53 EST/PST. You can already peep it online HERE (where you can also check out an interview with Schneider and the video director) or conveniently embedded below. The video was directed by Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Grindhouse, etc.), filmed in Austin, TX, hometown for both Rodriguez and Schneider and features the adorable Kat Dennings (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist). Got all that? Good, now go check out the video.

IFC premieres the video for Bob Schneider’s “40 Dogs (Like Romeo & Juliet)” directed by Robert Rodriguez, the critically acclaimed director of Sin City, Grindhouse and From Dusk Till Dawn, tonight May 4th at 9:53 EST/PST and online right now as part of IFC’s Tuesday night Automat line-up and online at IFC.com's Indie Ear.

www.bobschneidermusic.com

Doppelgänger, Des Roar To Play Mercury Lounge 5/20

Oh lookie lookie ... Doppelgänger will be rockin' the Mercury Lounge stage on Thursday, May 20! Also, rockin' will be Des Roar and Shwa Losben & The Good Times. I suggest you go ... guaranteed fun!

www.myspace.com/Doppelgangerisyourfriend
www.myspace.com/desroar
www.shwamusic.com

Primus Announce Tour

Well folks, Primus announced that they will be doing their first headlining tour in 4 years. Their tour mates for most of this shindig will be Gogol Bordello. It gets even better New York. The band will be making a stop in this lovely city we call home. They'll take the stage over in Brooklyn at the Willamsburg Waterfront on July 30. Tickets for the tour go on sale May 8. More dates are to be announced soon.

The band will also be heading into the studio to record their first record of new material since their 1999 release, Antipop. The new album is scheduled for release in 2011.

Tour Dates
July

• 27 - Toronto, ONT ~ Sound Academy
• 29 - Essex Junction, VT ~ Midway Lawn at Champlain Valley (w/Gogol Bordello)
• 30 - Brooklyn, NY ~ Willamsburg Waterfront (w/Gogol Bordello)
• 31 - Bridgeport, CT ~ Gathering of the Vibes

Aug

• 1 - Charlottesville, VA ~ Charlottesville Pavillion (w/Gogol Bordello)
• 3 - Cleveland, OH ~ Time Warner Cable Amphitheater (w/Gogol Bordello)
• 5 - Columbus, OH ~ LC Pavillion (w/Gogol Bordello)
• 6 - Nashville, TN ~ Ryman Auditorium
• 7 - Milwaukee, WI ~ The Rave
• 9 - Council Bluff, IA ~ Stir Cove at Harrah's (w/Gogol Bordello)
• 10 - Kansas City, MO ~ Uptown Theater (w/Gogol Bordello)
• 12 - Denver, CO ~ Red Rocks (w/Gogol Bordello)
• 13 - Salt Lake City, UT ~ The Rail (w/Gogol Bordello)
• 14 - Las Vegas, NV ~ The Joint
• 15 - Santa Barbara, CA ~ County Bowl (w/Wolfmother)

www.primusville.com
www.gogolbordello.com

Ash, Q Is For Binary?

Those lovable guys known as Ash, okay, I don't really know if they're lovable or not but they make good music. Anyway, they will be releasing 'Q' in their A-Z singles project on May 24. This song is called "Binary" and the video is below. Check it out.

In other Ash news, I got my physical copy of A-Z Vol. 1 (singles A-M) last week. It's really cute ... a little hardcover book that contains the CD, bonus tracks, DVD of their tour film A Is For Ash and lyrics.

More ... Ash are Last.fm's artist of the week. Hear tracks from A-Z Vol. 1 plus performances from their own studio & interviews. Click HERE to check it out.

www.ashofficial.com

Concert Review: The Majesty of the Jazz Trumpet, Jon Faddis At Zankel Hall

Jon Faddis: April 27 @ Zankel Hall, New York, NY

Trumpet virtuoso Jon Faddis took to the Zankel Hall stage last week and dazzled all in attendance. Faddis led his quartet through The Majesty of the Jazz Trumpet, a performance that paid homage to the musical styles of trumpeters. The program was the third and final performance of Carnegie Hall’s 2009–2010 Just Jazz: The Joyce Wein Series, a three-part series presented by Carnegie Hall in partnership with legendary jazz impresario George Wein in memory of his late wife, Joyce Wein.

I however, didn't get to witness the show personally. But, fear not my fellow music loving friends. Becca Pulliam, producer of the WBGO program JazzSet, was not only there but, she has kindly shared her thoughts on the show with us!

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Jon Faddis led the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band in the magnificent concert hall for 10 seasons. On April 27, Jon was back at Carnegie and underground in Zankel Hall with the Jon Faddis Quartet. With hardly any amplification, the sound in Zankel is so natural, you hear every sweet detail from David Hazeltine on piano, Todd Coolman on bass and Dion Parson on drums. They play with perfect control of dynamics.

The night was a tribute to Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. Jon leads the Chicago Jazz Ensemble now, and Louis Armstrong recorded some of his greatest work in Chicago. He met his wife Lil Hardin there. For awhile she ran the band and called him "The Greatest Trumpet Player in the World." That's the style -- big and breathtaking.

Jon's mentor was Dizzy Gillespie. When Jon plays like Dizzy, it is so conversational, it's as though he is talking to you in a mesmerizing, funny language. My favorite was "The Blues from the Gillespieana Suite."

And by the end of this concert, that felt both formal and casual, the trumpeter to celebrate was ... Jon Faddis!

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Thanks to Ms. Pulliam for sharing her thoughts!

jazzset.npr.org
www.wbgo.org/blog
terangajazz.com

Semi Precious Weapons: Glamorous Thunder At The Bowery Ballroom

Semi Precious Weapons: April 26 @ Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY

Sold out! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Semi Precious Weapons came home Monday night and took to the Bowery Ballroom stage greeted by a sold out crowd. When I arrived at the venue, unpleasantly soggy from the pouring rain, there was already a line of people waiting to get in. About five minutes later, I looked back and I couldn't see where the line ended.

From the moment the band launched into "Semi Precious Weapons" to their closing number "Rock 'N' Roll Never Looked So Beautiful," the Weapons precious denizens were enthusiastic, energetic and loud! I have been to many shows where the crowd sings along. But, I'm not sure when the last time I've heard singing along at such a volume. To hear the entirety of the Bowery Ballroom erupt, in unison, at the top of their lungs singing, "I've been magnetic since I was a baby!" was slightly surreal and entirely magical. It sounded like thunder ... glorious, glamorous thunder.

Check out a some photos from their set.

More photos HERE.

www.myspace.com/semipreciousweapons
twitter.com/preciousweapons

Audio Fiction To Play Best Buy, Friday, 4/30

New York, rockers Audio Fiction will be doing a free in-store performance at the Union Square Best Buy. Yes, you heard me, FREE! All of the pertinent deets are below. Swing by, check them out and say hi. They'll be signing copies of their record afterwards.

Who: Audio Fiction
Where: Best Buy - Union Square South
When: Friday, April 30, 6pm
Cost: Free

www.audiofictionband.com
www.myspace.com/audiofictionband
www.liveatbestbuy.com