Wayne Krantz and Mark Guiliana duo @ the Stone

Wayne Krantz and Mark Guiliana @ the Stone

Something special – Mark Guiliana and Wayne Krantz,  a sold out gig @ the Stone.  My first time ever to hear Wayne Krantz live. Now I know – to sit that close, one needs ear plugs – he rocks . Really interesting and very rhythmic. I actually found it hard to follow in the beginning, but it got more clear later on. Wayne Krantz has a really unique sound. Yeah, and everybody was there

Sean Jones Quintet @ Jazz Standard

Sean Jones Quintet @ the Jazz Standard

Went to hear trumpeter Sean Jones (album release party for The Search Within) with Brian Hogans on alto, Orrin Evans on piano, Luques Curtis on bass and John Davis on drums. Amazing rhythm section. Orrin Evans on piano was incredible. Very chic and sexy arrangements. They played Sean Jones’s great hit Black Music aka Chocolate Music (for a politically more correct title). And as an addition, there were the up and coming singer Sachal Vasandani and a burnin’ sax player girl sitting in for Stella By Starlight.

Rudder @ le Poisson Rouge, New York

Rudder @ le Poisson Rouge

One of the hippest experimental/indiejazz/electronica bands in New York – Rudder @ Le Poisson Rouge, Bleecker Street. Chris Cheek on tenor, Henry Hey on keyboards, Tim Lefebvre on bass and Shawn Pelton on drums, subbing for Keith Carlock who is on tour with Steely Dan. Yeah, incredible band indeed, combining excellent musicianship, brilliant ideas, sound explorations, intriguing compositions, really great groove and the energy of a rock concert. They did songs off of their two records, of which the latest one Matorning (Nineteen Eight Records) just came out recently.

Vaba päev, käisin Rockaway'l rannas

Rockaway

Esmaspäev oli töölt vaba – ja mõnus päikseline. Ma juba pikemat aega unistan randa minekust, niisiis läksingi, kaugele Brooklynisse Rockaway’le. Meenus see, kuidas me seal umbes 8 aastat tagasi emaga käisime – siis oli oktoober ja rand täitsa tühi, mäletan, kuidas sõime banaanimuffinit seal tookord kahekesi… Ma ei teagi, kas ma sattusin seekord täpselt samasse kohta, igal juhul sõitsin A-traini lõpppeatusesse ja sealt veel Shuttle-rongiga kõige viimasesse rannapeatusse. Minu viimased rannad olid Miamis ja Havail, seega see rand mulle küll eriti ei meeldinud – paksult rahvast täis, põhiliselt hispanic’ud ja mustad. Vesi oli mõnus jahe, aga liiga liivane. Aga tore ikkagi, päevitus on päevitus. Suvi ilma päevituseta on ikka üsna mage, isegi New Yorgis.

Vaba päev, käisin Rockaway’l rannas

Rockaway

Esmaspäev oli töölt vaba – ja mõnus päikseline. Ma juba pikemat aega unistan randa minekust, niisiis läksingi, kaugele Brooklynisse Rockaway’le. Meenus see, kuidas me seal umbes 8 aastat tagasi emaga käisime – siis oli oktoober ja rand täitsa tühi, mäletan, kuidas sõime banaanimuffinit seal tookord kahekesi… Ma ei teagi, kas ma sattusin seekord täpselt samasse kohta, igal juhul sõitsin A-traini lõpppeatusesse ja sealt veel Shuttle-rongiga kõige viimasesse rannapeatusse. Minu viimased rannad olid Miamis ja Havail, seega see rand mulle küll eriti ei meeldinud – paksult rahvast täis, põhiliselt hispanic’ud ja mustad. Vesi oli mõnus jahe, aga liiga liivane. Aga tore ikkagi, päevitus on päevitus. Suvi ilma päevituseta on ikka üsna mage, isegi New Yorgis.

Davy Mooney Quartet @ Solo Kitchen Bar

Davy Mooney with John Ellis, Matt Clohesy, Jochen Rueckert @ Solo Kitchen Bar

With John Ellis on tenor, Matt Clohesy – bass, Jochen Rueckert – drums, Davy Mooney – guitar. I heard most of the tunes @ 55 Bar a couple of weeks ago. But it’s always good to listen to John Ellis And I liked Matt Clohesy on bass a lot.

Solo Kitchen Bar on Sundays is just amazing – all the bands I’ve ever heard there have been really killin’. The only stupid thing about making the trip is the Q train which tends to run express on weekends, skipping the Cortelyou road stop. So that people end up @ Kings Highway and have to come back with the Manhattan-bound train.

Visit the most cutting edge venues and concerts in New York

Live music

Going through my blog stats I’ve noticed that I have readers from all over the world So if you are on your way to New York and feel like getting the best jazz experience out of your visit, here’s an opportunity to take a tour of NY jazz scene with me – see New York’s best shows and venues, whatever time you come. Just e-mail me at ines.kuusik@gmail.com and we’ll set it up the perfect jazz adventure:D BTW, I speak Estonian, English, French and Russian and by now have contacts among many musicians, long-time music lovers and jazz aficionados in New York so we could sure have a great time and find the hottest stuff in the city.

HEERNT @ Rose Live Music

HEERNT @ Rose Live Music

HEERNT – Jason Rigby – saxophone, synthesizer, Neal Persiani – electric bass, Mark Guiliana – drums -  @ Rose – first gig together since January 5th 2008 They played compositions from the album Locked In a Basement,  and some newer stuff like Mark’s New Jersey Ballad. I’m beginning to know those tunes pretty well now Can’t imagine it would ever get boring though – and there’s something about Mark Guiliana that is so captivating that no matter how great players he has in the band, I always end up listening to his drumming. It feels like a whole new world of time, so alive with gravity and grace.

John Scofield with Steve Swallow and Bill Stewart @ Madison Square Park

John Scofield trio @ Madison Square Park

There was something about August 5th in New York – all the great concerts seemed to be booked on one day. For example, there was John Scofield Trio @ Madison Square Park, a free gig! Really nice hang out there, lying on the lawn listening to John Scofield, Steve Swallow and Bill Stewart:D Those guys are even better than I thought! Sco is such a happening guitar player, even now, full of ideas and energy. His sound was just mind-blowing, even at the park. He used reverse loops a lot, really inspired experimental funk-jazz-blues. Steve Swallow was swinging real hard. The level of that trio was just completely something else. Yeah, and they even played Green Tea from A Go go. That gig really took off, one of the best concerts I’ve ever heard. Feel really sorry for everybody who wasn’t there …

John Scofield trio @ Madison Square Park

John Scofield trio @ Madison Square Park

Greg Osby 6 @ the Village Vanguard

Village Vanguard

Went to hear the late set of their first night in the Vanguard. Really interesting music there. They played Speak No Evil, Ask Me Now among others. Nir Felder is just incredible. I wonder what it feels like, to be 25 and play the Vanguard and be so killin’. John Davis on drums sounded great, playing together with bassist Matt Brewer. Sara Serpa’s pure voice was real refreshing in the band.