Posts Tagged ‘Ambrose Akinmusire’
Saschal Vasandani's Who shot the messenger @ the Jazz Gallery
I don’t know how I even got there, really. Was supposed to meet a friend. And I did and it was cool. But I just didn’t like the music. No judgments, just wasn’t for me at all at that moment. Justin Brown on drums was really cool. Ben Williams on bass, the winner of this year’s Monk Competition didn’t impress me as much as I would have expected. Sachal himself wasn’t really singing so much, mostly just rocking along on the side (actually, the atmosphere of the concert was great, if I didn’t hear it it would have seemed like an awesome show). The girls were somewhat off key, too much for that kind of project, with written parts. The compositions and the concept seemed too simplistic for my image of the Jazz Gallery. Really don’t want to be mean here, but I don’t think I’m going to go hear any more jazz singers. Unless they’re Gretchen Parlato or something.
Anyway. The show was great, but I’m just a terrible snob. And, after all, it’s the Jazz Gallery. Must have high expectations for their stuff.
Saschal Vasandani’s Who shot the messenger @ the Jazz Gallery
I don’t know how I even got there, really. Was supposed to meet a friend. And I did and it was cool. But I just didn’t like the music. No judgments, just wasn’t for me at all at that moment. Justin Brown on drums was really cool. Ben Williams on bass, the winner of this year’s Monk Competition didn’t impress me as much as I would have expected. Sachal himself wasn’t really singing so much, mostly just rocking along on the side (actually, the atmosphere of the concert was great, if I didn’t hear it it would have seemed like an awesome show). The girls were somewhat off key, too much for that kind of project, with written parts. The compositions and the concept seemed too simplistic for my image of the Jazz Gallery. Really don’t want to be mean here, but I don’t think I’m going to go hear any more jazz singers. Unless they’re Gretchen Parlato or something.
Anyway. The show was great, but I’m just a terrible snob. And, after all, it’s the Jazz Gallery. Must have high expectations for their stuff.
Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet @ the Jazz Gallery

Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet @ Jazz Gallery
That concert was so good! I wasn’t joking that he’s my favorite trumpet player, I love his music so much 😀 The compositions were amazing! Logan Richardson – alto, Gerald Clayton – piano, Justin Brown on drums, Harish Raghavan on bass. Lots of energy, great synergy in the band. Really good sound. Gerald Clayton on piano was totally killin’! Stayed for both sets. Even though I was a little late for the first one and missed the opening tune – of which I heard later on that it was pure magic. And they had friends sitting in – a burning 18-year old tenor player from Manhattan School for Inner Urge and in the second set vocalist Saschal Vasandani joined them for a take of Body and Soul. That was hilarious. I’ve heard him before actually, he’s a great vocalist. It was really entertaining how he had gum in his mouth the whole time. Didn’t seem to affect the singing… Yeah, but Ambrose is so special. People seem to know that – Jazz Gallery was quite packed . Really, everybody was there! 😉 I would go hear Ambrose again any time, that was such a pleasure.
John Escreet Project @ Jazz Standard

John Escreet Project
Another Wednesday that had too much great jazz to choose from. I thought I was going to be working that night and not see any of it, but by some weird coincidences I actually made it to John Escreet Project concert at Jazz Standard. I was really happy about it since they only got one night booked there. Heard both sets – was really good! Not too many people were there for the first one, though. John Escreet (piano, compositions), David Binney (tenor, effects), Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet), Zack Lober (bass), Nasheet Waits (drums). I loved the compositions! Perfect balance between improvisation and composition, I was thinking. And so much interplay going on in the band – I know trios can often be so dynamic and full of interaction, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard so much active awareness of space in a quintet. Was really organic, dynamic and well balanced. Great musicians, that’s why, I guess :D. Found myself another favorite trumpet player – Ambrose Akinmusire.
And another thing – I happened to sit next to Adam Schatz and found out about this really cool website he’s doing – http://searchandrestore.com/ A great one for New York Jazz, really! Glad I found it 😀 Tried to make it to Nir Felder’s gig @ Smalls that night as well, but was too late.
Kristjan Randalu with the Transatlantic Collective @ Cornelia Street Cafe

The Transatlantic Collective
The same band as I heard in Estonia, in december 2008, except for the drummer (Patrick Cornelius – alto, Michael Janisch – double bass, Ambrose Akinmusire – trumpet, Kristjan Randalu – piano), Colin Stranahan on drums this time, sounded real good. Even some of the songs were the same as in Estonia, as it was the official US CD release concert of their debut album “Traveling Song”. The music somehow even felt more organic and energetic here in New York. It was great jazz playing from everyone in the group and the feel of it all was quite intense – really going for it. But this kind of event feels so natural here – just sitting in a jazz club and listening to top grade musicians playing good jazz.
But yeah, it is still a fact that Kristjan Randalu is probably the only Estonian jazz musician who is in that league of players right now, and would actually comfortably stand a comparison to the big names in the scene. It has been a lot of fun to spot him here and there in the city (- we’ve actually met many times at various concerts in the past couple of weeks, sometimes a bit deliberately though). 🙂 But he’s going back to Europe now – guess I won’t have the luxury of talking Estonian to someone at the concerts anymore…

Cornelia Street Cafe
I really like Cornelia Street Cafe as a venue (downstairs) but upstairs is an especially nice place to have drinks – it’s in a great neighborhood (West Village) and has a relaxed atmosphere – great for meeting people. I actually met the manager of Village Vanguard there and had some wine with him. Was fascinating to hear him talk about what he has seen here in NY – since he has worked at the Vanguard for over 20 years, hanged around with people like Dexter Gordon and seen the real jazz scene as it was back in the days when there were no smoking regulations and all that. In New York all the places are so connected to jazz history – great stories and great music – for those who know about it.
Oh yeah, and on my way home I actually did stop by at the Village Vanguard to confirm with my own eyes and ears that Brad Mehldau and Larry Grenadier were sitting in with Bill McHenry’s band (substituting Duane Eubanks and Ben Street). These kinds of things happen – only in New York.