Lee Konitz/Mark Turner Quintet @ the Iridium

Ethan Iverson, Ben Street, Lee Konitz, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Mark Turner @ the Iridium

With Lee Konitz (alto), Mark Turner (tenor), Ethan Iverson (piano), Ben Street (bass) and Albert ‘Tootie’ Heath (drums). They played All of Me, Invitation, a really beautiful, beautiful version of What’s New, All the Things You Are and a very hip arrangement of Gershwin’s Strike Up the Band. They played about an hour, which went by all too fast because the music was so good… Really nice arrangements, tasteful playing and amazing synergy. I enjoyed it a lot. With that kind of drums and bass together you almost don’t need anything else – I was totally blown away by Ben Street, once again. And Albert “Tootie” Heath, another one of those incredible American drummers. Yeah, I really liked everyone in the band, was an awesome jazz night. Found out an interesting fact about Lee Konitz & New York jazz – Lee Konitz is the only still active musician to have played all three ever existing Birdland clubs in New York City.

But Iridium, the club, in general, seems to be a bit overpriced in my opinion – they charge $35 for the cover and the drinks are outrageously expensive (with $11 for the cheapest glass of wine). I guess it’s the location, being so close to Times Square, the rent over there must be crazy. But still, I was shocked. and really happy that I wasn’t paying. The show wasn’t very packed, for a Friday night and the place looked not so well kept, compared to, for example, Birdland. Otherwise I rather like the club. Another good thing about Iridium though – they give 50% off the cover charge for students for all the 2nd sets, every night. That’s nice. I also discovered that their Iridium lager is the closest thing to Estonian (Saku) beer that I’ve yet found in New York. Not that I’d necessarily prefer that one, but, is good to know, I guess.

Ralph Alessi’s This Against That @ I-Beam

With Ben Street on bass, Mark Ferber on drums, Andy Milne on piano, Tony Malaby on tenor sax, Ralph Alessi trumpet. I-Beam was packed in full :). After a while I realised it’s so much easier to listen to that kind of music with my eyes closed –  otherwise it was too much information. After I discovered that it all blended into one great tripping experience 😀 (- the fact that I still have a jet lag and a small fever as well might have helped). Mark Ferber and Ben Street were just unbelievable.

Ralph Alessi's This Against That @ I-Beam

With Ben Street on bass, Mark Ferber on drums, Andy Milne on piano, Tony Malaby on tenor sax, Ralph Alessi trumpet. I-Beam was packed in full :). After a while I realised it’s so much easier to listen to that kind of music with my eyes closed –  otherwise it was too much information. After I discovered that it all blended into one great tripping experience 😀 (- the fact that I still have a jet lag and a small fever as well might have helped). Mark Ferber and Ben Street were just unbelievable.

Sunday @ Solo Kitchen Bar: Douglas Bradford Group and Ben Monder Trio

Douglas Bradford Group

Went to Solo Kitchen Bar again (Flatbush, Brooklyn, Cortelyou Rd stop from the Q-train) they have great free shows on Sundays. This time I checked out the first one (starting 6:30) as well, because a friend was playing – and it was a great band, really – Douglas Bradford Group featuring John Beaty on alto, Greg Chudzik on bass, Nick Anderson on drums, Douglas Bradford on guitar and  compositions. I really enjoyed it! But seriously, why is the only audience in all these concerts other musicians??? Quoting a guy called Alabaster here: The only good thing about the times we’re living in is dentistry.

Ben Monder Trio @ Solo Kitchen Bar

But actually a lot more people showed up for Ben Monder trio concert later on (Ben Street was on bass, Mark Ferber on drums)  finally the place was quite packed, with no free seats. It was a great concert with a really appreciative audience (musicians again?). They played some standards such as What’s New, I’ll Remember April, original compositions and Hey Jude, the Beatles song. Didn’t hear everything because I actually went out to smoke something in between. Some of the things the drummer did made it feel like surf jazz at times – great tripping music :D.

Bill McHenry Quintet @ the Village Vanguard

Last night I heard Bill McHenry Quintet at the Village Vanguard. It featured Duane Eubanks on trumpet, Andrew D’Angelo on alto, Ben Street on double bass and Paul Motian on drums, playing mostly Bill McHenry’s original compositions, which were all very much about exploring. Amazing rhythm section: Ben Street and Paul Motian – always interactive in the music, playful and swinging. My first time ever to hear Paul Motian live. He is certainly in a class of his own, has a kind of broad sound, I figured. Later on I discovered he doesn’t like to take pictures with fans. Funny, it was my first time ever to ask someone – and got turned down immediately. Will probably never ask again… Yeah… I’ve always thought taking pictures with famous musicians is kind of stupid anyway 🙂

NY Subway is full of music (and rats)

My favorite part of the concert were the deep and poetic minimalist moments in one or two of the compositions, with three voices (tenor, alto, trumpet) moving round each other with great taste and style. Otherwise the concert was mostly quite a lot of fun, exploring,  outside playing and crazy moments  (with the alto player Andrew D’Angelo definitely being the really passionate one in the band) – having no harmony instrument around certainly gives a lot of space for going somewhere.  Ben Street was great, my first time to hear him live – amazing bass player.

Later on, on the way home,  I was walking down the street and heard music coming from… inside the street. Someone was playing “My Favorite Things” down there (in the subway).