Monday, October 11, 2010

Notes from the Net: A Miles Davis interview rediscovered; fall CD releases; plus news, reviews, interviews and more

Here's the latest compilation of assorted news briefs and links related to jazz, improvisation, and creative music in St. Louis, including news of musicians originally from the Gateway City, recent visitors, and coming attractions, plus assorted other items of interest:

* Starting once again with some Miles Davis news, via Miles Davis Online we learn that Soulandjazz.com has posted a radio interview with Davis originally done in the mid-1980s for musician/broadcaster/author Ben Sidran's NPR program "Sidran on Record." Also via MDO, netmag The Quietus asks rock stars to name their favorite Miles Davis albums, and the news that the list price of the recent box-set-of-box-sets The Genius of Miles Davis has been reduced from $1,199 to $749.

Meanwhile, over at AllAboutJazz.com, Victor L. Schermer considers "Miles: The Autobiography... Two Decades Later", while Warner Jazz in the UK has issued Perfect Way – The Warner Bros. Years, a compilation album drawn from Davis' late-career output that also includes some previously unreleased tracks.

* Trumpeter, singer and St. louis native Clark Terry is the subject of an interview at Marc Myers' JazzWax blog; check out part one here, and part two here.

* The Wall Street Journal reports that saxophonist and former St. Louisan David Sanborn, who was back home in August to play Jazz at the Bistro, is selling his NYC townhouse for $9 million.

* From the "coming attractions" file, the New York Times' Nate Chinen reviews The Bad Plus' new CD Never Stop here. Also, TBP finally made their Kansas City debut last month at the Folly Theater, and Bill Brownlee of the KC jazz blog Plastic Sax was there to review the show for the Kansas City Star. The Bad Plus return to St. Louis in January to play at the Bistro.

* Singer Jane Monheit (pictured), who will perform at the Bistro in December, also has a new CD, Home, on sale now.

* Guitarist John McLaughlin and his band 4th Dimension are set to play NYC's Town Hall on November 13, six days before they come to St. Louis to play the Sheldon Concert Hall.

* JazzHouston has an interview with pianist Vijay Iyer, who will be back in St. Louis next month with Wadada Leo Smith's Golden Quartet for a New Music Circle-sponsored concert at the 560 Music Center.

* In news of some recent visitors, saxophonist Kirk Whalum has released his new CD paying tribute to singer, songwriter, pianist and St. Louis native Donny Hathaway. Special guests on the disc include Hathaway's daughter, R&B singer Lalah Hathaway; bassist Christian McBride; and guitarist Jeff Golub. Whalum and Golub were in St. Louis with the Guitars and Saxes tour at the Pageant in August , while McBride has played here this year with his band Inside Straight at the Bistro and in a duo concert with pianist Peter Martin at the Sheldon.

* Meanwhile, guitarist Kevin Eubanks, who was here in July to play at the Casino Queen, will release a new CD called Zen Food on Mack Avenue Records on November 23.

* Finally, a few more notes of general interest: The MU Concert Jazz Band from the University of Missouri has released their debut CD Vertigo, featuring a guest appearance by vibraphonist Mike Manieri;

* AllAboutJazz.com has revamped their free services for jazz musicians as part of an overall site redesign;

* And "early bird" registration for the next Jazz Education Network conference, to be held in January in New Orleans, ends this Friday.

No comments: