Francesco Amenta - Midtown Walk

Francesco Amenta - Midtown Walk -Amenta Music International

Tenor saxophonist-composer Francesco Amenta is an Italian expatriate who has been living in New York since 2017. He started studying privately in Italy with American artists living in the city before attending a Jazz Conservatory in Bologna. Amenta studied at other institutions with Barry Harris, Johnny Griffith, Charles Lloyd, and others before setting his home base in the Netherlands and playing throughout Europe for ten years. He released his first album while living in the Netherlands. After a visit to New York in 2015, Amenta returned in 2017 for what was supposed to be a three-month visit. After meeting the woman who became his wife, he applied for a work permit and has been a resident ever since.

"Midtown Walk" is his second album and has him accompanied by a quartet of the noted pianist Cyrus Chestnut, and two Greek expatriates, bassist Kimon Karoutzos and drummer Gary Kerezou. John Lee, Dizzy Gillespie's long-time bassist, produced this recording. Amenta wrote seven of the eight selections performed. The other selection is from Duke Ellington.

"Dancing" opens this album and is a gently rhythmic composition that showcases Amenta's robust tone and fluid attack. "Home" is as much a showcase for the marvelous Chestnut as Amenta. Karoutzos' lengthy bass solo opens the funky "Bunch of Time," with Chestnut displaying his elegant, thoughtful relaxed accompaniment behind the leader's dynamic solo. "Number 9" is a modal composition inspired by McCoy Tyner. Noteworthy is Kerezou's dynamic drumming supporting Amenta's fiery playing Amenta and Chestnut's dazzling solo. She and bassist Karoutzos certainly are names to keep an eye on. 

Armenta's lyricism and warmth might be best exhibited on the lovely ballad, "06-22," with exquisite backing from Chestnut and the rhythm section. Even better is Amenta's rendition of Duke Ellington's "Come Sunday," with exquisite interplay by him and Chestnut, along with the thoughtful, carefully sculptured solos. It may be the highlight of this consistently outstanding recording. 

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is an earlier performance (from 2016) by Francesco Amenta of "Come Sunday."

Quiana Lynell A Little Love

Quiana Lynell
A Little Love
Concord Jazz

Raised in Texas where she grew up singing gospel, Quiana Lynell made her mark in 2017 when she won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Award. As part of winning, she received a contract with Concord Jazz. Earlier that year she appeared with her trio at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. This appearance led to her performing in Poland with trumpeter Terence Blanchard’s Spike Lee tribute with a 75-piece orchestra and a continued period of mentoring on Blanchard's part. "A Little Love" is her debut album which covers a wide range of songs from Nina Simone to Chaka Khan, from Duke to the Gershwins, from Donny Hathaway to Irma Thomas. The bookends of the album featuring songs by modern artists Alina Engibaryan and Joshuah Campbell.  Backing her is a fabulous band featuring Cyrus Chestnut on piano, Jamison Ross on drums, Ed Cherry on guitars, George DeLancey on bass and Monte Croft on vibes (on several selections).

She has quite an extensive vocal range as well as a broad expressive range and delivers the songs with considerable authority. The clarity, the melodic qualities, and the expressiveness of her vocals is outstanding. There is plenty of positive messages in her songs such as she sings about overcoming “xi," and pushing forth to better times and justice on "Sing Out, March On." One telling performance is a medley of Ellington's "Come Sunday" with Billy Taylor's "I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)." "Come Sunday" is a magical duet with Chestnut backing her marvelous vocal prayer. The full band joins in for the Taylor composition with guitarist Cherry sparkling behind heartfelt singing.

The authority of her vocals is also exhibited on the standards she performs. This includes a sublime duet with Jamison Ross on the Gershwin's "They All Laughed." Her interpretation of "Just A Little Lovin' (Early In The Morning)" from Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil has considerable charm. she exhibits much warmth in her swinging rendition of Gordon-Revel's "You Hit the Spot." Besides the romanticism of her singing, Cherry and Chestnut both stand out with the clean, crisply played solos.

Additionally, there is a rendition of Irma Thomas' "Hip Shakin' Mama," played by the band with a bit more of a backbeat and a marvelous vocal that hints at her gospel roots along with her interplay with guitarist Cherry. There is no doubt she could do a terrific recording of deep soul in the manner of Irma Thomas. Then there is a marvelous duet with Chestnut on Monte Croft's "What Is Love. With plenty of jazz vocal recordings coming out, "A Little Love" stands out with Quiana Lynell's excellent singing, first-rate backing, and well-chosen repertoire. Given how much I was impressed by this CD, I purchased a download of a more recent New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival performance by her.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the September-October 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 386). Here is a video of her performing "Hip Shakin' Mama" in Marcus Garvey Park in New York City at the 2019 Charlie Parker Jazz Festival.

Cyrus Chestnut - Natural Essence

Cyrus Chestnut
Natural Essence
HighNote Records

"Natural Essence" is the latest recording from pianist Cyrus Chestnut, and with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White, is another reason to regard Chestnut not simply as one of the most formidable pianists in a technical sense, but one of the most imaginative and compelling jazz musicians of today. As Steve Futterman observes in the liner notes, "Chestnut has consistently shown himself as an improvisor of rare ingenuity and grace … [yet distinguished from other gifted pianists by] … the sheer pleasure that radiates from all he plays."

The ebullience that emanates from his playing is immediately evident on the opening interpretation of Joe Henderson's "Mamacita," which also displays the energy and drive offered by Williams and White and followed by a swinging reworking of "It Could Happen To You." Four of the nine performances are originals including two from the leader, and one each by Williams and White. Chestnut's "Faith Amongst The Unknown" has a spiritual underpinning anchored by Williams' ostinato, while his other original "I Remember" has a definite charm about it. White contributed a lovely ballad "Dedication," where Chestnut's impeccable touch and sense of dynamics is mesmerizing with White's use of brushes adding to the performance, while Williams' Toku-Do is a spirited, perky performance.

Chestnut, Williams and White brings a fresh approach with the lively rendition of "I Cover The Waterfront" while the extended treatment of "My Romance" that reflects attention to touch and tonal qualities and his orchestral approach to the piano on a hauntingly beautiful performance. This recording closes with the trio taking off on the Gigi Gyrce classic "Minority, a hard bop performance of irresistible drive and swing. ""Natural Essence" is a superb recording that provides more evidence of Cyrus Chestnut's stature of one of today's premier jazz pianists.

I received a review copy from the record company. This review originally appeared in the July-August 2016 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 367).  Here is this master doing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."

 

DC Jazz Festival Picks for June 7

Michael Thomas

This is the seventh post I am making to highlight some of the shows associated with this year’s DC Jazz Festival. I am specifically not highlighting the DC JazzLoft Fest since I have posted on this already. I will may also pick a few other shows around the DC Virginia area that should not be overlooked. I am posting this a day ahead of the date of performances.  For more information visit http://www.dcjazzfest.org/content.cfm/schedule_and_major_events.

At 1:00 PM, as part of the East River Jazz Festival, Todd Marcus Ensemble will be at the East River Washington Senior Wellness Center. Todd Marcus, one of the few who specialize in the bass clarinet, leads a little big band which displays his compositions and ability to make use of a variety of musical colors. Capital Bop notes that he leads a nine piece ensemble. “Thankfully, both Marcus’s oddball instrumentalism and his offbeat ensemble are astonishingly strong, modern and infectious. Few people improvise with more fervor or write music better than he does.”

At 5:00PM, trumpeter Michael Thomas will be featured at the Phillips Collection with their hard bop and blues inspired by such legendary figures as Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard and Art Blakey. This is hard swinging music at its finest.

Roberta Gambarini

The Hamilton hosts the wonderful singer Roberta Gambarini along with the Cyrus Chestnut Trio, led by one of today’s most accomplished pianists.

The 6th and I Historic Synagogue will host the Anat Cohen Quartet. Proficient on saxophone as well as clarinet, Anat Cohen is a repeat poll winner on the clarinet and brings a contemporary approach to traditional jazz and Brazilian music as well as displays her mastery of the modern jazz canon.

Anat Cohen with guitarist Howard Alden

DC Jazz Festival Brings 10 Days of Jazz To The Nation's Capital

Ron Carter

The 2012 DC Jazz Festival takes place in the Nation’s Capital June 1 and runs through June 10. The Festival this year will have a variety of signature programs including Jazz Meets the Classics at the Kennedy Center; Jazz in the ‘Hoods at a variety of clubs and museums, presented by Events DC; Jazz’‘n’ Families Fun Days at The Phillips Collection; Jazz at the Hamilton presented by The Washington Post; and Jazz at the Howard.

Jazz Meets the Classics, co-presented by the Kennedy Center on June 4th, will feature an all-star lineup performing unique and exciting jazz interpretations of works by Bach, Chopin, Mozart, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky. Headlining the concert is the Classical Jazz Quartet, with NEA Jazz Masters bassist Ron Carter and pianist Kenny Barron, vibraphonist Stefon Harris and drummer Lewis Nash. Also headlining is NEA Jazz Master and 10-time Grammy Award-winner Paquito D’Rivera, joined by Spain’s Pepe Rivero Trio, Michael Phillip Mossman and Pernell Saturnino.

Lena Seikaly

The Jazz in the ‘Hoods program highlights the innovative CapitalBop D.C. Jazz Loft, Bohemian Caverns, and more than 80 performances at over 40 museums, clubs, restaurants, hotels, and galleries across the city with performers like Loide, Michael Thomas, Mark Prince, and Rodney Richardson with Lena Seikaly. The D.C. Jazz Loft Series, presented by Capital Bop, returns to spotlight some cutting edge music and will span 3 days including an all day manifest on June 9. Performers include Marc Cary’s Cosmic Indigenous; Tarbaby, featuring Orrin Evans, Nasheet Waits. Eric Revis; and the Todd Marcus Nonet. I will hopefully have a separate post on Capital Bop’s DC Jazz Loft Series separately.

Elijah Balbed

The free annual Jazz ‘n’ Families Fun Days at The Phillips Collection on Saturday, June 2nd and Sunday, June 3rd will treat families to performances from some of the finest musicians from around the region, including Marianne Solivan, Victor Provost, the Herman Burney Trio, and the Elijah Balbed Quartet. Jazz at the Hamilton, the Festival’s main venue, will feature 10 nights of performances with such noted artists as Randy Weston, Monty Alexander, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, David Sanchez, Les Nubians, Antonio Hart, Cyrus Chestnut, Jonathan Batiste, Ben Williams, Etienne Charles, John Scofield, Roberta Gambarini, and Marshall Keys.

Jimmy Heath

Jazz at the Howard celebrates the tradition of jazz in D.C. at the newly restored and reopened historic Howard Theatre. Headline artists include multiple Grammy Award-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves and famed Italian guitarist Pino Daniele. The Festival also hosts a performance by the dazzling clarinetist and saxophonist Anat Cohen at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, and six concerts co-presented by the Kennedy Center at the Millennium Stage featuring artists such as Malika Zara, the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, and Origem.  There is plenty of terrific jazz in a variety of musical flavors for the casual and discerning music lover at the 2012 DC Jazz Festival.

Roy Hargrove

The DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) is the largest music festival in Washington, D.C. A project of Festivals DC, Ltd., a 501 © (3) non-profit organization, the DCJF is one of the most highly-anticipated cultural events in the nation’s capital. The DC Jazz Festival is sponsored in part with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information about the DC Jazz Festival and upcoming programs, visit www.dcjazzfest.org.

All photos © by Ron Weinstock