Jordon Dixon On!

Jordon Dixon
On!
Self-produced

"On!" is the second recording by Washington DC area tenor saxophonist Jordon Dixon. Dixon, a graduate of the jazz program of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), today is no young prodigy although when he was 15 sitting in at bars and clubs in his native Baton Rouge, he may have been considered as such. He came to DC after serving as a musician in the US Marine Corps. Graduating from UDC, he released the self-produced "Conversation Among Friends" which was issued in conjunction with his senior recital.

Dixon composed the nine compositions heard here (one in two takes) and backed by a superb band of some of the DC area's finest musicians. The remarkable Allyn Johnson, who is the head of Jazz Studies as UDC, plays piano here. He also engineered, mixed, and mastered this recording. On bass is Herman Burney who like Johnson is a respected educator and mentor to many local jazz artists and played with Freddie Cole, Terrell Stafford, Rene Marie, and others. On drums is Carroll V (CV) Dashiell who has played with Benny Golson, Bobby Watson, the late Geri Allen, and others.JS Williams adds trumpet to two tracks.

The material ranges from blues, hard bop and ballads and Dixon impress the listener with his big tone and the repertoire. On the opening track, "Notes From the Nook," Dixon displays his full sound and the authority with which he plays the blues. Johnson, who is also heard on organ, follows with a terrific solo before Burney takes an arco bass solo. The tempo picks up with the brisk pace of "Way too Serious," with the leader navigating the tempo with ease. "What You've Done For Me" is a lovely ballad where Dixon's warmth is complemented by Johnson's excellent accompaniment and solo. Dashiell's crisply kicks off "We Kin," a lively hard bop performance.

The title track opens with some rhapsodic piano before shifting to some hot swing with Burney and Dashiell driving this spirited number with Burney and Johnson also contributing cogent solos. "Flame and Friction" is a late-night blues with JS Williams adding his trumpet on this first-rate selection. "Lee Lee Dee" is a robustly played swinger followed by a precious ballad "She Meant It When She Said It," with Burney's solo giving this performance deep roots. Williams returns for "Fake Flowers," a tune that hints at a New Orleans parade as well as the church music all these artists grew up with. Dashiell takes a strong, crisp solo here.

An alternate take of "Notes From the Nook," closes this recording. Jordon Dixon impresses with the invention and passion he brings. One can hear the influences of Coltrane and Sonny Rollins at times, but also with his big tone and warmth, and affinity for blues and ballads will especially appeal to fans of Houston Person and the late Stanley Turrentine and Gene Ammons. Simply stated, this is a fabulous recording.

Jordon Dixon will be celebrating a CD Release Show Monday, June 10th 7:00 pm, JAZZ Alive@UDC, part of the DC Jazz Fest's Jazz in the 'Hoods.' For more information on this performance, check www.dcjazzfest.org. This looks like a show not to miss, although I will be unable to attend because of travel.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a video of Jordan at a student recital performing "Lee Lee Dee."

Tenth DC Jazz Festival June 24-29

Trombone Shorty will be one of the featured acts at 2014 DC Jazz Festival. Photo © Ron Weinstock

The Tenth DC Jazz Festival will bring a wide range of jazz to Washington DC June 24-29. First known as the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, the festival changed its name a few years ago. This year the Festival also moves to later in June. 

Helen Sung will be part of a salute of Women In Jazz

The Festival takes place in a number of venues in the Nation’s Capital over this period. Once again The Hamilton Live, a few blocks from the White House, will feature a wide range of artists over the Festival span. Located at 1600 14th Street, NW, Performers at the Hamilton Live will include Paquito D’Rivera, The Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience, Snarky Puppy, Brass-A-Holics, Etienne Charles and Rudresh Mahanthappa, and a salute to Women in Jazz with rising stars Tia Fuller and Helen Sung. Also, the Roy Hargrove Quintet will be there for a Prelude Kickoff Concert, June 21.

Frederick Yonnet. Photo © Ron Weinstock

There will be three days of performances at Yards Park at the Capital Riverfront. This is a follow-up to last year’s highly successful show at Kastles Stadium with The Roots. Fans will enjoy jazz at the Capitol Riverfront overlooking the Anacostia River where there will be wine and beer tastings, chef demonstrations and a marketplace. Performers for Jazz at the Riverfront include Trombone Shorty, Gregory Porter, Rebirth Brass Band, Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def) and very special guests, vocalist Akua Allrich and harmonica virtuoso Frédéric Yonnet. 


The Festival Also promotes Jazz in the ‘Hoods that takes place in over 40 venues with more than 80 performances in 21 neighborhoods around the city. Featured partners include The Howard Theatre, Bohemian Caverns, CapitalBop D.C.’s Jazz Loft Series, East River Jazz, the National Gallery of Arts Sculpture Garden, and Late Night at Loews Madison, among other venues. Artists include Marc Cary, Corcoran Holt, Lafayette Gilchrest, Allyn Johnson, Orrin Evans, Sharón Clark, Sin Miedo, Matana Roberts, and many more. 

Also taking place will be a program, Dave Brubeck Reimagined, at the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue. Renowned pianist Cyrus Chestnut and his quartet will bring unique interpretations of the music of Dave Brubeck. There will also be the annual Jazz ‘n Families Fun Days at the Phillips Collection that celebrates the synergy between jazz and the visual arts, with performances in the Phillips Collection’s music room and auditorium by more than a dozen regional artists and youth ensembles. Performers will include Rochelle Rice, Noble Jolley, Herman Burney and the Jazzin’ at Sitar Ensemble, Trio Caliente, Kayla Waters, and Tony Martucci 
 

Orrin Evans will be one of many performers as part of Jazz in the ‘Hoods

As can be seen, this is quite a line-up of performers. There will also be a variety of educational programs taking place at this time as well. For more information (including the festival schedule when it is released), visit www.dcjazzfest. org.

DC Jazz Festival Picks for June 2

Herman Burney

This is the second 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.

The Phillips Collection, the prestigious modern art museum near Dupont Circle hosts the first of two Jazz 'n Families Fun Days. Included today are a performance at noon by the Herman Burney Trio. Burney is one the area’s most accomplished players of the double bass. At 2PM, Victor Provost will lead his group on the steel pan. He has an excellent recent album, Her Favorite Shade of Yellow. DC Native Brian Settles is scheduled at 3:30PM and this saxophonist has received considerable acclaim from his recording Secret Handshake.

Michael Bowie

Trombonist Reginald Cyntje performs at the Anacostia Art Gallery & Boutique at 4:00 PM. This is part of the East River Jazz Festival that is part of DC Jazz Festival. This trombonist has a wonderful album, Freedom's Children: The Celebration.

Michael Bowie and Sine Qua Non appears at the Anacostia Art Gallery & Boutique at 8:00PM. Bowie is another of the DC area’s most accomplished bass players. Capital Bop conducted an interview with Bowie where he talks at length about this group.“The five-piece applies specific lessons from Spanish classical guitar music to an unorthodox jazz combo setting — notably, one without a guitarist.” For the full interview go to Capital Bop’s website.

The legendary bassist Ron Carter at the Bohemian Gardens for the second of two nights at this legendary DC club. Ron Carter may have recorded more than any bass player in history (he is on over 2000 albums) who first came to notice as part of the last great Miles Davis Quintet, and recorded with Eric Dolphy, Esther Phillips, Freddie Hubbard, Gil Evans and countless others.

For more information visit http://www.dcjazzfest.org/content.cfm/schedule_and_major_events.

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