Roberto Fonseca ABUC

Roberto Fonseca
ABUC
Impulse!

Grammy nominated pianist Roberto Fonseca has been exploring and celebrating the music of his native Cuba for some time as a composer, producer, solo artist and collaborator with other Latin American music luminaries, bringing forth richly melodic compositions and recordings that capture the irrepressible Cuban sound and its rich musical history. His latest effort "ABUC" continues, and as the title is Cuba spelled backwards, this present effort might be said to "look backward at the evolution of Cuban jazz," with Fonseca writing or co-writing nearly all 14 of the tracks. "I wanted to review the Cuban music history - not only the styles that have influenced me most, but in a broader sense, so people could have a better idea of how the orchestras used to sound in those times." Its a wonderful mix of material with also Fonseca attempting to capture sound of music when audio technology was not so advanced.

Things start on a very hot note with Ray Bryant's "Cubano Chant" with the heat of the performance including a fiery solo from guest Trombone Shorty. "Afro Mambo" is just as raucous, with spirited vocal performances by Daymé Arocena and Carlos Calunga amid the orchestration. "The challenge was to make it sound like the orchestras from the 1940s and 1950s. We invited to EGREM one of the studio's oldest technicians, who really taught us how they recorded back in the day. ...It was really sonic time traveling!" Listening to this one might be forgiven for thinking that Fonseca spliced an older recording onto this performance. "Tumbao de la Unidad," with Eliades Ochoa on guitar and vocal, is Fonseca's call for unity among all cultures set at a much more relaxed tempo, and followed by "Contradanza del Espiritu," which opens with some morose violin before horns set a more stately feeling here with this listener be reminded of Dr. John's performance of "Litanie Des Saints" that was inspired by 18th century composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk. Fonseca's piano playing, and use of delay, reverb and other enhancements engenders an unusual feel here.

"Tierra Santa" tells the story of a musician from Santiago de Cuba who's invited to play in New Orleans, where he discovers an amazing wind ensemble playing in the streets. "He's awestruck, and he rapidly imagines home these melodies would sound with the Santiago conga rhythm." With the insistent, distinctive congas beat, it comes off almost as a blend Afro-Cuban jazz with Fela Kuti's funk and horns, and a highlight on this exceptional recording. "Family," inspired by memories of listening to the radio at home with his mother when he was a boy in the 1970s and the performance displays a fusion of musical styles with hot trumpet in the accompaniment.

Other noteworthy performances include "Soul Guardians," a melodious performance with an incorporation of a variety of influences, including rap, hip-hop and reggae-ton. The spirited "Asere Monina Bonco" has brilliant flute work from Policarpo "Polo" Tamayo, who passed away shortly after the album was finished along with some very impressive bass playing. The lovely bolero, "Después," has Mercedes Cortés Alfaro, Fonseca's mother, on vocals along with the brilliant Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal on trumpet. Fonseca's brief solo piano reprise of "Cubano Chant," is the coda for the superb "ABUC." which is highly recommended to lovers of Afro-Cuban music and Latin jazz.

I received a download from a publicist for review purposes. Enjoy this a video for "Afro Mambo."

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.

1st Weekend JazzFest Suggestions From One Who Cannot Be There

D.L. Menard
Photo © Ron Weinstock

A comment to a post on this blog requested if I had any recommendations for JazzFest this year and then Steve Kiviat, who is associated with the Washington City Paper, mentioned he was going to JazzFest for the first weekend and it was the first time in six years. He knew most of the funk acts and brass bands so he requested some other suggestions including any idea about Luther Kent and Ernie Vincent. I replied to Steve by email and am using my response to him as the basis for some Festival recommendations and excluding the most obvious big stage and soul acts like Bruce Springsteen and Al Green.

Evan Christopher - Photo © Ron Weinstock

I have not seen Ernie Vincent who is in the Blues Tent as is Luther Kent (who I have seen and is real good). However, Luther is opposite Evan Christopher who will be in the WWOZ Jazz Tent. Evan’s new Clarinet Road CD, In Sidney’s Footsteps (STR Digital) is superb.

Of special note on Friday, Stephanie Jordan and her Big Band is doing a tribute to Lena Horne and will be followed by Pancho Sanchez with Terence Blanchard.The Blues Tent becomes over-crowded but early on Friday it has legendary pianist Henry Grey followed by the former Clifton Chenier guitarist Lil Buck Sinigal. The New Orleans Revue on the Acura Stage Friday has Frankie Ford, Robert ‘Barefootin’ Parker, and Al ‘Carnival Time’ Johnson looks real good and they will be followed by The Dixie-Cups. Frankie Ford remains a terrific entertainer. The Fais Do Do Stage which features cajun and zydeco always has some good music with an exceptional lineup on Friday with Geno Delafose and Beausoleil standing out. Butch Thompson will be doing a Jelly Roll Morton tribute in the Economy Hall Tent and Irma Thomas will be doing her Mahalia Jackson Tribute in the Gospel tent.

Brother Tyrone
Photo © Ron Weinstock

On Saturday, Brother Tyrone (If You Ain’t Cheating, You Ain’t Trying) is soul-blues in Blues Tent and recommend him along with Wolfman Washington at that venue. In the WWOZ Jazz Tent I already have mentioned Evan Christopher and Clarinet Road, but also check out Irving Mayfield's New Orleans Jazz Orchestra features some terrific compositions and soloists. Closing in the Blues Tent will be a Tribute to Wardell Querzergue featuring The Dixie Cups, Robert “Barefootin’” Parker and Tony Owens. D.L. Menard (the Cajun Hank Williams), the Savoy Music Center Jam and the terrific Pine Leaf Boys will be on the Fais Do Do Stage, along with a non-cajun act, the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Shamarr Allen (Meet Me On Frenchmen Street) is on the Gentilly Stage early in the day.The Voice of the Wetlands All Stars (Tab Benoit, Dr. John, Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Vidacovich, Johnny Sansone and Waylon Thibodeaux are on the Acura Stage before Tom Petty.

Stephanie Jordan
Photo © Ron Weinstock

On Sunday, Dr. John and Trombone Shorty are featured on the .Acura Stage but fans of New Orleans funk should also check out Papa Grows Funk on the Gentilly Stage (overlaps Dr. John) as well as The Batiste Brothers whom will be on Congo Square (overlap with trombone Shorty). Must see in Economy Hall is Lionel Ferbos who will be celebrating his 101st Birthday soon, and The Treme Brass Band. In the WWOZ Jazz Tent, Ellis Marsalis makes his festival appearance, the great Diane Reeves will sing and Nicholas Payton leads a fascinating trio which includes Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts on drums. In the Blues Tent Corey Harris & Phil Wiggins make perform some fascinating acoustic blues followed by the JazzFest return of Ironing Board Sam, once a JazzFest mainstay. Also in the Blues Tent is Gary Clark, Jr, who has been getting lot of well-deserved press recently. Kirk Joseph's Tuba Tuba on the Jazz and Heritage Stage sounds really fascinating as he leads a group of New Orleans finest Tuba players. Highlights on the Fais Do Do Stage on Sunday are Steve Riley and Hadley Castille, while guitarist Spencer Bohren performs on the Lagniappe Stage.

So that is my specific recommendations including some you may have not considered. Have a great Fest. I will post recommendations for the second weekend May 1 or 2.

Papa John Gros of Papa Grows Funk
Photo © Ron Weinstock

New Atlantis Tells Story How Music and Musicians Are Helping rebuild New Orleans

New Atlantis: Musicians Battle For The Survival of New Orleans
John Swenson
Oxford University Press


Music journalist and scholar John Swenson has authored an important new book about the efforts of New Orleans musicians to help rebuild and restore their city after the "federal flood" that occurred after the levees broke during Hurricane Katrina. After an opening chapter dealing with the Voice of the Wetlands project that Tab Benoit had initiated prior to the Hurricane, and a chapter on the Mardi Gras Indians, Swenson interweaves the rebuilding of the city and music scene and the return of some of the musicians who returned over time.


It isn't an easy recovery. For some who came back, there were others who never would, or would pass away not long after returning. And the early returnees came to a city occupied by the National Guard and terrible street violence with musicians and tourists not being safe from gang related violence. But there are James and Troy (Trombone Shorty) Andrews returning to New Orleans 17 days after Katrina to play at Jackson Square at ceremonies associated with the President's speech and having to deal with what they saw.


Musicians slowly came back and started playing but as Swenson observes they did more than simply make music. Craig Klein of Bonerama started the Arabi Wrecking Crew to help gut ruined houses and then partnered with a group building a musicians community. And then there is music such as that by harmonica player Andy Forest with a recording "Real Story," while Coco Robichaux started playing at Molly's when the lights went back on there, and a group including Walter 'Wolfman' Washington played a concert at the Maple Leaf that the National Guard closed down at 8:00PM after curfew, and James Andrews playing a concert at the Ogden Museum, resuming its concert series that Katrina had interrupted.


Taking us through Halloween and Mardi Gras, Swenson introduces us to a variety of individuals (some famous nationally and others local) such as DJ Davis, the real person who served as the basis for the character on the HBO show "Tremé," Paul Sanchez, Papa John Gros, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Dr. John, Dr. Michael White (the great clarinetist who lost countless and irreplaceable musical artifacts in the federal flood), Theresa Anderson, John Boutté, Evan Christopher, Susan Cowsill, Glen David Andrews, the Radiators and others.


There was a protest against the street violence that the musicians were a major force behind as well as important efforts to revive neighborhoods and communities. He discusses a variety of recordings as well as performances and the unique relationship between the musicians and their fans from not just the city but around the world. Swenson's draws the reader into the rich tapestry of people and events that he so compellingly tells us about. It is a superb and import book of a story that still is unfinished and is recommended to anybody who loves New Orleans and its music.


I received an advance review copy from Amazon.com's Vine program, but had purchased this for my kindle.

Trombone Shorty's Backatown Keeps Groove Going

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue at 2009 Duke Ellington (now DC) Jazz Festival

Since emerging nationally as a member of Lenny Kravitz’s Band, and his appearance on a nationally televised Hurricane Katrina, Troy ‘Trombone Shorty’ Andrews has emerged as a favorite band on touring and festival circuits with his blend of funk, Brass Band riffs and some hip-hop & soul seasonings. He is a member of a musical family as his older brother James was a founder of the New Birth Brass band and recorded a brassy al;bum that was produced by Allen Toussaint. Another brother, trumpeter James helped mentor him and Troy’s grandfather was the late Jessie Hill who had a major hit with the New Orleans R&B classic “Ooh Poo Pah Doo.” 

Busy beyond his years, Troy has recorded a CD with his brother, and a previous CD with his band Orleans Avenue along with plenty of studio work. Now he has a new release, “Backatown” (Verve Forecast), that seems destined to increase his fan base even more. Also there are recordings available of his New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival sets (from 2004 and 2006-2008) that can be found at JazzFestLive.com.

The title of this album refers to the area of New Orleans that includes Tremé, the historic neighborhood where so many great musicians came from and which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Produced by Galactic’s Ben Ellman, Troy’s band, Orleans Avenue (Mike Ballard on bass, Pete Murano on guitar, Joey Peebles on drums, Dwayne Williams on percussion and Dan Oestreicher on baritone sax) is the core behind him with special guests that include Allen Toussaint, Kravitz, Marc Broussard and Charles Smith (Orleans Avenue’s original drummer playing synth bass). Troy wrote all except one of the 14 numbers on this.

The tune is set with the opening “ Hurricane Katrina,” with its hip hop rhythm mixed with a funked up brass band sound, followed by Allen Toussaint’s “On Your Way Down,” where the legendary pianist plays as Troy delivers the message the folks you see on the way up are the ones you will pass on the way down. After another funked up instrumental, Kravitz joins on guitar and backing vocal on “Something Beautiful,” as he asks “Can You Show Me Something Beautiful,” which is quite catchy. The title track opens with some dark sounding synth bass from Smith before Troy enters with some buzzing trombone with some ripping baritone from Oestreicher as the horns weave around each other. Broussard adds a vocal to “Right to Complain,” wLith a message about all make a complain but no one wants to do anything. The instrumental “Neph,” has an mesmerizing cowbell-ish groove before Troy on trumpet conjures up a strong spanish tinge with stirring interludes of his trumpet soaring over the percussion. “Suburbia,” opens with some metal-ish guitar before Troy adds some trombone and trumpet playing that suggest a call to arms. The groove of “In the 6th,” with the baritone helping set the funk riff, sounds like a homage to the Dirty Dozen and other modern New Orleans Brass Bands that his music is rooted in. “Where Y’At,” is a composition that originated in some onstage jamming with “new ideas coalescing out of improvised sections of existing pieces.” Troy credits Marvin Gaye as inspiration for the ballad “Fallin’.”

Anyone who has seen Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue know how electric the performances can be. A studio recording can only go so far in capturing this aspect of his music, but “Backatown,” is a recording that undoubtedly will increase his growing visibility (his appearances on the HBO series “Tremé,” also contribute to this) and certainly please his many fans.

This review also appeared in the July, 2010 Jazz & Blues Report (issue 327) at page 15 although I have added a few bits like the reference to the availability of his Jazz Fest sets. It should be readily available.

For purposes of FTC regulations, I received a review copy from a publicist for the label.

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue

Coming to the Pocono Blues Festival on Sunday, June 27, with two sets, one outside and one inside. Here is an excerpt of my review from their Duke Ellington Jazz Festival performance on June 14.

"Troy ”Trombone Shorty” Andrews is a double threat on trombone and trumpet and comes from a musical family. Brother James had stints with the Tréme Brass Band and was original leader of the New Birth Brass Band besides recording “Satchmo of the Ghetto for Allen Toussaint’s NYNO label. Troy, who had broad experience in his hometown, came to notice in one of the Katrina benefit television broadcast. His own band Orleans Avenue is one of several groups that take the modern brass band as inspiration for a riveting mix of traditional jazz, funk, and soul with a touch of hip hop. He opened up with a brass band favorite that his brother James has recorded, ”I Want My Money Back,” with guitarist Pete Murano using an effective hard rock riff while saxophonist Trixie wailed. Introducing “Rats and Roaches Around My Home,,” Andrews alluded to DC’s Go Go Beat while Big D added some interesting accents on congas. A nice change of pace was the rendition of “It’s a Wonderful World,” just be Andrews and guitarist Murano. The set closed with his own take on “The Saints” which opens with a modern trumpet styled reading of the theme before they funked it up with Shorty walking into the crowd and then the band members all switched instruments as guitarist Murano ended up on sax and Shorty on drums. What a rousing set of music that just tore things up and really got the crowd up and dancing."