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.

RIP Butch Warren

2012-0719 Freddie Redd & Butch Warren-6323, a photo by NoVARon on Flickr.

Just heard that Edward 'Butch' Warren passed away. A legendary bassist he was brought by Kenny Dorham from DC to NY and for several years was part of the house rhythm section with Sonny Clark and Billy Higgins. He played on so many classic Blue Note albums by Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Dexter Gordon, Herbie Hancock and was Monk's bassist in the Mid-1960s. He will most certainly be missed.

The Washington Post had a wonderful appreciation on him a few weeks ago, http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-09-13/entertainment/42036719_1_jazz-night-stanley-turrentine-nursing-home.

And here is the Washington Post obituary.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/edward-butch-warren-washington-born-bassist-dies-at-74/2013/10/06/89a11a2e-2eb0-11e3-bbed-a8a60c601153_story.html

He is pictured above with Freddie Redd.  Here is a clip of him with Monk in 1963.

Happy Birthday Bobby Parker

Two DC Music Icons - Bobby Parker (on left) and the late Chuck Brown (on right)
Photo © Ron Weinstock

One of this city's true icons, Bobby Parker, turns 76 today. He was born in Lafayette, Louisiana August 31, 1937. If you are in the Washington DC area today and want a double dose of great blues, catch Chris Thomas King's early set at Blues Alley and then head out to Madam's Organ for Bobby's last Saturday of the month show.  For more on Bobby you can check out his All Music biography. Here is the link to Bobby's own website, http://bobbyparkerblues.net.

Here is Bobby doing one of his earliest recordings, Blues Get Off My Shoulder from the 1990's at Fleetwood's in Alexandria.

Here is Bobby from this past June at the Silver Spring (MD) blues festival.

Chris Thomas King at Blues Alley

Chris Thomas King at the 2009 Pocono Blues Festival. Photo © Ron Weinstock

Just a heads up that Chris Thomas King, a forward looking blues artist is at Blues Alley in Washington DC starting tonight, August 29. He will be there through Sunday, September 1.  Thomas' music is rooted in the deep Baton Rouge blues scene epitomized by his father the legendary Tabby Thomas, but brings a whole range of elements to his music including Jimi Hendrix, New Orleans jazz and hip hop. While he may be known for his acting (he played "Tommy Johnson" in the acclaimed movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"), he is a true blues treasure. 

Here is a video of Chris Thomas King in performance doing Baptized in Dirty Water. It is from his marvelous post-Katrina album Rise which to my mind is among the best blues albums of the past decade. My review of it is here.

2013-0418 Frank Basile Celebrates Pepper Adams at Kogod-7736

2013-0418 Frank Basile Celebrates Pepper Adams at Kogod-7736, a photo by NoVARon on Flickr.

Thursday April 18, the monthly Take 5! program at the Smithsonian's Museum of American Art featured baritone saxophonist Frank Basile and his group celebrating the music of the late Pepper Adams.

Frank Basile

Adams, one of the most celebrated baritone players of the sixties until his death in 1986, first came to notice when he co-lead a group with Trumpeter Donald Byrd. He may be best known for his associations with Charles Mingus and the Thad Jones-Mel Louis Village Vanguard Orchestra, but was also a composer of note as well as a great player.

Basile, one of the finest young baritone sax players on the New York scene, has recorded CDs of Adams composition and brought his arrangements of Adams music for a group that included fellow baritone saxophonists Leigh Pilzer and Brad Linde. The rhythm section included pianist Hod O'Brien (who had played with Adams), bassist Tom Baldwin and drummer Tony Marucci.

It was a real pleasure listening to the three saxophonists, each with their own distinctive sound playing Adams' music. Reminder that the Take5! series takes place the third Thursday of the month and starts at 5:00PM, and runs until 7PM (8PM in the late spring and summer).

Frank Basile Celebrates Pepper Adams' Music at Museum of American Art

Baritone saxophonist Frank Basile has established himself as among the most formidable players of the Baritone saxophone on the scene today. Thursday, April 18, he well lead a celebration of the music of the great baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams at the Kogod Courtyard at the Smithsonian Museum of American Art in the Penn Quarter section of Washington DC, just across 7th Street from the Verizon Center and opposite F Street from the Spy Museum. The free program is part of the Museum's monthly Take 5! series on the third Thursday of each month and takes place from 5 PM to 8 PM.

The Museum's website describes this program:

"Relax and Take 5! with free, live jazz in the Kogod Courtyard. Frank Basile celebrates the music of Pepper Adams, the exceptional baritone saxophonist and composer who played with Charles Mingus, Donald Byrd, and Thad Jones. Basile and fellow baritones Leigh Pilzer and Brad Linde perform original arrangements, accompanied by Hod O’Brien (piano), Tom Baldwin (bass), and Tony Martucci (drums)."

I have become aware of Frank Basile from a Kickstarter project supporting his most recent recording Modern Inventions. One of the premiums I received for my participation was one of several recordings he has performed of the compositions of Pepper Adams and it was a terrific introduction to Basile's music. I am looking forward to the triple baritone attack at the Kogod Courtyard.

Frank Basile's website is: http://www.frankbasilemusic.com.

Little Bit a Blues at Blues Alley

2013-0327 Little Bit a Blues at Blues Alley-3270168, a photo by NoVARon on Flickr.

Warner Williams is a Washington DC area blues treasure that many outside of Washington may not be aware with. Over the past couple decades he has performed with harmonica player Jay Summerour as Little Bit a Blues. Warner will not fly and accordingly does not travel that often although he has played the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and some other national blues and folk festivals.

Wednesday, March 27, Warner and Jay, with Eric Selby on drums, celebrated at the Washington DC night club Blues Alley, the release of their new CD Live at B.B. King's Bluesville with a marvelous set of acoustic blues that ranged beyond the already wide repertoire of songs on the CDs including Warner's take on such classic blues as Key To The Highway, Digging My Potatoes, I Feel So Good, Greyhound Blues and Good Morning Little Schoolgirl. Warner's fluid guitar was a delight as was his warm baritone and delighted the Blues Alley crowd.

Jay Summerour, Eleanor Ellis and Eric Selby at Blues Alley on March 27, 2013

Eleanor Ellis, one of the finest female acoustic blues women alive opened with a set that included songs from Memphis Minnie, Jim Jackson, Pink Anderson and Simmie Dooley and Little Hat Jones-Andy Boy. Eleanor was also backed by Jay and Eric for her set. Her renditions of Memphis Minnie tunes are better than most by the better known, but not more talented artists, on the recent Memphis Minnie tribute album Maria Muldaur put out recently. Elanor is that good and its time for her to do another CD.

It was an evening of superb acoustic blues. Warner and Little Bit Blues will be appearing at the Pennsylvania Blues Festival on July 28, 2013. here is a link to that festival, http://www.skibluemt.com/seasonal-activities/pa-blues-festival/.

Selected DC Area Blues For the Month of April

Otis Taylor will be at Blues Alley

Back when I edited the DC Blues Society’s newsletter, I highlighted what I thought were especially interesting shows. In that spirit, here are a few blues highlights for April.

April 3 - Otis Taylor at Blues Alley. Otis is touring in support of his latest Telarc album “My World Is Gone,” where he has a special guest, Native American guitarist Mato Nanji. This is of Taylor’s most moving recordings with deceptively simple, stark and understated performances of his songs that convey the tragic times Native Americans have endured better and the presence of Mato Nanji on this tour is especially welcome. 

April 3 Carolina Chocolate Drops at the Birchmere. The Carolina Chocolate Drops have led the revival of tradition African-American String Band music with an eclectic and delightful repertoire and are making a welcome return to the area.

April 6 Grant Dermody & Rich DelGrosso, perform at a House Concert at the Glassie/Littell House in Bethesda. Grant Dermody is one of the really fine harmonica players out there. Rich DelGrosso is among the few blues players who focus on the blues mandolin, but his talents go way beyond that. Rich and his late wife Maureen played a fantastic concert for the DC Blues Society back in 1990 with the legendary Howard Armstrong where they were joined by Cephas and Wiggins at the end. Email Jeff Glassie at jeffglassie@ gmail.com if interested in attending.

Deanna Bogart will be wailing as part of the
Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue at
the State Theatre. Photo © Ron Weinstock

April 17 Lloyd Jones at the Archie Edwards Blues Barbershop. Portland, Oregon based singer-guitarist has earned a reputation for his funk-drenched urban blues style but is a very gifted songwriter will be making an appearance performing solo at this mid-week show at the Archie Edwards Blues Foundation’s Barbershop. For those who want a preview, check out his excellent 2011 album, “Highway Bound” on Underworld Records.

April 19 The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue at The State Theatre. The popular 

The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue featuring Tommy Castro and the Painkillers, Deanna Bogart, Magic Dick, and Ronnie Baker Brooks makes another appearance at The State Theatre. This popular revue led by Tommy Castro, is an offshoot of the revue which has become a popular feature of the Legendary Rhythm and Blues cruises.

April 20 - Janiva Magness at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Club. Janiva is a marvelous vocalist who brings a clarity as well as plenty of heart to his blues, most currently displayed by her Alligator recordings. On this tour she is supported by a band that includes a superb keyboard player Jim Alfredson.

April 21 - Gary Nicholson at JV’s. Nicholson is amongst the best roots songwriters in Nashville. he is probably best known for his work for Delbert McClinton, but his name is increasingly found in songwriting credits on many new blues and roots releases. He will be on a tour with a band Scott Ramminger is putting together when he performs at the Falls Church venue. 

April 27- Hadden Sayers at Hill Country Barbecue. Hadden Sayers has a knack with words, his vocals ring true and his wonderful guitar playing is complemented by his fine band. He is touring in support of his exceptional new album Rolling Soul. 

Nap Turner Singing the Blues At Cafe Vez

I do miss Nap Turner. The following review appeared in the May 2002 DC Blues Calendar, the newsletter of The DC Blues Society I edited for almost 20 years. I received my review copy from Wayne Kahn who runs Right on Rhythm and still champions the DC music scene.

DC area music lovers should be grateful for Wayne Kahn’s enterprise in going out and making location recordings of local blues, jazz, and roots performers for his Right on Rhythm label and other labels (The new Nighthawks album on Ruf is taken from Wayne’s recordings of the group). 

The latest Right on Rhythm release is the second by Nap “Don’t Forget the Blues” Turner, Live at Cafe Vez. Backed by Gary Jenkins Quartet which features the saxophone of Arnold Sterling, this disc captures Nap doing a trio of Percy Mayfield numbers, some blues standards and ballads, two recitations from Langston Hughes’ Best of Simple and a closing blues medley with DC’s blues diva Mary Jefferson. This duet is also the first issued recording by her. It certainly is a nice showcase for Nap who puts his heart into his vocals as the Jenkins band swings behind him. 

Nap Turner & Mary Jefferson at Bluebird Blues Festival. Photo © Ron Weinstock

There are a couple places where he has intonation problems, but overall he sings strongly and persuasively in the uptown blues vein. Kudos to organist Joe Kaplowitz (superb whether comping behind Nap’s vocals and the other soloists, or soloing himself) and guitarist Rick Hanna in addition to saxophonist Sterling (who particularly outstanding on an uptempo adaptation of T-Bone Walker’s Stormy Monday).

Leader Jenkins drumming keeps the swinging groove. In addition to the bawdy duet with Mary Jefferson on If You See Kay/Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On, highpoints include Curtis Lewis’ Deadly Nightshade (The Great City) and a lesser known Percy Mayfield tune, Country (nice Rick Hanna guitar solo here). The Simple recitations might not be for everyone’s tastes, but anyone familiar to Nap know how central it is to his performances, whether live or on the radio. Kudos to Right on Rhythm for another wonderful disc documenting a true treasure of the DC music scene. 

Elijah Jamal Balbed's Checkin' In Today

Elijah Jamal Balbed caught at an earlier performance at the Smithsonian's Kogod Courtyard

One of the Washington DC area's most accomplished young musicians is saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed. At jams, performances with other artists and his own engagements, he has displayed a robust style displaying a musical maturity way beyond his years. He issued recently his first recording as a leader Checking In where he is joined by some of the DC area's most accomplished musicians including pianists Harry Appelman and Allyn Johnson, trumpeters Alex Norris and Donvonte McCoy, bassists Eric Wheeler and Zach Brown, guitarist Samir Moulay, and drummers Carroll Vaughn Dashiell III. 

Included are seven studio recordings from two sessions and a live performance from the Strathmore with a band that included Norris and Dashiell. Musically this is some fine playing in the vein of some of the classic Blue Note and Prestige recordings of the seventies by Wayne Shorter (whose Infant Eyes is interpreted), Booker Ervin, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw and similar artists. The disc opens with the leaders own Macrophobia, which displays a a full tone that goes beyond his influences. It is followed by a wonderful rendition of Freddie Hubbard's tribute to his contemporary Booker Little, Lament For Booker, which allows everyone to stretch out. Norris is terrific here as is Appelman, flautist Brent Birckhead, and Balbed. The title track is the last one featuring the group with Appelman and Norris and a is a brash, bouncy performance.

Imanust (Tsunami spelled backwards) reminds me of some of Woody Shaw's very sophisticated compositions with bassist Brown taking a brief solo before the leader takes the forefront with Kush Abadey propelling things along. Keep Me From Fear was inspired by a poem by Brendan Ogg, who died way too young. It is a lovely ballad with Balbed opening in a feathery manner with guitarist Moulay complementing the opening statement. Throughout, pianist Johnson plays superbly where comping behind Balbed and others or in one of his beautiful solos. McCoy's trumpet is another pleasure to be enjoyed here, especially on his solo during Brief Encounters, followed by an excellent rendition of Shorter's Infant Eyes. 

The live recording For Minors Only strongly closes out Checking In. Balbed has received much praise   from CapitalBop.com (which selected this as amongst the finest Washington DC new releases of 2012) and the Washington City Paper (Best New Saxophonist in 2010). This writer has been impressed every time I have had the pleasure of seeing Elijah Jamal Balbed perform. This music swings, the arrangements are first-rate, the ensemble playing is terrific, and the solos are consistently inventive resulting in this marvelous debut album. This was crowd-funded through Kickstarter and available through cdbaby.com and available as a download from itunes and other download sources as well as from cdbaby.

I write this and post this a few hours before Balbed leads a program devoted to one of his influences, Wayne Shorter, at the Kogod Courtyard at the Smithsonian's Museum of American Art. The program is a tribute to Wayne Shorter's 80th birthday year, and he will showcase Shorter's early works (prior to his tenure with Miles Davis). Balbed's group will include Alex Norris on trumpet, Samir Moulay on guitar, Harry Appelman on piano, Herman Burney on bass, and Billy Williams on drums. It is free and starts at 5:00PM and runs until 7:00PM. Food is available in the snack bar and there is a free drawing workshop  taking place at the same time where one can build a sketchbook from recycled materials. This workshop is in conjunction with the exhibition Abstract Drawings. Here is Elijah Jamal Balbed from a couple years ago performing one of songs Wayne Shorter wrote for Miles Davis.

I purchased Checking In. 

I cursorily proofed this but will do a more thorough proofing later.

Brad Linde's Holiday Jazz

Brad Linde led a fascinating evening of holiday music on Thursday December 20, 2012 at the Kogod Courtyard in the Smithsonian's Museum of American Art. Saxophonist Linde's Quartet with fellow saxophonist Sarah Hughes was augmented by a brass ensemble for a terrific evening of holiday music. It was as if the Birth of the Cool Band interpreted Jingle Bells, and other favorites. Here is an excerpt from their performance of Sarah Hughes's arrangement of "Chorale of the Bells."

Franklin and Wiggins Live at the DC Holiday Market

Today Rick Franklin (guitar and vocals) and Phil Wiggins (harmonica) treated lunch time visitors to the DC Holiday Market to some acoustic blues and hokum. I caught the pair here performing the classic Blind Blake blues from the 1920's That Will Happen No More. Enjoy the video.

Eleanor Ellis Is DC's Acoustic Blues Queen

I have known Eleanor Ellis since very shortly after I joined the DC Blues Society, which she was one of the founders of. I served on the Board of Directors with her for a couple years as well as always enjoyed her wonderful acoustic blues. Some female acoustic blues performers may be much better known, but I would be hard pressed to name one any finer whether she is performing a Memphis Minnie classic, or a number from Jim Jackson, Bo Carter or some other pioneering blues artist. Her friend Donna Fletcher made the observation that she makes what is really so difficult to play seems so easy.  Her vocals flow and come across as soulful in the same flowing manner. This picture was taken from her performance at the DC Holiday Market in front of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC on Monday December 3.

Perhaps if she had not been as concerned with helping others like the late Flora Molton or Archie Edwards (or helping launch the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation) and focused on her own career she would be as well known and as highly regarded as say Rory Block. Her music is that good and I refer you to a review I did of her CD Comin’ a Time which I once again highly recommend. Here is a video of Eleanor performing this past Monday.

Donvonte McCoy Celebrated Lee Morgan

Donvonté McCoy Sextet with Fred Foss on alto sax, Donvonte McCoy on trumpet, Elijah Jamal Balbed on tenor saxophone, Hope ? piano, Blake Meissner ? on bass and Steve Williams on drums.

Thursday evening September 20, 2012 , I had the pleasure of seeing a tribute to the legendary trumpet player and composer Lee Morgan at the Kogod Courtyard of the Smithsonian's Museum of American Art that featured trumpeter Donvonté McCoy Sextet. The presentation was part of the Museum's monthly Take 5 series. It has been 40 years since the tragic shooting of Morgan and the program of lesser known compositions by Morgan was a special program for fans of Morgan as well as aficionados of hard bop.

Donvonté McCoy

There was quite a turnout for this program including a niece and nephew of Morgan. I did not fully get the name of the pianist (I believe his first name was Hope) and I believe the name of the bassist was Blake Meissner (I was not taking notes during the program). On alto sax was Washington legend Fred Foss and on tenor saxophone was Elijah Jamal Balbed who is establishing himself as among the DC area's finest players. Another legend, Steve Williams was on drums. For the second set, trombonist Lincoln Ross, and then Brad Line on Baritone replaced Balbed.

Fred Foss

Steve Williams

The music was excellent. I had heard much about McCoy, and was not disappointed by the warmth and bite in his playing and the whole band was excellent. I do not remember all of the compositions they played by did include "The Sixth Sense" "Top Cat" and "Rigor Mortis." In addition to meeting a niece and nephew of Morgan, I spoke with Earle Gullins, President of the Lee Morgan Jazz Fan Club of DC, Maryland and Virginia who is writing a biography of Morgan. Also, WPFW programmer and historian Rusty Hassan was among the many enjoying the music.

Lee Morgan's nephew; Earle Gullins; unidentified (holding Lee Morgan's flugelhorn) and Rusty Hassan.

These monthly programs continue on the third Thursday of each month (although they are skipping November and December). October 18, saxophonist Brian Settles will lead a program devoted to the music of  Dewey Redman while on January 17, 2013, the Elijah Jamal Balbed Quintet +1 will help celebrate the 80th Birthday year of Wayne Shorter with a program focusing on his Shorter's compositions from his time with Vee-Jay Records (before he signed with Blue Note). The shows start at 5;00PM and run until 7:00PM when the Museum closes. There is food and drink available at the Museum.

Elijah Jamal Balbed

The Musical Living Joy of Véronneau

Based around the vocals of Quebec native Lynn Véronneau, Véronneau has established itself around the Washington DC area with its interesting blend of musical inspirations ranging from gypsy jazz, brazilian sambas, folk and Beatles. In addition to her, the group is comprised of Ken Avis on guitar, vocals and percussion, David Rosenblatt on guitar and percussion and Pete Walby on drums. On their self-produced recording Joy of Living (Véronneau Music), they are joined by David Kline's violin and
tenor saxophone.

Lynn Véronneau has a lovely voice immediately evident on the opening La Mer (known here in the States from Bobby Darin's recording Beyond the Sea), with the light backing of the guitars and drums and Kline's violin. She has a gift for Brazilian tunes including The Gentle Rain, Concovado, and One Note Samba, with the band providing subtle and complementary backing. This style is also present on the charming rendition of The Street Where You Live, with a nice single-note acoustic guitar solo as well as Kline's violin adding coloring. Saxophonist Antonuik adds a nice flavor on The Gentle Rain, that might suggest to some the Getz-Gilberto collaborations.

There is a enchanting rendition of the traditional Mexican Ranchera song, Cielito Lindo, that might be more familiar from performances of it by Mariachi Band and she also places her own stamp on Brazil. with her gentle longing beginning transformed into a lively samba. David Rosenblatt contributed an original instrumental Abertura do Verao (Opening of Summer), that is a lovely guitar duet, while Antoniuk returns for the lively closing "Blue Skies."

If there is a favorite selection on this, it may well be the lovely rendition of Lennon & McCartney's For No One, as she sings "she no longer needs you, in her eyes you see nothing," with a lovely violin break over the two-guitar accompaniment. The gentleness of the performance accentuates the heartache reflected in this classic Beatles number. She simply has a way of touching the listener's heart and this track may exemplify this best, but there is plenty of Joie de Vivre on this excellent recording.

Véronneau will be performing June 2 at the Creative Cauldron (www.creativecauldon.org) in Falls Church, Virginia.

I purchased this recording.

The J Street Jumpers Were Good For Stompin’

The Washington DC area has long been a hotbed for jump blues and swing dancing. One of the popular bands in the area was The Uptown Rhythm Kings fronted by Eric “Shoutin’” Sheridan, a singer with considerable personality. After Sheridan left the Washington area, the band morphed into the J Street Jumpers with guitarist Rusty Bogart and pianist Artie Gerstein anchoring the group. Bogart subsequently left the Washington area making us poorer for his encyclopedic knowledge of jazz and blues guitar styles, his driving playing, his constant swing and good taste and the Jumpers themselves are now history although others still keep the local jump blues-swing dance grooves alive. This review of their Severn release, Good For Stompin’, appeared originally in the December 2003-January 2004 DC Blues Calendar although I have made a few minor stylistic edits.

The brief swing revival has seemed to die down as a national craze, but its clear that nothing made Brian Seltzer’s Orchestra or groups like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy any better than countless bands that had been playing such music back at least three decades when Roomful of Blues and Powerhouse were making noise. Proof of this is evident from Good For Stompin’, the new Severn Records release by The J Street Jumpers. It is a handsomely sounding and swinging big little band disc with some fine playing by the entire band and some lovely vocals from the

featured singer Carmen Velarde, who sings wonderfully in a blues-ballad vein including lovely renditions of several songs from Count Basie’s songbook, including Blue and Sentimental. She does not come across quite as convincing on the hot-tempoed rendition of Louis Jordan’s Fire, although the band rocks very hard here, but on the slow ballads and pop tunes she is wonderful with her rendition of the Buddy Johnson hit, Til My Baby Comes Back to Me. She also capably delivers, I Don’t Hurt Anymore, from the Dinah Washington repertoire.

Pianist Artie Gerstein sings enthusiastically if not quite as distinctively as Ms. Verlande, with his rocking I Want You I Need You featuring a booting tenor sax solo and slashing guitar from Rusty Bogart, that displays Bogart’s synthesis of such masters as T-Bone Walker and Gatemouth Brown. I don’t want to sound overly critical about this as it is a wonderful disc, and the Jumpers play splendidly, have wonderful tight arrangements and are a first rate band. Furthermore, this disc will certainly make for very happy dancing feet.

Bad Influence's Solid Blues Under The Influence

Bad Influence is a Washington DC area band that this writer has been following for some time. The core of the band is guitarist Michael Tash, harmonica player Roger Edsall (who also doubles on guitar) and bassist Bob Mallardi with David Thaler on drums. When I first saw them perform they also had a saxophonist bout they have been a quartet for some time and have developed into a tight band that can jump the boogie, swing the shuffle and slow drag a three in the morning blues. 

The fact they have played together for such a long material underlies the bands tight group sound and emphatic playing with each other. They have also developed into quite accomplished players with Tash a versatile guitarist able to channel Elmore James and Albert King with sharply focused and thoughtful solos while Edsall is amongst the DC area’s finest harp players able to distill Little Walter, George ‘Harmonica’ Smith, Sonny Boy Williamson and Slim Harpo into a personal style

They have a new album Under The Influence that consists of mostly originals with Mallardi taking most of the vocals with Edsall handling a few. A bit of Dust My Broom slide guitar from Roger Edsall forms part of the foundation of the opening Man Child, while the band gets a hot shuffle going on Hey Red with Mallardi inviting his lady to party till the break of dawn and it sounds like the band will jitterbug all night long with Tash and Edsall taking incisive solos. A bit of southern blues rock seasoning is heard on the driving Do As I Say, with Edsall adding organ effects on his harp accompaniment and gets to strut a bit during a solo break. 

Edsall handles the vocal on Sugar Daddy Baby, a fine shuffle with Tom Ruggieri added on saxophones in the backing. This performance strikes the right groove and tempo and will be a delight for swing dancers not to mention to some jazzy single note fretwork from Tash. Nothing wrong with a bit of rock and roll (not hard rock) on the rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Run Through The Jungle, with another Edsall vocal. Edsall also adds slide guitar and harmonica while Tash employs some atmospheric tremolo in support. “Cat Fight II:PTP: is a spirited harmonica feature that showcases Edsall’s imaginative and expressive playing with guest Jay Monterose taking the guitar solo here. A nice strutting shuffle follows on Looking Right At Me. 

Bad Influence at Surf Club Live in Hyattsville MD in October 2011.

A solid rendition of As The Years Go Passing By, has Tash in part evoking Albert King as Mallardi delivers a heartfelt vocal on a song originally recorded by the great Fenton Robinson for Duke. Besides Tash’s inspired guitar, Edsall has a choice harp solo, followed by a hot guitar chorus. Mark Stephens adds boogie inflected piano behind Edsall’s vocal on Room 111, where it sounds like quite a party is going on. Mailbox Blues has a swamp blues feel with a strong latin accent in the rhythm. 

Under the Influence is a terrific album of blues with an occasional rock and roll accent that is sure to delight Bad Influence’s existing fans and gain them new ones. It is available from the band’s website, badinfluenceband.com and at cdbaby.com, and you can sample this at http://www.reverbnation.com/badinfluenceband.

Bad Influence provided me with a download of this recording.

7th DC Jazz Festival Will Be Musical Feast

Eddie Palmieri will be leading an All-Star Salsa Orchestra at the Sylvan Theater
near the Washington Monument at this Year's DC Jazz Festival on Sunday June 12.

The Seventh Annual DC Jazz Festival (formerly the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival) kicks off June 1 and continues through June 13 with more than 100 performances and programs at nearly 50 venues across the city, including the a day-long concert near the Washington Monument on the National Monument, and a Kennedy Center concert spotlighting New Orleans and the HBO television show, Tremé.  Headliners for this year’s festival include multiple Grammy Award winners Bobby McFerrin, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, and Latin Jazz legend Eddie Palmieri, as well as the legendary Heath Brothers, the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars Quartet featuring pianist Cyrus Chestnut, saxophonists Antonio Hart and JD Allen, and Chilean vocalist Claudia Acuña.

Donald Harrison is part of the DC Jazz Festival's
presentation of "A Night in Treme"
at the Kennedy Center on June 13.

New Orleans (NOLA) will again have prominence at this year's festival. The Brass-A-Holics, NOLA's newest hip, hot and happening sensation will perform at both Maison Francaise at the Embassy of France (on Friday June 3), and LIV (Saturday, June 4), the upstairs club at Bohemian Caverns. And, concluding the festival, the DCJF and the Kennedy Center will present “A Night in Treme: The Musical Majestry of New Orleans” with the star of HBO's hit mini-series, “Treme,” Wendell Pierce, the Rebirth Brass Band, master clarinetist Dr. Michael White, funky trombonist Big Sam Williams, and trumpeter James Andrews, under the musical direction of saxophonist Donald Harrison. “A Night in Treme” will be at the Kennedy Center on Monday, June 13. 

Among other featured concerts, Bobby McFerrin, will be performing from his latest recording, “VOCAbuLarieS,” with Howard University's Afro Blue Reunion Choir on Saturday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m at the Warner Theater.  Sunday, June 12 at 1;00PM, “Jazz on the National Mall” returns with with free performances from Frédéric Yonnet, Claudia Acuña, Roy Hargrove & the RH Factor, Tobe Foyeh and the Eddie Plamieri All-Star Salsa Orchestra.

On Friday June 4 and 5, the Festival once again holds “Jazz 'N Families Fun Days At The Phillips Collection." It will be a celebration of the synergy between jazz and the visual arts.  “Jazz ‘N’ Families Fun Days” features some of the finest jazz musicians from around the region.  Fun-filled activities for kids include story-telling, hands-on art workshops, and an instrument petting zoo.  In the galleries, art inspires musical interpretation as musicians interpret art through improvised sound.  The line-up for Saturday June 4 includes the Capital Focus Jazz Band, Herman Burney Trio, Jess Righthand Trio, Victor Provist Trio, David Schuman and Michael Bowie and Sine Qua Non String Quartet. The line-up for Sunday June 5 includes Vince Evans, Lavenia Smith, James King Quartet, Susan Priester and Jamal Brown.

“Jazz in the ‘Hoods” presented by Washington Convention and Sports Authority, which includes performances at more than 30 venues, including museums, restaurants and clubs across the city. The famed Bohemian Gardens will host performances by Cyrus Chestnut with the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Quintet on June 3 and 4, Antonio Hart on June 8 and 9 and The Heath Brothers on June 10 and 11.

Nasar Abadey and Supernova are among the performers in the Jazz in the ‘Hoods' series

There are numerous other performances. For example on the Festival’s opening night, Wednesday June 1, Elijah Jamal Balbed & The Po' Boys, featuring a highly touted young saxophonist is featured at the Bayou near the Foggy Bottom Metro station. They are also at the Bayou several other nights. Thursday, June 2, DC Choro, rooted in the Brazilian musical tradition, is at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Friday, June 3, Mark Prince and Aqua Leo is at the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Gallery while the Jolley Brothers are B.Smith’s at Union Station (also Saturday and Sunday for Brunch). Saturday, June 4, Akua Allrich is at Twins. Sunday June 5, and Allen Harris ius at the Islander. Nasar Abadey and Supernova is at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Dc Choro is at Grill from Ipanema, and the Brass-a-holics are at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage.

Monday June 6, the Peter Edelman Quartet is at Tryst while Tuesday June 7, Brad Linde Quartet featuring Sarah Hughes are at Twins, and on Wednesday June 8, Paul Piper & Bill Heid are at Utopia Bar & Grill. Thursday, June 9, Sara Jones & Um Novo Tempo is at Grill from Ipanema. Friday, June 10, Kenia Ashby & Origem is at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage while vocalist Lena Seikaly is at the Mandorin Oriental. Saturday, June 11 the Charles Woods Quartet is at Johnny’s Half Shell, while bluesman Anthony ‘Swampdog’ Clark is at the Bayou and Elijah Jamal Balbed along with the JD Allen Trio are at Subterranean A. Sunday, June 12, Leni Stern is at Bossa Bistro, and Wayne Willentz & Jim West is at the Utopia Bar and Grill.  

For more information on the DC Jazz Festival, visit http://www.dcjazzfest.org. For the schedule (which will be updated with more club information) visit http://www.dcjazzfest.org/content.cfm/schedule_and_major_events.