The Queen of Hang: Sheila E. Anderson

Must see!

Dizzy's Club Coca Cola
Eric Reed with Gerald Cannon, Willie Jones III and Jeff Clayton. They sound FABULOUS! Each night I went to see Eric he had others sit in for a tune; Allan Harris, Freddy Cole, Karrin Allyson and Jeremy Pelt. I have no idea who will be stopping in this weekend. This group ends on Sunday, however, on June 12 (my birthday) Eric will be back for week two with Seamus Blake and Stacy Dillard on the front lines.

Iridium
Freddy Cole leads his quartet featuring Houston Person through Sunday. Though I've not been there to see him he did perform Thursday afternoon opening "Jazz in the Garden" at The Newark Museum. Perhaps I'll get there tonight.

Below is a photo that Eric Reed took of Jeff Clayton and Freddy Cole on Wednesday night!

The Week Of 5/14 – 5/20/07

I am sorry that I was unable to post the calendar for the week of 5/14 to 5/20/07. Wbgo, 88.3FM has been in the midst of our Spring Membership drive and I pitched several unexpected days and nights. It is not to late to make a pledge. Log on, click e-pledge and make your contribution.

Thank YOU!

From the week of 5/7 to 5/13/07

Friday & Saturday
The Joe Chambers Outlaw Band

Javon Jackson will be performing with Joe Chambers.
Here is a photo of me and Javon recently at Iridium Jazz Club

The Week Of: April 23 - April 29, 2007

In New York

Sob’s
Friday
Salsa Groove

Saturday
Samba Soul Presents Duende

Sunday
Bossa Nova Brunch

Monday – April 30th
“Salsa Meets Jazz”
The Bronx Horns W/ Special Guest
Randy Brecker

I was the emcee on March 26, the first of more "Salsa Meets Jazz" to come. Currently they are planned to be the last Monday of the month. It was a fun night of music and I urge you all to attend. John "Sco" Scofield fit in quite well with The Bronx Horns. Below are some photos.

A New Club in Newark, NJ

The Key Club has finally opened! A few doors from WBGO makes it easy for me to catch a few minutes of music before I begin my 9PM show because the sets are at 8PM and 10PM. Though it has been open, unofficially, for a few weeks, the real opening is this Friday, April 20 with Winard Harper.

For those of you who know about Park Place in Newark, Key Club is in the same location of the Twinz Diner. It has been transformed into a beautiful space with walls painted in all Benjamin Moore colors. One wall is Roxbury Caramel, another in Waterbury Creme the columns painted in Sandy Brown trim all designed by Paul Boykins. Hanging on the walls are some wonderful paintings created by Newark native, Bradford Brown.

As one who loves to sit at the bar, this one is quite impressive. Owner, the 28 year old, Elliot James, said that the 100% granite counter top was imported from India. It is warm and inviting. Along the wall are booths and in the back of the bar are tables. Behind the curtain you will find a stage and more seating which makes a comfortable place to listen to the live music. Also, the club is a great space for private parties.

Now, the food...they intend to have a full menu but during my visits only the light fare was offered. The sandwiches are quite tasty and Elliot swears by their Angus burger that I did not try because they only had swiss cheese which I don't like. If you are a fries person you will enjoy the waffle fries, that is, if they continue to serve them. Once they get rolling I will write more about the food.

It's BACK!

MONDAY MARCH 26
S.O.B.'s Latin Concerts Presents:
Salsa Meets Jazz
W/ The Bronx Horns
And Special Guest: John Scofield

Doors: 6:30 pm
Show: 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm

S.O.B.’s introduces a very exciting new monthly series to its stage, Salsa Meets Jazz with The Bronx Horns and special guest John Scofield. Salsa and jazz have been musical cousins for years, sharing the element of improvisation, attracting many of the same musicians and influencing one another’s sound. It is with great excitement, that S.O.B.’s, the legendary venue for live salsa in NYC, celebrates the birth of the cool sound that is Salsa Meets Jazz. Salsa and jazz bring together more than two historical genres of music; they join melody and rhythm into a style that can relax your mind or make you get up and dance.

The Bronx Horns, led by Mitch Frohman and other mainstays of the Tito Puente Orchestra, deliver a tight, swinging blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms, and on this special night, they will be accompanied by guitar virtuoso John Scofield, adding that element of classic jazz. Scofield has recorded with jazz legends such as Charley Mingus and Miles Davis, as well as contemporary artists like Medeski Martin & Wood.

Jazz and salsa have both struggled to remain relevant forces in contemporary music, but their presence is felt every day, as principal influences of pop genres such as R&B, hip hop, and reggaeton. Although, they are no longer dominant on today’s Billboard charts, the roots of these improvisational genres are on the live stage, and jazz and salsa concerts are still very much alive and going strong in NYC and around the world.

On March 26th, when S.O.B.’s introduces salsa and jazz to one another, the vibe is sure to be electric, the grooves are guaranteed to be contagious, and the night is clearly going to be historic.

The emcee for the evening will be ME!...WBGO-JAZZ 88.3FM On-Air Host Sheila Anderson.

March 9 to March 11, 2007

Spotlight this week: ENZO'S JAZZ CLUB AT THE JOLLY MADISON TOWERS

This cozy room tucked away at the Jolly Madison Hotel has become a “singer’s room” according to Enzo Capua (read his interview). Two years ago when he decided to put music in the room he hired all musicians. After a few months he noticed that people came there mostly for the singers. In reality it is a lounge with a few small tables with a balcony area and a large bar. They serve an antipasti of cheese’s and meats. Don’t bother if you don’t eat pork but for us pork lovers the prosciutto is lean and quite tasty. I have been there a few times and find it to be a fun, though early, hang. Beware, it is a hotel and many of the patrons are from out of town and not into the music so they can be a bit loud.

Music is featured on Wednesday and Friday nights only!

THE WEEK OF: FEB. 19 TO FEB. 25, 2007

So, instead of being behind in posting the music calendar I am a bit ahead. Please let me know if you find this post helpful.

As for hanging this past week, I did see a song of Kurt Elling at Blue Note and I heard the organ summit at Smoke! You can't miss with with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Reuben Wilson and Legendary Jimmy McGriff. On tenor is Jerry Weldon, guitar, Peter Bernstein and drums, Jason Brown. It is quite an organ jam...Also, I am sorry to have missed one of my favorite ladies of song, Ernestine Anderson!!! She is someone to see...don't miss her either, she is at Jazz Standard!

On February 6 I had the pleasure of hearing Annie Ross at the Metropolitan Room. She was recording that evening for her upcoming CD. It was wonderful to hear her with Jimmy Wormsworth, he drummer of thirty years, Neal Miner on bass and Tardo Hammer on piano. Annie is a true entertainer, she beautifully sang some hits from her days as a member of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross where she sang all THREE parts. She also sang some songs that she had not sung before. I look forward to her upcoming CD...Annie will be singing each Tuesday night at the Metropolitan Room through April.

The Metropolitan Room is a very intimate room set with tables and some booths. The seating arrangement is similar to that of Blue Note with tables close together with little room to move. I was relieved that no one sat next to me so that I could move my arms. Don't go looking for dinner, they serve snacks (trail mix, spiced nuts, cakes and pies). Thankfully that the show begins at 7:00 I suggest that you make plans for dinner. All in all, the room is charming and the acoustics are good.

A Pride of Men

The back of Producer, Al Pryor (Mack Avenue), Cecil Brooks, III (owner, Cecil's, West Orange, NJ), a side of Kahlil Kwame Bell (musician) and James Browne (owner, Sweet Rhythm). We were all at Sweet Rhythm to hear Tia Fuller perform music from her upcoming CD....more on that later.

The Hang Report

January 27th/28th

Roy Ayers at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola

Going out on Friday nights is not my favorite time to hang but I am glad that I found myself at dizzy's on Friday night. I saw Roy at Iridium last year but I was not happy with his show because it was too loud and he played no straight ahead jazz music. Roy mentioned how wonderful it was for him to play at Dizzy's and to play acoustically.

I arrived while they were in the middle of the first set as he was playing Searchin'. When that song came out in the seventies we were considered cool if we had the Ubiquity album. It sounded as fresh last night as it did thirty years ago. Though his show is billed as a tribute to Lionel Hampton I did not hear any Lionel music but Roy did play a tune of Tito Puente. He moved gracefully between the vibes and the synthesizer vibe. The show was so much fun several of us, including Todd Barkan, got up to dance by the bar. You should not miss his show! Sunday is the last night. I may go to the last set to see if they allow Chris, the bartender (he created the drink, "Queen Sheila" for me), to sit in on one tune with Roy’s singers. I love Chris but he has very little rhythm. But, what he lacks in rhythm he makes up for with enthusiasm!!!

Jimmy Greene at Smoke

After Dizzy’s I went to see Jimmy Greene. He is a young tenor titan who has a new CD, True Life Stories. The band is tight, John Benitez on bass, Helen Sung, piano and Eric Harland tearing up the drums. If you don’t get there Saturday night then you will miss him. If you don’t make it this time be on the look out for his next performance.

I’ll be heading out to see this show, I am sure that it will be great fun!

Two for the Show Media
Jay Leonhart Presents:
“My Favorite Things”
Jazz Hits From The Broadway Stage
Sunday, January 28th, 2007 at 7:30 PM

Symphony Space 2537 Broadway at 95th St.
For Tickets Call 212- 864-5400

An intimate, swinging Broadway jazz concert with some of the jazz worlds most entertaining performers: Wycliffe Gordon, Barbara Carroll, Ted Rosenthal, Eric Reed, Jim Pugh, Harry Allen, Wayne Escoffery, Carolyn Leonhart-Escoffery, and Jay Leonhart on Bass. A few surprise guests will appear as well!

Music Calendar

Sorry for getting this up so late but you may be looking for things to do on Saturday and/or Sunday night.

JAN. 15 TO JAN. 21, 2007

BIRDLAND
WED TO SAT JON HENDRICKS
SUN THE CHICO O’FARRILL JAZZ ORCH
DIRECTED ARTURO O’FARRILL

BLUE NOTE
TUES TO SUN ROY HARGROVE & ROBERTA GAMBARINI
W/ BILL CHARLAP
Note:
Roberta Gambarini, Roy hargrove, Bill Charlap, George Mraz & willie Jones Thrusday, Friday & Sunday. On Saturday, Ronnie Matthews & Jimmy Cobb (his birthday was on the 16th so if you go wish him a happy) will perform the piano & drum chairs.

DIZZY'S CLUB COCA-COLA
TUES TO SUN RENE MARIE

IRIDIUM
WED TO SUN JACKY TERRASSON, UGONNA OKEGWO & LEON PARKER

JAZZ STANDARD
TUES TO SUN CLAUDIA ACUNA

SMOKE
FRI & SAT CEDAR WALTON
Note: they now have Late Night Sets on Friday/Saturday nights that begin at midnight

SOB'S
SAT DARCI

SWEET RHYTHM
FRI & SAT JUDY NIEMACK

VILLAGE VANGUARD
TUES TO SUN KENNY BARRON TRIO W/
KIYOSHI KITAGAWA & FRANCISCO MELA

IN NEW JERSEY

CECIL’S
IN WEST ORANGE
FRI & SAT JAY HOGGARD / RADAM SCHWARTZ BAND

TRUMPETS
IN MONTCLAIR
SAT ENRICO GRANAFEI QUARTET
SUN TO TUES ROY MERIWETHER TRIO

OUT OF TOWN

BLUES ALLEY - WASHINGTON, DC
WED FRENCH GUITARIEST SYLVAIN LUC

CATALINA'S BAR & GRILL - HOLLYWOOD, CA
SUN GERALD CLAYTON QUARTET (he is one to go see, in March, Gerald will be moving to NYC. He is LA's "favorite son" so I am sure that he will pack Catalina's)

DIMITRIOU'S JAZZ ALLEY - SEATTLE, WA
TUES TO SUN CLARK TERRY QUINTET

JOE SEGAL'S JAZZSHOWCASE - CLUB IS CLOSED / RELOCATING

YOSHI'S - OAKLAND, CA
WED TO SUN LEDISI (I saw her recently at Iridium in NYC and she put on a wonderful show though she was the opening act for Bilal, I could have listened to her all night)