James Carter Organ Trio: Django Unchained – July 2, 2016

James Carter honked, squawked, squeaked, and whistled his way through an exciting and entertaining set on Saturday night as part of the 37th annual Montreal Jazzfest. He even did a bit where he produced sound from a sax without putting his lips on the mouthpiece by putting its bell into a microphone and manipulating the keys. He pulled out all the stops! His playing was melodious, ambitious, and unfailingly fluid as he contrasted lightning fast runs with smokier mid-tempo material.

JC‘s Organ Trio consists of one familiar foil and one new blood. Carter described Gerald Gibbs as the alpha and omega as far as organs are concerned and “the cat.” He’s been evolving aside Carter for the past fifteen years or so and is as well-rooted as they come as a former prized pupil of Richard Groove Holmes. On drums, Alex White is a “blinking rhythmic beast.” Carter explained the two are still feeling each out (as he recently took over for Leonard King) but credits him as being instrumental in elevating the rhythmic aspect of the Django Unchained material.

As for Django, clearly James Carter has a deep connection with him and relished not only using the Romani master‘s work as a springboard but turning his fans on to his material as well. Below are two bonus bits from our conversation this past Sunday. In the first, he describes his introduction to Reinhardt by a non-commercial radio station and how the Chasin’ the Gypsy album was born sixteen years ago. In the second, he talks about his first experiences in New York City with Lester Bowie and how he gave him the opportunity of a lifetime.

Last lick: The venue for the show was Gesu, an exquisite sounding church that dates back to the 1860s. This is my favorite venue in Montreal and an ideal setting to hear a B3. Beyond providing the overtones for Gerald Gibbs’ inspired performance on Saturday, this was where I shot Dr. Lonnie Smith, with his octet no less a couple of years ago. It was also where NYC’s own Cory Henry knocked my socks off the following night.

Montreal Jazzfest ’16: Stacey Kent – July 3, 2016

Festival International de Jazz de Montreal is a honking good time! As for the talent, the ten day hootenanny draws an embarrassment of riches. For the fans, whether they be native Quebecois or the quarter of a million or so visitors from the rest of Canada and the rest of the world, a chunk of downtown Montreal turns into a pedestrian-only musical wonderland. Free outdoor shows abound on nine distinct stages while even more action unfolds inside ten concert halls. A handful of acoustically pleasing spaced are housed under the roof of the Place des Arts including the Theatre Maisonneuve which has about a 1500 person capacity. This was the venue on Sunday evening for Stacey Kent.

Like the city we were in, Stacey Kent speaks French as well as English. Like the festival she was a part of, those languages are only but two of many in play. English was a given for her as she grew up in Essex County in New Jersey. She learned French as a girl and spoke it with her grandfather who was a Russian that had emigrated to France before making his way to the United States. At Sarah Lawrence College in Westchester, Kent studied Italian, German, Latin, and most importantly for her musically, Portuguese. She and her husband, Jim Tomlinson, are passionate about Brazilian music and her fluency in Portuguese has allowed her to gain insights into the music through the culture unavailable to those with a language barrier. Kent’s latest album Tenderly is a collaboration with one of the essential figures in Brazilian music, Roberto Menescal.

Here’s a look at the performance on Sunday plus some bonus interview footage that you’ll really enjoy if you are a fan of Bossa Nova. If you are here in NYC this week, catch Kent and her fab band that features Tomlinson on sax, at Birdland through this Saturday the 9th.

Four heavy jazz artists: Gary Bartz, Buster Williams, Larry Willis, and Al Foster have come together as Heads of State.  The new album, Search for Peace, is out and they’ll be celebrating its release with shows this weekend at Manhattan’s Smoke Jazz Club.  I spoke with Gary Bartz at the venue this week after being knocked out by the quartet‘s recent set at Montreal Jazz Festival.

I’m mad about hanging out at the Jazzfest – this year’s Montreal Jazz Festival 2015 being no exception.  I ran amok with my video camera and got a taste of groups as far afield as Novalima, The Barr Brothers and Cibo Matto.  Catching the Wayne Shorter Quartet was a highlight – with pianist Danilo Perez and the wicked rhythm section of John Patitucci and Brian Blade.  The Dave Douglas quartet High Risk – whose group includes an electronic element from Shigeto – really knocked me out…

Dr. Lonnie Smith reveals the moment he fell in love with the Hammond B3 organ and about playing his genius late 1960’s songs with a tough NYC octet.  Chat and performance with the jazz keyboardist captured at 2014 Montreal Jazz Festival.

Kenny Garrett spoke about his band and his heroes and took no prisoners onstage at the 2014 Montreal Jazz Festival.  A peak at the jazz saxophonist‘s performance there plus a chat including Kenny talking about Sonny Rollins and the lineage of jazz greats like Parker and Coltrane that serve as his foundation.

Montreal Jazz Festival 2014 attendees were spoiled with gigs from both Jack DeJohnette and Ginger Baker…

There are always a lot of difficult decisions at Montreal Jazz Festival (because many appealing shows are scheduled at the same time) and the 2014 event is no different – but when Tony Bennett and Elvis Costello are in town, that’s a no-brainer…

American blues musician Kenny Wayne Shepherd shows off chops and a mean rhythm section while Montreal Jazz Festival has depth and breadth.