Jazz Week is your roundup of new and remarkable stories from the world of jazz. It’s a one-stop destination for music news you need to know. Let’s take it from the top.
Remarkable
Announcement of Bill Evans Record Store Day releases: Resonance has announced two Record Store Day (April 23) vinyl releases documenting piano legend Bill Evans in concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina. morning gloryofficially released for the first time, is a 1973 concert with Eddie Gomez and Marty Morell. inner spirit is a 1979 date with Marc Johnson and Joe LaBarbera. Both albums will also be released on CD and digital download on April 30.
Rare Pepper Adams and Tommy Banks live recording due out on record store day: Reel to Real Recordings will be released Pepper Adams with the Tommy Banks Trio: Live at the Top on 2 LPs on April 23, as part of Record Store Day. The set documents a historic live performance from September 25, 1972 at the University of Alberta. The package includes a comprehensive booklet with rare photos, essays and interviews. Additionally, the 2-CD and digital versions will be available on May 6.
Next Jazz Legacy announces the first group of winners: Next Jazz Legacy has announced its first slate of seven emerging women and non-binary winners. Watch a brief introduction to each via the player below. The three-year program was launched by New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice with a focus on increasing opportunities for the most underrepresented musicians in the art form. More here.
ASCAP conversation with Keyon Harrold: The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) hosted an Instagram Live chat with trumpeter/composer Keyon Harrold as part of ASCAP’s celebration of Black History Month. Moderated by TL Cross, the conversation touched on topics including Keyon’s collaborations and the various music legends who have played a pivotal role in black music culture. Watch the conversation via the player below.
Matthew Garrison launches the TuneBend app: ShapeShifter Lab Production released the TuneBend app, created by famed musician Matthew Garrison (who is also a self-taught coder) and a skilled team. The app provides a tool for musicians and content creators to easily dissect, learn, and play parts of compositions. It also promotes music creation and education from the ground up, providing a platform for musicians to record, learn, collaborate and connect with new audiences around the world. The app was launched exclusively on macOS and iOS. More here.
Vinyl reissue of the seminal album Ralfi Pagan Latin Soul: Craft Latino will release a remastered vinyl edition of singer Ralfi Pagan’s 1971 Latin soul album, With love, April 29. The record combines cool salsa grooves with Latin soul ballads and features powerful compositions from a remarkable gallery of Latin legends. In addition to the newly remastered vinyl edition, With Love will also be released on high resolution digital for the first time. Pre-order it here.
Album announcements
Alex “Apolo” Ayala Bambula (Truth Revolution): Bassist/songwriter Alex “Apolo” Ayala celebrates his ancestry and his Afro-Puerto Rican culture on his first album as a bandleader. Bambula features seven original compositions and one reimagining and offers an artful blend of Afro-Caribbean styles with the language of jazz, performed with an impressive team of talented musicians from New York’s wealthy Puerto Rican diaspora. You can listen to our JAZZIZ Travels chat with Ayala via the player below and order Bambula HERE.
Robert Glasper, Black Radio III (Loma Vista): On February 25, pianist/producer/composer Robert Glasper released the third installment of his GRAMMY-winning series, black radio. Drawing inspiration from elements of hip-hop, R&B and jazz, Black Radio III features collaborations with 22 artists, including Q-Tip, PJ Morton, Jennifer Hudson, Ty Dolla $ign, HER, Common and many more. Order it here.
Andre Boudreau, Neon (New Talent Fresh Sounds): Pianist Andrew Boudreau makes his debut with an evocative new album, Neon, which will be released on February 17 via Fresh Sound New Talent. Featuring original compositions and an exceptional quartet, the album is described via a press release as a collection of pieces that mostly have a specific “geographic cachet”, a poetic connection in mind. Order it here.
Melissa Aldana, 12 stars (Blue Note): Melissa Aldana makes her Blue Note debut with 12 stars, leading a quintet and featuring seven new originals grappling with the concepts of parenting, family forgiveness, acceptance and self-love. His tracks were arranged or co-written by guitarist Lage Lund, who produced the record and plays on it as part of the band with Fortner on keys, Pablo Menares on bass and Kush Abadey on drums. 12 Stars is out March 4 and you can pre-order it HERE.
Live music and festival news
NJPAC Celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month: The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) will celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month in April with a series of free concerts, including a day-long event co-produced with Jazz House Kids on April 30 as part of International Jazz Day. . More here. NJPAC also announced the return of award-winning pianist/vocalist Diana Krall for a special concert on April 3. Tickets here.
ALJA and Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture pay tribute to Eddie Bobè: The Afro Latin Jazz Alliance (ALJA) and the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture will present a live event commemorating the life and music of master percussionist Eddie Bobè on March 18-19. Tickets here. The event is hosted by pianist/songwriter Michele Rosewoman and will feature Arturo O’Farrill and the 18-piece Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, along with legends and special percussion musicians. On March 18, there will also be a pre-show discussion moderated by Dr. C. Daniel Dawson. Tickets here.
NEC celebrates Jaki Byard: The NEC Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Ken Shaphorst will celebrate the centenary of Massachusetts jazz master Jaki Byard with a live concert at Jordan Hall on March 3. “The Music of Jaki Byard” will also feature the big band repertoire of Byard’s Apollo Stompers as the world premiere of a new work by composer Carl Atkins, written in honor of the multi-instrumentalist/composer, who was also the one of the cornerstones of the department of African-American music and jazz studies assembled by Atkins and Gunther Schuller at the NEC in 1969. Tickets here.
Somi celebrates Miriam Makeba at the historic Apollo Theater on March 19: Acclaimed singer Somi will celebrate the birthday of the legendary Miriam Makeba with a festive live event at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem on March 19. The event is called Somi and Friends: The Reimagining of Miriam Makeba. Tickets here. Additionally, Somi will also post his full personal tribute to Makeba, Zenzile: the reimagining of Miriam MakebaMarch 19 via Salon Africana. Pre-order it here.
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