DIZZY’S / MAY 21
Sasha Dobson, the daughter of the late jazz pianist Smith Dobson, is an engaging vocalist with a hip vibe who covers a lot of musical territory. Sasha takes a fresh perspective interpreting standards and is an accomplished scat singer and songwriter. Sasha has two different bands, one that plays her eclectic original music and another with guitarist Peter Bernstein, bassist Neal Miner and drummer Jerome Jennings. This band accompanies her at Dizzy’s, while she’s playing guitar on a few songs and her set will be a creative mix of standards, jazz favorites and her own catchy songs. Sasha also plays guitar in Norah Jones’ group and she joins Norah at the Brooklyn Paramount on May 16 & 17 and the Apollo Theater on May 19. KD
Continue Reading...BIRDLAND / MAY 28-31
Counting Nat “King” Cole, Erroll Garner and Oscar Peterson among his inspirations, Monty Alexander has forged a similar jazz career as a pianist who can command concert venues leading a trio. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Monty and his family moved to Miami when he was 17. By the time he was 20, he’d been “discovered” by Frank Sinatra, who helped launch his career with a gig at Jilly’s in Manhattan. That was 60 years ago. Along the way, Monty not only became one of the top piano trio attractions in jazz, but also kept a hand in Jamaican music, occasionally recording with guitarist Ernest Ranglin, and even helming a reggae band in the 1990s. His new album, D-Day (Pee Wee), refers to his birthday on June 6. He’ll be featuring tunes from it at this pre-80th birthday gig with his trio: Luke Sellick, bass; Jason Brown, drums. GK
Continue Reading...DIZZY’S CLUB / MAY 29
Nanny Assis, a Brazilian-born singer and percussionist, embodies the soul of rhythm and melody. With roots in Salvador, Bahia, he reflects the rich cultural tapestry of Brazil, blending samba, bossa nova, jazz, and Afro-Brazilian rhythms. Nanny's vibrant performances transport audiences to the streets of Rio de Janeiro or the heart of Salvador, where music flows like a river through daily life. His mastery of percussion instruments, coupled with a silky-smooth voice, creates a mesmerizing sonic experience. Assis's career spans collaborations with singer Lauren Henderson and trumpeter Mark Morganelli, earning him acclaim for his versatility and virtuosity. He has twice received the Brazilian International Press Award for “Best Singer of the Year.” Nanny appears with special guest the legendary bassist Ron Carter for two shows on Wednesday, May 29. DJS
Continue Reading...SMALLS / MAY 29
Bassist Ben Allison was a co-founder of the Jazz Composers Collective back in the 1990s, and his latest recording release is a continuation of a JCC initiative, The [pianist] Herbie Nichols Project, which he co-led with the late pianist Frank Kimbrough. Tell the Birds I Said Hello: The Music of Herbie Nichols (Sonic Camera), features a trio of Ben, alto and tenor saxophonist Ted Nash (another alumnus of JCC), and guitarist Steve Cardenas playing never-before-recorded music by Herbie. In recent years Ben, whose bass playing is lithe and guitar-like, has often led a quartet featuring two guitarists and drums. At this gig he’s featuring two musicians he’s worked with often but never together: guitarist Steve Cardenas and pianist Michael Wolff, plus drummer Rogerio Bocato. Expect to hear music from Ben’s own recent albums as well as some Herbie numbers. GK
Continue Reading...DIZZY’S CLUB / MAY 30 – JUNE 2
What better way to celebrate the collision of jazz and the music of the Caribbean than the 25th anniversary of JazzRibbean: Where Jazz Meets The Caribbean? And there may be no one better to lead the celebrations than Dion Parson & his 21st Century Band. Dion is conventionally referred to as a drummer, but he is more like a percussion colorist, a wizard who creates music which, in its colorful reinvention, incorporates a volcanic blend of music culled from U.S. Virgin Islands traditions such as Quelbeě. He also brings into this molten mix other Caribbean infusions like reggae, calypso, soca, mento, ska, zouk, steel pan, chutney and funk with New Orleans and African overtones. This truly “JazzRibbean” music will feature Dion together with saxophonist Ron Blake, trumpeter Melvin Jones, pianist Carlton Holmes, bassist Ruben Rogers, steel pans player Victor Provost and percussionist and Sabar drummer Alioune Faye. RDG
Continue Reading...IRIDUM / MAY 9
Howard Levy is a brilliant multi-instrumentalist whose love of both piano and harmonica has led him to develop novel approaches for playing and composing on both instruments. Howard’s love of the unconventional is apparent in his compositions and arrangements, such as a piano based version of Giant Steps that's set to four different time signatures. Or a version of Donna Lee played on harmonica. You can also find YouTube videos where Howard is playing harmonica with one hand and piano with the other. His taste runs eclectic and can range from traditional blues and Jazz to Bluegrass, Brazilian and Eastern European music. Currently based out of Chicago, Howard grew up in New York City and attended programs at Manhattan School of Music. When he was 12 years old, he was already playing Bach on the pipe organ and writing advanced mathematically based compositions like "Extension Chords", which used Indian rhythmic motifs. It's a piece he still enjoys playing today. On the harmonica Howard can wail, growl and bend notes like a blues guitar player. He's developed novel playing techniques that allow him to play chromatically on a diatonic harp and he teaches that to his students through online courses. Much of Howard’s exceptionality comes from the unique ways in which he hears music and thinks outside the box as a composer. Howard was a founding member of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and also Trio Globo, a group he started with Glen Velez. He's played with Paquito D'Rivera, Bobby McFerrin, Donald Fagen, Paul Simon, Toots Thielman and many other greats. Howard recently received a commission to write a harmonica concerto – his second. You can catch Howard at Iridium on May 9 with his group, the Howard Levy 4, featuring Chris Siebold on guitar, Joshua Ramos on bass and Luiz Ewerling on drums. JZ
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