2009 NYC Winter Jazzfest
Previews
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| In the New York Times...
★ NYC WINTER JAZZFEST (Saturday) This smorgasbord, now in its fifth year, coincides with the Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference, which means added incentive for a strong set and an extra opportunity to browse among them. Festivities begin around 6 p.m. and end well into the wee hours; three stages will run concurrently in three nearly adjacent Greenwich Village clubs. Highlights are too numerous to list, but a few to keep in mind would be By Any Means, a free-jazz trio spearheaded by the bassist William Parker (at 7:40); the Bandwagon, a mutable combo led by the pianist Jason Moran (at 8); the Marco Benevento Trio, an outfit led by a groove-leaning keyboardist (at 10:20); and, for an additional charge, the Watts Project, featuring music by the drummer Jeff (Tain) Watts for a cohort that includes the trumpeter Terence Blanchard and the bassist Christian McBride (at midnight). Various locations; $25 for showcase pass, $45 including the Watts Project. For more information, winterjazzfest.com. (Chinen)
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| In Time Out NY...
Music
Time Out New York / Issue 693 : Jan 8–14, 2009
Plenty of horns
Two handsome jazz fests hit the West Village this weekend. Here’s your guide to the sites and sounds.
By Hank Shteamer
NYC Winter Jazzfest
What?: The rare jazz fest that doesn’t advance a partisan agenda, this annual event—formerly held at the Knitting Factory—crams more than 20 acts from all over the stylistic spectrum into one bustling ten-hour stretch.
Where?: NYCWJ ’09 spreads out across three Village haunts—Kenny’s Castaways, (Le) Poisson Rouge and Sullivan Hall—all within one block of each other.
Who?: The roster includes progressive icons (Jason Moran, Don Byron), staunch avant-gardists (By Any Means with William Parker, Charles Gayle and Rashied Ali) and representatives from the jam scene (Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Marco Benevento Trio).
When?: Saturday 10
How much?: A general-admission pass, good at all three clubs, is a steal at $25. The midnight show by drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts’s group at (Le) Poisson Rouge carries an extra $20 charge.
Reliable bet: Renowned party-jazz unit Sex Mob is sure to ignite the proceedings.
Take a chance on… Positive Catastrophe. Latin grooves meet lush jazz harmony in the work of this vivacious mini-orchestra.
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| Don Byron. Photo by Till Krautkraemer |
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| in The New Yorker...
(LE) POISSON ROUGE
158 Bleecker St. (212-796-0741)
Jan. 10: The drummer Jeff (Tain) Watts fronts a quartet featuring the trumpeter Terence Blanchard, the bassist Christian McBride, and the saxophonist Prometheus Jenkins for a night of music from the leader’s upcoming, politically charged album, “Watts.” (This show is part of the Winter JazzFest, an annual gathering with shows here and elsewhere; for a full schedule visit www.winterjazzfest.com.)
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| In The Village Voice...
'Winter Jazz Fest'
Date/Time:Sat., January 10, 6:00pm
Catch 20 bands in 10 hours
By Jim Macnie
Summer may be known as festival season, but for the last few years, the NYC Winter Jazzfest has turned a chilly January evening into a one-night whirl of activity. This year’s bash boasts a typically terrific program, but there’s a twist: Instead of using a single venue, it’s claiming three. For 10 hours, (Le) Poisson Rouge, Sullivan Hall, and Kenny’s Castaways house a bounty of improvisers that stretches from demonstrative drummers (Will Calhoun and Dafnis Prieto) to sly pianists (Lafayette Gilchrist and Robert Glasper) to space-funk kingpins (Marco Benevento and the Jacob Fred Odyssey). With 20 acts on the program, full absorption can be dizzying, but there’s a specific thrill in clocking the nonstop parade of ensembles—even if you’re there to graze, you’ll get a jolt. On the must-see list? New groups from Jeff Watts and Orrin Evans, and Don Byron’s Ivey-Divey trio. Correctly plan your zigzag across Bleecker Street, and thrills should abound.
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In All About Jazz...
On the Cover: WILLIAM PARKER
By Kurt Gottschalk; photos by Stephanie Errore
...The internationally known bassist has deep roots in and a deep commitment to the neighborhood and to the energetic form of free jazz he generally refers to simply as "the music." He is very much the music's hometown hero. Parker is at Kenny's Castaways Jan. 10th as part of the Winter Jazzfest and L. Brown Recording Studio Jan. 10th as part of the Company of Heaven Jazz Festival, both with By Any Means and The Stone Jan. 16th.
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In All About Jazz...
Interview: JEFF "TAIN" WATTS
By Russ Musto; photo by Alan Nahigian
The most visible and exciting drummer of his generation, Jeff "Tain" Watts burst into the jazz spotlight in the early '80s as a member of Wynton Marsalis' first quintet and into the general public's eye in the role of Rhythm Jones in Spike Lee's film Mo' Better Blues and as a member of The Tonight Show band led by Branford Marsalis, in whose quartet he's drummed for over 25 years. Since leaving the world of television and returning to New York, Watts has been a very active member of the city's music scene, both as a highly regarded sideman and, increasingly, as the leader of his own trailblazing groups. Watts is at Le Poisson Rouge Jan. 10th as part of the Winter Jazzfest.
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In Flavorpill...
Music: Jazz/Blues
2009 Winter Jazzfest
Jazzbos frustrated with short sets and expensive drinks can take solace in the Winter Jazzfest. Musicians from New York, New Orleans, Cuba, Chile, and the world over comprise the 22 groups playing for ten straight hours. Staggered set times and the participating clubs' close proximity make venue-hopping easy and minimize downtime for the sonically insatiable. Highlights of this year's particularly diverse lineup include Robert Glasper, an experimental pianist who's equally comfortable playing with his trio or the Roots, and nu-jazz drummer Will Calhoun, who's played with everyone from Paul Simon to Lauren Hill. Hit Sullivan Hall early for Theo Bleckmann's unusual take on scat singing. Schedule at www.winterjazzfest.com
– Chris Kompanek
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