Recent Concert Reviews

The crowd sings "Happy Birthday" to Lee Konitz after his 90th Birthday celebration concert. My coverage is at Artsfuse.org

Here's Brian Lynch burning on trumpet during the Curtis Brothers concert at the Regatta Bar. My coverage is here.

"Big Bands On The Edge-Video One" posted by Steve Provizer

In 1989, I got an irresistible urge to lose a lot of money and produced a concert called "Big Bands On The Edge" at the Emerson Majestic Theatre in Boston.  The bands were: the Either/Orchestra (Russ Gershon, leader), Orange Then Blue (George Schuller, leader) and Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra (Darrell Katz and Ken Schaphorst, leaders). Also featured was alto sax soloist Julius Hemphill. In all, over 50 musicians participated. In this particular video, some members from each group-about 25 musicians-are playing.

It ain't the Savory Collection, but it does capture a moment in jazz time and shows that even during a period considered neo-conservative, there is always explosive experimentation going on. 

Let me note that, apart from Hemphill on alto, the blazing tenor playing is by Rob Scheps.


Check out the list of musicians:

Trumpets:
Tom Halter, John Carlson, John Allmark, Diego Urcola, Ken Cervenka, Dave Balou, John Carlson, Mark Taylor

Trombones:
Gary Valente, Peter Cirelli, Russell Jewell, Curtis Hasselbring, Bob Pilkington, Joshua Roseman

French Horn:
Marshall Sealy, Mark Taylor

Tuba:
Jim Odell

Reeds:
Matt Darriau, Stan Strickland, Allan Chase, Russ Gershon, Charlie Kohlhase, Bob Zung, Chris Cheeks, Rob Scheps, Jay Brandford, Douglas Yates

Keyboards:
Tim Ray, John Medeski

Bass:
Paul Del Nero, Michael Rivard, Wesley Wirth

Drums:
George Schuller, Jerome Dupree, Ron Savage

Vibes:
Mike Noonan

Guitar:
John Dirac, Ben Sher

Percussion:
Sa Davis, Jerry Leake