The New York City Jazz Record

The City's Only Homegrown Jazz Gazette!

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For TNYCJR’s annual “Women in Jazz Issue”, we place the spotlight squarely on a significant number of female contributors, past and present, who have immeasurably added to the depth and dynamics of this music we call jazz. Starting with two pianists—Hiromi (Cover) and Rachel Z (Interview), both have taken their experience-turned-expertise to expand their instrumental vocabulary and capacity. Each has incorporated keyboard/synth work inspired by their respective jazz fusion apprenticeship-collaborations with mentors and masters of the artform: as Chick Corea is to Hiromi, Wayne Shorter is to Rachel Z. Over the pandemic both Corea and Shorter passed on, so these two women now carry the baton. Of other recently fallen jazz sequoias, stalwart jazz advocate “Cobi” Narita, a fixture on NYC’s jazz scene since the late ‘60s (venue proprietor, founder of International Women in Jazz, etc.), passed away late last year and many of those close to her have shared fond remembrances in tribute (Special Feature In Memoriam). A “Cobi Narita Jazz Memorial” will take place Mar. 20 at Saint Peter’s Church. Corky Hale (Encore) and the late Blanche Calloway (Lest We Forget) are pioneers. The former helped legitimize the harp as a jazz instrument in the ’50s (preceding Dorothy Ashby); the latter was the older sister to and original influence on Cab— and, significantly, the first African American female to ever lead an all-male big band. Gen X’er Shoko Nagai (Artist Feature), in the last two decades has made her fluency on accordion, piano and keyboards an asset in many NYC-based groups (including her own). There’s the front-loaded album review section (pgs. 16-21), of almost two dozen recordings led or co-led by (or in tribute to) female musicians you may or may not already be familiar with. Check ‘em out! And though a female-run record label has become, thankfully, more common, Canada’s Ambiances Magnétiques (Label Spotlight), celebrating its 40th anniversary, has also historically incorporated a high percentage of women.

Hopefully, the pop world isn’t the only genre of music in which the gender needle seems to be getting better balanced (at the recent GRAMMYS, women dominated the awards). So, a tip of our proverbial jazz hat to the non-male representation who certainly deserve more recognition, let alone acknowledgment, than history has given them. TNYCJR will continue to do its part, regardless of whether or not it’s Women’s Herstory Month.

On the Cover: HIROMI—Hiromi in Wonderland

(by Franz Matzner; photos by Mitsuru Nishimura)

If pianist Hiromi Uehara was a novelist, her form would be magical realism. Strains of familiar musical pedigrees can be traced throughout her repertoire, from traditional jazz to funk to classical to prog-rock and fusion. Sonicwonderland is just the latest example of her dedication to exploration without pretension. Her vigor and instrumental command, impressive when recorded, remain almost shocking when enjoyed live and in-person. We all have a week in NYC later this month not to pass up on that opportunity. Hiromi is at Blue Note Mar. 26-31.

Interview: RACHEL Z—Standalone Spirit

(by Anna Steegman; photo by John Abbott)

Internationally acclaimed pianist/keyboardist Rachel Z is known for her creative brilliance and innovative compositions that, though compared to Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner, defy classification. She has released over a dozen albums, co-wrote the GRAMMY award-winning “Tokyo Blue” with saxophonist Najee and has worked with Al Di Meola, Wayne Escoffery, the fusion band Steps Ahead, Terri Lyne Carrington, Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Peter Gabriel, as well as Wayne Shorter on his GRAMMY winning album High Life. Rachel Z’s Sensual (Dot Time) album release concert is at Iridium Mar. 29.

Artist Feature: SHOKO NAGAI—Traversing Time and Space

(by Sophia Valera Heinecke; photo by David Garland)

The collected works of Shoko Nagai create a unity of world cultures that grapple with past, present and future. Her soundscapes are a place to reimagine. As a leader and ensemble member, a teacher and a student, a composer and improviser, Nagai’s wholistic practice presents balance and paradox, creating liberatory currents through unexpected choices. Nagai’s Tokala is at Barbes Mar. 28. She is also at Roulette with Chris Cochrane Mar. 17, Barbès with Sanda Weigl Mar. 15 and The Keep with Welf Dorr Mar. 31.

Encore: CORKY HALE—Music, Marriage and Activism

(by Marilyn Lester; photo courtesy of artist)

From a tiny Midwest farm town to dazzling Los Angeles, jazz harpist, pianist, flutist and vocalist, Corky Hale has cut a wide swath in her 87 years. And who hasn’t Hale worked with? The list of artists she has played piano or harp for is a who’s who: Nat King Cole, Barbra Streisand, Liberace, Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Björk and countless more merely scratch the surface.

Lest We Forget: BLANCHE CALLOWAY—Big Personality, Big Dreams

(by Lynn Heiser; photo Courtesy of Family)

In Cab Calloway’s 1976 memoir, Of Minnie the Moocher & Me, the popular and charismatic vocalist/bandleader said of his sister, Blanche, that she was “vivacious... and a hell of a singer and dancer.” Yet it was Blanche who first made it big as an entertainer—a fact that faded to the background in a history controlled by white patriarchy.

Album Reviews: In Print, On Screen, Boxed Set, Drop The Needle Reviews, Globe Unity…

AMM - Last Calls (Matchless)

André 3000 - New Blue Sun (Epic)

Brandon Ross Phantom Station - Off The End (Sunnyside)

Cecilia Smith/Mary Lou Williams Resurgence Project - Volume 1 (Innova)

Lee/Lonberg-Holm/Mattrey/fluke-mogul/Olencki - Live in Accord (Notice Recordings)

Ches Smith - Laugh Ash (Pyroclastic)

Carter/Ishito/Plaks/Swanson/Panikkar - Open Question Vol. 2 (577 Records)

David Bixler - The Langston Hughes Project, Vol. 1 (Tiger Turn)

Elijah Shiffer - City of Birds, Volume 1 (Star Jelly)

Fjall - From The Rough Hill (Discus Music)

Fred Anderson Quartet - The Milwaukee Tapes, Vol. 2 (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

gabby fluke-mogul/Dave Rempis – LIP (Catalytic Artist)

George Coleman - Live at Smalls Jazz Club (Cellar Music)

George Colligan - The Phyllis Wheatley Project (featuring Zyanna) (PJCE)

Gonzalo Rubalcaba - Borrowed Roses (Top Stop Music)

Hery Paz – Jardineros (577 Records)

Hilary Gardner and The Lonesome Pines - On the Trail (Anzic)

Jason Moran - From The Dancehall to the Battlefield (Yes)

Jeremy Udden - Wishing Flower (Sunnyside)

Jerry Bergonzi - Extra Extra (Savant)

Jonah Parzen-Johnson - You're Never Really Alone (We Jazz)

Julian Lage - Speak To Me (Blue Note)

Lezlie Harrison - Let Them Talk (Cellar Music)

Lisa Hilton - Coincidental Moment (Ruby Slipper Prod.)

Marcus Persiani - The Proper Time (ft. George Coleman) (Persiani Music)

Marianne Trudel/John Hollenbeck - Dédé Java Espiritu (s/r)

Mark De Clive-Lowe/Shigeto/Melanie Charles - Hotel San Claudio (Soul Bank Music)

Mark Soskin/Jay Anderson – Empathy (SteepleChase)

Melba Liston - And Her 'Bones (Fresh Sound)

Michelle Lordi - Two Moons (Imani)

Mike Davis - The New Wonders (Turtle Bay)

Muriel Grossmann - Devotion (Third Man)

Neal Kirkwood Big Band - Night City (BJU Records)

Nina Simone - Four Women: The Nina Simone Complete Recordings 1964-67 (Verve)

One For All (featuring George Coleman) - Big George (Smoke Sessions)

Pat Bianchi – Three (21H)

Pierrick Pédron/Gonzalo Rubalcaba - Pédron Rubalcaba (Gazebo)

Playfield - Magic Heart (577 Records)

Ron Caines/Martin Archer AXIS - Blutopia (Discus Music)

Shirley Scott - Queen Talk: Live at the Left Bank (Reel to Real)

Silke Eberhard/Céline Voccia - Wild Knots (Relative Pitch)

Soundies: The Ultimate Collection (Kino Classics)

Taylor Eigsti - Plot Armor (GroundUP Music)

The Rhythm of Unity by Mike and Dorothy Longo (Redwood Publishing)

Tony Oxley - The New World (Discus Music)

Toshiko Akiyoshi - Toshiko's Blues (Fresh Sound)

Umlaut Chamber Orchestra - Zodiac Suite-Mary Lou Williams (Umlaut)

Vanisha Gould/Chris McCarthy - Life's A Gig (Fresh Sound)

Vi Redd - Bird Call (Fresh Sound)

Vicente Archer - Short Stories (Cellar Music)

Vinnie Sperrazza Apocryphal - Sunday (Loyal Label)

Wes Montgomery - The Complete Full House Recordings (Craft Recordings)

Willy Rodriguez - Seeing Sounds (s/r)

Youn Sun Nah – Elles (Warner Brothers)

Look for other sections like Festival Report, NY@Night, Label Spotlight, VOXNews, In Memoriam, Recommended New Releases and our invaluable Event Calendar.

Thanks so much for reading The New York City Jazz Record, the city's only homegrown gazette devoted to the music.