Wednesday, August 26, 2009

ENTER TO WIN: 2 FREE TICKETS TO CECIL TAYLOR AT THE HIGHLINE BALLROOM ONE NIGHT ONLY 8/31/09!

A LIMITED NUMBER OF FREE TICKET PAIRS are being offered for CECIL TAYLOR'S SHOW AT THE HIGHLINE BALLROOM for one night only on Monday, August 31. The contest will end on Sunday, August 30, at 5:00pm ET. To win 2 free tickets to see Cecil Taylor at the Highline, follow the directions below and will contact you via email if you are a winner:

TO ENTER:


1. Email your name and phone number to contests@bluenote.net
2. In the Subject Line, please title your email "BN BLOG CONTEST - CECIL TAYLOR AT HIGHLINE BALLROOM"
3. Indicate which set (7:30pm or 10:30pm) you would like tickets for

*If any of these instructions are not followed, you will not be included in the contest!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

ENTER TO WIN: 2 FREE TICKETS TO McCOY TYNER TRIO + SPECIAL GUEST GARY BARTZ AT THE HIGHLINE BALLROOM


A LIMITED NUMBER OF FREE TICKET PAIRS are being offered for McCOY TYNER'S CD RELEASE SHOW AT THE HIGHLINE BALLROOM FEATURING GARY BARTZ for one night only on Sunday, August 23. The contest will end on Saturday, August 22, at 5:00pm ET. To win 2 free tickets to see McCoy Tyner at the Highline, follow the directions below. We will contact you via email if you are a winner:


TO ENTER:


1. Email your name and phone number to contests@bluenote.net
2. In the Subject Line, please title your email "BN BLOG CONTEST - McCOY TYNER AT HIGHLINE BALLROOM"
3. Indicate which set (7:30pm or 10:30pm) you would like tickets for

*If any of these instructions are not followed, you will not be included in the contest!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Wall St. Journal Interviews Kevin Eubanks

Last night, Wall St. Journal rock and pop critic Jim Fusilli interviewed guitarist Kevin Eubanks, who will be playing at the Blue Note from tonight through Sunday. Check it out!

Kevin Eubanks on Jazz, “The Jay Leno Show” and Playing in New York
Getty

Most people know Kevin Eubanks as the musical director for “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” a position he held since 1995. But prior to that, Eubanks had a reputation for excellence as a jazz guitarist, playing with Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Dave Holland and others. In addition to his work as a sideman, he’s recorded 18 albums as a leader. This week, he’s fronting his five-piece band at the Blue Note in New York City.

The Wall Street Journal: How does it feel to be on stage at a jazz club again?

It feels wonderful. I really love all the music we get to. Once we’re in front of an audience that’s listening and has a knowledge of what they’re listening for, it’s a vibe. If you have a commitment to what you’re doing, people are attracted to it.

What material are you playing?

All original material. This is a band that’s been together for a while. We have a steady gig at the Baked Potato in L.A. and we get a chance to go out now and then. But most of the stuff is new to the audience. They haven’t heard it on radio, but they get into it. That reinforces my thinking that people want to hear a certain commitment to the music in what you’re doing. It’s all ages too – “The Tonight Show” audience or a lot younger, across the board. They’re into some new music.

Any plans for another album?

Well, I’m meeting with some people while I’m here. I guess I’ll find out what record companies do these days. I’m going to focus on getting the records out to where they’re sold these days – stores, online, gas stations, wherever. We have so much music we want to get out. But I am curious about what record companies do. It’ll help to find that out. After we’re done here and do a few more gigs, we’re going to record in L.A.

Did you get to play enough jazz on “The Tonight Show”?

No, but at the same time I never expected to. I play music that supports the focus of the show. I never had a conflict of interest between what the show needed and what I wanted to do.

You’ll be leading the band on “The Jay Leno Show.” Will you find a place for jazz on it?

When we start the new show, I’d like to bring that into focus. I want to find the right places for the creative expression. I don’t want to force it. I feel everybody has an open mind now that it’s a new show. They’re open to some new ideas.

I see Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West are booked for the first night. Any chance we’ll see jazz giants too?

That’s not my department, but what I can do is bring people on as part of my band and feature them, and I do envision doing that. There are ways to bring the music into the TV show – an extra long bumper, maybe. People are a little more open about it. At 10 o’clock you need a few new ideas. That’s one of the areas I want to try to develop. It wouldn’t be a record company thing. It’d be just people I know. It could be anybody I dig.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

KEVIN EUBANKS - RETURN TO THE PRE-MELLOW

Kevin Eubanks returns to his old, premellow style at the Blue Note.


Nate Chinen previewed Kevin Eubanks' upcoming performance in the New York Times' Sunday paper. The caption below the picture (above) prompted me to seek out some of Eubanks' less "mellow" performances.

Here's some of that pre-mellow style:



And this one, a personal favorite, with Pat Martino on Martino's '98 release "All Sides Now"

KEVIN EUBANKS previewed in NY TIMES THE WEEK AHEAD

By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: August 13, 2009

Pop

Nate Chinen

In just a few weeks KEVIN EUBANKS will be back on network television, five nights a week, as the musical sidekick to Jay Leno. It’s a job he has honed to perfection, but it showcases only one side of his talent. Before versatility, amiability and polish became his trademarks, Mr. Eubanks was known as an aggressively nimble postbop guitarist.

He still has the capacity for that sort of playing, though he doesn’t indulge it often. All of his albums in this decade have been released through his own label, InSoul, and they adhere to mellow prescriptions. But when Mr. Eubanks digs in with likeminded players, like the drummer Marvin (Smitty) Smith, he allows himself the license to explore.

Which makes his appearance at the Blue Note from Tuesday through next Sunday something worth noting. He’ll be playing not only with Mr. Smith but also the saxophonist Bill Pierce, in what looks like a potent fusion quintet. Don’t count on too many laughs. 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., 131 West Third Street, Greenwich Village, (212) 475-8592, bluenote.net; cover, $30 at tables, $20 at the bar, with a $5 minimum.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

THE GREAT DAVE HOLLAND

Dave Holland is bringing a brand new group called The Overtone Quartet to the Blue Note from September 8 - 13. I just had to post this amazingly deep and heartfelt solo bass version of Goodbye Pork Pie Hat. And below that is another favorite of mine...the great Chris Potter, who along with Holland, Jason Moran, and Eric Harland, make up the new Overtone Quartet.



And here is Chris Potter at his finest just a few months ago with his band, Underground: