STAGE IS SET FOR THIS WEEK'S SAXOPHONE SALUTE TO JAMES MOODY: 8/24 - 8/29

Saxophonist, flautist, composer, and vocalist James Moody has long been considered one of the world's finest jazz musicians. In a career that has spanned seven decades, Moody has performed with most of jazz's biggest names, including Dizzy Gillespie, who employed him as the band's saxophonist from 1946 until Gillespie's death in 1993.

Though originally booked to play this week, Moody has been advised by his doctors to stay at home and rest while he continues to recuperate from gallbladder surgery.

This week's performance will instead be a tribute to Moody, and fittingly, some of today's top saxophonists have rallied together to show their appreciation for his life's work and support for a speedy recovery.

In the “Saxophone Summit: Salute To James Moody,” pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Todd Coolman and drummer Adam Nussbaum will be joined by saxophonists Eric Alexander and Antonio Hart each night. Special guest saxophonists will be joining the band throughout the week, including Chris Potter (Aug. 24), Jimmy Heath (Aug. 26), Lew Tabackin (Aug. 27), Ada Rovatti (Aug. 28), and Joe Lovano (Aug. 29), among others.

HALF NOTE RECORDS UPCOMING RELEASE: KENNY WERNER'S NO BEGINNING NO END

On August 17, Half Note Records will release Kenny Werner's largest and most ambitious project to date - No Beginning, No End - featuring Joe Lovano, Judi Silvano, a string quartet, perucssion ensemble, 40+ woodwinds and a large choir. The piece is a tribute to Werner's late daugther Katheryn, who passed away unexpectedly and tragically in 2006.

The eventual work that became No Beginning, No End was based off a poem Werner wrote in the aftermath of the tragedy. The wind ensemble was recorded at NYU Steinhardt's theater in the summer of 2009. Dutch filmmaker Søren Jensen was able to document the project on video. Below is a trailer that discusses the making of No Beginning, No End and how it all came together.

BLUE NOTE EMERGING ARTIST SERIES PRESENTS: NADAV REMEZ GROUP

Check out this amazing guitarist and composer - a recent grad of NEC in Mass. - with an all-star group featuring

Nadav Remez, guitar
Myron Walden, alto saxophone
Jonathan Greenstein, tenor saxophone
Shai Maestro, piano
Noam Wiesenberg, bass
Ziv Ravitz, drums
Special guest:
Itamar Borochov, trumpet

Check out this video clip of their soundcheck today before the show opening for Ron Carter Trio featuring Mulgrew Miller & Russell Malone...