I’m looking forward to seeing this new documentary (great review in today’s NY Times) about just how hard it used to be for women in jazz. This is on my mind especially after my interview last night with the brilliant saxophonist Tia Fuller at the Apollo Theater. Tia will appear there on Saturday in a show called “Great Jazz Women of the Apollo” that includes pianist Geri Allen, singer Dianne Reeves, and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. The show’s a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, and other great ladies of jazz.
Category Archives: Downbeat
Bird Lives! Paquito D’Rivera revives “Charlie Parker w/Strings” at JALC (DownBeat, 4/13)
Alto sax master Paquito D’Rivera resurrects “Charlie Parker w/Strings at Jazz at Lincoln Center. My review in DownBeat: http://ow.ly/kgRhH
Int’w w/Bobby McFerrin today!
Int’w w/Bobby McFerrin today before his show @ Adelphi U. New CD ‘spirityouall’ is gorgeous jazz/blues/Americana http://ow.ly/k79V4
Filed under Downbeat, Jazz, Music Writing and Clips, Uncategorized
“Making the Invisible Visible” – my DownBeat int’w with the Wayne Shorter Quartet
The Wayne Shorter Quartet
What’s it like to compose new music on the spot with Wayne Shorter? See my int’w with the members of his quartet in the March DownBeat. http://ow.ly/hMo15
Filed under Downbeat, Jazz, Music Writing and Clips, Uncategorized, Wayne Shorter
My profile/interview with Wynton Marsalis from the Dec. 2012 DownBeat
My dinner with Wynton. OK, it was lunch. Great sushi and even better conversation. Here’s my interview/profile of him, as published in the December 2012 issue of DownBeat: “Wynton Marsalis – Profoundly Grateful” (DownBeat, Dec. 2012)
Filed under Downbeat, Music Writing and Clips, Wynton Marsalis
Jim Hall Quartet at Birdland, 10/3 – my review
The great Jim Hall influenced a generation of jazz guitarists. Saw him at Birdland 10/3. My review’s at DownBeat.com. http://ow.ly/eAXbf
Filed under Downbeat, Jim Hall, Music Writing and Clips
My DownBeat interview with Luciana Souza and Larry Klein
Luciana Souza and producer/husband Larry Klein discuss her two new albums, “The Book of Chet” and “Duos III,” their music, their marriage and much more in this interview published in the October 2012 DownBeat. You can read it here.
Filed under Downbeat, Larry Klein, Luciana Souza, Music Writing and Clips
Lee Konitz is 84 and is cooler than you.
Lee Konitz is 84 and is cooler than you. DownBeat is currently running my review of the alto sax legend and his “Enfants Terribles” (feat. Bill Frisell) as their lead story. http://bit.ly/RF1D2D
Filed under Bill Frisell, Downbeat, Lee Konitz, Music Writing and Clips, Uncategorized
Next up: I’ll review Konitz/Frisell “Enfants Terribles” for DownBeat
Brilliant Lee Konitz, 84, and Bill Frisell, a mere 61, lead “Enfants Terribles” @BlueNote NYC. I’ll review for DownBeat tmrw night. http://ow.ly/cZLuA
Filed under Bill Frisell, Downbeat, Lee Konitz, Music Writing and Clips
Coming soon – two new albums by Luciana Souza, and my interview with her in Downbeat
I recently traveled to L.A. to interview the wonderful singer/composer Luciana Souza – and her equally brilliant producer-husband Larry Klein – for a feature story in DownBeat. The article will preview two new albums to be released simultaneously in late August.
Filed under Downbeat, Luciana Souza, Music Writing and Clips
Re-Imagining “Porgy and Bess”
The new “Porgy and Bess,” adapted for Broadway by Suzan Lori-Parks and Diedre L. Murray is up for 10 Tonys, including Best Musical Revival, Best Actress, Best Actor and Best Orchestrations. For the May 2012 issue of DownBeat, I interviewed Diedre Murray on how she and her collaborators re-imagined Gershwin’s score for 21st Century Broadway. (Click the pic to read.)
Filed under Downbeat, Music Writing and Clips, Porgy and Bess, Uncategorized
Luciana Souza Brings Brazil to New York – Downbeat
Luciana Souza brings Brazil to New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center, covers songs from Jobim to Leonard Cohen http://bit.ly/AAPMSO
Porgy and Bess on WNYC’s Soundcheck
I’m currently working on an interview for Downbeat with “Porgy and Bess” musical arranger Diedre Murray. Meanwhile, here’s a treat — Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis sing highlights, including an incredible “Bess, You Is My Woman Now.”
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/2012/jan/17/audra-mcdonald-and-norm-lewis/
Filed under Downbeat, Music Writing and Clips, Porgy and Bess
Downbeat Review: Monty Alexander and friends in Tribute to Sinatra and Cole at Jazz@Lincoln Center
On December 9, pianist Monty Alexander and other jazz stars recreated the fabled NYC night spot Jilly’s, where Sinatra and his Rat Pack pals used to hang out, as part of a tribute to Sinatra and Nat King Cole @ Jazz at Lincoln Center — see my review, which appeared on Downbeat.com.
Filed under Downbeat, Music Writing and Clips
Allen Morrison - Music Journalist, Jazz Pianist, Songwriter, Lecturer - Long Island, NY 
You must be logged in to post a comment.