As Greg Osby said, we were “lucky to bask in his aura.” I was lucky to see him at one of his last Birdland gigs. My review – http://ow.ly/rEnTK
So sad to hear of passing of guitar great Jim Hall…
Looking fwd to “Samba Meets Jazz” tonight at Kitano Hotel
Nilson Matta in NYC
Looking fwd to beautiful music tonight @nilsonmatta ‘s “Samba Meets Jazz” at Jazz@Kitano, NYC. http://ow.ly/qZjtl
Filed under Music Publicity, Nilson Matta, Samba Meets Jazz Workshops
Donald Fagen Int’w – “An Eminent Hipster Speaks” (DownBeat, Dec. 2013)
Donald Fagen
Fresh off his highly successful 2013 Steely Dan tour with partner Walter Becker, Donald Fagen demonstrated his continued relevance and creativity with a big win in this year’s DownBeat Reader’s Poll for the album “Sunken Condos” (Reprise), his fourth solo effort. He is also the author of a new book of musical memoirs, “Eminent Hipsters” (Viking). I’ve been a fan since, well, forever, so it was an honor to interview him for the December DownBeat. Read it here — or buy the magazine (at all Barnes & Noble stores).
Filed under Donald Fagen, Downbeat, Music Writing and Clips, Steely Dan
Eric Reed on “progress” in Jazz
“The idea that art “moves forward” is misleading anyway; art doesn’t move, art is. Is there a living soul in Jazz more advanced than John Coltrane? Who is beyond Duke Ellington?” – Eric Reed, from his website,www.ericreed.net. I had the pleasure of interviewing Eric for an upcoming article in DownBeat about JALC’s forthcoming collection of free jazz education videos that feature him, among many other jazz artists and historians.
Filed under Downbeat, education, Eric Reed, Jazz at Lincoln Center
Steely Dan’s band: “The Untouchables”
Scott Gries, Getty Images
At the Steely Dan concert last night at the Beacon Theater, after the last encore, the greatest road band ever played an “outro” — Nelson Riddle’s big band theme from “The Untouchables” (not the movie – the old Fifties TV show). Amazing way to close. (You can hear it here – it’s the first in a series of old detective show themes.)
Filed under Donald Fagen, Music Writing and Clips, Steely Dan, Walter Becker
Gregory Porter – The Storyteller (DownBeat, Oct. 2013)
My DownBeat cover story on singer/songwriter Gregory Porter is out now. Read it here. Or better yet, support print journalism, and buy it at a newsstand (Barnes & Noble carries it). Lots of great stuff in the issue, including coverage of the Montreal and Toronto jazz festivals (I wrote the latter) and tons of interesting record reviews.
Filed under Downbeat, Gregory Porter, Jazz, Music Writing and Clips
Thrilled to be writing a profile of the great Donald Fagen for an upcoming issue of DownBeat!
Filed under Donald Fagen, Downbeat, Music Writing and Clips
Coming soon in the October DownBeat…
Filed under Downbeat, Gregory Porter, Jazz, Music Writing and Clips
Gregory Porter’s “Liquid Spirit” album & my profile of him in DownBeat out soon
Gregory Porter at home in Brooklyn (photo by Allen Morrison)
RT @amorrison2 “#GregoryPorter’s “Liquid Spirit” drops Sept 17. Happy to say my profile of him is cover of Oct #DownBeat, out soon. ” Gregory Porter – Liquid Spirit video
Filed under Downbeat, Gregory Porter, Music Writing and Clips
My Interview with Alto Sax Star Tia Fuller in the August DownBeat
With Tia Fuller, backstage at the Apollo Theater.
What did Tia Fuller learn from playing in Beyoncé’s all-female band? See my interview with the alto sax star — winner of two DownBeat Rising Star awards this year for alto and flute — from the August 2013 DownBeat.
Filed under Downbeat, Jazz, Music Writing and Clips, Tia Fuller
“Don Byron Yodels (Really!) & Thrills at Toronto Jazz Festival”
Don Byron at The Rex, Toronto Jazz Festival, June 21, 2013
RT @DownBeatMag “DON BYRON YODELS (REALLY!) & THRILLS @TorontoJazzFest — See the complete Toronto review: ” http://ow.ly/nqWc8
Filed under Don Byron, Downbeat, Jazz, Toronto Jazz Festival
At the 2013 Toronto Jazz Festival in late June, perhaps my favorite moments were with the astonishing Brazilian pianist/singer Eliane Elias and her trio with bassist Marc Johnson and guitarist Steve Cardenas. Here’s the first of my two festival reviews in DownBeat.
July 23, 2013 · 6:15 pm
“Bobby McFerrin – Lyrical and Spiritual” – DownBeat, July 2013
Bobby McFerrin at sound check, Adelphi University. Photo by Adam McCullough
After years of singing mostly songs without words, or in improvised languages of his own invention, Bobby McFerrin has returned to singing the type of songs in which the lyrics are as essential as the music, with words that express his deepest yearnings: spirituals. In my interview with McFerrin, he talks about his early career and influences, why he considers himself a “folk” musician, and the process of creating his new album spirityouall.
Filed under Bobby McFerrin, Downbeat, Jazz, Music Writing and Clips
John McLaughlin takes the main stage at Toronto Jazz Festival
Jazz-rock paragon and purveyor of ecstasy, John McLaughlin. Sorry for the blurry image, but if you look carefully, you’ll see that bass whiz Etienne Mbappe wears gloves.
June 23, 2013 · 10:17 pm
Toronto Jazz Fest, Day 1: Something for Everybody
Covering Toronto jazz fest for DownBeat. Crazy contrast, from Don Byron, one of jazz’s great eccentrics, to Smokey Robinson’s Motown show.
Filed under Downbeat, Jazz, Toronto Jazz Festival
“Free to Be Jane Monheit” – DownBeat, June 2013
“Free to be Jane Monheit” – DownBeat, June 2013
Jane Monheit, one of the most accomplished jazz singers of her generation, no longer strives for perfection. Here’s my article from the June 2013 DownBeat.
Filed under Downbeat, Jazz, Music Writing and Clips, Uncategorized
“The Girls in the Band”
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.
Filed under Downbeat, Jazz, Music Writing and Clips
Why Harry Connick Jr. Couldn’t Sit Idle
Why Harry Connick Jr. Couldn’t Sit Idle During ‘Idol’ — “The point Connick tried to make, which Jackson didn’t want to hear, was that the show’s contestants didn’t know these classic songs well enough to take liberties with their melodies and lyrics. In doing so, they were murdering the music.”
Next Avenue http://ow.ly/kIQEw
Filed under Uncategorized
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
Allen Morrison - Music Journalist, Jazz Pianist, Songwriter, Lecturer - Long Island, NY 
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