TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI

Toshiko Akiyoshi: A Life in Jazz, A Legacy Beyond Labels

by Sarah Belle Lin

When I told Toshiko Akiyoshi that we would be featuring her as part of our Women’s History Month coverage, she responded with a single word: “Whatever.”

It’s no surprise. At 95, Toshiko has long seen herself as a musician first, a member of society second, and only distantly, if at all, as a “female artist.” Why should gender matter? “Maybe it’s necessary in order to get some platform, I don't know,” she tells me. “But basically speaking, I'm not for the separation of anything.”

Labels never did much to define Toshiko, but her achievements speak for themselves. She is recognized as one of the first Asian women jazz pioneers, the first Japanese woman to graduate from Berklee College of Music, and the first woman to win Best Arranger and Best Composer in DownBeat Magazine’s Readers Poll. Over the course of her career, she has been nominated for 14 GRAMMY Awards, from her first in 1976 (Long Yellow Road, RCA Records) with the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band, to her most recent in 1994. She’s won Best Jazz Instrumental Performance ten times and Best Arrangement on an Instrumental four times. She was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2007, and her six-hour oral history interview is preserved in the Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program.

JUDY CARMICHAEL

Judy Carmichael: A Life in Jazz, A Career of Her Own Making

By Ken Dryden

From her teenage years, Judy Carmichael has been an artist who creates her own opportunities. Initially known for her stride piano chops, she has since carved out a multifaceted career as a vocalist, bandleader, composer, radio host, and author.

A German major in college, Judy played piano—especially ragtime—purely for fun. Then, a classmate suggested she audition for a Newport Beach gig, filling in for the regular pianist on his night off. She landed the job with a single ragtime tune. But at that point, she was still memorizing pieces from sheet music, not improvising. That all changed when she heard a Count Basie record featuring Benny Moten’s “Prince of Wales.”

“That was the first time I was really motivated to play the piano,” Judy recalls. “I started teaching myself by ear, playing that record over and over. I began seeing the patterns in the chord changes, and whenever a musician came up to the piano, I’d ask them what key I was in so I could start to understand how it all worked.”

She immersed herself in the recordings of Fats Waller, Earl Hines, James P. Johnson, and Art Tatum, developing a love for stride piano that would define her early career.

RENÉE MANNING

Renée Manning: The Quiet Superstar Who Redefined Jazz

Interview by Raul da Gama

Vocalist, musician and quiet superstar Renée Manning recounts how she came to play Bessie Smith in a jazz opera, with music by George Gruntz and a libretto by the Rabelaisian Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, also featuring Sheila Jordan and Mark Murphy. “I remember, I was told that George was looking for a singer with an operatic background for Cosmopolitan Greetings,” she says.

“So, I went to meet him in Köln. Not only do I see that he has Sheila and Mark signed up, but then he tells me, ‘I want you to play Bessie…’” she says. “‘What do you mean?’ I ask him, ‘Bessie Smith…?!’ I almost fell off my chair. I was surprised, apprehensive, and I said, ‘Uh, huh! No, I can’t do it!’ But George is, you know, charming and persistent.”

An even bigger challenge was walking into the first rehearsal. “I was greeted by grim, unsmiling faces of the members of the WDR Big Band. Oh, my goodness, they looked at me as if to say, ‘Here comes another Black diva.’ But when I was done, the musicians put down their instruments, stood up, and applauded,” Renée says without a smidge of egotism in her voice.

KIM CLARKE

Kim Clarke : This Lady's Got Chops

by Raul da Gama

It is highly unlikely that the fabled tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson would have hired a prodigious young bassist named Kim Clarke to anchor his harmonic and rhythmic platform when he was at the height of his powers, as far back as 1986. In fact, not only did Joe do just that, but he toured Europe with her, adding the inimitable Joanne Brackeen on piano as well as the then-unknown Keith Killgo on drums. Clearly, the great tenor saxophonist had no misgivings when he threw in a challenge to the band, counting off Charlie Parker’s “Relaxin’ at Camarillo” to be played at breakneck speed—a night bristling with musical genius. The band responded to the test and came through with flying colors.

You would have expected the more experienced Joanne to dazzle with her chops. But your jaw dropped at Kim’s finger-breaking dexterity and unbridled virtuosity. “Who’s that girl?” many in a Hamburg audience might have asked. Joe might simply have announced her: “…on bass, Kim Clarke…” or something like that. A video of that performance circulates on YouTube. Around forty seconds into the song, the camera focuses on the fingers of Kim’s right hand. You feel as if you’re winded, hit right in the center of your chest. Her elegantly pizzicato also thumps right out of the screen as she deploys a rippling groove that builds ferociously under Joe’s complex boppish runs.

DARLESIA CEARCY

Darlesia Cearcy: A Star of Stage and Screen Who Breathes Life Into Every Role

Chrys Roney

In the vast landscape of Broadway and beyond, few performers possess the ability to completely transform the stage with sheer presence and artistic depth. Darlesia Cearcy is one such force. Her voice, a fusion of power and elegance, coupled with an acting range that seamlessly moves from tender introspection to grand theatricality, has made her a defining figure in contemporary theater. Most recently, she has taken center stage in A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical, currently dazzling audiences in New York City. With this latest role, Darlesia once again proves why she remains a vital and magnetic presence in the performing arts.

Darlesia's journey to Broadway was one forged with determination and an insatiable hunger for storytelling. She honed her craft at the University of Akron, laying a foundation of discipline and artistic integrity that would become hallmarks of her career. From there, she immersed herself in the art of performance, continually pushing the boundaries of her talent.

Her stage work reads like a masterclass in versatility. From musicals that demand soaring vocal performances to intimate dramas that require a nuanced emotional touch, Darlesia embodies every role with an uncanny ability to connect with both the material and her audience. Each performance is more than just an interpretation—it’s an act of living, breathing storytelling.

RONDI CHARLESTON

JOE'S PUB / MARCH 30

Vocalist and lyricist Rondi Charleston and pianist and composer Fred Hersch collaborated on Suspended in Time––A Song Cycle (Resilience Music Alliance, 2024) to reflect on the loss of time during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rich and melodic seven-song album is based on Rondi's journal writings and musings that helped her stay sane and make sense of the chaos. With its poignant storytelling and poetry, Rondi's seventh album dives into the nature of time, its elasticity and how it can expose us to our most vulnerable selves. The meditation will be brought to life by Rondi, Fred, vocalists Kate McGarry and Gabrielle Stravelli, and the Crosby String Quartet. Audiences will be treated to a performance inspired by hope and renewal that might inspire them to re-examine how we choose to spend time. SBL

EMILIO MODESTE

ROULETTE / APRIL 2

Young lion saxophonist and composer Emilio Modeste is the lead saxophonist in Stanley Clarke N 4EVER and Cindy Blackman Santana’s bands. During his formative years, Emilio was a close friend and mentee of trumpeter Wallace Roney, touring globally with Roney’s Quintet from 2017 until 2020. Under Roney’s guidance, he has grown into a powerful sideman and bandleader. Emilio has performed with renowned artists such as Ron Carter, Buster Williams, Lenny White, Patrice Rushen, Antoine Roney, Rene McLean, and Christian McBride. In 2016, he opened for Jon Batiste at the Celebrate Brooklyn Festival and occasionally appeared with Batiste on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Emilio features on Wallace Roney’s final studio album, Blue Dawn-Blue Nights (HighNote, 2019), and the Miles Davis album Music From and Inspired by The Film Birth of the Cool (Sony, 2020). An exciting young musician, Emilio continues to spread his wings. RES

WALTER SMITH III

SMOKE / APRIL 2-6

Tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III leads a quartet featuring pianist James Francies, bassist Harish Raghavan, and drummer Kendrick Scott. Smith, a notable figure in the jazz scene for nearly two decades, has been part of eminent groups such as Roy Haynes’ Fountain of Youth Band, the Terence Blanchard Quintet, Eric Harland’s Voyager, and the Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet. He has collaborated with renowned artists including Jason Moran, Christian McBride, Gerald Clayton, and the Sean Jones Quintet. Critics have lauded his contributions to modern jazz, with JazzWise praising his "airy tenor sax tone and a ferocious yet understated" style, and Downbeat highlighting his “killing” tone and melodicism, noting his “vast and beautiful flow of ideas.” The Guardian calls him "a tenor saxophonist for our times." This quartet performance promises to showcase the deep musical chemistry and expertise of these accomplished musicians. CLR

SHAHID PARVEZ / SHAKIR KHAN

ROULETTE INTERMEDIUM / APRIL 4

The world-renowned sitarist Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan and his son Shakir Khan return to Roulette for a special collaboration, joined by rising tabla star Yashwant Vaishnav. Their program, entitled “The Storm,” signifies the passing of the torch from one generation of musical greatness to the next. Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan, belonging to an illustrious musical family, has achieved success in both preserving the Etawah Gharana tradition and pushing its boundaries. As one of the leading exponents of the style popularized by Ustad Vilayat Khan, he represents the seventh generation of this musical lineage. Trained by his father and guru Ustad Aziz Khan, he began performing publicly at the age of eight and has received numerous honors, including India’s Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Shakir Khan, a dynamic young classical sitarist, continues his father’s legacy, having made his first public performance at 11 and subsequently touring with his father. This event is a co-production with Robert Browning Associates and Lotus Music & Dance. CLR

RHODA SCOTT

BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH / APRIL 5

Back in the 1960s, organist and singer Rhoda Scott led a popular soul-jazz trio on the jazz club circuit in New Jersey and New York. Unlike most jazz organists, who were first pianists who adopted the Hammond B3 organ, Rhoda only played the organ, even studying it at Westminster Choir College in Princeton. In 1967, she moved to France and never looked back, becoming a major star on the French and European jazz circuit known as “L’organiste aux pied nus” or “The Barefoot Lady,” since she played the B3 pedals without shoes. She also pursued a parallel career in France leading and performing on pipe organs with church choirs. Her latest album is 2021’s Lady All Stars (Framboise), featuring an all-female jazz band. She now divides her time between Europe and New Jersey. This event is a jazz vespers at the Newark church, beginning at 6 p.m. Rhoda returns to Bethany again on April 25. GK

MARSHALL ALLEN & THE NEW DAWN

ROULETTE INTERMEDIUM / APRIL 5

Two days after his 100th birthday, Marshall Allen unveiled his debut solo album, *New Dawn*, marking a significant milestone in a career that has spanned nearly seventy years. A revered member of The Sun Ra Arkestra since 1958 and its leader since 1993, Allen’s first solo release channels a century of musical exploration into seven transcendent tracks. *New Dawn* opens a new chapter for Allen, presenting a love letter to spacetime and embodying his enduring cosmic spirit. This concert will feature the first live performance of the album and include performances by Marshall Allen (saxophone, EVI), Knoel Scott (saxophone, clarinet), Bruce Edwards (guitar), RaDu Ben Judah (bass), Cecil Brooks (trumpet), George Gray (drums), and a string quartet (performers TBA). Presented by Boom Collective in partnership with Roulette, Allen’s work transcends traditional jazz, offering a unique blend of emotional and spiritual resonance that has cemented his position within the avant-garde jazz universe. CLR

NUBYA GARCIA & MAGI MERLIN

MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN NY / APRIL 5

On April 5, the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY, will host a performance by acclaimed saxophonist Nubya Garcia and innovative R&B artist Magi Merlin. Nubya Garcia, a London-based jazz musician, has garnered international recognition for her dynamic playing and compositions, blending contemporary jazz with elements of soul, reggae, and Latin music. Her debut album "SOURCE" (2020) was met with critical acclaim and highlighted her as a key figure in the modern jazz scene. Joining her is the Montreal-based singer Magi Merlin, known for her unique fusion of R&B, soul, and electronic music. With tracks like "Free Grillz" and the EP "Drug Music," Merlin has carved out a distinct niche with her evocative voice and bold, genre-blending sound. This event promises an evening of innovative music, showcasing two of today's most exciting artists in their respective genres. CLR

DAVE DOUGLAS

JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER / APRIL 10

Trumpeter, composer, and educator Dave Douglas has, since the 1980s, had a distinguished career with more than 60 recordings and more than 500 compositions. Hailing from New Jersey, he has won a Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, an Aaron Copeland Award, and has earned multiple GRAMMY Award nominations. He is on the faculty at the Mannes School and The New School. He is known for stylistic breadth and for simultaneously keeping diverse ensembles and projects active. At JALC, he is part of an ensemble that will give the world premiere, celebrating 10 extraordinary women who shaped history from Hedy Lamar to Lena Horne. Dave will appear with pianist Helen Sung, sax and clarinetist Chet Doxas, cellist Marika Hughes, bassist Simón Wilson, drummer Eliza Salem and vocalist Aubrey Johnson. DJS

JOEY ALEXANDER TRIO

BIRDLAND / APRIL 10-12

When the Indonesia-born, New York City-based pianist Joey Alexander debuted on the jazz scene in 2012 at the age of 9 as the winner of Grand Prix at the 2013 Master-Jam Fest, his arrival signaled that a bona fide child prodigy was among us. Blessed with Art Tatum-level chops and Kenny Barron’s tender touch, Joey literally grew up in front of us, performing with everybody, including Wynton Marsalis, Theo Crocker and Willie Jones. Joey released seven albums, including My Favorite Things (Motéma, 2015), Countdown (Motéma, 2016), Joey.Monk.Live! (Motéma, 2017), Eclipse (Motéma, 2018), Warna (Verve, 2020) and his 2023 release, Continuance (Mack Avenue). Alexander comes to Birdland as a 21-year-old veteran leading a simpatico trio featuring bassist Kris Funn. Catch a rising star! E.H.

JASON MORAN

APOLLO THEATER / APRIL 11

Jason Moran is a brilliant and eclectic pianist, composer and educator whose playing draws upon multiple genres, from post-bop to avant-garde, stride and classical. Jason’s resume, accolades, and awards could fill a short book. Sullivan Fortner, a one-time student of his, says, “As a pianist, he is extremely inventive, not just drawing on the same four or five great pianists; he puts everything he does into a modern perspective.” Jason is coordinating a one-concert event at the Apollo Theater, commemorating the 125th Birthday of Duke Ellington. He's collaborating with a stellar group of young musicians and drawing on a sliver of the prodigious Duke’s songbook, including for this tribute, some of the more obscure ones, many of which are reimagined. “Working with young musicians is important for me to teach them the malleability of Ellington’s music,” says Jason. This concert presents timeless music in a historical venue and is not to be missed. JZ

RACHEL THERRIEN

BLUE NOTE / APRIL 12

The incendiary intensity with which trumpeter Rachel Therrien and her Latin Jazz Project exploded on her recording Mi Hogar I (Outside In, 2023) (which translates as ‘my home’) continues on Volume II. Although she dives deeper into the Latin Jazz tradition, the way she surfaces suggests a fresh new take on the rhythmic idiom of that Afro-Caribbean dialect. True to form, Rachel delivers a full spectrum of outstandingly vivid sound full of beautiful menace on trumpet and flugelhorn, redolent of exhilarating, extrovert and virtuosic chops. Listen as she navigates through the massive architectural inventions of her soli and their flaming grandeur, leaving no doubt that this is a horn player to be watched, listened to, reckoned with and unabashedly admired. RDG

GERALD CLAYTON

VILLAGE VANGUARD / APRIL 15-20

The son and nephew of bassist John and saxophonist/flutist Jeff Clayton, the GRAMMY Award-nominated keyboardist/pianist and Los Angeles natïve Gerald Clayton has been a solid musician in the last two decades he’s been on the scene. An alumnus of the USC Thornton School of Music, Gerald’s impressive sideman cred includes stints with Diana Krall, Charles Lloyd, Dianne Reeves and Terrell Stafford. His sixth album as a leader, Ones & Twos (Blue Note, 2025), is a turntable-inspired project perfect for Gerald’s talent for blending the old with the new. Gerald returns to the Village Vanguard with a kick-arse combo with trumpeter Marquis Hill, vibraphonist Joel Ross, drummer Kendrick Scott, and bassist Harish Raghavan; a perfect cast for a musician who can swing in a multitude of directions. E.H.

ONE FOR ALL

SMOKE JAZZ CLUB / APRIL 17-20

In the jazz world, the concept of an all-star group dates back to the late ’30s, when Metronome Magazine assembled top players based on reader polls. Since then, the concept has been replicated and popularized with groups like Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, whose torch and spirit have been passed to other all-star collectives, one of whom is the group One for All. In fact, they get their name from the Messengers’ final album. Their lineup currently includes some true all-stars: Eric Alexander, Steve Davis, David Hazeltine, Joe Farnsworth, Jon Webber and for their upcoming Smoke date, the great Jon Faddis. They’ll pay tribute to former member Jim Rotondi, who passed away last year. Formed in 1997 when they were mostly young Turks, these now seasoned veterans have collectively played with a mind-boggling who’s who of jazz. If you want to hear some sizzling hard bop and improvisation performed at the highest level, don’t miss this show! JZ

LATIN JAZZ MEETS SWING

FLUSHING TOWN HALL / APRIL 19

A unique musical fusion will take place as The Steve Kroon Latin Jazz Ensemble and The Patience Higgins Swing Band share the stage. This Global Mashup event promises a vibrant mix of rhythm, melody, and dance. The evening will commence with dance lessons from acclaimed instructors Mickey Davidson and Vanda Polokova, integrating Latin and Swing styles. The Steve Kroon Latin Jazz Ensemble will bring their energetic beats, while The Patience Higgins Swing Band will add their electrifying swing. Each ensemble will showcase their distinctive sounds before coming together for a collaborative performance. This high-energy event will offer an engaging blend of cultures and musical styles, making for a night of diverse and dynamic entertainment. The anticipated mashup aims to deliver an unforgettable experience, encouraging all attendees, whether seasoned dancers or newcomers, to move and groove to the night's infectious rhythms. CLR

DAVID HANEY - JAZZ STORIES W/ JOE LOVANO AND JUDI SILVANO

JOE'S PUB / APRIL 20

Storyteller and pianist David Haney, along with special guests Joe Lovano, Judi Silvano, and Jimmy Bennington, will gather at Joe's Pub for a memorable night of New York Jazz Stories. This live experience delves into the heart and soul of New York City's rich jazz history, featuring performances by Adam Lane and Cheryl Pyle. Haney brings to life the fascinating tales of jazz icons, drawing from meticulously transcribed interviews and anecdotes to retell classic life stories. Since 2017, Joe's Pub has been the venue for this 75-minute show, which combines swinging, electrifying music with highly entertaining narratives. The event presents stories told by Haney, alongside personal anecdotes shared by Joe Lovano and Judi Silvano. As noted by Jerome Wilson of Cadence Magazine, "Haney tells these tales with the dramatic flair of a Garrison Keillor," offering a unique experience that captures the essence of New York's vibrant jazz scene. CLR

AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE

VILLAGE VANGUARD / APRIL 22-27

Oakland-born Ambrose Akimusire is a composer who plays trumpet. For him, that instrument is not a showcase for bebop level, virtuoso solos; it is the vessel for Ambrose’s musical ideas. A sideman of note, as evidenced by his work with Steve Coleman, Vijay Iyer, Jason Moran, Ambrose won both the Thelonious Monk International Trumpet Competition and the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition in 2007. He recorded a number of critically acclaimed recordings, including his latest album, Honey from a Winter Stone (Nonesuch, 2024), an avant/third stream album of stark beauty. The trumpeter brings a cadre of like-minded musicians to the Vanguard: bassist Harwish Raghavan, pianist Sam Harris and drummer Justin Brown, for evenings of improvisational bliss. E.H

CYRUS CHESTNUT

SMOKE / APRIL 23-27

Cyrus Chestnut’s expansive musical interests helped him achieve his distinctive touch on the piano. He was playing hymns and gospel music in his home church at the age of six, and began classically training at Peabody Preparatory Institute in his native Baltimore at nine. After completing his degree and winning several major awards at Berklee College of Music, Cyrus played with many greats, including Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath and Freddie Hubbard, though it was his stint with Betty Carter that encouraged him to expand his already wide horizons. Cyrus is known for his soulful swing and bop that engage his audiences, while his positive energy and humor also help to “wash the dust off of life,” as Art Blakey says. Cyrus is joined by bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer Willie Jones III.—KD

BILL MAYS

JAZZ FORUM / APRIL 25-26

Pianist Bill Mays is a versatile stylist, composer, and occasional vocalist. Bill’s lengthy resume includes stints with Phil Woods, Gerry Mulligan, and Sarah Vaughan, the latter with whom he had the opportunity to play with members of Duke Ellington’s band. Bill’s tribute to the maestro at the Jazz Forum is titled “An Ellington Affair,” after Bill’s earlier Concord Jazz record. In addition to fresh arrangements of “Take the A Train,” “Satin Doll,” “Black Beauty” and “Dancers in Love,” Bill’s original tribute “Azure-Te-To Duke” will be performed. Bill will be joined by trumpeter Eddie Allen and tenor saxophonist Ralph Lalama, plus his long-time trio with bassist Dean Johnson and drummer Ron Vincent; the latter two will appear on Soundscape, his new record to be released this month.—KD

MIGUEL ZENON & LOUIS PERDOMO

LEFRAK CONCERT HALL - KUPFERBERG CENTER FOR THE ARTS / APRIL 6

In 2024, the Grammy® for Best Latin Jazz Album was awarded to Miguel Zenón and Luis Perdomo for "El Arte Del Bolero Vol. 2." This accomplished duo, recognized for their significant impact on contemporary jazz, is set to perform live. Zenón and Perdomo are celebrated for their ability to traverse the diverse landscape of Latin American music, infusing intricate rhythms and melodies with the emotive depth characteristic of modern jazz improvisation. Their performance promises to be a profound exploration of cultural and musical synthesis, showcasing the dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation within the realm of Latin jazz. Audiences will have the opportunity to witness the unique artistry that garnered them prestigious acclaim, experiencing firsthand the captivating fusion of their musical expressions. CLR

JOSEPH DALEY W/ LIBRARY JAZZ

YONKERS RIVERFRONT LIBRARY / APRIL 30

On April 30, in honor of International Jazz Day, Joseph Daley will conduct his suite "7 Deadly Sins" with the Library Jazz Band. The theme for the show is "Hitting the Low Notes." The first half of the program will feature tunes by Jaco Pastorius, Charles Mingus, Thad Jones, and others, highlighting instruments at the lower end of the sonic spectrum. The second half will be dedicated to a full performance of the "7 Deadly Sins" suite, conducted by Daley. The Library Jazz Band, established in 2022, consists of professional musicians, educators, and serious amateurs. The ensemble aims to build audiences and share engaging music, often introducing unexpected elements for those less familiar with jazz. Performing alongside Joseph Daley holds special significance for the band's director, a former student of Daley. As an educator and musician, Daley has inspired generations, contributing significantly to jazz through performances and collaborations with notable artists. The thematic show promises a deep dive into jazz's rich and varied sounds. CLR

RON CARTER'S 88TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

BLUE NOTE / APRIL 29 - MAY 3

Jazz legend Ron Carter will celebrate his 88th birthday at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City, with performances spanning from April 29 to May 4, 2025. The series will feature Carter's illustrious career and collaborations with esteemed jazz artists. From April 29 to May 1, the Quartet I will feature Renee Rosnes on piano, Jimmy Greene on saxophone, and Payton Crossley on drums. On May 2 and May 3, the Ron Carter New Jazz Trio will perform, featuring Donald Vega on piano and Donald Harrison on saxophone. The celebration will conclude on May 4 with Quartet II, again featuring Renee Rosnes, Jimmy Greene, and Payton Crossley. This series of performances will highlight Ron Carter's contributions to the jazz world and his enduring influence, showcasing the dynamic interplay between Carter and his talented collaborators at the renowned Blue Note Jazz Club. CLR

NICOLE MITCHELL

Nicole Mitchell Revolutionary Exploration Of Worlds from Future Past
by Raul da Gama

The word “revolutionary” may – or may not – be a return to the lexicon of adjectives describing music, an art that has been surfeit with nouns since time immemorial. But when it comes to the flute, it certainly merits its restoration. There are just two flutists who are responsible for this breaking of fresh ground, and both are women. One is Claire Chase, and the other – with a much larger resume in this regard – is the absolutely fearless Nicole Mitchell.

Nicole, together with various iterations of her Black Earth ensembles, has rewritten the palimpsest of what music might or mightn’t be. This is why she has earned the title “Flutist, Conceptualist and Composer.” The descriptive moniker belongs by right to Nicole, an artist who has rocketed way beyond crashing through the glass ceiling into the stratosphere in search of brave new worlds to express herself. And she has exhorted a family of musicians – the expanding core of Black Earth artists – to follow in her wake.

SULLIVAN FORTNER

Sullivan Fortner: The Making of a Jazz Legend

by John Zaff

In every generation, a handful of jazz musicians emerge with a vision so unique and skills so exceptional that they shape the music of their era. In the realm of jazz piano, icons like Thelonious, Bud, McCoy, and Chick come to mind. Sullivan Fortner stands among the contemporary artists headed towards that elite group.

Sullivan is a virtuoso jazz pianist lauded by critics and, more importantly, deeply respected by fellow musicians. Eminent pianists like Emmet Cohen, Brad Mehldau, and Peter Martin of Open Studio have publicly admired his immense talent. While still in his 20s, Sullivan held the piano chair in the legendary Roy Hargrove Quintet from 2010 to 2017. This period was foundational in forming his musical identity. Since then, he’s collaborated with luminaries such as Theo Croker, Donald Harrison, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Samara Joy, and Paul Simon. However, it’s his work as a leader, particularly his trio and solo recordings, that are making significant waves in the jazz world.

A GRAMMY Award winner and DownBeat Rising Star, Sullivan dazzles in so many areas that it's hard to pinpoint what makes him special. Glenn Zaleski, an innovative jazz pianist himself, notes, “From a purely technical standpoint, Sullivan can do things no other pianist can. His spirit, imagination, and element of surprise are what set him apart.” Glenn even created a YouTube video deconstructing a 20-second Sullivan solo, highlighting the pianist’s extraordinary skills.

GARY BARTZ

Gary Bartz: NTU The Future

by Eugene Holley, Jr.

If you could think of all the musical categories of jazz in the last six decades - straight ahead, hard bop, fusion and world music - as way-points in a large stylistic labyrinth, the serpentine fired, alto saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master Gary Bartz has effortlessly navigated that musical maze, with imagination, grit, integrity and dedication for the same length of time. He’s recorded over 30 albums as a leader, ranging from his 1967 debut LP Libra (Milestone) and his danceable, Mizell Brothers-produced 1977 classic Music is my Sanctuary (Capitol), to the conscious cadences of his 1972 recording Juju Street Songs (Prestige), and his memorable 1994 release, The Red and Orange Poems (Atlantic). His equally impressive work as a sideman includes working with Art Blakey, Miles Davis, Max Roach, the late Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd, Norman Connors, McCoy Tyner and Woody Shaw.

The Baltimore-born, Oberlin-based Gary comes to Le Poisson Rouge fronting an invigorating combo of mostly Washington-based musicians, including bassist James King, guitarist Paul Bollenbeck, keyboardist Marc Cary and drummer Kassa Overall. Gary and company will be celebrating the 55th anniversary of the leader’s 1970 albums, Home!, Harlem Bush Music - Taifa and Harlem Bush Music – Uhuru (Milestone), all featuring Bartz’s pioneering NTU Troop: an ensemble that fused jazz, soul and Afro-Swahili inspired music that reflected the revolutionary period of the ’70s.

JON FADDIS

Becoming Jon Faddis: From Being Son-of-Dizzy

by Raul da Gama

Once upon a time – as the musical not-so-fairytale goes – an incredibly young Jon Faddis was taken under the wing of the Co-Chief High Priest and Druid of Bebop – John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie. Dizzy went even further to say that he had made Jon his adoptive son. A quick rewind is in order here:

Jon was a musical prodigy who picked up the trumpet to play with an uncommon degree of fluency when he was just seven years old. Legend has it that he was inspired by an appearance by Louis Armstrong on the Ed Sullivan Show. Doors magically opened quite soon after. Bill Catalano, an alumnus of the Stan Kenton band, hipped Jon to the music of Dizzy. But Jon was shy to even speak to his idol when, at 12 years of age, he first met Dizzy at a club called Basin Street West in San Francisco.

DANNY SIMMONS

Danny Simmons: A Multi-talented Griot

by Raul da Gama

You cannot have “Danny Simmons the Poet” without “Danny Simmons the Neo-African-Expressionist Painter.” And you certainly cannot have either artistic personae without “Danny Simmons the Heart-Soft Philanthropist.” The three are so closely interlinked that often you cannot tell them apart. Danny is one of the three wise men. His journey is like a magus – or more appropriately – as this eldest brother of the Simmons family, who is, in everything he does, a modern-day Black American Griot, and a truth-teller who holds extraordinarily little back; and he is a patrician, albeit self-deprecating, gentleman.

Danny is the very epitome of a human prism, and to that extent he represents life itself: the white beam of light – that light of life – appears to have passed through his mind’s eye as he began to perceive the gifts he inherited from his father, Daniel Simmons Sr., who was, among other things, a poet and black history professor, and Evelyn Simmons, a teacher who painted. “Mom taught me to look beyond what was visible,” Danny says. “She taught me that it was possible to paint a dream in color. Still, I never really thought I’d be a painter. I had been writing poetry since I was eleven years old. However, one day, I had a bad case of writer’s block. The blank canvas filled faster with colors and sweeping lines, circles, and figures instead of the blank page with words.”

Remember the analogy of the human prism, into which passing white beams of light turned out to be life itself? Now think of the colored bars that emerged on the other side that reflect Danny’s wisdom, turning life experiences into poetry and painting. Danny’s life seemed to unravel just like that.