Carl Maguire’s Floriculture thrives

by Joan Wildman

The NY Times has a very positive review in this morning’s paper about Floriculture, a group led by former Madison pianist, Carl Maguire, relating to their Tuesday evening’s performance in Brooklyn. The group is celebrating their new CD, SIDED SILVER SOLID. The music on the CD has a decidedly avant guard flavor, but with Carl’s intelligently composed structures readily apparent throughout. It is very good! Let’s hope that Carl and his group can do a Madison performance soon!

Your weekly jazz: El Clan Destino

Several weeks ago in my review of El Clan Destino’s concert at Capitol Lakes, I mentioned that Nick had given me a copy of their 2004 release, “Ruckus.” I said it then and I’ll say it now, this is a great CD: a variety of interesting songs, superb musicianship, and terrific sound quality. This week Madison Jazz features El Ruckus from that CD.

El Ruckus was written by Frank Martinez, the group’s drummer, and presents the rawer, rhythmic side of El Clan Destino. It was difficult to choose just one song since each is good but presents a different side of the band. There also is From Within, a latin jazz tune by pianist, Michel Camilo; a fresh interpretation of Led Boots from the “Wired” CD by rock guitarist, Jeff Beck; and six originals by Vince Fuh. If you want to hear a sweeter, more melodic side of El Clan Destino check out Undine by Vince Fuh. This song plays in the background of their website and is their most popular song according to Nick.

The CD is available through CD Baby or at B-Side Records (on State Street) and Strictly Discs (on Monroe Street). The musicians as pictured from left to right above (with their old hair styles – Jamie is the latest to trim his locks much shorter):

Vincent Fuh – piano
Nick Moran – electric and string bass
Francisco Martinez – drums and percussion
Jamie Ryan – congas and percussion

Your Weekly Jazz: Madison Music Collective

This week Madison Jazz is featuring a selection from a Madison Music Collective (MMC) CD called Gathering. The CD is a compilation that was put together in 1996 and showcases some of the members from that time. It is still available and sold at MMC events to raise funds for the organization. I don’t know much more about it, maybe Joan, Jane, or Marilyn can comment on the history behind it.

Tracks on the CD are by the Joan Wildman Trio, Matt Turner, Don Linke, Harmonious Wail, Doc DeHaven, Doug Brown & Marilyn Fisher, the Diedre Buckley Trio, Al Jewer, Dangerous Odds, and the Scott Fields Ensemble.

The track I chose to feature is called Unbridled Song, written and produced by Jane Reynolds, and performed by the Jane Reynolds Trio. The musicians are:

Jane Reynolds – piano
Hans Sturm – bass
Vincent Davis – drums

Grammy winners for Jazz

Alright, since there will be no MAMA jazz awards this year, here are last night’s Grammy winners instead:

Field 10 – Jazz

BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM

“Randy in Brasil,” Randy Brecker

“Floating Point,” John McLaughlin

“Cannon Re-Loaded: All-Star Celebration Of Cannonball Adderley,” Various Artists

“Miles From India,” Various Artists

“Lifecycle,” Yellowjackets featuring Mike Stern

No MAMA jazz awards this year

My wife is away for a week. This tends to disrupt my equilibrium and I do things I normally wouldn’t, like watch the Grammys (jazz winners listed in next post). I actually enjoyed it, though I must becoming an old timer since I liked the older acts best. Well, most of them. Who would have guessed Robert Plant and Alison Krauss would win album of the year? I have that CD and in my opinion its muddy production makes it very mediocre. But then what do I know?

Speaking of awards I’m going to go out on a limb and endorse Tim Whalen for a MAMA for jazz album and jazz artist. Why? Well, I have the Magnus CD by the Tim Whalen Nonet and it is very good; the writing, arranging, and musicianship are all very impressive. It’s certainly good enough to win but that’s not why it should, it’s because Tim is the only jazz musician that registered an album for this year’s MAMA awards. Here’s the odd part, neither the album or Tim will win. Hold on, I’ll explain.

Your Weekly Jazz: Ray Rideout

This week Madison Jazz is featuring saxophonist/composer Ray Rideout. Since returning to Madison in 1999, The Ray Rideout Jazz Quartet has performed at the City Bar; the Concourse Hotel Bar; the Overture Center; The Brink; the Isthmus Jazz Festival; Jazz at Five; and the Monona Terrace Rooftop Garden.

This song is an excerpt from “Veracruz” from his 1995 CD La Paz en el Corazon (“Peace in the Heart”). The musicians are: 

Ray Rideout: soprano sax; and various sampled & synthesized instruments, including electric piano, vibraphone, fretless bass, trumpets/trombones, orchestral strings, and Latin percussion

John Rekevics: flute

Sebastian Winston: alto flute

Claudio Slon: drums

Recorded at Seacoast Studios in San Diego, California
Mixed by Ramie Espinoza and Doug Erickson at Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin
Mastered by Bernie Grundman in Hollywood, California
Composed and arranged by Ray Rideout
Copyright 1995 by Ray Rideout
All Rights Reserved

Your Weekly Jazz: Gerri DiMaggio

This week Madison Jazz is featuring Gerri Dimaggio. Gerri was voted the 2007 Madison Jazz Personality of the Year and is one of Madison’s best known jazz vocalists. Read more about Gerri in this  cover story by Wisconsin Woman Magazine (the pdf takes a moment to download).

Gerri can be heard every Wednesday evening at Sambas and since last week is doing jazz duos Thursday evenings at the Cabana Room downstairs from Sambas. This song is ”Comes Love” from her 2005 CD by the same name.  The musicians are: 

Paul Hastil – piano
John Mesoloras – bass
John Becker – drums
Dave Cooper – trumpet

 

Gerri’s  CD is available at CD Baby. Here is what others are saying:

Your weekly jazz: Ben Sidran

This week we feature Drinkin’ n’ Thinkin’ written by Bob Rockwell and featured on  Ben Sidran’s latest release, “CIEN NOCHES.” Short samples from the rest of the CD can be heard at CD Baby, and the entire CD can be purchased there as well.

Ben Sidran – Hammond B3 organ
Louka Patenaud – guitar
Leo Sidran – drums
Moses Patroux – percussion
Bob Rockwell – tenor

 

As one of the big names in Madison jazz, most people in Madison are familiar with Ben and his music, but if you want to know more check out his website, and this January 9, 2009  interview before a show in Toronto.

List of lists: Best Jazz CDs of 2008

After the post on my favorite concert of 2008 I started thinking about favorite jazz CDs of 2008. I began compiling the lists of best 2008 jazz CDs that were already out there and put the most important ones below. The first link has a nice summary of 2008 jazz news as well as a best of list. If you really need to see just about every list out there then click on the picture of “St Louis Jazz Notes.” He has a giant list of lists of the best jazz CDs of 2008.

If you have a favorite jazz CD from last year let us know via a comment.

2008: A Year of Jazz Tumult, Controversy, and Acheivements

2008 Critics Poll Awards

Jazz Grammy Winners 2008

Jazz Journalists Association – lists from 20 writers

All Music’s Favorite Jazz Albums of 2008

NPR: Best Jazz CDs of 2008

Alison Margaret this Friday at Magnus

I  go out to hear jazz more than most people, but putting this site together raised my awareness of all the great  Madison jazz I still haven’t heard.  This Friday at 9:30 the Alison Margaret Jazz Quartet plays at Magnus (no cover), and based on the recordings and background information on her webpage I’m expecting a great show.

The four songs on her MySpace page are sampled from her 2007 release of originals and standards, ”Come Sunday.” If the rest of the CD is this good it is well worth buying; the musicianship and songwriting is stellar all around. Alison’s voice is vibrant, polished, and expressive. The originals are appealing, especially ”Lonely Shadows” which won first place in the jazz division of the 2007 Midwest Song Contest.  And the musicians on the recording include some of Chicago’s best.