WBGO Blog

  • Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra on JazzSet

    January 27, 2012. Posted by Becca Pulliam.

    Add new comment | Filed under: Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Arturo O'Farrill, Jazz Alive, JazzSet

    Last weekend at two concerts, the pianist and his big band celebrated its first decade. Congratulations!

    THIS weekend, they're on JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater -- Sunday, January 29, at 6pm and Wednesday, February 1, at 6:30.

    Tired of winter? Join the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra for an hour at Newport .. photo by Lena Adasheva

    Jon Pareles wrote in The New York Times, "[The orchestra's] 18-piece lineup preserves the sound of the great old Latin dance bands, a demanding repertory in itself. But Latin jazz in New York City has always had a progressive, experimental side . . . . [and] The orchestra continues that mission, welcoming new compositions that fling wild dissonances and abstruse rhythms into the mix. It also embraces music from across the Americas, old and new, playing all of its diverse material with the same precision and fire it brings to a mambo workout."

    Jon Faddis is a special guest for Calidoscopio and Exuberante, two movements from "Three Afro-Cuban Jazz Moods" by Chico O'Farrill, Arturo's father.

    12 01 26 Arturo Faddis

    Forty Acres and A Burro, the latest ALJO album, is Grammy-nominated. Awards to be announced on February 12.

    © 2012 WBGO

  • Mark Turner, David Virelles, Ben Street, the late Paul Motian on JazzSet

    January 20, 2012. Posted by Becca Pulliam.

    Add new comment | Filed under: Jazz Alive, JazzSet, mark turner

    Photo by John Rogers for NPR Music
    Photo by John Rogers for NPR Music

    Mark Turner's woodwind-like tenor tone spans atall range, and he sidesteps onto the rungs as he climbs and descends. There’s a piece by Monk and another by Bud Powell, but the heart of this set is a pair of flowing, conversational, improvisatory pieces – “Wasteland” by Turner leading to “Etude” by Motian (bassist Ben Street’s choice). Pianist David Virelles, born in 1983 in Santiago de Cuba, adds a fresh slant.

    Listen on WBGO 88.3 this Sunday, January 22, at 6pm and Wednesday, January 25, at 6:30.

    Thanks to Josh Jackson for documenting this Mark Turner Quartet,  one of drummer Paul Motian's final nights in his favorite room, the Village Vanguard. Hear why -- oh those cymbals -- on this week's JazzSet.

    There's more about the show andweb extra music at jazzset.npr.org.

    © 2012 WBGO

  • Christian McBride on JazzSet

    December 16, 2011. Posted by Becca Pulliam.

    Add new comment | Filed under: christian mcbride, JazzSet

    Steve Wilson, sax .. Christian, bass .. Warren Wolf, vibes .. also Peter Martin, piano, and Carl Allen, drums .. photo by David Tallacksen
    Steve Wilson, sax .. McBride, bass .. Warren Wolf, vibes .. also Peter Martin, piano, and Carl Allen, drums .. photo by David Tallacksen

    Christian has great musicianship, personality, and he's versatile. In 2008 he led a Philly-Detroit Connection show at the Detroit Jazz Fest. In 2009 he served as DJF Artist in Residence. He returned to Detroit in winter 2010 to present The Movement Revisited, a suite for four civil rights era figures, which I blogged about here. His two current CDs feature his big band and a program of duets with various artists.

    And on this JazzSet from Detroit, Christian is the heart and soul of his small group. Tune in / log on for Christian McBride and Inside Straight at the 2009 DJF, this Sunday, December 18 at 6pm, and again Wednesday, December 21 (solstice night?) at 6:30. They play outdoors in Hart Plaza, named for MI Sen. Philip Hart (1912-76), "The Conscience of the Senate".

    Rhonda Hamilton is the guest host. Here's a promo, and there's more about the show here.

    © 2011 WBGO