WBGO Blog

  • Live Blog: Kurt Rosenwinkel at Village Vanguard 1.7.09

    January 7, 2009. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

    Add new comment | Filed under: Live Music Blogging

    Kurt Rosenwinkel Onstage at the Village Vanguard
    See some photos.
    Listen to the show on NPR.
    Check out the bonus audio.

    8:00pm
    I arrived at the Village Vanguard at 6pm this evening.  Kurt was already onstage "shredding," as he called it.  The guitarist is acutely dedicated to his craft and his sound.  He played alone for nearly two hours.  I could actually hear him processing each note.

    8:10PM
    Drummer Kendrick Scott just arrived.  He's backstage hitting the practice pad.  For a moment, he laid down his sticks.  On them, he wrote, "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace."  He says it's from the Peace Prayer of St. Francis (of Assisi).

    8:23PM
    The band's all here.  Hail, hail.

    9:04pm
    A Rosenwinkel original, "Our Secret World," kicks off the show.   Everyone on the band spent plenty of time warming up, so they should be ready.

    9:22pm
    This is quite a quartet of young modernists.  Pianist Aaron Parks' "Peaceful Warrior" is such a beautiful composition.  And these guys like to play it...

    9:26pm
    Nice to hear these four swing in that traditional feel.  Listen closely, and you might figure out why this song is called "A Shifting Design."

    9:46pm
    Beautiful ballad that just wafts in the air.  Kurt had a lovely guitar intro.  Aaron and Kurt manage to play well as two strong chordal instrumentalists.  Not easy to do.

    9:49pm
    The song is called "Path of the Heart," by the way.

    10:00pm
    New music debuts on our live concert from the Village Vanguard.  "Untitled" from Kurt Rosenwinkel.

    10:09pm
    Killing through Kurt's "Zhivago" to close the set.  Rock it, baby!

    © 2009 WBGO

  • Cedar Walton: Live at the Village Vanguard 12.17.08

    December 18, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

    Add new comment | Filed under: concerts, Interviews, Listening Post, Live Music Blogging, Village Vanguard Cedar Walton NPR WBGO Lewis Nash David

    Cedar Wlaton Vanguard Hallway

    Listen to the concert on-demand:

    Hear an interview with Cedar Walton:

    See some photos from the concert.
    Read the live blog.
    Visit Live at the Village Vanguard on NPR Music.
    Support jazz on public radio.
    -Josh

    © 2008 WBGO

  • Live Blog: Cedar Walton Trio at the Village Vanguard 12.17.08

    December 17, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

    Add new comment | Filed under: brooklyn, cedar walton, Live Chat, Live Music Blogging, photos, showtime

    Cedar Walton Trio Sign at Village Vanguard
    See some photos.

    8pm
    We're an hour from showtime.  Earlier today, I visited Cedar Walton at his home in Brooklyn.  I'll post the interview with the complete wrap-up of our time at the Vanguard tonight.  Stay tuned.

    8:03pm
    Not a full house expected tonight.  Could be that the recession is starting to put a dent in recreation budgets.  Not a good sign for jazz.

    8:06pm
    Epoch Films is shooting a Heineken commercial in the Village Vanguard tomorrow.  Keep an eye out for that in the near future.  Real musicians will not be a part of the shoot.  Just actors.  They have reserved all parking spots on both sides of the club.  As you might know, parking spaces in NYC are a premium, so the neighbors are none too thrilled about finding a spot for their cars.

    8:19pm
    Bassist David Williams is the first member of the trio to arrive tonight.  More later.

    8:47pm
    Drummer Lewis Nash just arrived.  He recently finished recording a studio date for Willie Nelson with Joe Sample, Christian McBride, and guitarist Anthony Wilson.  Willie sings standards!

    8:50pm
    Still no leader...Cedar Walton, paging Cedar Walton???

    8:51pm
    Cedar must have heard the page.  And he was looking for parking...

    9:01pm
    "Cedar's Blues" opens the show, and the trio is swinging mercilessly.

    9:11pm
    "Dear Ruth," an original composition dedicated to Cedar's mom.  She was a piano teacher.  She must have been a good one!

    9:19pm
    Lots of original compositions so far.  This one is "Sixth Avenue."  Funky.

    9:30pm
    This is "Back to the Holy Land," I think.  Cedar is calling songs on the fly.

    9:51pm
    Sorry for the long break in action.  We're listening to "Time After Time."  This is such a great trio.  Plenty of chemistry.

    9:58pm
    "Body and Soul" with a samba beat.  I just heard a reference to "Mona Lisa" go by...

    10:06pm
    A little Christmas Music, anyone?  With some blues for good measure.

    © 2008 WBGO