DMA Jazz Under The Stars...disappoints me for the first time...

I do not want to “trash” artists on my blog. I’ve been asked to write reviews of music and have declined due to the lack of musicality of the work…or I just didn’t like it. However, now and again, I find gems. Like now, I’m listening to, for review, pianist David Leonhardt who has taken a swing approach to Bach, which I think is pretty good. I tell you about that one later. But last night...

Anybody who knows me knows that I begin my summer by attending the Jazz Under the Stars event at the Dallas Museum of Art. I’ve been attending this event for well over 10 years. Now, I drag my wife along with me every Thursday night. Last night was the first time I ever walked out on an artist because the music was so not good.

First, I tend not to like to walk in on sound checks. But considering the circumstances of this event, I can abide. Tonight's featured artist, Margo Rey is on set. She plays this genre of music she calls “Organica”. Think Basia meets Sade playing bossa novas….but with much less musicality, style or soul. She began her first set with a bluesy ballad that was so boring I can’t remember the name of it. The next song was a slow to mid-tempo version of Besame Mucho which she sung in some loose jazz operatic voice style…and it went south from there; including a type Latin version of “You Belong to Me” by Michael McDonald. I found myself more interested in my Toastmasters magazine that I accidently picked up and brought with me. After the first set, I spent time playing Words with Friends on my wife’s IPhone, hoping the second set would go better. It didn’t. She began the second set with “There’s No Sunshine”. Yes, you are reading that right…”THERE’S NO Sunshine”. I think had Bill Withers been there…he would have asked her to stop. No Soul.

Music is such a subjective thing. Some you like. Some you don’t. And some you’re indifferent too. She records and other people buy her work. In fact, she mentioned that a song from new record went from number 7 to number 4 on the dance charts.

Though I won’t suggest that I’ve seen every show that DMA has put on in the last 10 years (they’ve been putting this series on for about 25) I have questioned several of their choices…I think they just missed with this one. Or, she just didn’t have a good show.


Last week, I met Danilo Perez and John Patitucci. That was cool...





And of course...I'll be back next week!

Miles Dewey Davis - Happy Birthday!

Happy Belated Birthday...

Sir Miles Dewey Davis

May 26, 1926 - September 28, 1991

Hopefully, someone who really loves me will get me THIS for my birthday...

Danilo Perez

I don’t remember the first time I heard Danilo Perez. My memory is not serving me well. But if I had to take a good guess, it was when BET had a show called Jazz Central that was hosted by Angela Stribling. Wow…I can remember rare good programming on BET and hosts of those shows, but I can’t remember where I first heard Danilo Perez.

I bought a recording from him around 1998 titled PANAMONK, which featured two drummers that I admire greatly, Terri Lynne Carrington and THE infamous Jeff “Tain” Watts. It also featured bassist Avishai Cohen. Who wouldn’t buy a record with such an interesting title? But I was familiar with Perez’s prowess on the piano. I will say that Perez pulled off this Thelonious Monk tribute with veracity. I appreciated every moment of the record. From the ballads to the Latin flavored reworks of some of Monk’s tunes.

I’ve soaked up a lot of music since listening to that first record. I didn’t really seek out any other Perez offerings. Not that I wasn’t impressed, I just got mired in the work of my old favorites. And during that time, I was only seeking out the work of the artists who created and innovated jazz. But, some years later – a lot of years, I came across Perez again on Wayne Shorter’s ALEGRIA. On this recording, Shorter weaves his way through all of his styles – from classical jazz to the avant-garde. Perez fit Shorter’s musical vision with deftness. I imagine that his time touring with Shorter made that pretty simple. This was another recording that I was familiar with featuring Perez, Brian Blade on the drums and John Patitucci on Bass.

Fast forward to 2010…Every summer I look forward to my wife and me, and assorted friends who join us, attending the Summer Jazz Series in the Park at the Dallas Museum of Art. It’s just us, good food, good spirits and most importantly good music. This year’s headliner and series opener is none other than Danilo Perez. So me being me - I pulled out PANAMONK and ALEGRIA and sought out more recordings/appearances by Perez. I found MOTHERLAND among others – but found myself drawn to this one.

MOTHERLAND speaks of a young composer with seasoned abilities still wanting to provide playfulness inside sophistication in the music he creates. It certainly is a joy to listen too! Sometimes, Latin recordings can be intimidating because the rhythms can be complicated. This isn’t one of those records. This recording is classy, lively and fun. This is definitely one of those “Afro Latin Blue” moments in jazz. I found myself dancing - in my head - rumbas, salsas and starting conga lines. I even considered taking capoeira lessons. Okay maybe not. But I really do dig this record!

I don’t know how many Latin jazz recordings (speaking specifically about South American, African, Cuban influenced Jazz...I mean there was Flamenco Sketches) I’ve heard that have used violins but Perez found the use of one that didn’t take away from the integrity of the theme. But how could Regina Carter ever be out of place? Brian Blade is ever more rapidly moving up on my personal list of young lions who have become jazz heroes. His drumming on this recording is masterful. Much like the all the other music I’ve ever heard him play. The vocals and chants on this record are hauntingly beautiful. The rest of the accompaniment on this date handles Perez’s compositions and arrangements with extreme competence as well as love. In my opinion, Perez really shows his chops as a soloist on the song Rio to Panama.

I really love this record. It’s summertime in the park music. I began to find myself fantasizing about me and my wife on white sand beaches, watching sunsets, snacking on empanadas and sipping red wine.

I can’t wait to see Danilo on Thursday night. If you see us there...come say hello.

Dallas Museum of Art Summer Jazz Series

Motherland Personnel:
Danilo Perez - Piano
Claudia Acuna - Vocal
Greg Askew - Percussion, Background Vocals
Aquiles Baez - Acoustic Guitar
Brian Blade - Drums
Louis Bauzo - Percussion, Background Vocals
Richard Bona - Vocal, Electric Bass
Richard Byrd
Regina Carter - Violin
Carlos Henriquez - Acoustic Bass
Chris Potter - Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone
Luisito Quintero - Percussion, Triangle, Chimes
Kurt Rosenwinkel - Electric Guitar
Antonio Sanchez - Drums
Luciana Souza - Vocal
Diego Urcola - Trumpet
Ricaurte Villarreal - Tamboura, Tambor Repicador

The Divine Ms. Lena Mary Calhoun Horne 1917 - 2010

When I was about twelve years old, I sneaked and stayed up to watch TV all night. This is before cable TV was standard in every home and network TV played old movies all night long. A movie titled "CABIN IN THE SKY" came on and I didn’t think I would be interested in at all. I mean, here was this Black man called Rochester with this heavy southern drawl reminding me of a grown ass Buckwheat and Ethel Waters, who at the time didn’t fit my standard of beauty. I vaguely remember why I decided to stay with the movie. I imagine it was because of the music playing in the background. I had just begun to listen to and appreciate Jazz.

And suddenly, she appeared - Georgia Brown aka The divine Ms. Lena Horne. The “Horne” as I knew her by watching her appearance on Sanford and Son. She was much older then so she didn’t capture my attention as a middle-aged woman. But Lena as a young woman…WOW! I could see why Rochester almost messed up his happy home…

Though Lena never really became a major influence in my view of art, culture or jazz, I’ve always recognized her contribution; everything from her appearances at the World Famous Cotton Club in Harlem to her stances against Jim Crow in entertainment.

Ms. Horne’s rendition of STORMY WEATHER will always be my favorite. Also, IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN with Kermit the Frog on Sesame Street…

Rest in Peace Ms. Horne. You will always be Royalty to African Americans...