Motema Music artist Lakecia Benjamin is otherworldly. She and her band SoulSquad took us to their realm last Monday night at Ginny’s Supper Club to usher in the 20th anniversary of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. She packed in two sets and took us to a space in time that was both nostalgic in its funky soulful delivery & newly dynamic in its fusion of Latin, big band, funk, pop and avant-garde – and Charlie Parker was certainly in the building.  SoulSquad primarily performed a great variety of cuts from her album Retox.

This was how I saw the evening unfold.  Lakecia is Mother Tree.  Drummer Joe Blaxx is Father Tree – communicate light through roots – filter through to the forest of David Cutler on bass, Nick Roseboro on trumpet, Calvin Brown on keys, Jamiel Cornielo on guitar, Vickie Natalie on vocals.  Sound is air for us to breathe in and live for that moment – our key to life.  We climbed in, took a breath, blossomed like spring and held on for this ride.  The kind of thing you don’t want to end. One of my favorite moments was her cover of the Beatles’ Come Together.  I’m not a big Beatles fan, but I loved this rendition- the extended pauses in the chorus make you want to reconsider shit. Watch Lakecia love on her band.  She feels a solo and rolls up to celebrate and bring out even more.  She has so much to give – energy like dervish.  Pure bliss through sound.  Perfection.  Know this artist – you’ll be proud to say you were down from the beginning.

See larger image Retox (Audio CD) List Price: $15.98 USD New From: $5.74 In Stock Used from: $2.04 In Stock Release date May 8, 2012.

What’s astounding about the jazz – Black American Music – BAM scene in NYC is that everyone can swing – really swing.  The average musician with a horn under his/her arm can outdo the next one, and will certainly be outdone by the other.  It’s a highly competitive, cutthroat business around here, complete with daily challenges to find a way to set oneself apart from the rest.

I recently came across one of the most unique, gifted saxophone players I’ve ever encountered.  After a fantastic Lakecia Benjamin show at Ginny’s, we strolled into the Lenox Lounge to find saxophonist Eric Wyatt obliterating the room with his incredibly astute band.  This wasn’t just another attempt to mimic Coltrane or Bird or Rollins.  This was raw, real be bop that had me raising my hands in an act of worship.  Eric brings a level of wisdom, integrity, sophistication and a sound that will pull your heart right out of its cavity.  He’s an intuitive, intellectual composer who does more than channel the greats who came before him.  He has a way of honoring the ancestors and at the same time inserting his own flow and flavor in the mix.  His sound is lyrical.  Full.  Fluid.  Bold.  Emotional.  Swag.

Eric Wyatt was raised with this music.  His father Charles Wyatt, a jazz mainstay from back in the 50s, played and interacted with all the greats, Sonny Rollins being one of them.  Sonny is Eric’s godfather and has truly instilled in him just the right amount of tutelage to have helped him develop his chops and discover his own signature sound.  What an honor to evolve to such a level – it’s in his DNA.

When you see him live with his band, the Eric Wyatt Quartet:  Eric on sax, Benito Gonzalez, piano, Tyler Mitchell, bass and ShinnosukeTakahashi on drums, it’s an exhilarating trip.  Add trumpeter Theo Croker when he plays with the quintet.  These cats are tight as hell – their communication and instinct with one another is notable.  You see joy on the faces of each musician when they play.  It’s a high level experience from all angles.  You must experience them.  They often play at the Lenox Lounge on Monday nights.  Otherwise you can catch them at any of the major venues around New York – Smalls, The Vanguard, Dizzy’s.

Eric recently did a project with trombonist Clifton Anderson entitled And So We Carry On.  He also did an interesting tour with writer Kris Saknussemm called Reverend America.  This saxophone master really diversifies his repertoire and remains focused on staying current.  His evolution has put him at the top of his game right now.  You should experience this wonderful talent before he heads to China or anywhere else in the world, where he will be for months at a time.  And if you catch him at the Lenox Lounge, buy his two CDs.  He’s playing there on November 19th, 23rd & 26th.  It’s some of the best, most compelling music I’ve ever heard.

Photo by Vaughn Browne

There’s something important going on at Harlem Stage Gatehouse on September 19^th – 22^nd:  Holding it Down:  the Veterans’ Dreams Project.  Brilliant pianist and Harlem resident Vijay Iyer is collaborating with producer and poet Mike Ladd to deliver a multi-media experience about stories from veterans of color who fought in the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Holding it Down: the Veterans’ Dream Project is the third in a trilogy of works by the two artists that took on a life of its own after 9/11.  Vijay and Mike had been working on a project in spring of 2001.   In What Language?  was originally a series of conversations/songs with people of color in airports.  By the time of its release in 2003, it became a response to what had become the War on Terror.  In 2006, the next installment, Still Life with Commentator spoke to the packaging of the wars, how they were presented to those of us safely removed from the realities faced by those who actually fought.  By 2009 Mike was interviewing people of color who had served in the wars.  The conversations addressed in the current piece often lead to sleep and dreaming; how these folks suffer PTSD and other symptoms resulting from fighting in the wars.  How does one process and live any kind of healthy life after having these experiences?  These vets come home having survived the ravages of war, and yet their struggle for survival just begins.

Holding it Down is going to be an extremely poignant, arresting peek into the unconscious minds of veterans – coming to terms with their experiences in dream state.  The three songs I have heard from the performance thus far are heart-wrenching yet beautiful in their way.  The music is heady – soulful beats, ironic gorgeous piano licks with electronic embellishment.  Combine the emotional sounds with the visual component and you will walk out of Harlem Stage Gatehouse with a new grasp on reality, understanding more deeply how dark and twisted war really is.   Joining Vijay and Mike will be poet Maurice Decaul, who served with the Marines in Iraq in 2003 and Air Force Staff Sergeant Lynn Hill.

Holding It Down: The Veterans’ Dreams Project plays from September 19^th through the 22^nd at Harlem Stage Gatehouse, 150 Convent Ave. at 135th St. 212.650.7100. www.harlemstage.org

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival the City Parks Foundation presents a full week of events that will include performances, poetry, workshops, lectures, theatrical presentations, the world premiere of a commissioned jazz work, and a regular two day festival.

Our girl Lakecia Benjamin will be at Ginny’s Supper Club on Monday August 20th.  I’ll be there to cover that event.

Also, our beloved Gregory Porter will play at Tompkins Square Park August 26th.

Festival Lineup

Friday, August 17

Jazz Legends: Charlie Parker Tribute

5:00 PM –7:00 PM

Whole Foods Market Upper West Side, (808 Columbus Ave. at 97th Street)

Presented in partnership with the Jazz Foundation of America

FREE, No Reservations Required

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Sunday, August 19

The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music Presents:

Andy Milne’s Bandwidth

9:00 PM & 10:30 PM (2 sets)

Ginny’s Supper Club at Red Rooster, (310 Lenox Ave. between 125th & 126th Sts.)

FREE, No Reservations Required

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Monday, August 20

Revive Music Presents:

Lakecia Benjamin

9:00 PM & 10:30 PM (2 sets)

Ginny’s Supper Club at Red Rooster, (310 Lenox Ave. between 125th & 126th Sts.)

FREE, No Reservations Required

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Tuesday August 21

Charlie Parker on Swing Street: Musical Storytelling

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Bill’s Place (148 West 133rd Street, between Lenox and 7th Avenues)

Presented in partnership with the Jazz Foundation of America

FREE, Reservations Required

RSVP to:CharlieParker20@Summerstage.org, Include date and name of event in subject line.

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Tuesday, August 21

Charlie Parker in 2012: Bird (still) in Flight

Panelists: Jimmy Heath / Steve Coleman / Jaleel Shaw / Antonio Ciacca

Moderated by: Ashley Kahn

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Harlem School of the Arts, (645 Saint Nicholas Avenue at 141st Street)

FREE, Reservations Required

RSVP to:CharlieParker20@Summerstage.org, Include date and name of event in subject line.

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Wednesday, August 22

Charlie Parker with Strings:

A Conversation with Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Ashley Kahn

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music’s Jazz Performance Space

(55 W. 13th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, Fifth Floor)

FREE, Reservations Required

RSVP to:CharlieParker20@Summerstage.org, Include date and name of event in subject line.

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Thursday, August 23

Workshop:

WeBop: A Family Jazz party

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music’s Jazz Performance Space

(55 W. 13th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, Fifth Floor)

FREE, Reservations Required

RSVP to:CharlieParker20@Summerstage.org, Include date and name of event in subject line.

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Thursday, August 23

Theatrical Presentation:

Daniel Carlton Presents “When Smalls Had it All”

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music’s Jazz Performance Space

(55 W. 13th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, Fifth Floor)

FREE, Reservations Required

RSVP to:CharlieParker20@Summerstage.org, Include date and name of event in subject line.

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Friday, August 24

“Bird with Strings” with Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Special Guests

Theatrical Presentation: Daniel Carlton Presents “On the Wings of Yardbird”

Produced by Revive Music

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Marcus Garvey Park, MN

Harlem, Mount Morris Park West at West 122nd Street (Richard Rodgers Amphitheater)

Both works are commissioned by City Parks Foundation in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival.

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Saturday, August 25

Roy Haynes / Rene Marie’s ‘Experiment In Truth’ / Derrick Hodge / ERIMAJ

Poets: Edwin Torres / LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs

3:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Marcus Garvey Park , MN

Harlem, Mount Morris Park West at West 122nd Street (Richard Rodgers Amphitheater)

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Sunday, August 26

Ernestine Anderson Quartet / Gregory Porter / Andy Milne & Dapp Theory/ Sullivan Fortner

Poets: Jon Sands / Sheila Maldonado / Nikhil Melnechuk

3:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Tompkins Square Park, MN

East 7th Street between Avenues A and B

________________

Click here for more information and details regarding performances and artists.

INto Harlem

If you’re an artist who wants to take your career to the next level, but you just don’t know exactly how or what to do, I want to introduce you to someone:  Jo-Ná A. Williams, Esq.  She created The Artist Empowerment Firm to provide a true service to creative people.  She has taken the legal representation model and allowed it to evolve into a business that places her clients as her highest priority – not the bottom line. I have never met an attorney who embodies the kind of passion and dedication to the artist that Jo-Ná does.  This formidable woman takes a holistic approach to assisting her clients with their growth.  The Artist Empowerment firm is, in her own words, a virtual law firm that helps artists build a solid business and legal infrastructure  so they can become an empowered entrepreneur and have a foundation to reach their dream.  This virtual business model allows her  to help her clients according to their non traditional schedules.  She takes them by the hand and walks them through what they need to be effective and efficient business people and it enhances their art by putting them in control of their own destiny.

A singer herself, Jo-Ná knows firsthand how easily an artist can be victimized by folks on every level in the entertainment industry.  I started off as a vocalist from age 5.  When I was 17 I took it seriously and pursued it professionally in Georgia.  I got hooked up with an engineer who had different acts come through his studio – I would create vocals, do backgrounds, lyrics (choruses for artists) and I would sing on these projects. I didn’t realize at the time that I needed an agreement, or that I wouldn’t get paid or even credited for everything I did and it culminated with me seeing these other acts go out and perform – I would hear my voice in their music and there were no credits for the background vocals – I was hearing my voice on the Atlanta indie radio stations and I realized it wasn’t fair. 

Jo-Ná‘s life path led her to obtaining her JD after she had created a side business organizing events for artists while in college – she did this for over 10 years.  She loved being able to provide a platform for artists to express themselves.  She then went to law school, worked in an entertainment firm, and decided to take the reins herself and create The Artist Empowerment Firm. She truly represents artists with their best interests in mind.  I had the kind of compassion that would allow me to understand from an artist’s perspective what happens in the event that somebody is taken advantage of if they don’t have the proper contract – I could speak to it from a perspective of somebody who has been in their shoes which would allow me to understand and guide them in a way that would make the law not scary for them.  It’s such unknown territory for them.  An artist puts all their trust in someone they don’t know and they expect them to interpret all this stuff correctly.  I received offers to be ‘of counsel’ at other firms doing the big celebrity stuff and I realized it wasn’t where I wanted to be – they weren’t practicing the kind of law I believed was necessary  – the mystery had to be taken out of the law in terms how to set up a business properly, marketing etc.– I love it, so I help people who want to know this information and communicate it in a way they can understand it, then apply it.

 Jo-Ná created the Blueprint, a document that helps artists focus what she calls their Vision Target. She outlines necessary steps to take and makes the information tangible to an artist who might be overwhelmed by it.  I call it wrapping Brussels sprouts in chocolate.  It’s nasty, you don’t want to deal with it – when you were a kid you didn’t want to eat it, but your mom says it’s good; just wrap it up in a little chocolate, and then you might be swayed to try it.  I designed the language in the document in a way that would be the same as me sitting across from them in real life – it is something they can take away that is actionable; they can put these steps into place and they can get into a groove.

The Artist Empowerment Firm is growing fast, and Jo-Ná is really on to something.  A true 21^st Century business woman, she has created a niche in this entertainment/creative playing field where so much grey area leaves artists floundering alone and defeated by their inability to truly develop a business mind.  Artists, she believes in you.  You should take advantage of her Free 30-minute “Get to Know Each Other” session.  It will change your life. To find out more about her firm please visit: www.jawilliamslaw.com.

For a FREE copy of our guide “Blueprint: The Insider’s Guide to Empowering Your Career as an Artist and Ditching your 9-5 for Good” Sign up here http://eepurl.com/iOqe1

When I sat down at the Blue Note to see Cassandra Wilson play I knew it would be surreal.  She’s one of my heroes, so I was overwhelmed with needing to absorb into my cells every detail of the performance so that I could relive it at will.  It would have to carry me for quite a while.  The last time I saw her was in San Francisco sometime in the late 90s.

In celebration of the recent release of Cassandra’s new album Another Country, she did a multi-night run at the Blue Note.  I caught the second set of her Thursday show.

The show opened with the band playing harmonica master Gregoire Maret’s rendition of Stevie Wonder’s The Secret Life of Plants, a perfect precursor for the evening’s experience.  Cassandra came out and immediately went in with Saddle Up My Pony, followed by her tasty bossa nova flavored The Man I Love.  She then brought us cuts from the new album: No More Blues, Another Country, Red Guitar.  They did us all in with Meshell Ndegeocello’s The Chosen – Cassandra sings this song with absolute raw conviction where the silence in the room is as critical as the music and lyrics.  A fiery conversation between harmonica and drums appears midway through the song that both startles and inspires.  It was a show highlight for me.

A live music experience with Cassandra Wilson is hard to describe.  She always has the perfect balance of musicians who appear to telepathically anticipate and respond to each moment.  For this performance, her team included, along with Maret, Marvin Sewell and Brandon Wasserman, both in perfect synchronicity on guitar, Bradley Jones, bass; and John Davis on drums.  I’m so filled with the sound they achieve.  They understand Cassandra’s Delta blues flavored, deeply sensual velvet whispers, and her spontaneous changes.  When she scats, sound waves and color emerge and change with every emotion, bouncing around and into the soul.  Surely the angels sound their trumpets through her utterance.  There’s nothing like it…at all.

At the end of the show, Cassandra introduced us to fellow Ojah Music Group artist from Mississippi, Tawanna Shaunte’ who sang a beautiful song that is soon to be released on her own project.  Shades of Color is a challenging and inspiring call to open your mind and heart to the unending spectrum of all that the world offers.  I loved the song and look forward to more from her.  I’m certain I’ll be writing about her soon.

The new album In Another Country, much of which was recorded in Italy, was produced by Cassandra Wilson and Fabrizio Sotti for Ojah Music Group, LLC is truly something to behold, and has its own cast of stellar musicians.  After experiencing some things in her life, she lends her signature to her story and shares it with us.  There’s not a dull moment on this project.  Of particular importance to me, is Red Guitar – with the imagery in the lyrics, I can imagine her traveling through Italy while writing this.  The visual phrases take you to the Italian countryside with all its textures and colors, and she signs her name to it with her one of a kind musical statements.  The title track, with its deeply personal lyrics, reveals to us the universal nature of her style, her influences and her incredibly precise intuition.  Olomuroro is an African folk tale that features a choir of children.  Another particularly important track on the album shows us the depth of Cassandra’s ability.  Only she could honor O Sole Mio in the way she does.  But you’re going to have to experience that one for yourself.  Words don’t work.

See larger image Another Country (Audio CD) List Price: $17.98 USD New From: $7.23 In Stock Used from: $7.97 In Stock Release date June 26, 2012.

This old soul in a young body has enough swagger with chops to back it up, to rival the funk/soul/jazz pioneers who precede her.  She does her homework, studying in minute detail each and every lick, note and chord progression of those who influence and inspire her.  Her original works honor her heroes as she stamps her own signature style on each joint.  Her songs on Retox range in emotion & style from gentle sensuality to knock-down funk to serious jazz – BAM.  Maceo was written in honor of the JBs Maceo Parker and aptly illustrates the degree of inspiration Lakecia has garnered from this master saxophonist.  Smile, sung on the album by Maya Azucena is warm like new love sunshine.  Jump and Shout, the album’s first single and video, featuring Chinah Blacc on vocals, brings a perfect Chakaesque edge to its “I’m over you” message.  Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing is Lakecia’s homage to Stevie Wonder.  Every moment of this CD is full of life – dynamic, authentic, perfect.

I asked Lakecia about her experience as a composer and producer for Retox.  “I feel as strongly about my composing as I do about my saxophone playing.  I love the sax and I plan to play it for the rest of my life but I don’t want to be boxed into only one element of entertainment – to be a complete artist you need to compose, to write, to be an entertainer.  I wanted to feature everything I could possibly do – all around as a complete person.  I wanted to get an authentic sound, to have it recorded in a certain way, so it took time – all the instruments are live.  There are no programmed drums; it’s all done live in the studio.  I added vocals and since that is a lead position it took time.  I like that every song has a different vibration to it.  I wanted to create something for everybody.”

I think Motema Music is a perfect label match for Lakecia.  She agreed:  “When I was about to make the record, without even hearing it Jana [Herzen, President of Motema Music] believed in it.  She had seen me play around some and had a lot of confidence in me from the beginning and Motema really stands behind their artists – letting the music speak for itself.  They don’t just package, brand the music, sell it for a while and then move on.  Motema is really into quality music and longevity and they support their artists so they can achieve that.”

Lakecia Benjamin and SoulSquad will take the stage at Le Poisson Rouge June 12^th to celebrate the release of Retox.  SoulSquad on this night will include Chris Robb (keys) and Nick Roseboro (trumpet), Brian Cockerham (bass), Joe Blaxx (drums), Jamiel Cornielo (guitar), Brandee Younger (harp), Jonathan Powell (trumpet) and guest trombonist Jonathon Aarons.  Two vocalists featured on Retox will join Lakecia and SoulSquad – Tracey Nicole and Maya Azucena.  Guest artists will be Jean Baylor of Zhane, Vickie Natale, Collette and Raydar Ellis.  DJ Center will be spinning before and after the band takes the stage.  The evening promises to be raw, magnetic and all the way live.  The joy on Lakecia’s face when she performs reveals how much she loves what she does and how deeply she admires and respects the musicians she shares the stage with.

If you make it to the show, close your eyes and tell me you aren’t reminded of Sly and the Family Stone on The Midnight Special stage back in the day.  The beauty lies in the fact that she’s just getting started, so buy the album, get a ticket, and buckle up.

http://www.lakeciabenjamin.com/

http://motema.com/artist/lakecia-benjamin

Le Poisson Rouge,
158 Bleecker Street, NYC
TIX adv. $12 / Day of Show $15
RSVP: 212-505-FISH
lepoissonrouge.com

See larger image Retox (Audio CD) List Price: $15.98 USD New From: $5.74 In Stock Used from: $2.04 In Stock Release date May 8, 2012.

Photo by Tracy Love

Sheila E. said that one day when she grows up, she wants to be just like Terri Lyne Carrington.  Terri is that heavy, and she has really done it with her most recent solo work on GrooveJazz Media/Concord Music Group, The Mosaic Project.  This woman-dominated album won a Grammy© this year in the category of Best Jazz Vocal Album.  I’m glad attention continues to be brought to The Mosaic Project.  I believe it to be a very important piece of work that will stand the test of time.  I can’t get enough of it.

If you sit down with this album in your ears, you can imagine the textures of an Indian tapestry as you glide your fingertips across the surface.  Sounds, time signatures, voices, generations, activism, swing, sensuality, harmony and dissonance, funk.  The cast of musicians is stellar.  From Dianne Reeves, Geri Allen, Esperanza Spalding, Patrice Rushen to Nona Hendryx, Gretchen Parlato, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Mimi Jones, Angela Davis, Cassandra Wilson and more.

I recently attended Terri’s show at Harlem Stage.  It had been a minute since I was this exhilarated by a live performance.  With Terri on drums/percussion; Helen Sung, piano;  Tia Fuller, sax; Mimi Jones, bass; Ingrid Jensen, trumpet/flugelhorn; Nir Felder, guitar and Lizz Wright & Nona Hendricks on vocals, the performance surprised and transcended.  These women, and Nir, the one gentleman playing this gig, are monsters, each and every one of them.  They swam through prime cuts on the album and midway through the show Lizz Wright came out and delivered a ridiculously dope Simply Beautiful, which on the album is sung by Cassandra Wilson.  She stayed on stage and the band played two cuts from Lizz’s Salt album – Open Your Eyes You Can Fly and Walk With Me, the latter on which Nona Hendricks came out and joined her.  It was a great moment for music.  Another highlight for me was when Nona Hendryx sang one of the most ravaging renditions of Strange Fruit that I’ve ever heard.  There’s a conversation between her and Tia Fuller on sax that is psychedelic in its sorrow as they weep heaving cries of pain together.  I was week in the knees by the end of the song.

I spoke with Terri about the experience of creating an all-woman album.  I asked if it was refreshing to not have the typical patriarchal dynamic that women run into with most projects.  It’s refreshing, but I feel like everyone has to work together because that’s how the world is…man woman, cultures, age groups.  I love how The Mosaic Project represents different age groups.  I work with men all the time so it was refreshing to have a female driven project although it’s not unusual.  But I’ve never spearheaded it quite like that – on the level of sensitivity on various fronts it was nice.  It’s a feminine statement, but it’s not – really at the end of the day we want to make good art.  No question she succeeded.

Terri will be joining Geri Allen and Carrie Mae Weams, along with other Mosaic Project players for Slow Fade to Black on June 15^th at Celebrate Brooklyn! 2012.  Terri promises to provide a sophisticated and exciting musical experience.  I highly recommend taking her in whenever you can.  You’ll never forget it.

Making of “The Mosaic Project”

See larger image The Mosaic Project (Audio CD) List Price: $18.98 USD New From: $10.27 In Stock Used from: $13.26 In Stock Release date July 19, 2011.

The Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival 2012 is underway and this wonderful festival celebrates Harlem’s Historic Jazz Venues:  Apollo Theater, Club Harlem, Havana San Juan, Lenox Lounge, Minton’s Playhouse, Monroe’s Uptown, Park Palace, Showman’s Jazz Club and Small’s Paradise.  An impressive lineup of artists are playing all week.

I will be seeing Terri Lyne Carrington perform with phenomenal women from her Grammy award winning The Mosaic Project this Thursday May 10th at 7 pm at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse.  I’ll also be speaking with Terri and look forward to sharing all this with you soon.  Stay tuned!

Click here for the events CALENDAR.