News

The recent passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa calls to mind a 2010 recording, “Tutu Revisited,” by bassist Marcus Miller and his band featuring Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (2001 trumpet). Miller had initially recorded the tune (“Tutu”) with Miles Davis in 1986, on Davis’s album of the same name, and chose to revisit it with Scott aTunde Adjuah because he felt the young trumpeter had a similar style to Davis. Check out this live performance of the tune that preceded its 2010 studio release.

Chad Lefkowitz-Brown (2007 saxophone) continues touring with trumpeter Chris Botti; they’ll be at SF Jazz Club in San Francisco January 5-9 and at Jazz Alley in Seattle January 11-16.

Trumpeter Benny Benack III (2008) holds a jam session at Smalls (NY) on January 5, then crosses the country for January 13-14 engagements with the Alex Claffy Quintet at the Black Cat in San Francisco.

“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on January 6 features a musical guest appearance by Terrace Martin (1997 saxophone) with singer Arin Ray and rap artist Smino.

1998 saxophone alum Erica von Kleist performs on January 8 at The Balcony Club in Dallas TX.

Pianist Isaiah J. Thompson (2014) performs with a quartet on January 8 at The Django in NYC.

Eddie Barbash (2005 saxophone) appears with Roy Williams & The South Side Five on January 10 at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC. Barbash recently played with guitarist Cory Wong and his band The Wong Notes, in a premier of Wong On Ice – a music/athletic performance video with the band on ice and in full hockey gear!

NYC’s Winter Jazzfest runs January 13-22 in venues across the city, and the line-up includes Maurice “Mobetta” Brown (1999 trumpet) appearing at a January 16 after-party led by Questlove at House of Yes. Also appearing during the festival: 1999 saxophone alum Greg Ward‘s Rogue Parade, pianist James Francies (2012), 2011 drums alum Mike Mitchell (aka Blaque Dynamite), and saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin (1999).

2013 piano alum Micah Thomas and his trio perform at Dizzy’s Club (NY) on January 14.

1996 saxophone alum Tia Fuller has a two-night stand with her quartet at Birdland (NY), January 14-15, and performs as a special guest in A Ralph Peterson Celebration at Dizzy’s Club (NY) on January 18.

Trumpeter Anthony Hervey (2014), in Jazz at Lincoln Center Group performances, will take the stage at Jazz at the Bistro, in St. Louis, January 14-15.

Robert Glasper (1997 piano) “reimagines” Duke Ellington compositions at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA on January 15.

2010 saxophone alum Patrick Bartley, Jr. recently provided a jazz and saxophone “masterclass” of sorts in a new streaming initiative pianist Emmet Cohen has introduced, Emmet’s Place Education. Bartley’s session was so engaging and insightful that we’re linking to the entire video recording of it here.

Bassist Joe Sanders (2001), now Paris-based, is featured on saxophonist Daniele Germani’s recently released What Reason Could I Give, an homage to Ornette Coleman; listen to “Origin,” co-composed by Germani and Sanders.

The Main Squeeze has released this video rendition of John Lennon’s 50-year-old recording, “Jealous Guy,” featuring Grace Kelly (2008) on alto saxophone.

Keyon Harrold (1997 trumpet) is featured in this newly-released video of singer Reuben James’s single, “BBQ Energy.”