Nite & Disk

The Bus I recently drove into the Big Apple to see singer Kate McGarry's band celebrate the release of their Girl Talk CD (Palmetto, 2012) at the Jazz Standard. It was a stressful drive, given the rush-hour timing and need to watch for idiots steering two tons of metal with their knees as they text “Wassup?" ...

Eliane Elias Dizzy's Club Coca Cola New York, New York Wednesday, January 23, 2008

The other night at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, high above the whirling traffic of Columbus Circle, there was a full moon and a full house as the Eliane Elias Trio played in support of their Bill ...

Driving down to see McCoy Tyner at the Blue Note, listening to his Grammy-nominated Illuminations along the way, I wondered what new thing I could possibly say about this jazz icon. Of course the CD is terrific, as already documented on AAJ, and I knew his performance would be masterful. I figured I could always discuss ...

Michel Camilo's Grammy-winning Live at the Blue Note has already been thoughtfully reviewed by two of my AAJ colleagues ( Franz Matzner and Joel Roberts ). Both of them note Camilo's virtuosity and classical roots, using words like “dazzling" and “astound[ing]" to describe his performance. In concert, all of this applies, with added dimensions of personal ...

These guys are a hoot. On first hearing Frank & Joe's debut CD on Hyena Records, 33 1/3 , I e-mailed Joe that very thought, and he wrote back, “what is this 'hoot'?" I said it refers to something that's fun and delightful, like their CD. Turns out it's also a hoot to watch “The Frank ...

One reason I enjoy researching my Nite & Disks is that I get a fuller sense of what the artists are up to, since there can be a considerable difference between the archived and live versions of the same material. Sometimes it's due to various playing conditions: more or less tension, the visit (or absence) of ...

I just love a band that grins. Like Whitney Balliett, I see jazz as the sound of surprise -- preferably a delightful one -- and I don't believe that serious music has to be made with long faces. Banda Brazil was grinning like mad the other night at the Cornelia Street Cafe, even though the six ...

One of the primo advantages of living near New York Cityï"aside from having a front seat at the Rudy and Hillary showï"is the infinite range of jazz venues. I've climbed up to the boxes in Carnegie Hall and the nosebleed seats at the Y, and down the vertical steps to the underground Village Vanguard. I've been ...

Barbara Sfraga was finally exposed on August 26. After years of performing in wafting coverups, she wore a bustier at her CD release party, revealing a beautiful expanse of creamy skin. Matched with a floor-length, flowing skirt, her long blonde curls, and a hint of sparkle, she looked like a fairy princess. Her new exposure was ...

Last week I saw something that's far more common on screen than in real life: the absolute fulfillment of a dream. Nope, nobody triggered the casino lights and buzzers, got surprised by the Prize Patrol, or found Prince(ss) Charming on the Internet. This particular triumph is portable, permanent, and capable of delighting complete strangers -- Anita ...

As a courtesy to the hyper-busy, here's the bottom line: the performance was superb, and the CD's a killer. For details, please read on.

June 18, 2003 ~ Terell Stafford's CD release party is at Sweet Rhythm at 8; once Sweet Basil, the cozy club has thrived under new owners since last September. I decide to ...

Sometimes the stars move into position, and I get to witness a performance by someone whose new CD has just arrived in my mailbox. Nite and Disk is not about which one is “better" - that live vs Memorex thing. Instead, it considers how the two experiences enrich each other, broadening one's appreciation of an artist ...