Reuben Jackson Reviews Enrico Rava's Latest

2013 is still getting comfortable in the batter's box, but we've already been graced with a recording worthy of attention.

Batting first (watch this space for more) - trumpeter Enrico Rava.  His lyrical and artistically curious work for the German-based ECM label both conform to and play hooky from the label's penchant for introspection.

But even longtime Rava fans might find themselves surprised with the newly released Rava On The Dance Floor, a recording culled from a 2011 concert of compositions written by, or associated with Michael Jackson.  Rava confesses to only having a "superficial acquaintance" with Jackson's work, but when he happened upon his wife watching a concert DVD after the singer's death, he "couldn't live without this music."

The aforementioned passion abounds throughout "Dance Floor". Trombonist Mauro Ottolini's
ensemble arrangements of "Thriller", "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" and "They Don't Care About Us" provide the 12-piece aggregation substantive solo and ensemble passages, and sublime but rhythmically infectious foundations, while maintaining the integrity of the originals.

The alternately rocking and reflective "They Don't Care About Us" is unquestionably one of the collection's highlights. This performance successfully fuses deliciously raucous guitar work by Marcello Gianini, and defiant, preaching solos by Rava, tenor saxophonist Dan Kinzelman and trombonist Daniele Tittarelli.  The opening moments of "Thriller" fill the air like menacing yet seductive shadows.

By contrast, the band's reading of the Charlie Chaplin ballad "Smile" (one of Michael Jackson's many idols) is tender, but never mawkish. Rava's trumpet beautifully caresses and personalizes the melody, while the ensemble offers wistful yet hopeful sighs.

Rava On The Dance Floor is a noteworthy addition to the Italian-born trumpeter’s body of recordings. Michael Jackson would be glad to know that musicians such as Enrico Rava are honoring and interpreting the music he cared so much about.

Listen Friday, February 8 beginning at 8 p.m. for my favorite picks from this CD.

- Reuben Jackson
Host of Friday Night Jazz, 8-11 on VPR

New Programs Added to VPR News Weeknight Schedule

We are pleased to announce new programs coming to the VPR News service on weeknights beginning Monday, September 10.

Monday through Thursday evenings, we’ve added Q from the CBC at 8 p.m. Q, which got positive feedback from listeners during a test run last month, is an energetic arts, culture, and entertainment magazine that takes you on a smart and surprising ride, interviewing personalities and tackling today’s cultural issues around the world. Hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, with his trademark wit and spontaneity, Q covers pop culture and high arts alike with forays into the most provocative and compelling cultural trends. 

Credit: Michel Martin by Stephen Voss

At 9 p.m., NPR’s Tell Me More brings fresh voices and perspectives to public radio. Capturing the headlines, issues and pleasures relevant to multicultural life in America, the daily one-hour series is hosted by award-winning journalist Michel Martin. Tell Me More focuses on the way we live, intersect, and sometimes collide in a culturally diverse world. Each day's show features a variety of segments examining U.S. and international news, ideas, and people.

And at 10 p.m., VPR has created Tonight On VPR, which features a different program every night: On Being on Mondays, The State We’re In on Tuesdays, Moyers And Company on Wednesdays, and To The Best Of Our Knowledge on Thursdays.

Credit: Reuben Jackson by Stephanie Seguino

On Friday nights, kick off your weekend with Friday Night Jazz With Reuben Jackson, our new local jazz program from 8-11 p.m. Reuben is former curator of the Duke Ellington collection at the Smithsonian, a jazz expert, and now, a Burlington High School teacher. Reuben's program kicks off a weekend of locally-hosted music in the evenings, joining My Place with Joel Najman on Saturday and All the Traditions with Robert Resnik on Sundays.

We’ve also added a new 24-hour jazz stream, available at VPR.net, our mobile website, and iPhone app. VPR Jazz24 features the great jazz artists of all time as well as today's top talents and is produced by Pacific Public Media, which operates KPLU in Tacoma, WA.

These programs provide listeners with a new and deep experience in arts and culture, and fresh voices and perspectives on how we live and intersect in a culturally diverse world.

We hope you’ll check out our new weeknight lineup and let us know what you think!

Introducing Friday Night Jazz With Reuben Jackson

We’d like to you meet Reuben Jackson, who will host Friday Night Jazz with Reuben Jackson from 8-11 p.m. beginning Friday, August 31.

Reuben takes you on a new adventure every week, exploring the great American invention called jazz. You’ll explore the back roads and alleys of the genre, the musicians and standards you love, and experience that essential element of surprise. Reuben also shares his in-depth knowledge of the stories behind the music.

Reuben Jackson is a poet, music critic and educator with jazz in his soul and radio in his blood. He hosted his first jazz radio program as a student at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont. Now, after 50 years in Washington, D.C., Reuben has returned to Vermont to teach and share his passion for music.

Reuben was curator of the Duke Ellington Collection at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. for more than 20 years. His music reviews have been published in The Washington Post, Washington City Paper, All About Jazz, Jazz Times, Jazziz, and on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. Reuben is also a poet, a mentor with The Young Writers Project and educator. He now teaches English at Burlington High School in Burlington, Vermont.

“I am drawn to jazz's emotional and structural possibilities."
- Reuben Jackson

His decision to leave Washington and return to Vermont to teach is chronicled in a series of interviews on The Story with Dick Gordon.

Reuben says that he loves music – period, and because of that, he doesn’t always distinguish between genres. However, “I am drawn to jazz's emotional and structural possibilities. It allows the player room for his or her musical personality to profoundly shape the musical direction and output. I look forward to sharing what poet/musician Patti Smith dubbed the 'sea of possibilities' within this rich genre.”

What can listeners expect on Friday nights?

“I seek to achieve chronological, stylistic and emotional balance. I'm a romantic with a real thing for ballads, so I have to constantly remind myself that I'm not in my living room (although I hope listeners feel that degree of comfort), and that not everyone wants to hear ninety versions of 'Time On My Hands.' I also think that we as jazz programmers have to include more female performers - and not just vocalists.”

“I think that a well-arranged show is not unlike a well-written piece of music. You want it to be interesting to the audience, and you want the audience to feel like they’re part of the experience. I also feel that variety is important. I'm reminded of something the great saxophonist Lester Young told a journalist: 'You've got to be original, man.'"

We hope you’ll join Reuben, a true original himself, on Friday nights beginning August 31!

Jazz Host George Thomas Announces His Retirement From VPR's Airwaves

After more than 11 years behind the mic, we are sad to announce that Jazz Host George Thomas is retiring from VPR's airwaves.

He announced his retirement on tonight's show, and his final show will be in late June.

George began hosting jazz on VPR in 2001. Since then, he has built a dedicated following of listeners who appreciate his intimate on-air presence and ability to find “just that song” to capture a mood or a moment.

“It has been an honor and I am grateful to have been able to share jazz with VPR's avid, curious, and astute listeners, who often suggested artists, songs and albums to play,” George said. “From Montreal to Brattleboro, Peacham to Burlington, White River to Rutland and through all the gores and towns in between, people are playing, listening, and loving jazz. I want to thank them for allowing me to learn more about America's greatest art form every day.”

Jazz will continue to have a presence on VPR, but the details have yet to be finalized. For now, we look forward to celebrating George's contribution to VPR and to the jazz community in our region.

As Ella Fitzgerald once said, ‘It isn't where you came from, it's where you're going that counts.’ We hope you'll join us in wishing George the very best in his next adventure!

Sunday Jazz at Brandon Music

You hear rumors that jazz doesn't have an audience, but then a new jazz series appears in Brandon and refreshes one's faith in people and great music. This Sunday series is organized by saxophonist Jonathan Lorentz (pictured) and is the newest of three jazz locations that he curates, including Mondays & Thursdays in Laconia, and Tuesdays in Nashua, New Hampshire.

All shows are at 7 p.m. at Brandon Music. The schedule includes:

04.08 John Funkhouser, Acclaimed Boston Pianist

04.15 Charlie Hilbert, Traveling Bluesman

04.22 Chris Bakriges, Romantic Vermont Pianist

04.29 Trio Balkan Strings Guitar Family from Serbia

05.06 Jonathan Lorentz Anthony Santor & Gabe Jarrett, Modern Jazz

05.13 Gerry Beaudoin, Straight-Ahead Jazz Guitar

05.20 Benny Sharoni, Master Saxophonist

05.27 Sharon Jones, Swinging Vocals

06.03 Judi Silvano, Celebrated Vocal Artist

06.10 Michael-Louis Smith, NYC Jazz Guitarist

06.17 The Soul of a Man Rhythm, Blues & Jazz

06.24 Harvey Sorgen, Adventurous Drummer

George Thomas Remembers Dave Sanjek

A friend died recently who was directly responsible for my start & style in radio. Dave Sanjek was on WCNI in the fall of 1972 at Connecticut College For Women (the year the school went co-ed) doing a jazz radio show. He was playing absolutely amazing selections but talking for what seemed like a half hour between each cut. I called him up at the station and said something to the effect of, “you're playing great music, man, but you talk too much." He got off the air at the end of his show, asked around and found out who I was and showed up at my dorm room with a stack of LPs under his arm.

We started listening to what was, at the time, very rare jazz, delicious stuff, and then he noticed the photos all over my walls from The Farm & Wilderness Camps in Vermont where I had been a camp counselor that summer . It was an instant trade. He found the summer camps of his dreams, I got a start in radio and a lifetime education in music: jazz, Holy Modal Rounders, Dave Van Ronk, on and on. We also shared a love of poetry. He gave me Living/Dying by Cid Corman and Hayden Carruth's great poetry anthology The Voice That Is Great Within Us.

In my 39th year of radio, I think of him every show I do. Thank you Dave for all of it: the 20 page catch-up letters with writing so dense you could walk on it; your dad’s record collection; your mother’s exquisite Chinese cooking; the joy of an obscure movie. You shared it all. I miss you terribly. And yes, Oliver Nelson’s solos on Blues And The Abstract Truth were the best.

Piano Jazz's Marion McPartland Retires

Marion McPartland, whose Piano Jazz program VPR has carried on Friday nights for many years, has retired. McPartland hosted her show for 31 years and was known for her improvisational skills in both music and conversation.

While no more shows are being produced, Marion is staying on to guide the Piano Jazz digital archive project and educational website. You can celebrate Piano Jazz's legacy with 30 favorite moments from NPR Music here.

She has big shoes to fill, but I am pleased to let you know that I'll be hosting jazz for an extra hour on Friday evenings beginning this Friday. I hope you'll join me beginning at 9 p.m. To suggest music or send your thoughts, visit VPR.net.


Marion McPartland Photo by RJ Capak

Missing From the Jazz Fest

I just got off the phone with VPR's Jazz Host, George Thomas. He asked me to let you all know how bummed he is to be missing the Jazz Fest - both on the town and on the air. He has been under the weather and will be staying under cover for at least one more day. George had great plans to play music from artists at the Jazz Fest and offer his own commentary. He'll likely cook up a Jazz Fest in review next week. In the meantime, Bob Parlocha - a veteran DJ and professional sax player - is filling in.

Catherine Russell Comes To Burlington!

During her set this evening at the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, singer Catherine Russell quoted her mother, who said: "There are only two kinds of music: good and bad."

Of these two categories, I'd have to say Catherine Russell falls into the "good" category. Though "good" seems to me like an understatement!

I became a fan of Catherine Russell by listening to her on Jazz with George Thomas on VPR. One night, George played her rendition of the Harold Arlen song, "As Long As I Live." I hunted down the album, Inside This Heart of Mine, and it's filled with standards that Russell made new again with her powerful, sultry voice.

Her performance tonight included songs from that album, but perhaps the highlight for me were the songs I hadn't heard before. Those included Jackie Wilson's "I'll Be Satisfied," Bessie Smith's "Kitchen Man," Dinah Washington's "My Man's An Undertaker," and a version of The Grateful Dead's "New Speedway Boogie" that would've made Mitch Wertlieb proud. Overall, it was a nice mix of jazzy and bluesy tunes, accompanied by piano, bass, guitar and banjo.

Well done, Catherine Russell, and thanks for visiting Vermont!

Jazz Comes To Town

The 28th annual Burlington Discover Jazz Festival officially kicks off tonight at The Flynn with "Bitches Brew Revisited", and once again VPR staff will be on the scene.

VPR Classical Director Cheryl Willoughby and VPR jazz host George Thomas dropped by Vermont Edition to share their thoughts on the festival, including the acts they're most looking forward to seeing and hearing. George is particularly looking forward to hearing Italian vocalist Roberta Gambarini, while Cheryl is excited about the appearance of Myra Melford and the Be Bread Sextet (just to name a couple). Interviewer Steve Zind shared that he's a fan of Catherine Russell, who he discovered listening NPR.

It's not all about the headliners and national acts, though. There are tons of local musicians performing 'Round Town, from accomplished local musicians to high school jazz bands. As Cheryl said, "some of the best stuff that happens at the festival is the stuff that's not on the calendar... memorable moments happen after hours when somebody wanders in with a saxophone, and someone else has a guitar, and the next thing you know there's an impromptu jazz session happening with a bunch of local folks."

As we have the past few years, we'll share the occasional blog posts and photos from the festival: check back here at the VPR Blog as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

And of course, for the best jazz throughout the festival and year-round, listen to George Thomas weeknights on VPR.

(pictured: Jennifer Hartswick, Anthony Santor, and Nic Cassarino perform at the opening reception at Halvorson's in Burlington, VT)

Busman's Holiday - Jazz Goes World

What does the Jazz guy do when it's vacation time? Why fly down to Lafayette, Louisiana for the 25th annual Festival International de Louisiane - world music from every part of the globe along with cajun and zydeco, local favorite dance musics.

The Fest is set in the middle of downtown Lafayette with six big stages, food booths, kid's areas, art and artifacts. Amazingly enough the whole Fest is free and one is continually reminded to buy little $10 metal pins made to celebrate support for the Fest. Sound familiar? It's a lot like radio, we give it away and then ask you to support it on a voluntary basis.

So who did I hear? My favorite was Red Baraat, a New York City based band with with tuba & drums playing Indian flavored dance music. They had a bit of the wild sass of brass that the Soul Rebels Brass Band (black brass marching band from New Orleans) brought when the two bands joined for one song.
The Master Drummers of Burundi followed the opening ceremonies with a grand entrance carrying their large wooden drums on their heads while drumming on the sides and head. Their set included many leaps into the air, virtuoso drumming and each drummer taking a solo supported by the others.

The Marchforth Marching Band were 24 strong, dressed in sort of punk circus garb and included in their ranks, two men and one woman on stilts dancing in front of the band and all through the audience, ten brass players, eight drummers - a wild crew with demonic beats - sort of a cross between the Bread And Puppet Circus Band, Sun Ra and his Inter-Galaictic Arkestra and a regular High School Marching Band in Halloween costumes. You'd never be bored with Marchforth in the house.

Lafayette, like most of South Louisiana, is friendly with smiles coming at you from all directions. I was given a ride back to my hotel by two total strangers who turned out to be school teachers trying to make art in their spare time. Maria de Barros from Cape Verde fit the relaxed mode of the town as did the cajun dance at Antlers (Club) with Joel Savoy, Jesse Lege & The Cajun Country Revival.


And then there's the food: Crayfish Etouffe, Blackened Tuna Wrap, Shrimp Po Boys and a Cream, Spinach & crayfish mix in a hollowed-out loaf of bread. Yeah, you right!

Where's George Thomas?

Bob Parlocha is filling in for George Thomas for a few days.

Bob Parlocha is a nationally recognized jazz expert and the former program director at KJAZ of San Fransisco. He started his jazz radio career as host of Dinner Jazz on KJAZ.

Bob is program director and music host for the Jazz Satellite Network at WFMT in Chicago. His favorite artists are John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Cannonball Aderly and Roland Kirk. There will be no playlist this week while Bob fills in.

Send us an email and let us know what you think of the program. George will be back soon!

Win Tickets To The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival

VPR is giving away tickets to some of the hottest acts coming to this year's Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, including Allen Toussaint, Sonny Rollins, Sharon Jones, and Arturo Sandoval!

Learn more and enter to win here. The entry deadline is Wednesday, June 2 at noon!

Don't forget to check the VPR Jazz Fest Blog for more about the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - video, photos, reflections, and more!

(Photo courtesy of www.discoverjazz.com.)

Bouncing With Bud

When the Tom Cleary Trio arrived in VPR's Performance Studio this past Monday night there was an expectation for jazz improvisation of a high order.

All three musicians (Tom Cleary-piano; John Rivers-bass; Jeff Salisbury-drums) are faculty of the UVM Music Department's Jazz Studies Program. They teach and communicate with students and audiences every day.

While setting up microphones and getting the drums and bass lined up so everyone could see each other, Tom told stories about his recent work with Mike Gordon (from Phish) and with the Vermont fusion band Fragile Zoe (fellow UVM faculty).

Tom then continued to draw from his widely diverse background to offer some very focused insights into the music of the great bop pianist, Bud Powell.

The piano trio in jazz has a similar place to the string quartet in classical music. It's an intimate form built around careful listening, and rich simultaneous improvisation often filled with melodic and chordal allusions and direct quotes from other songs. Cleary's trio also infused their melodies with layered lines of musical meaning, shifting moods from quietly introspective to bright and outwardly colorful.

Thanks to listener support for making special live moments like this possible every day (and night!) on VPR.

- George Thomas, VPR Jazz host

You can also catch the Trio in concert this Sunday, April 18th at 3 p.m. at Christ Church Presbyterian in Burlington.

Live Jazz a hit on VPR

VPR recieved many comments about the live jazz on George Thomas' show on December 10th. 

On listener wrote: " Loved your live program....took my winter blues away...and Ellen Powell was GREAT as was her guitarist...will go to Leunigs on Thursday night in Jan to hear in person...like your laid back style..will continue my membership because of this performance...thanks."

I'm glad you connected with last night's show. It's always a treat to have live music and the quiet melodic sound fit my mood too. Do introduce yourself to Ellen Powell when you see her live, she'll
be happy to hear you enjoyed her performance with Geoff Kim.

Thanks for listening & writing,
George Thomas

Listen to the performance here!

Sunsets and Radio: Bringing Us Together

Who says November in Vermont is bleak and colorless? Probably no one who ever caught one of our signature stunning autumn sunsets! In a time when technology can occasionally work to isolate people it's comforting to be able to still have a shared human experience like a sunset that simply stops you in your tracks. Radio is like that too. Last evening's sunset pyrotechnics were followed by the Will Patton Gypsy Jazz Ensemble's red-hot performance at 8 on VPR. Could it get any better than this? [If you missed the show, you can listen here: Will Patton Live on VPR ]

Cheryl Willoughby
VPR Interim Director of Programming (and fan of great sunsets and swingin' gypsy jazz!)