Must-See Three: Jazz in NYC This Week

Alfredo Colón Jazz Gallery Friday, June 14

I remember watching saxophonist Colón tear it up on “Fables of Faubus” at Barbès last year. Under the guidance of leader Max Johnson, he was winding his alto lines around those of bandmate Kazemde George, ratcheting the tension every time the “2-4-6-8/they brainwash and teach you hate” refrain came around. Colón is a player that leans into a situation – why let even a single measure go by if the spirit isn’t front and center? But he also has a lithe approach that makes his lines curvaceous. Spent the last few weeks with his Blood Burden (Out Of Your Head), an album that wins you over pretty damn quick, and a program that he says is a “meditation on the interplay of Dominican folklore and Catholic imagery and ethos, and an ode to his immediate family members in the face of intergenerational trauma.” Here, commitment is as obvious as poise. “Our Armor” deploys both at once, with a Kenny Garrett fierceness balanced by a Miguel Zenón polish that makes you feel like you’re being both slapped and caressed. Pianist Lex Korten is key to the performances’ success, prodding the leader with a wealth of ideas on “Doomknocker.” Bassist Steve Williams and drummer Connor Parks also feed the fire, helping Colón reach keening heights on “Our Simplest Office Clerk.” I’m jotting down this one for debut of the year.

Sun Ra Arkestra Central Park Summer Stage Thursday, June 13

The Arkestra / Yo La Tengo evening at Sony Hall on Saturday is rightfully sold out, and that’s where many NYC’ers will be celebrating Marshall Allen’s recent and amazing centennial birthday. But fret not. This shared bill with Kim Gordon is another opportunity to help Ra’s sage lieutenant blow out 100 candles. The band is a workaholic outfit; they’re playing, playing, playing all the time. Their practice of personalizing swing includes exploding standards, waxing theatrical, and proving camaraderie can carry the day while still delivering gorgeous idiosyncrasies such as “Brainville,” “Astro Black,” “Interplanetary Music,” and “Lights On A Satellite.” Allen’s horn playing a symbol of the way sweetness and skronk can coincide; for decades his alto sax has been able to wax pretty one minute, predatory the next. If anyone is feeling sentimental at the gig, it may be because Team Ra celebrated our nation’s birthday on the Rumsey Playfield boards with Sonic Youth in 1992. Some olds will recall it as two bands entering the endless endlessness. Grab a Bomb Pop, next stop, Jupiter.

Jazztopad Festival Various Venues Thurs, June 13 – Sunday, June 17

Things invariably heat up when the Jazztopad Festival New York hits town at the start of summer. The chance to hear Polish improvisers interact with locals, the rigor of the creative music that’s presented, the intimacy of the shows clarifying a project’s meaning – it all makes for gripping listening. Amalia Umeda is a key visitor this time around. The Warsaw violinist is part of Saturday’s North American premiere of The Crow, which unites her with the Hand To Earth ensemble, a group of Aussie progressives that sustain Aboriginal song. Daniel Wilfred sings in the Wagilak language; Sunny Kim blends with him in Korean and English. Along with clarinet, didgeridoo, and electronics, they fashion an entrancing atmosphere. On Thursday, June 13 at Dizzy’s Club, pianist Kris Davis takes the stage with the Lutoslawski Quartet to premiere “The Solastalgia Suite,” which is said to take cues from Messiaen and Beyoncé while addressing the dire threat of climate change. On Friday, June 14 the violinist hits Barbès to play with Marta Sánchez, Michael Bates, and Leslie Mok. On Saturday, June 15, Bates’ Acrobat ensemble reunites with the Lutoslawskis at Barbès for another look at Metamorphoses, which they documented last year. On Sunday, June 16 at Rizzoli, Umeda shares the stage with bassist Stephan Crump for a program of improvisations. And it wraps up at Public Records the same evening with a group comprised of Hamid Drake, Peter Knight, Daniel and David Wilfred, Sunny Kim, Aviva Endean, and Umeda. Nothing but options.

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

Vision Festival Roulette Tuesday, June 18

Michael Dease Dizzy’s Tuesday June 18

Chet Doxas Trio LunÀtico Tuesday, June 18

Marc Copland/John Hébert/Chet Doxas/Jim Doxas Ornithology Thursday, June 20

Henry Solomon/Elori Saxl/Carmen Quill/Dan Weiss Close Up Weds, June 12

Ember (Curtis/Garabedian/Sperrazza) Speakeasy Jazz Club Friday, June 14

Conrad Herwig The Django Wednesday, June 12

Mike Holober & The Gotham Jazz Orchestra Aaron Davis Hall Friday, June 14

Marc Ribot & Leyla McCalla / Yasmin Williams / Neal Murgai & Kunal Prakash Merkin Hall Friday, June 14

Hagish Ragavan solo / Michael Bates’ Northern Spy Owl Music Parlor Thursday, June 13

Sacrilege Trio (Sun/Gordon/Olszewski) Lowlands Tuesday, June 11

Neeta Raanan/Kavyon Gordon Close Up Thursday, June 23

New York Guitar Festival Merkin Hall Saturday, June 15

Etienne Charles Creole Orchestra Dizzy’s Friday, June 14 – Sunday, June 16

Gregoire Maret & Roman Collin Jazz Gallery Thursday, June 13

Peter Evans/Mark Shim Bar Bayeaux Friday, Jun

Gerald Cannon, Jerry Weldon, and Elio Coppola Center for Italian Modern Art Sat, June 15

Marta Sánchez, Eric McPherson, Rashaan Carter, Emmanuel Michael Close Up Sat, June 15

Eric Scott Reed & Generation X, Y, Z Smoke Weds, June 12 – Sun, June 16

Instrumental Underground iBeam Wednesday, June 12

Thomas Morgan The Stone Weds, June 12 – Sat, June 15

Tony Malaby’s Firebath Jazz Gallery Saturday, June 15

Ben Perowsky/Gary Versace/Ugonna Okegwo Mezzrow Thursday, June 13

Assembly #18 Sisters Sunday, June 16

Arthur Kell Band LunÀtico Tuesday, June 11

Instrumental Underground iBeam Thursday, June 13

Judi Silvano Mezzrow Sunday, June 16

Joe Farnsworth/Micah Thomas/Peter Washington Mezzrow Mon, June 17

Fred Hersch/Drew Gress/Marcus Gilmore  Village Vanguard   Tues, June 11 – Sun, June 16

Emmet Cohen Trio Birdland Tues, June 11 – Saturday, June 15

Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East Barbès Thursday, June 13

Cardenas/Kolker/Stratten/Pinciotti Bar Bayeaux Thursday, June 13

Slavic Soul Party Barbès Tuesday, June 11

Elliott Sharp Roulette Thursday, June 13

Bill Saxton & the Harlem All-Stars  Bill’s Place  Fri, June 14 – Sat, June 15

Oscar Noriega’s Crooked Quartet   Barbès Friday, June 14

Tony Malaby/Kaelen Ghandi/James Paul Nadien Record Shop Sunday, June 16

Nate Radley Zinc Bar Monday, June 17

Sam Weinberg Sisters Tuesday, June 18

Tribute to Michael Brecker Town Hall Wednesday, June 19

SPACEPILOT & ContraPunctus JazzHabitat Thursday, June 20