JAM: February/March 2000: Contemporary Jazz

by Jeff Charney

It's Grammy Time
The 42nd annual Grammy Awards will be presented on Wednesday, February 23. Here are the nominees for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance, albums only:

Russell Gunn, Ethnomusicology, Volume 1 (Atlantic)
Tim Hagans, Animation/Imagination (Blue Note)
Bob James, Joy Ride (Warner Brothers)
David Sanborn, Inside (Elektra)
Victor Wooten, Yin-Yang (Compass)

As always, I'm scratching my head at some of the nominations. Let's take a look.

Bob James' Joy Ride is an excellent CD. I enjoy it and have been playing numerous tracks from it on the "Sunday Jazz Brunch." Name contemporary jazz musicians include Kim Waters, Chuck Loeb, Lee Ritenour, Jonathan Butler and Harvey Mason, with help from Paul Brown who produced three of the tracks. Joy Ride is getting lots of airplay and is doing well in the stores.

David Sanborn's Inside is another excellent choice and will probably win. (Sanborn already has five Grammys.) It features a stellar lineup that includes Eric Benet, Lelah Hathaway, Sting and Cassandra Wilson, and it was produced by Marcus Miller, who has produced many of Sanborn's best-selling albums.

Victor Wooten's double CD, Yin-Yang is where I start to differ with the academy. Kirk Whalum is on one track, and electric bassist Wooten is a great player (and also a member of the Fleck Tones), but this CD doesn't strum my strings.

And then there's Russell Gunn and Tim Hagans. Who?! These nominated recordings were never even sent to this station, and calls to area records stores got the same response. Gunn, a trumpeter like Hagans, has worked with Branford Marsalis, James Moody and Jimmy Heath and has recorded five CDs of his own. Hagans also has five solo CDs, has appeared on numerous albums as a sideman, and has recorded with Stan Kenton, Steps Ahead and the Yellowjackets. But, these albums aren't getting any airplay, never did chart, I never saw any promotion, and, after sampling both at CDNOW, it's a mystery how either could end up in the "Contemporary Jazz" category.

If I were a voting member of the academy, these would be my five nominations.

Bob James, Joy Ride (Warner Brothers) -- See above.
El Chicano, Painting the Moment (Thump) -- The most requested CD of all time on the "Sunday Jazz Brunch." Great Latin jazz, hands down.
Richard Elliot, Chill Factor (Blue Note) -- A new wife and a new baby had a big musical impact on saxophonist Elliot. Great tunes and great playing. Enough said.
Bona Fide, Royal Function (Ncoded Music) -- This collaboration by Joe Ercole, Tim Camponeschi (Slim Man's real name) and Kevin Levi has a hip acid jazz feel and a fresh sound most albums lack.
Craig Chaquico, Four Corners (Higher Octave) -- The best Chaquico release to date, with contributions by Russ Freeman, William Aura (3rd Force), Rick Braun, Paul Taylor, Greg Karukas, Everette Harp and Paul Brown.

Recapping '99
Taking a look back at 1999, Billboard has released its final ranking of the top Contemporary Jazz CDs of the year by sales. They are:

Kenny G -- Classics In The Key Of G
Kenny G -- Greatest Hits
Boney James -- Body Language
Quincy Jones -- From Q With Love
Joe Sample -- The Song Lives On
Will Downing/Gerald Albright -- Pleasures Of The Night
Kirk Whalum -- For You
Najee -- Morning Tenderness
Paul Hardcastle -- Jazzmasters III
Rippingtons/Russ Freeman -- Topaz

R.I.P.
Guitarist and composer Charlie Byrd died on November 30 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 74. Byrd, who recorded more than 100 albums over a 50 year career, played a major role in the birth of the bossa nova craze of the early '60s. Jazz Samba, Byrd's 1962 collaboration with Stan Getz, is generally regarded as the album that started it all. His last performance was on September 18 in Annapolis, Maryland, where Byrd had lived since 1972.

Jazz organist Charles Earland died here in Kansas City on December 11, the day after performing at the Blue Room at 18th & Vine. In a career dating back to the '60s, Earland worked with Pat Martino and Lou Donaldson, and he recorded numerous albums as a leader. His Black Talk in 1969 became a best-seller and a cover of "More Today Than Yesterday" from that album received extensive airplay in '69. Charles Earland was 58.

Saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. died of a heart attack on December 17 after taping a performance for the CBS "Saturday Early Show." He had just turned 56. One of the first to combine elements of jazz and soul, Washington's career took off in 1970 when he was featured on Johnny "Hammond" Smith's Breakout. Creed Taylor signed Washington in 1971 and released Inner City Blues with more first rate albums to follow, including Mister Magic in 1973. After signing with Elektra, Washington released the Grammy-winning Winelight featuring his collaboration with soul singer Bill Withers on "Just The Two Of Us." Equally comfortable on tenor, alto or soprano saxophones, Washington released several more albums for Elektra and Columbia. In fact, at the time of his death, Washington was promoting a new CD, which had just been released.

Cornetist Nat Adderley died January 2 at the age of 68. Best known for his long association with brother/saxophonist Cannonball Adderley (who passed away in 1975), Nat also worked with Lionel Hampton, J.J. Johnson and Woody Herman. His "Work Song" became a standard in the Adderley Quintet, as did "Jive Samba" and "Old Country." Adderley led his own band until 1997 when his right leg was amputated following complications from diabetes, the illness which would eventually lead to his death.

And pianist Gene Harris died January 16 while awaiting a kidney transplant. Harris was best known for the group he formed in 1956. From '56 to 1970, his Three Sounds recorded frequently for Blue Note and Verve and was one of the most popular jazz groups of the 1960s. Said Scott Yanow in The All Music Guide To Jazz, "One of the most accessible of all jazz pianists, Gene Harris' soulful style... is immediately likable and predictably excellent." Harris was 66.

Email Jeff Charney at jeffrey@tfs.net, and check out his web site at: www.kprs.com. "The Sunday Jazz Brunch" can be heard every Sunday on KPRS (103.3 FM) from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

RETURN TO FEBRUARY 2000 MAIN INDEX

------------------------------------------------------------------------
© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		by Jeff Charney It's Grammy Time The 42nd annual Grammy Awards will be presented on Wednesday, February 23. Here are the nominees for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance, albums only: Russell Gunn, Ethnomusicology, Volume 1 (Atlantic) Tim Hagans, Animation/Imagination (Blue Note) Bob James, Joy Ride (Warner Brothers) David Sanborn, Inside (Elektra) Victor Wooten, Yin-Yang (Compass) As always, I'm scratching my head at some of the nominations. Let's take a look. Bob James' Joy Ride is an excellent CD. I enjoy it and have been playing numerous tracks from it on the "Sunday Jazz Brunch." Name contemporary jazz musicians include Kim Waters, Chuck Loeb, Lee Ritenour, Jonathan Butler and Harvey Mason, with help from Paul Brown who produced three of the tracks. Joy Ride is getting lots of airplay and is doing well in the stores. David Sanborn's Inside is another excellent choice and will probably win. (Sanborn already has five Grammys.) It features a stellar lineup that includes Eric Benet, Lelah Hathaway, Sting and Cassandra Wilson, and it was produced by Marcus Miller, who has produced many of Sanborn's best-selling albums. Victor Wooten's double CD, Yin-Yang is where I start to differ with the academy. Kirk Whalum is on one track, and electric bassist Wooten is a great player (and also a member of the Fleck Tones), but this CD doesn't strum my strings. And then there's Russell Gunn and Tim Hagans. Who?! These nominated recordings were never even sent to this station, and calls to area records stores got the same response. Gunn, a trumpeter like Hagans, has worked with Branford Marsalis, James Moody and Jimmy Heath and has recorded five CDs of his own. Hagans also has five solo CDs, has appeared on numerous albums as a sideman, and has recorded with Stan Kenton, Steps Ahead and the Yellowjackets. But, these albums aren't getting any airplay, never did chart, I never saw any promotion, and, after sampling both at CDNOW, it's a mystery how either could end up in the "Contemporary Jazz" category. If I were a voting member of the academy, these would be my five nominations. Bob James, Joy Ride (Warner Brothers) -- See above. El Chicano, Painting the Moment (Thump) -- The most requested CD of all time on the "Sunday Jazz Brunch." Great Latin jazz, hands down. Richard Elliot, Chill Factor (Blue Note) -- A new wife and a new baby had a big musical impact on saxophonist Elliot. Great tunes and great playing. Enough said. Bona Fide, Royal Function (Ncoded Music) -- This collaboration by Joe Ercole, Tim Camponeschi (Slim Man's real name) and Kevin Levi has a hip acid jazz feel and a fresh sound most albums lack. Craig Chaquico, Four Corners (Higher Octave) -- The best Chaquico release to date, with contributions by Russ Freeman, William Aura (3rd Force), Rick Braun, Paul Taylor, Greg Karukas, Everette Harp and Paul Brown. Recapping '99 Taking a look back at 1999, Billboard has released its final ranking of the top Contemporary Jazz CDs of the year by sales. They are: Kenny G -- Classics In The Key Of G Kenny G -- Greatest Hits Boney James -- Body Language Quincy Jones -- From Q With Love Joe Sample -- The Song Lives On Will Downing/Gerald Albright -- Pleasures Of The Night Kirk Whalum -- For You Najee -- Morning Tenderness Paul Hardcastle -- Jazzmasters III Rippingtons/Russ Freeman -- Topaz R.I.P. Guitarist and composer Charlie Byrd died on November 30 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 74. Byrd, who recorded more than 100 albums over a 50 year career, played a major role in the birth of the bossa nova craze of the early '60s. Jazz Samba, Byrd's 1962 collaboration with Stan Getz, is generally regarded as the album that started it all. His last performance was on September 18 in Annapolis, Maryland, where Byrd had lived since 1972. Jazz organist Charles Earland died here in Kansas City on December 11, the day after performing at the Blue Room at 18th & Vine. In a career dating back to the '60s, Earland worked with Pat Martino and Lou Donaldson, and he recorded numerous albums as a leader. His Black Talk in 1969 became a best-seller and a cover of "More Today Than Yesterday" from that album received extensive airplay in '69. Charles Earland was 58. Saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. died of a heart attack on December 17 after taping a performance for the CBS "Saturday Early Show." He had just turned 56. One of the first to combine elements of jazz and soul, Washington's career took off in 1970 when he was featured on Johnny "Hammond" Smith's Breakout. Creed Taylor signed Washington in 1971 and released Inner City Blues with more first rate albums to follow, including Mister Magic in 1973. After signing with Elektra, Washington released the Grammy-winning Winelight featuring his collaboration with soul singer Bill Withers on "Just The Two Of Us." Equally comfortable on tenor, alto or soprano saxophones, Washington released several more albums for Elektra and Columbia. In fact, at the time of his death, Washington was promoting a new CD, which had just been released. Cornetist Nat Adderley died January 2 at the age of 68. Best known for his long association with brother/saxophonist Cannonball Adderley (who passed away in 1975), Nat also worked with Lionel Hampton, J.J. Johnson and Woody Herman. His "Work Song" became a standard in the Adderley Quintet, as did "Jive Samba" and "Old Country." Adderley led his own band until 1997 when his right leg was amputated following complications from diabetes, the illness which would eventually lead to his death. And pianist Gene Harris died January 16 while awaiting a kidney transplant. Harris was best known for the group he formed in 1956. From '56 to 1970, his Three Sounds recorded frequently for Blue Note and Verve and was one of the most popular jazz groups of the 1960s. Said Scott Yanow in The All Music Guide To Jazz, "One of the most accessible of all jazz pianists, Gene Harris' soulful style... is immediately likable and predictably excellent." Harris was 66. Email Jeff Charney at jeffrey@tfs.net, and check out his web site at: www.kprs.com. "The Sunday Jazz Brunch" can be heard every Sunday on KPRS (103.3 FM) from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. RETURN TO FEBRUARY 2000 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.