TOP NYC Jazz Picks February 24-March 4

Monty Alexander
Blue Note Jazz Club
131 West third St.
Greenwich Village
212-475-8592
February 20- March 4 2012

This year marks the 50th anniversary of this eclectic jazz pianist originally from Jamaica. He will be performing at the Blue Note for a two-week run. Alexander will be playing singer Dee Dee Bridgewater and also be playing with his famous trio from  " Live! At the Montreux Jazz Festival."  recorded 35 years ago.


Dave Liebman-Richie Bierach
Cornelia Street Caf29 Cornelia St
West Village
212- 989-9319
February 24,2012

"My relationship with Richie Beirach is the longest from the late 1960s evolving into my first group as a leader, “Lookout Farm” followed in the ‘80s by “Quest.” This duo emphasizes the deep harmonic relationship that we have developed over the years combining aspects of the 20th century modern classical language and jazz into what is considered by many a very classic and individual approach." --David Liebman

Mathew Shipp Trio
Jazz Standard
116 East 27th Street
Manhattan
212-576-2232

An innovative composer who and excellent understanding of music theory , always pushing  the limits to find new tonality, Harmony, improvisation  and minimalism. The trio will perform his new Cd Names Elastic Aspects (Thirsty Ear), a work developed as a suite for the trio of Shipp, bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Whit Dickey.


"...A true original, incorporating not only the history of jazz piano but also the hypnotic repetition of minimalism. He is an 'idea man,' but not merely a musical intellectual - his music offers challenges aplenty while demonstrating wit and passion." (Bill Tilland, BBC.com)

Ricki Lee Jones- Bergen Perfromong Arts Center

Legendary musician and Grammy winner Rickie Lee Jones embarked on a short tour appearing in only six venues on the East Coast Including the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood New Jersey on December 8, 2010.. For the first time in her career she  featured the music from her debut album Rickie Lee Jones and her follow-up project Pirates in their entirety. The singer/songwriter was joined by some special friends, many of whom performed on her original recordings.
I t was freezing December night and I did not have a ticket.  At the last minute after dinner, I jumped in my car and drove 30 miles into Englewood to go see the show.  I had seen Chick Corea there in 1992 so I was familiar with the theatre. I was amazed to see that the concert hall  was only half filled but I got a good seat and relaxed.

I missed part of the show but my timing  was good since after a couple of acoustic pieces she perfromed solo on acoustic guitar, he brought the band out and they performed her brilliant album Pirates that was released in 1981. I have never seen Ricki Lee Jones but her voice is a so;lid and musical as ever. For the Pirates set, she played a full 9 foot Steinway piano Not only was her vocals great but the piano resonated throughout each song. The opening song We Belong Together  sounded just like the album. Ricki Lee Jones had a top notch Professional band including a full horn section and Gary Malabar on Drums.

This was not American Idle! Ricki Jones put her heart and soul into the opening track We Belong Together and Living it Up. The production sounded as brilliant as the record and again her vocal and story telling was moving. The horns and band were tight in the songs Woody and Dutch and Pirates. Ricki lee Jones , one of the great American female artists showed here musicality and singing in the ballads such as Luck Guy and Traces on the Western Slopes.

Maybe Ricki lee Jones did not play and encore . The audience including myself did nor mind because we were fortunate to see Ricki Lee Jones and her band perform her masterpiece Pirates for the first time in its entirety .