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Jazz is . . .
Hearing it live in 2002

BY JON GARELICK

Dave Douglas — composer, trumpeter, critics’ darling — moves in so many directions at once, and releases new recordings at such a fast pace, that it’s difficult to keep up with him. Hard bop, Balkan folk music, Webern, and more find a way into his mix. And the albums keep on coming: in 2000 he released two for major label RCA, then followed up with ’01’s Witness, not to mention releases on numerous indies like Arabesque and Winter & Winter. This spring, he comes to town in two guises at two venues. On January 23, he brings his Witness ensemble to the ICA (as part of the Boston Creative Music Alliance season). Witness is typically adventuresome in the Douglas way, full of detailed writing, polyglot ethnic strains (from Near and Far East), plenty of jazz, and soaring ensemble work. The album (which includes dedications to Edward Said and Naguib Mahfouz, among others) is a homage to the history of non-violent political activism, but as Douglas also says, "Enjoy this purely as music. Or find out more about these inspirations and dig into them." Then on May 1 and 2, he brings his New Quintet to the Regattabar, where we can expect the boppish side of his personality to emerge.

And speaking of the Regattabar: this venerable jazz room in the Charles Hotel has a typically hefty winter schedule. Young guitar genius Kurt Rosenwinkel with saxophonist Mark Turner on February 2. Vocalist Ron Gill and pianist Manny Williams presenting "Celebrating Black Composers," with guitarist John Stein and saxophonist Bill Thompson, on February 6. Swing-style saxophonists Scott Hamilton and Harry Allen February 8-9; Michael Brecker February 14-17; guitarist Garrison Fewell on February 19; Branford Marsalis February 21-24; the always daring vocalist Dominique Eade with bassist John Lockwood, saxophonist Bill Pierce, and guitarist Mick Goodrick on February 27; venerable Boston avant-garde big band Aardvark on February 28; the Gonzalo Rubalcaba Trio March 14-16; the Mingus Big Band March 29-30; Lee Konitz with Gary Peacock and Paul Bley April 11-12; and the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine April 24-28.

Promoter Fenton Hollander’s Water Music, which books the R-Bar, is also bringing in some formidable off-site shows: the Wayne Shorter Quartet with pianist Danilo Pérez, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Brian Blade at Berklee Performance Center on March 3; the Keith Jarrett Trio with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette at Symphony Hall on March 8; 81-year-old wunderkind Dave Brubeck at Berklee on March 9 and Sanders Theatre on March 10; Cassandra Wilson at Symphony Hall on April 27; Chick Corea’s New Trio with Avishai Cohen and Jeff Ballard at Berklee on May 17. Call (617) 876-7777 for all R-Bar/Water Music events.

At Scullers in the DoubleTree Guest Suites Hotel (call 617-562-4111), booker Fred Taylor’s line-up includes Kendrick Oliver and the New Life Orchestra with vocalist Kevin Mahogany swinging the blues Basie style on January 11; pianist Cyrus Chestnut with saxophonist Gary Bartz January 18-19; the revered duo of guitarist Gene Bertoncini and Michael Moore January 27 (Bertoncini also plays a free faculty recital at the New England Conservatory on February 12); local composer/arranger/saxophonist Daniel Ian Smith with his Big & Phat Jazz Orchestra and vocalist Shawn Montiero January 29-30; sublime pianist Bill Charlap and his trio on January 31; vocalist Carol Sloane February 1-2; piano superstar Brad Mehldau February 7-9; grand diva Abbey Lincoln February 14-16; Chico Hamilton on March 6; former Louis Prima partner Keely Smith March 7-9; up-and-coming singing star Nora York on March 12; venerated harmonica/guitar poet Toots Thielemans with pianist Kenny Werner March 14-16; New Orleans guys Los Hombres Calientes March 28-29; and young vocal star Jane Monheit April 26-27.

Besides Dave Douglas, the non-profit BCMA (co-directed by Phoenix contributor Ed Hazell) will bring in bassist Mark Dresser’s multi-media Modular Ensemble (with a screening of Luis Buñuel’s Un chien andalou) on February 9; Uri Caine’s Goldberg Variations group on February 18; bassist William Parker’s Curtis Mayfield project, with poet Amiri Baraka, on April 2; and the Boston Braxton Project, with the likes of saxist Allan Chase, trombonist Tom Plsek, and trumpeter Taylor Ho Bynum playing pieces by Anthony Braxton, on April 20. Those are all at the ICA, 955 Boylston Street. Call (617) 927-6620.

The Stoneham Theatre (781-279-2200) is continuing its jazz and cabaret series, which will include Ann Hampton Callaway on January 12, Rebecca Parris on February 15, the Count Basie Orchestra on March 24, and Carol Sloane on March 31.

One of the standouts on the Ryles (212 Hampshire Street in Inman Square; call 617-876-9330) winter schedule is trombone master Slide Hampton, who’ll play with the Ryles Jazz Orchestra on February 2. And the FleetBoston Celebrity Series (617-482-2595) brings back the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis on April 12 and New Orleans’s Preservation Hall Jazz Band on May 3, both at Symphony Hall.

Issue Date: January 3 - 10, 2002

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