via Downbeat

In some ways, it’s hard to believe that ARTEMIS is only 6 years old. Not just for the group’s rapid ascent into the jazz firmament, but for its players’ cool-headed resilience in the face of tectonic change. First, there was the sudden spotlight of the 2018 Newport Jazz Festival and subsequent major-label record deal. Then the social justice movement and the jazz world’s reckoning with its inequitable treatment of female musicians. And the global pandemic shutdown, just as the then-septet readied its debut album for release. Throughout all of this, the group continued to steadily build an admired presence with the listening public. DownBeat readers noticed: This year they voted Artemis the Jazz Group of the Year.

In other ways, however, Artemis’ success is neither surprising nor unexpected. As individual artists, the group’s core members have long graced all manner of concert stages and recordings: Artemis musical director/pianist Renee Rosnes has released more than 20 albums as a leader and racked up multiple Juno Award nominations and wins. Trumpeter Ingrid Jensen has led almost a dozen albums, garnered one Juno, and is a first call for bandleaders like Maria Schneider, Terri Lyne Carrington and Darcy James Argue.

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Complete Results of 88th Downbeat Readers Poll

Artemis on TKA

via London Jazz News

‘What kind of magic is this?’ That was the question in this listener’s mind half way through the epic Charles Lloyd Trio set at the Barbican. After a moment of pin drop silence, Lloyd raises his sax and wispy phrases and keening, fluttering runs trace out the barest outlines of a chant-like melody. Rumbles, scrapes, scattered chords; was that piano or guitar? Both? Then somehow, there’s a discernible momentum, an evocative melody and groove condense, there’s even a waft of gospel. Where did it come from? It was alchemy, aural alchemy.

In pianist Gerald Clayton and guitarist Marvin Sewell, Lloyd has partners who are at the top of their game with distinctive and evolved sounds of their own. The artistry in this trio performance was in blending and collective expression. Lloyd though was the still presence at the centre, He’s spent decades conjuring magic from ensembles like this. This trio is the latest in a ‘trio of trios’ recorded by Blue Note. The Ocean Trio was recorded live, but no recording quite prepares one for a live performance like this. A Lloyd ‘gig’ can gradually become more like an audience or encounter than a concert and this was one such occasion.

Read Full Article on London Jazz News

Charles Lloyd on TKA

via London Jazz News

“Too much beauty can be distracting.”

Well, that’s easy for Cécile McLorin Salvant to say (as she did to Jess Gillam on Radio 3’s This Classical Life, about the exigencies of virtuosity) but when you’re faced with another evening of her exquisite voice and Sullivan Fortner’s piano mastery, distract away, I say…

There was much beauty on offer last night, the pleasures of this superduo compounded with a superb rhythm section driven by another duo of Savannah Harris on drums & Weedie Braimah on djembe, congas etc, while Yasushi Nakamura’s double bass underpinned all with a generous sound and some dramatic soloing.

Compere Kevin Le Gendre warned us of the diva’s “amazing lime green shoes” but she must have changed, for she appeared in an equally amazing pair of stacked copper clogs and layers of colour, topped with a beautiful yellow African print jacket, reminiscent of the cover of 2018’s The Window. Braimah was almost her match while the more modestly attired Fortner sat in quiet command, a smiling wizard at the piano.

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Cécile McLorin Salvant on TKA

via 2024 GRAMMYs

We are thrilled to announce that seven TKA artists have received 10 nominations for the upcoming 2024 Grammy Awards. These artists include Béla Fleck (x3), Cécile McLorin Salvant (x2), Pat Metheny, Michael Cleveland, Terence Blanchard, Tommy Emmanuel, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Bobby Rush.

The 2024 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 66th GRAMMY Awards, will air live (8:00-11:30 PM, LIVE ET/5:00-8:30 PM, LIVE PT) on the CBS Television Network and will stream on Paramount+.

Best Alternative Jazz Album

Meshell Ndegeocello – The Omnichord Real Book

Best Jazz Vocal Album

Cécile McLorin Salvant – Mélusine

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Pat Metheny – Dream Box

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer ft. Rakesh Chaurasia – As We Speak

Best Bluegrass Album

Michael Cleveland – Lovin’ of the Game

Best Traditional Blues Album

Bobby Rush – All My Love for You

Best Global Music Performance

Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain ft. Rakesh Chaurasia – Pashto

Best Instrumental Composition

Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain Featuring Rakesh Chaurasia – Motion

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

Cécile McLorin Salvant – Fenestra

Best Opera Recording

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus – Blanchard: Champion

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

The String Revolution ft. Tommy Emmanuel – Folsom Prison Blues

via Pollstar

NITO – the National Independent Talent Organization – has elected a new president, officers and added board members for the coming year. High Road Touring founder Frank Riley will pass the president’s gavel to Jack Randall, president and agent at The Kurland Agency, and exit the board after co-founding and leading the indie agents and managers advocacy and trade group that emerged from the COVID crisis in 2020.

“I’m truly honored to have been elected as the President of NITO by my colleagues and peers, many of whom are fellow NITO co-founders,” Randall says of his election as NITO president. “Stepping into this role is both humbling and exciting, especially as I follow in the footsteps of Frank Riley, whose contributions and leadership have already had an immeasurable impact on our businesses and the global live entertainment ecosystem.

“While I know I can never fill his shoes exactly; I am inspired and empowered by his legacy and committed to building on the solid foundation he helped create. Along with  Michel Vega, Matt Yasecko, Tom Chauncey, and the rest of the NITO Board, we’re proud to continue our mission as we embark on the next chapter.”

Read the full article on Pollstar