Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers

Stanton Moore

Chuchito Valdés

Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Eden Brent Matt Wilson Nick Curran

Bobby Lee Rodgers

OCTOBER2010

Houston Person

Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers

Stanton MooreStanton Moore

Eden Brent Matt Wilson Nick Curran

Houston Person

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WINNING SPINSTHE SOUTHERN TOWN OF FLORENCEmay be best known to drivers travelingthrough South Carolina because of its exit offI-95. Lesser-known, but certainly of no lessimportance to jazz fans, is the fact thatHouston Person was born there on Nov. 10,1934. And the understated, underrated saxo-phonist’s drive doesn’t appear to be slowingas he approaches his 76th birthday.

Person has averaged an album per yearsince starting his solo recording career in1966. Like many of his consistently fine laterreleases for the HighNote label, his latestalbum, Moment to Moment, mixes bop, bluesand ballads. Here Person receives sterlingaccompaniment from trumpeter TerellStafford, pianist John di Martino, guitaristRandy Johnston, bassist Ray Drummond anddrummer Willie Jones III.

The album kicks off with the Person-penned“Bleeker Street,” a mid-tempo hard-bopnumber with solos by everyone other thanJones. The bandleader’s tone is robust and hisplaying energetic, as he plays off Stafford’sfiery brass in the two horn players’ first-evercollaboration. The Miami native (whose placewill be taken during Person’s show in DaytonaBeach by another powerful young trumpeter,Ray Callender) echoes Dizzy Gillespie duringhis break, but he proves capable of doing a180° turn on a subsequent ballad. On “ICover the Waterfront,” Stafford’s clear-as-a-bell tone accentuates Person’s breathyapproach and di Martino’s exquisite solo. TheJohnny Green/Edward Heyman composition,introduced in a 1933 film of the same name,was later covered by Billie Holiday.

The title track by Henry Mancini andJohnny Mercer was also soundtrack material,this time from the 1965 film Moment to Moment.Person’s relaxed, conversational playingechoes tenor icons like Illinois Jacquet, GeneAmmons and Ben Webster, and the 43-year-old Stafford again plays the perfect foil withhis Freddie Hubbard-like blasts. The twoplay more of a unison melody on the late bassgreat Ray Brown’s “Freight Dance,” as Joneseffortlessly switches between brushes anddrumsticks on the tune’s various sections.

Person has always had a fondness forsongs in general, and ballads in particular.

“Don’t Take Your Love From Me,” covered byFrank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Doris Day andJulie London, opens with only Person and di Martino before Jones enters to display hisdeft brushwork again. The bandleader’sstately soloing seems to inspire Johnston,who punctuates the piece with a memorablebreak of his own. The guitarist is also impres-sive on the bossa nova “E Nada Mais,” as hisaccompaniment helps to coax yet anotherbanner solo from Stafford.

Further proof of Person’s love for song-writing comes courtesy of an unlikelysource—Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are.”The pop ballad gets a swinging, energeticmakeover, as Person and Stafford take turnsstating the vocal melody. On the slow, soulful“Back in New Orleans,” the trumpeter againdazzles with a series of upper-register notesreminiscent of Louis Armstrong. Staffordrepeats his Satchmo-like feat on the 1930schestnut “All My Life.” Person often performed

by Bill Meredith

H O U S T O N P E R S O N

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the swinging piece with vocalist Etta Jones (1928-2001)during their 30 years of performing together, and hedelivers an instrumental ode here worthy of their history.

Two more tunes made popular by vocalists close thedisc. The ballad “Love Won’t Let Me Wait,” covered byJohnny Mathis, Nancy Wilson and Luther Vandross,gets a delicate reading by Person, who democraticallylets Johnston and Stafford contribute the solos.“Nina Never Knew,” crooned by the likes of Sinatra,Vic Damone and Jack Jones, gets a cool, breezytreatment. Person effectively sings the melodythrough his tenor, providing further proof that the75-year-old jazz icon is much more than just “stillon the map.”

WINNING SPINS

Houston Person will perform with Doug Carn, Ray Callender, Barry Greene, JohnLumpkin, Ricky Ravelo and Gina René at 4PM Oct. 16 at the Daytona Beach Museumof Arts and Sciences. Visit NEFJA.org or call 386-445-1329 for more information.Person will also perform with pianist Norman Simmons on Jan. 25 at the HarrietHimmel Theater in West Palm Beach.

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CHUCHITO VALDESTHOMAS CENTER, GAINESVILLE/OCT. 12If pianist Jesus “Chuchito” Valdés’ name soundsfamiliar, it’s because it’s similar to that of his father,renowned pianist Jesus “Chucho” Valdés. (Chuchitocelebrates his 44th birthday Oct. 10, and Chucho blowsout his 69th candle on Oct. 9.) Both are flamboyant,Cuba-born pianists who have proven capable of playingeverything from bebop and classical music to a plethoraof Afro-Cuban styles—including mambo, danzon, cha-cha, timba, guaguanco and son montuno—by leadingthe influential Cuban band Irakere. Chuchito’s 2007release Keys of Latin Jazz received a Latin Grammynomination, and his East Coast touring band includesbassist Bryan Doherty, percussionist Frankie Ocasio and

drummer Emilio Valdés,Chuchito’s youngerbrother. The Cancun,Mexico-based Chuchitoalso draws from afamily tradition thatgoes back to his grand-father (and Chucho’sfather, who turns 92,coincidentally, on Oct.9), venerable Cubanpianist Bebo Valdés.The still-vital nonage-narian icon once ledthe band at Havana’sf a m e d T r o p i c a n anightclub. BM

S P O T L I G H TSTANTON MOORE TRIOMARKET STREET PUB, GAINESVILLE/OCT. 20REVOLUTION LIVE, FT. LAUDERDALE/OCT. 21THE SOCIAL, ORLANDO/OCT. 22THE CROWBAR, TAMPA/OCT. 23THE ENGINE ROOM, TALLAHASSEE/OCT. 24New Orleans-based drummer Stanton Moore is therudder that steers jazz-funk hybrid bands likeGalactic and Garage a Trois, but lately he’s gone backto his roots through a trio project under his ownname. Groove Alchemy is a comprehensive instruc-tional DVD, book and play-along MP3 disc that focuseson the roots of funk drumming—going back to JamesBrown’s great drummers of the 1950s and ’60s, aswell as the influential Zigaboo Modeliste of The Meters.

The resulting CD ofthe same name, alsowith organist RobertWalter and guitaristWill Bernard, is one ofthe funkiest releases of2010. For these Floridashows, Moore playswith Hammond B3organist Wil Bladesand guitarist-vocalistAnders Osborne, whoserecent American Patch-work CD is a hybrid ofroots music styles.Expect a funk/blues/jazz/rock collage. BM

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Log on to www.bostonsonthebeach.comfor our complete lineup, menus, photos and more!Located on the waterfront in Delray Beach, Boston’s is the ideal place

for casual dining, live music and sports viewing in our first-floor restaurant, The Beach. Or enjoy great cuisine and cocktails

upstairs at our fine dining restaurant, The UpperDeck. And be sure to check out our Back Bay Tiki Bar for a tropical cocktail

while listening to some of the area’s finest musicians on our outdoor stage. Boston’s… something for everyone!

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NICK CURRAN AND THE LOWLIFESBOSTON’S, DELRAY/OCT. 26BACK ROOM, BOCA RATON/OCT. 29DOWNTOWNER, FT. LAUDERDALE/OCT. 30With his roughed-up yowl and downtuned guitar, NickCurran expertly evinces an era when rock ’n’ roll wasstill dangerous. On his latest release, Reform SchoolGirl, the Maine native rumbles with Little Richard,Link Wray and Joey Ramone as he gooses hotrod-greaser culture with a punk rock snarl. Self-pennedtracks like “Kill My Baby,” “Psycho” and “Sheena’sBack,” find the guys celebrating all kinds of antisocialbehavior. Curran pays homage to the queen of JDs,Etta James, with a cover of her “Tough Lover,” andgets an assist from Blasters frontman Phil Alvin on

the terrific “Flyin’Blind.” The guitaristalso showcased hisblues chops on 2003’sDoctor Velvet, whichwon a W.C. HandyAward for Best NewArtist Debut. Curranwas sidelined brieflyby tongue cancer, buthe’s back in SouthFlorida for a handfulof dates, including theannual Hoodoo VoodooBlues Ball. For moreinfo, visit Hoodoovoodoo.com. BW

S P O T L I G H TMATT WILSON QUARTETSTAMPS JAZZ QUINTETFESTIVAL MIAMI at GUSMAN CONCERT HALLUNIVERSITY OF MIAMI/OCT. 21Drummer Matt Wilson’s touch and subtlety havemade him one of the Big Apple’s top session players.Over the years, he’s performed with the likes of saxo-phonists Dewey Redman and Lee Konitz, trumpeterTim Hagans, pianist Fred Hersch and keyboardist JohnMedeski. Wilson also has a 15-year career as a band-leader—of his self-named quartet and his Arts andCrafts band—and has released a string of wildly enter-taining albums. His original music nods in the directionof avant-garde influences such as Redman and OrnetteColeman, and is laced with irreverent wit. For proof,

cue up his strong 2009quartet release That’sGonna Leave a Mark,or 2010’s Matt Wilson’sChristmas Tree-O. Aspart of Festival Miami,this “Inspired Improv-isation” show featuresWilson’s quartet withsaxman Jeff Lederer,trumpeter Kirk Knuffkeand bassist ChrisLightcap, plus theStamps Jazz Quintet,comprised of all soph-omores at the FrostSchool of Music. BM

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BOBBY LEE RODGERSTHE GREEN ROOM, FT. LAUDERDALE/OCT. 28SOUTHERN MONSTER SMASH MUSIC FEST,POMPANO BEACH AMPHITHEATRE/OCT. 30For most of the past decade, Savannah-based guitaristand vocalist Bobby Lee Rodgers blurred the linesdividing jazz, pop and bluegrass with his band TheCodetalkers. The band joined forces with another eclecticsinging guitarist, Col. Bruce Hampton (of AquariumRescue Unit fame), and peaked with their 2006 gemNow. But Rodgers’ latest “now” involves paying homageto his jazz heroes through a series of monthly tributeshows. Having already saluted Miles Davis, and withnods to John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk on tap,this month Rodgers will tackle material by late guitar

great Wes Montgomery.Playing with drummerPete Lavezzoli andbassist Don Coffman,Rodgers will modernizeMontgomery’s catalogby playing his guitarthrough a Leslie cabi-net (more commonlyused with a Hammondorgan) and using mul-tiple effects. To hearRodgers in his jam-roots incarnation,check him out at theSouthern MonsterSmash Music Fest. BM

S P O T L I G H TTHE DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND SOUTHERN MONSTER SMASH MUSIC FESTPOMPANO BEACH AMPHITHEATRE/OCT. 30If you celebrated Mardi Gras 2009 on HollywoodBeach, you know that nobody parties like the DirtyDozen Brass Band. The veteran N’awlins outfit hasbeen serving its heady brew of Crescent City parademusic, bebop, modern jazz, funk and R&B for decades,consistently wowing audiences with its high-energylive shows. With a frontline consisting of baritone sax-ophonist Roger Lewis, trumpeter Efrem Towns, tenorsaxophonist Kevin Harris and trumpeter GregoryDavis, the Dirty Dozen digs into Big Easy classics suchas “Mardi Gras in New Orleans” and Big Chief,” thegrooves anchored by the sousaphone of Kirk Joseph.Drummer Terence Higgins ups the excitement frombehind his kit, guitarist Jake Eckert adds barbed licks tothe mix, and just about all the cats do some vocalizing,as well. The gang continues to spread the New Orleansgospel wherever it goes, including the SouthernMonster Smash Music Fest in Pompano. VisitSouthernmonstersmash.com for the full lineup. BW

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ROD PIAZZA & MIGHTY FLYERS BLUES QUARTETDAYTONA BLUES FEST at JACKIE ROBINSONMEMORIAL BALL PARK/OCT. 10The Mighty Flyers have long enjoyed a rep as a stage-torching blues act. With a chromatic harmonica wedgedin his gums, frontman Rod Piazza cuts loose with freight-train ferocity. His wife, Honey Piazza, ripples the 88sand boogies like a Saturday-night juke with no careabout Sunday morning. While the Flyers have undergonepersonnel changes over the years, the Piazzas arerenowned for recruiting A-list talent. The band’s current,bassless lineup features the heated licks of versatileguitarist Henry Carvajal, who’s also a soulful vocalist,and exciting drummer Dave Kida. In 2009, the Flyersrecorded Soul Monster, a collection of groovers that

showcases Piazza’sdeep roots in Chicago,Delta and New Orleansblues as well as hissignature West Coastjump style. In a recentedition of Blues BlastMagazine, reviewerMarilyn Stringer ravedabout a recent per-formance: “I’ve neverseen Rod having such agood time…. The bandand the crowd pickedup on it, and it was oneof the best sets I haveseen them play.” BW

S P O T L I G H TEDEN BRENTDAYTONA BLUES FEST at JACKIE ROBINSONMEMORIAL BALL PARK/OCT. 10BOSTON’S, DELRAY/OCT. 12Blues and boogie pianist Eden Brent has the kind ofvoice and charisma that would make her a star in justabout any era. Her smoky, well-lived-in vocals couldhave emanated from a scratchy 78 record in the 1920sor blasted from dorm-room speakers in the ’70s. Onher excellent new recording Ain’t Got No Troubles,Brent boogies her blues away on uptempo barrelhousenumbers. But she just as convincingly calls up acres ofheartache on tearstained reflections of love-gone-wrong. A disciple of the late Delta pianist BoogalooAmes, Brent has earned accolades including Acoustic

Album and AcousticArtist of the YearBlues Music Awardsin 2009, and PinetopPerkins Piano Playerof the Year, which sheaccepted at this year’sBMA ceremony. ForAin’t Got No Troubles,Brent literally and fig-uratively headed toNew Orleans, record-ing with George PorterJr. on bass and JonCleary on HammondB3 at Piety StreetStudios. BW

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P.O. Box 2614, Palm Beach, FL 33480PUBLISHER: Charlie Boyer

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hope@JazzBluesFlorida.comCONTRIBUTING WRITER: Bill MeredithPHOTO CREDITS: Bobby Lee Rodgers cover & Spotlight by Jeff Daly, Eden Brent cover &Spotlight by Julia Bailey, Houston Person coverby Craig Lovell, Rod Piazza Spotlight by FrankyBruneel, Rod Piazza cover by Frank Vigil,Stanton Moore cover & Spotlight by Amy Opoka

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