I spent four beautiful clear October days amid the splendor of the myriad leaves of Western Massachusetts. Amherst, Hadley,  Northampton.
  One thing that stood out was a concert by Curt Rosenwinkel and  his trio: Eric Revis on bass (plays in Branford Marsalis' band) and Rodney Green on drums. Amazing. At the Iron Horse in 'Hamp.
   Another thing is that I was coaching a jazz improv class at Amherst and the jazz ensemble at Smith. I was amazed at how well they all played. They were eager to have a guest artist listen to them and make comments. Both classes were taught by friends of mine, both clearly competent and expert teachers who have come up with great results so early in the school year.

9/30/09 - October has always been THE month for major life changes for me. For example, it's the month I decided to start playing flute, at a rather grown-up age. But that's only one small example, which was huge in itself!!!

10/1/09 - Began my favorite month w/a marvelous excursion to LI. My best friend  Marie, 80, and I RAVISHED the Bass shoe outlet. Then a LONG walk on Jones Beach, absolutely empty, and this billowy sky of weird bluish clouds.A gull working for hours on devouring a skate. Then a stroll down Freeport's Nautical Mile (also deserted) and finally over to Kew Gardens for dinner and a movie, "September Issue" (great photography). A best friend is a treasure.

10/2/09 - Today is a Friday. The usual visit to chiropractor. Not so usual, a treat: lunch with my pal, sculptor Dan Sinclair. So excited because he memorized a few lines of a Charlie Parker solo. Dan, another treasure in my life. Then a few errands. Including laundry. then sat down to play a beautiful Ben Monder tune, Animal World, with my housemate, Andrea Vocaturo.  What fun. From there we moved to playing some themes together, flute and guitar, like Coltrane's 26/2. And we plan to do more. Tonight I'm catching up on computer miscellanea. It feels right, like doing laundry. I have a cold and sore throat and I don't feel like practicing. Is it right? Is it wrong? Is it progress? Is it change, on a par with the usual month of October? I think so. Often these hours spent at the computer lead to the biggest changes.

Two Astoria Jazz Band concerts in Manhattan this past month, thanks to a generous grant from NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. One, at Shutters, with our 13-piece band playing the arrangements of Charlie Camilleri (many baritone sax features) and new ones by Stan Bielski.

Next, on April 3, our "Women Composers of Queens" concert by the 10-piece formation with guests Emme Kemp, Julie Mandel, dancer Yvonne Curry, and Sarah McLawler. We were honored to discover that Alan Gershwin was in the audience (and loved it). Barbara Connelly commented, " The concert was wonderful. I had missed Myrna Lake singing at the last concert. What a beautiful voice she has . . ... And Emme . . . I love her!
 You are really wonderful . . . having this unique band and keeping these
women in the forefront . . ."

A lot of magic in these two concerts!

Here is an article written by Rom Ferri about his experience of our band:

A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT AT SHUTTERS BAR and RESTAURANT
by ROM FERRI

I heard Carol Sudhalter's 13-piece Astoria Jazz Band at a club called Shutters on West 34th Street on Saturday, March 29. This was the last in a series of Saturdays devoted to Women's History Month. Carol is a baritone saxophonist and bandleader, in New York since late 1970s, and leading a big band since 1985.  Three trumpets, 4 saxes, a trombone, bass bone and rhythm section including both piano and guitar - this is a slightly abbreviated version of the usual 16-piece big band. Sweet, mellow swinging arrangements by Charlie Camilleri.  New arrangements by band tenor saxophonist Stan Bielski. Very original and moving vocal interpretations by Marti Mabin. Big band soloists were right on top of it, especially Charles Lee on Close your Eyes. Carol Sudhalter's baritone sax solos displayed a great deal of warmth plus solid rhythmic and melodic individuality, and a beautiful baritone sound. The warm, close atmosphere of this historic jazz room offered an acoustic and a vibe that made for a pleasant and most unforgettable evening.

[Rom can be heard on piano every Thursday with Carol Sudhalter and Whitney Moulton at McAnn's Restaurant, 1st Ave and 52nd Street.]

A prodigious young  pianist from Bari, Italy, Carlo M. Barile, will be playing in  the first of two groups, Cristiano Arcelli's Holy Frog trio. The second group is that of pianist Danilo Rea, at a major concert at Auditorio Santa Cecilia  of Perugia, on Wednesday, Nov 21. Outstanding debut for Barile, only 17 years old...and more so because Barile, student of famed organist Vito Di Modugno, will be playing the trio jazz concert on pipe organ!!!
 
   Barile has been winning organ competitions for some time now, from First Prize in the December 2004 National Organ Competition at Castellana Grotte (Rocco Rodio European Competition) to the May 2006 National Organ Competition  in Viterbo ("Top First Prize"), to December 2006, once again in Castellana. The young talent seems never to lose!
 
    My attention was drawn to Carlo when I heard him playing with a trio at Cucina Stagionale, in Greenwich Village, New York, in August 2007. His casual sit-in turned into a full set of tunes, with his complex, technically high-powered but also feelingful style drawing the attention of audience and
fellow musicians alike. Many dropped jaws could be observed among diners and players, including the group's vocalist, Stephanie Clarke, bassist Whitney Moulton and pianist Rom Ferri!  Barile's first U.S. visit drew similar attention everywhere he played, including venues in Boston, Mass.
 
    The Holy Frog Trio, scheduled to perform at 8:45 PM, includes Cristiano Arcelli on alto and soprano sax,  Barile on organ, Igor Spallati on bass, and Alessandro Paternesi on drums, playing a mix of standards and originals.
 
    The November 21 performance is part of the two-day "Waltex Jazz Competition" (First Edition), for "Emerging Groups", beginning Tuesday, Nov. 20 with a performance by Gabriele Mirabassi Quartet. More info and tickets are  € 15,00 and can be obtained at tel. 075 5716259 (9.30-13.00/15.30-19.00). More info at:
http://www.comune.perugia.it/news.asp?id=3511
 
    Barile's info can be seen on www.myspace.com/carlombarile, where it can be noted that he is also a drummer!!
 
 
 

 

 

 

Stranded in Great Malvern, England, for me meant no exit: no trains or busses, and no highways open to travel; but I was lucky enough to have a place to sleep. For others in the town, it meant no where to sleep (but restaurants open). Here is the experience a "senior" friend of mine had:

"...our experience getting home last Fri / Saturday...The weather isn't always this bad in UK hopefully it was just a freak condition. We were held up for 6 hours in Tewksbury, the boy scouts were giving hot drinks and cakes to stranded motorists and boy I've never had anything that tasted so good. We made a fortunate escape through a road junction that was opened for about 10 mins and found our way down through all the old roads home . The journey which usually takes 41/4hrs took 24hrs. Was I pleased to see my own front door we were so lucky to have got out when we did - our car would have been submerged in Tewkesbury by now if we has stayed!"

Italy, Paris, England. Two months. Much travel, many trains, planes, and long car rides. Fine rhythm sections. 22 concerts in all, three weddings in: Sabaudia (can't stop gasping over the beauty of the place), Taranto (Too hot!! But Lino Patruno & co. dropped in to play a number and surprised the rest of us in the band), and Paris.  In England I played wth some unforgettable musicians, who show a great deal of depth: pianist Craig Milverton, drummer Malcolm Garrett (wow!), saxophonist Alan Barnes (besides all the other horns, he is PERFECT on bari!!!!!) and so many others.

   In Italy I was with many of my favorites. Guitarist Carmelo Tartamella. Bassist Antonio Cervellino. Drummers Vittorio Sicbaldi and Luigi Gungui. So many more, I can't even find the space to talk about them. My admiration grows, and my sense of good fortune to be hooked up with all these great players.

   Is  Italy the only land that sits  musicians down to a meal between sound check and  gig? I'm beginning to think so. Have I been spoiled?? Yes!!!

   Other than getting stranded in the midland floods in UK, all went perfectly. On that occasion, the concert organizer, Paul,  was brilliant about thinking up a road to get me out of there after two nights, so I was able to move on, catch my flight back to Rome and thence back to New York.

   Saw some beautiful towns. Played the Birmingham Festival - 6 gigs, lots of great venues - then Swanage on the South Coast, a gorgeous seaside town with ready-made return audience. There I played two gigs, with Alan Barnes and his great rhythm section, and American saxophonist Greg Abate.  I couldn't walk down the streeet without someone asking for an autograph or stopping me to make a positive comment. Greg brought some great original tunes, "Hard Bop" and "For the Love of Life". What a fine, fine player and both he and Alan are amazing doublers with great knowledge of the language of bebop and all styles, incredible speed and great ability to render a ballad. Alan's bari sound and style have my unequivocal applause.

  When I played "Weaver of Dreams" on tenor someone came up and asked me to check out the hairs standing on end on his arms.

   In Bournemouth (where I spent a free day after Swanage - beautiful gardens!), I ran into an attendee in a bookstore, who said he questioned the management's pairing of me with these two giants. That was the first inkling I got that some folks felt this way. I trusted the management's decision and didn't think I was expected to match their level, but rather to play my own style. Who plays like Alan Barnes or Greg Abate?? Who can make an audience laugh like Alan Barnes? These are unique individuals.

   I did some research and came across a blog entry by a writer who didn't think it appropriate that I should have been paired with Alan Barnes, and  the response that followed it. The critic said that 'someone in my hotel' had said she wondered why they would put us together.

HERE IS THE RESPONSE (BY A REALLY GOOD WRITER!):

Grumpytone said...

Geoff,

Your take on the Barnes/Sudhalter set on Friday of the Swanage Jazz Festival leaves me a little cold. When I first visited Swanage some years ago, it was referred to by one high-profile artist as 'The Alan Barnes Festival' It was said in jest but resonated with everyone, because this view rather over-shadowed other artists. This year's festival, and indeed last year's, did not have the same Barnes obsession, but your comments prompt this response. These paired sets are not in the nature of a competition, but more about mutual appreciation. Carol Sudhalter's quality of expression on both tenor and flute seem to have passed you by, but I am sure will have been noted by Alan Barnes. Much in the way that Greg Abate will have admired Carol's splendid response, at blistering pace, to the complex arrangements he asked her to join him in during their set the next day. A set, by the way, that you chose simply to mention rather than review.

And another thing, Geoff. Dave Brennan's bass player Mick Kennedy announced his retirement at the Festival, not his brother Terry.

2:22 AM

 

So, so much more to say but will have to post another entry. It's been a great two months. Davide Corini, Carmelo Leotta, Corrado Severi Silvestrini, Vito di Modugno, so many gigantic wonderful players I love, and love to work with too, keep coming to mind. One thought/memory leads to another. But after two months away, I'd better sign off and pay some bills and return some phone calls!!

 

Three wonderful musicians are coming to NY from Taranto, Italy in April: Francesco Lomagistro (dms), Ettore Carucci (pno) and Vito di Modugno (bass/organ). Many good gigs await us (see http://carolsudhalter.cjb.net for list).  Fundraising was a good experience: ads sold to local businesses, published in a brochure that also lists our concerts, similar to the 'playbill' you get in a theatre. Everyone was happy to support this effort to bring yet another international component to Astoria, LIC, Brooklyn and Manhattan! See you at Sac's Pizza and Restaurant, Barril Grill, The Jazz Spot and the rest!

A November tour of Italy bore much fruit: 13 concerts in 7 different cities, in beautiful venues old and new, ranging from Bolzano's prized Hotel Laurin, to Milano's new 'La Scighera' to Taranto's Aguaraja. Played with many great musicians, many previously unknown to me, such as the great Hammond organist Vito di Modugno, outstanding bassist Antonio Cervellino, and drummer Luigi Gungui, of whom at some point  I commented, that playing with him was 'as easy as taking a bath'. And more, so many more. Angelo Bifezzi, Andrea Tarozzi, Marco Mistrangelo, Carmelo Tartamella, Francesco Lomagistro, Vittorio Sicbaldi, Gianluca Sambataro, Roberto Cerini...one greater than the other.

Now it's time for IAJE, held in New York again this year (are we lucky!) and many of my Italian and Argentinian friends will be here for it. Noteworthy and worth hearing:

1. Argentinian vocal star MARIA PUGA LAREO

2. Drummer from Novara    VITTORIO SICBALDI

Call me or write if you want to book or hear them! 718 278 5331 or sudsax@aol.com

This is very nice to watch if you have Flash Player:

      http://www.ilcast.com/scheda/scheda_tipo.php?IS_S=221 

When you open it, click on 'video' to watch the video.

 

 

I produced and played in a concert for Argentinian singer Maria Puga Lareo. Joe Tranchina on piano, Eric Lemon on bass, and Tootsie Bean on drums. This was a last-minute conception and came off beautifully. Her sweet voice, fine phrasing and surprising range make her a pleasure to listen to and accompany. Her rendition of ballads like "Drown in My Own Tears" as well as some of her own pieces, is moving.

 Manna House is a music and education center on E. 106 St. near First Ave.,well worth checking out, not only for the charming theatre space but the vocal and other music lessons available to young people and adults; activities such as yoga classes; and the vivacious and health-oriented director, Gloria DeNard.

  Brainstorm: I decided in producing the concert that it should be followed by a singers' jam. Knowing how singers love to come out and throw in their two cents. And the two cents turned out to be many cents! We had a great array of participating singers, from Fran McIntyre to Ayana Lowe, Gates Thomas, Ralph Ravello, Habiba Matthew, Brenda, and the promoter himself doing some heavy and very fast scat singing!

  All told, we are all still in shock that an idea conceived less than a week before, could draw such a joyful, enthusiastic crowd. A truly great event.

by Carol Sudhalter

www.sudhalter.com