Celebrating Jay Hoggard

Saturday April 30, which happens to be International Jazz Day, the Center for The Arts at Wesleyan presents the Jay Hoggard Harlem Hieroglyphs Ensemble. The 8 p.m. concert celebrates the music of the vibraphonist and composer, serving as a "CD Release Party" for his new double-album, "Harlem Hieroglyphs".  Joining him on the stage of Crowell Concert Hall will be pianist James Weidman, drummer Pheroan akLaff, bassist Belden Bullock, and saxophonist René McLean. 

The album , funded in part by Wesleyan GISOS (Grant in Support of Scholarship), brings together the many influences on Hoggard's life, from the gospel music he heard in church (including the sacred music of Duke Ellington) to the sounds of African percussion to mentors like the afore-mentioned Lionel Hampton and Milt Jackson to the popular music on the radio and so much more. Messrs. Weidman and Bullock both play on the album along with Yoron Israel (drums), Gary Bartz (alto and soprano saxophones), and, on 6 of the 18 tracks, Nat Adderley, Jr.(piano, organ). Mr. Bartz, who first came to critical notice in the mid-1960s playing  in the Max Roach/Abbey Lincoln group and then moving on to Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, is a welcome addition to this music. It's not just because he's such an inspired musician;  the album marks the first time the vibraphonist has recorded with a reed player since the early 90s.

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The first disk opens with "If I Were a Bell", the Frank Loesser classic from "Guys and Dolls", which Miles Davis first recorded in 1956.  The group gives the tune a gentle swing, the clear tones of the vibes meshing well with the soft tones of the alto sax.  Moving on to the blues of Hoggard's "Harlem Jazzbirds Swingin' and Swayin'"; the piece bounces sweetly atop Bullock's bass, Weidman's piano chords and Israel's masterly brush work.  Gospel chords from the piano leads the group into "I Am Free", a funky original that also reflects the influence of South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim. For this listener, the highlight on disk 1 is the emotionally strong performance of Bernard Ingher's "Everything Must Change", an oft-recorded ballad, most notably by Nina Simone and Quincy Jones with James Ingram. Here, it's the expressive alto saxophone that shares the lead with ringing tones of the vibraphone. Nothing is rushed, the musicians pouring their souls into the song creating a beautiful experience.

Wesleyan CFA

CD 2 opens with the fiery "Sonic Hieroglyphs" with great solos by the leader, Bartz (on alto), and pianist Weidman, all powered by Bullock's walking bass and Israel's high-flying cymbals.  There's a rollicking version of Sonny Rollins' "Airegin" - it's one of the shorter tracks (3:33) but the musicians give their all.  "I Live Because I Breathe" is a lovely ballad with a handsome melody, a splendid vibes solo, and fine soprano sax counterpoint.  An African feel permeates "Mystical Cycles of Skin, Wood, and Metal", the hypnotic rhythms and circular melody, the pulsating vibraphone, Adderley, Jr.'s piano working in tandem with the organ work of Weidman, all creating a musical wonderland.  Hoggard and Weidman (on piano) paint a sublime portrait of Duke Ellington's "My Love", a piece the Maestro wrote for his Third Sacred Concert.  Following that track is a impressionistic solo work "Pleasant Memories." It's one of the two pieces on the album that is over 9 minutes long yet the music moves forward easily and melodically, going through several different moods and sonic variations (there are moments where the vibraphone sound like steel drums and marimbas).

Anyone acquainted with Jay Hoggard knows he's one of the most positive persons you'll ever meet. The music on "Harlem Hieroglyphs" is imbued with joy, hope, and wonder.  His story is not only filled with his history but also his accomplishments and dreams.  This is music that breathes, that swings with ease, soothes the soul, and makes one smile.

For more information about the album, go to www.jayhoggard.com.  To get tickets to Saturday's 8 p.m. concert, go to www.wesleyan.edu/cfa or call 860-685-3355.

Here's "Mystical Cycles of Skin, Wood, and Metal" to whet your appetite and the show:



(A edited version of this review also appears at steptempest.blogspot.com/2016/04/take-jay-train.html.)

Music in New Haven This Weekend Featuring a Slew of Middletown Folks

This post also appears on my music blog, steptempest.blogspot.com, but, since there are so many area musicians involved in the concerts, I figured Middletown folk might be interested.

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'Tis a busy weekend in New Haven with 2 big days of music including the return of the New Haven Jazz Festival on Saturday.

But, first, on Friday, venture down to Bru Cafe, 141 Orange Street, for the opening night of the 2-day Uncertainty Music Series.  Curated by bassist/composer/conceptualist Carl Testa, the first show features Bird Fly Yellow, String 4Tet and the duo of Testa & Adam Matlock. Bird Fly Yellow features the brass work of Joe Moffett (trumpet) and Dan Blacksburg (trombone) paired with the rhythm section of Matt Engle (bass) and Dave Flaherty (drums). String 4Tet combines the sounds of Nathan Bontrager (cello) and Al Margolis (violin) with James Ilgenfritz (bass) and Ben Shirley (guitar). Testa & Matlock blends accordion, string bass and electronics to create many fascinating sounds.  The music starts at 7:30 p.m.

The following night at 8 p.m., the Series moves to Never Ending Books, 810 State Street, to present the fascinating quartet of Kyoko Kitamura (voice), Anne Rhodes (voice), Nathan Bontrager (cello) and Adam Matlock (accordion). Both vocalists do amazing things with their voices to further the music; they create sonic images that can surprise and challenge the listener. Ms. Kitamura has recorded with cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum, the Laura Andel Orchestra, and flautist Jamie Baum and co-leads the adventurous quartet known as ok|ok.  Ms. Rhodes did her graduate work at Wesleyan, working closely with Professors/composers Alvin Lucier and Anthony Braxton as well as Jay Hoggard (jazz vocals) and B. Balasubramian (South Indian music.)  With Messrs. Matlock and Bontrager, she is an integral part of the chamber music trio Broadcloth.

For more information, go to http://carltesta.net or uncertaintymusic.com to check out all the exciting events.

Speaking of Assistant Professor of Music at Wesleyan Jay Hoggard, he's the headliner for Saturday's New Haven Jazz Festival to be held on the New Haven Green from 4:30 - 9 p.m.

The music starts with the Ryan Sands Quartet.  The drummer/bandleader is the younger brother of rising piano talent Christian Sands and will front a group that features trumpeter Adam O'Farrill (the son of composer Arturo O'Farrill), bassist Daryl Johns (son of drummer Steve Johns) and guitarist Gabe Schnider.  Following them at 5 p.m. will be a quartet led by another drummer, Hartford native Jonathan Barber.  His high-powered band features the excellent trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, pianist Zaccai Curtis (another Hartford native) and bassist Stephen Porter.  Ed Fast & Conga-Bop takes the stage at 5:45 for a high-powered set of Latin-flavored music.  Drummer Fast, also a Connecticut-based musician, has worked with the likes of Chita Rivera, Paul Anka and Aretha Franklin while maintaining his popular octet.

If you are one of the many who flocked to the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven to see the exciting production of "Ella" (yes, about the great jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald), you'll be thrilled to know that the person who played and sang the title role, Ms. Tina Fabrique, will be gracing the Green stage at 7 p.m. With her years of work on the stage and in nightclubs, Ms. Fabrique has built quite the repertoire.

As mentioned, vibraphonist Jay Hoggard will be the headliner and he's bringing his Africaribbean Vibes octet to entertain the crowd.  Featuring the former New Haven resident (and super guy) Dwight Andrews (saxophones), long-time associate James Weidman (piano), Belden Bullock (bass), Tony Lombardozzi (guitar), fellow Wesleyan associate Pheroan akLaff (drums) and a percussion section consisting of Asher DeLerme, Jawara Brian Gray and Middletown resident Kwakuu Martin Obeng, this music will get you off the ground and dancing (yes, you can dance to jazz.) And, the whole evening of music is free!

For more information, go to www.jazzhaven.org - they are the fine folks who put the event together.

Looking Into Mirror

By now, the Charles Lloyd Quartet concert at Wesleyan's Crowell Concert Hall this coming Friday night (1/28/11) should be sold out. The ensemble's new ECM CD, "Mirror", is a masterful blend of spirituals, jazz, popular song and world music.

However, there is an opportunity (and a rare one at that) to hear Mr. Lloyd in conversation with Adjunct Associate Professor of Music (and director of the Wesleyan Big Band) Jay Hoggard on Thursday at 4:15 p.m. in the CFA Hall (formerly the CFA Cinema.)  The event, titled "A Conversation About Music and Spirituality", is free and open to the public.  One hopes that the weather isn't so bad that the musician and composer Lloyd is waylaid. 

For more information, call the Box Office at 860-685-3355.