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[ BIOS ] Big James and the Chicago Playboys [ BLUES ] Big James Montgomery got his start in Little Milton’s band, moved on to backing Albert King, before landing in Johnny Christian’s band. It’s as the late Christian’s backing band that the Chicago Playboys first came to light. The Playboys have since backed Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, and Eric Clapton. The Chicago Playboys are a heavy hitting, horncentric blues extravaganza. It’s big, it’s bad, it’s blue. (FD). bigjames.com The Bridge Trio [ PIANO JAZZ ] Though this trio calls New Orleans home, The Bridge Trio’s innovative sound isn’t as heavily reliant on the Crescent City’s highly influential blast as you might think. This is piano-driven jazz with a progressive emphasis mixed with an uplifting sensibility and prevalent percussive push. It’s the musical equivalent of springtime. (FD) reverbnation.com/thebridgetrio Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers See listing for Thursday, June 28. Jam Session with Bob Sneider Trio See listing for Friday, June 22. Jean-Michel Pilc [ PIANO ] Jean-Michel Pilc is one of the finest pianists to emerge from the Paris jazz scene in the last two decades. With his gorgeous style and his wickedly fast fingers, Pilc has lent his considerable talent to greats like Roy Haynes, Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, Kenny Garrett, and John Abercrombie. He has also worked extensively as musical director and pianist with Harry Belafonte. Aside from his own excellent tunes, get ready to hear anything from Duke Ellington to Robert Schumann. (RN) jeanmichelpilc.com Jimmie Vaughan [ BLUES ] Whereas his brother — the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan — let fly with torrents of Freddie King- and Jimi Hendrix-tinged guitar wizardry, Jimmie Vaughan’s style is thoughtful and reserved. It still packs a 44 CITY • JAZZ FESTIVAL GUIDE 2012
wallop, but Vaughan is more akin to the gunfighter with a deadly quick draw. Known for his tenure with contemporary blues heroes The Fabulous Thunderbirds, this Grammy-nominated guitarist’s style is immediately recognizable and just as quickly felt. It’s blues for your soul, blues for your guts. (FD) jimmievaughan.com Marco Pignataro Quartet [ JAZZ ] Born in Bologna, Italy, Marco Pignataro studied classical music at the Bruno Marco Pignataro Quartet PHOTO PROVIDED Maderna Conservatory of Music without leaning too heavily on either genre. but, by the time he got to the University She has won 12 Grammy awards and has of Miami, he had crossed over to jazz. collaborated with various artists, including When he lifts his tenor saxophone to his Ray Charles. Her fifth and latest album, lips, you are in for a wild ride featuring “Little Broken Hearts,” was produced by swirls of notes reminiscent of John Danger Mouse. (FD) norahjones.com Coltrane. But, like Coltrane, Pignataro is also capable of slowing it down to Orlando Le Fleming Trio [ JAZZ ] Born in demonstrate gorgeous tone and a strong Birmingham, England, Orlando Le Fleming melodic flair while slithering in and grew up with a goal: to play cricket. After five around a ballad. (RN) marcopignataro.net years of professional league play, he changed his focus to music. Le Fleming attended The Music of Gil Evans with Ryan London’s Royal Academy of Music and Truesdell [ JAZZ ] Gil Evans was quickly became a first-call bassist, playing unquestionably one of the greatest arrangers with visiting American musicians like Bill in the history of jazz. While he was best Charlap, Art Farmer, Dave Liebman, and known for arranging four landmark albums Branford Marsalis. After moving to New York for Miles Davis (“Birth Of The Cool,” “Miles and backing Jane Monheit, Jimmy Cobb, and Ahead,” “Porgy and Bess,” and “Sketches of others, he is more than ready to claim some of Spain”), Evans also recorded significant works the spotlight. His superb trio also boasts Will as a band leader. After his death, composerVinson on alto sax and Lage Lund on guitar. conductor-arranger Ryan Truesdell was given (RN) orlandolefleming.com access to Evans’ archive. Truesdell discovered 50 pieces by Evans, from the 1930’s to the Peter Karp and Sue Foley [ BLUES ] Years 1980’s, that were completely unknown to the ago I drove two hours to see Sue Foley play. public. He is in the process of recording an There’s something about a redhead playing album of these works. (RN) ryantruesdell.com Ike Turner tunes, I guess. Her second Blind Pig collaboration with blues troubadour Norah Jones [ POP/JAZZ ] Norah Jones is Peter Karp, “Beyond The Crossroads,” takes the queen of contemporary cool. But there’s the blues medium and gooses it with a more a devil lurking inside Miss Jones. Her songs advanced and heartfelt lyricism. Nothing are exquisitely beautiful, sung in a seductively rings better in the blues than the truth. (FD) coquettish contralto. Her music straddles suefoley.com, myspace.com/peterkarp pop and jazz — among other things — continues on page 46