It was midnight within the afternoon, deep in sleep, I met a goddess strolling on the Nile, she was misplaced within the second of now, entangled in a wide ranging sound. I assumed it was a babbling brook however no, it was lovely dancing rhythms, holding us hostage, listening to this mesmerizing sound. An enormous daring tenor sound that held us in rhapsody … Wait , don’t transfer, it’s coming from a mortal, she requested “how can such intoxicating bliss rattle my soul….”
SHHHHH! Pay attention, it’s J.D. Allen taking part in from his newest album Love Letters (The Ballad Periods) (Savant, 2025). “Why,” she requested, “are jazz musicians, if that’s the right time period, at all times intent on recording albums of all ballads? Is it to show they’ll to the general public, or is it to reveal their interior spirit that may solely be skilled in the great thing about rhythmic harmonies?!” I needed to maintain the mattress tight, the goddess, she disappeared into the daybreak of Allen’s charming ballads. And I remained immobile floating in Love Letters (The Ballad Periods).
Love Letters consists of eight well-traveled requirements from the Nice American Songbook that Allen has effortlessly tagged as his personal along with his outrageous daring tenor tone. That is the nineteenth recording Allen has recorded for Savant, as a frontrunner, since 2012, all critically acclaimed efforts. That is his second all-ballads album; his first was Love Stone (Savant, 2018). Allen performs outdoors the realm of jazz, hip swing that permits him to face other than the remaining. Some years in the past, a younger Allen stood within the midst of a stage after 1 a.m. blowing excessive and low as many of us milled about throughout this after-hours jam session. Stanley Clarke even breezed by me at this Detroit Jazz Competition in Allen’s hometown. As Allen performed wanting like a kind of hip jazz cats from the Fifties, the gentleman standing subsequent to me inquired “who’s that child?” Proud to share my consciousness with this legend, I stated “J.D. Allen,” he responded “that child goes locations,” and the NEA Jazz Grasp Buster Williams is aware of expertise. Allen’s star continues to orbit additional out into the stratosphere. Love Letters (The Ballad Periods)is on my record as top-of-the-line albums of 2025.
As The Jazz Gallery continues its thirtieth anniversary particular live performance collection, be ready for an enthralling journey on Dec. 17-20 with the imaginative pianist and composer Gerald Clayton and the creative resourcefulness of guitarist Emmanuel Michael, bassist Harish Raghavan, and drummer Tyshawn Sorey (who received 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Music). Some teams play properly collectively; this proficient quartet performs like a Ferrari roaring in precision with improvisational abandonment.
Music is at all times entrance and middle at The Jazz Gallery, not meals being hurried round on trays or clicking glasses colliding with ice cubes. Younger aspiring and established artists play contained in the music not a lot what they have been taught, however organically from their artistic being. Get pleasure from their in-the-moment journey. For tickets go to jazzgallery.org.
On Dec. 26-27, trombone and seashell innovator Steve Turre makes a particular visitor look with the Vincent Herring Quintet. Rolling Stone referred to as Turre “maybe the main trombonist of this technology.” His storied profession consists of work alongside music legends Ray Charles, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Woody Shaw, and a longtime member of the Saturday Night time Stay Band (WNBC-TV).
On Dec. 27, the artistic trombonist, composer and cultural warrior Craig Harris will carry out “5 on the Black Hand Facet,” a dwell music live performance to honor 5 influential males within the trombonist’s life who at the moment are ancestors: Brother Leroy Baylor, the Honorable Invoice Perkins, Keith Thompson, Lloyd Williams, and Ted Wilson.
In tribute to those 5 Harlem giants, Harris and considered one of his standing ensembles, Nation of Creativeness, will carry out his full suite of “Harlem State of Thoughts” at Mount Morris Ascension Presbyterian Church (15 Mount Morris Park West @ 122nd Road), 7-8:30 p.m.
For a few years, these distinguished males served as large brothers who suggested and guided Craig and lots of others in committing themselves and their artwork to uplifting and provoking our beloved group.
It’s introduced on the second day of Kwanzaa the place the precept of KUJICHAGULIA (Self Willpower), might be celebrated via remembrance and advocacy on this free-to-the public occasion. Supplied in collaboration with Group Works, New Heritage Theater, and Harlem Jazz Boxx. Go to harlemjazzboxx.com.
The Countdown 2026 Coltrane Competition, NOW via Dec. 30, incorporates a joyous blast of celebrated jazz artists packing bundles of impressed jazzy delights. No sleigh, no reindeer, simply daring harmonies dancing in straight-ahead jazz. (Or is it, exhausting bop?) Irrespective of, it’s the vacation season — time to swing!
Smoke’s thirteenth annual Coltrane Competition will current the Ravi Coltrane Quintet, Dec. 17-21. Ravi, who has grow to be an creative saxophonist and composer taking part in outdoors his father and mom’s large shadows, might be joined by trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson, guitarist Adam Rogers, bassist Chris Lightcap, and drummer Elé Howell. Ravi makes a extremely anticipated encore look to raise the competition devoted to his father as soon as once more, with an intuitive quintet. In over 20 years, Ravi has labored as a sideman to many and recorded noteworthy albums for himself and others, together with McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Terence Blanchard, and Geri Allen.
Countdown 2026 continues on Dec. 24-25 with jazz notables trumpeter Eddie Henderson plus the Vincent Herring Quintet that includes pianist George Cables, bassist John Webber, drummer Willie Jones, III, and Herring on alto saxophone. The well-dressed, dapper Henderson is taken into account jazz royalty, and continues to exhibit his mastery of the instrument into his ‘80s. Henderson is featured alongside outdated buddy and fellow legend, pianist George Cables, who is extremely ranked as one of many nice jazz pianists of our time. Over time, Herring has confirmed to be an impressive alto sax participant, composer and bandleader — an innovating supply.
The Countdown 2026 Coltrane Competition grooves on with extra distinctive musicians till December 30. For full listings. go to smokejazz.com.
