The saxophonist and composer Jaleel Shaw has change into a dominant pressure in twenty first century jazz because it speaks to America’s making an attempt occasions. His newest album launch of 11 tracks, “Painter Of The Invisible” (Changu Information 2025), is his first album with a band since 2013. This newest album speaks to the realities of this crumpling democracy, the try to erase Black historical past, ban books, and diminish human rights. His sax speaks with outrage, heat, compassion, and hope, accompanied by his working artists: pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Ben Road, drummer Joe Dyson, Shaw on alto and soprano saxophones, with vibraphonist Sasha Berliner and guitarist Lage Lund (each on two tracks every).
Shaw will have fun his CD launch social gathering for his new album “Painter Of The Invisible” on October 10, at The Jazz Gallery (1158 Broadway). His longtime bandmates and associates for this efficiency will characteristic pianist Cameron Campbell, bassist Dezron Douglas, and drummer E. J. Strickland. Reveals at 7pm and 9pm.
We are able to’t see music; it’s invisible, however at nighttime of evening and even within the mild of day, listening to is monumental. There’s nonetheless time to organize, however when you really see the hazard, it’s principally too late! Right here, Shaw and his abled musicians paint the invisible with vivid strokes of at this time’s actuality.
Three tracks that stand out are “Baldwin’s Blues,” based mostly on James Baldwin’s affect on Shaw, by “watching a whole lot of his debates and interviews.” A stimulating tune that romps with swinging riffs from alto, Fields’ rhythmic flyin’ harmonies, with Dyson comping in all the best areas, and Road bellowing in and about.
“Tamir” honors Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old boy killed by Cleveland police in 2014, whereas taking part in with a toy pistol. “Trayvon Martin, Philando Castile — it was simply taking place back-to-back to again, to the purpose the place you weren’t even shocked anymore,” mentioned Shaw. This tune, over ten minutes lengthy, hits a compassionate word with Shaw taking part in in intense religious mode (Coltrane-ish), lengthy wailing intonations, crying drums, and daring bass. Really feel the emotional invisible traces!
Shaw’s passionate soprano saxophone soars because the members comp with comfortable whispers on “Meghan,” devoted to Revive Music Group founder Meghan Stabile, who died by suicide in 2022. “She was a tireless advocate for Black American music, a detailed collaborator and a buddy,” mentioned Shaw. For reservations, go to jazzgallery.org.
The genius of pianist and composer Thelonious Monk was his unorthodox taking part in fashion, the best way he dedicated to every word. His melodies have been twists and turns of a number of phrases that translated his fierce compositions into good masterpieces. His unorthodox taking part in fashion alone was definitely worth the value of admission to witness him in artistic movement. He didn’t use the assigned, regular curved arms. No, Monk hit the keys with fingers held flat, excessive above the keys, creating that distinctive crushing percussive sound.
Acknowledged, there are numerous nice American pianists however there was just one Thelonious Monk. Not a nasty popularity for a younger man born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, who’s considered one of 5 jazz musicians to have been featured on the quilt of Time (the others being Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, and Wynton Marsalis).
In celebration of Monk’s birthday (born on Oct. 10, 1917), Smoke Jazz and Supper Membership (2751 Broadway at a hundred and fifth Road) will current a two-week celebration of the pianist’s birthday starting on October 8 by means of October 12 with a quartet led by pianist, composer, and ingenious huge band chief Orrin Evans with the younger invigorating saxophonist Melissa Aldana, bassist Robert Hurst [longtime sideman to Diana Krall, Herbie Hancock, and Brandford and Wynton Marsalis], and drummer, composer, multi-Grammy Award-winner, and NEA Jazz Grasp Terri Lyne Carrington. This quartet represents an explosive array of expertise who will add their very own interpretation of Monk’s distinctive compositions and magical sound.
Monk at Smoke continues its second week on October 15-19 with one other invigorating quartet led by pianist Kevin Hays [Benny Golson, Bob Belden, Eddie Henderson, and Steve Potter], together with the impressed inventiveness of saxophonists Joe Lovano, The New York Instances says that Lovano is “one of many nice connectors within the historical past of New York jazz over the previous couple of generations” (wed – sat), and Miguel Zenón (solar). The ultimate two items of this thrilling quartet are bassist Rick Rosato and drummer Obed Calvaire [SFJAZZ Collective and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra]. One other thrilling second to witness one other quartet of musicians supply their perspective on the music of considered one of America’s nice pianists and composers of jazz historical past. For reservations, go to smokejazz.com.
It appears astrological constellations are accountable for birthing genius beneath the identical signal of Libra on October 10, as Thelonious Monk, legendary singer/songwriter, playwright, poet, and activist Oscar Brown Jr., and drummer, composer Marcus Gilmore have been all born on that auspicious day.
Gilmore, who can be 39 on October 10, has been working along with his personal ensemble for over a 12 months. The collaborative unit leans exterior the typical jazz configuration, that includes the strings of guitarist Emmanuel Michael, double bassist Rashaan Carter, electrical bassist Burniss Travis, pianist David Virelles, Morgan Guerin on EWI (digital wind instrument), and Gilmore on drums and percussion.
The younger drummer, alongside along with his artistic unit, returns to the Village Vanguard (178 seventh Avenue South), the place Gilmore launched his newest album “Journey to the New: Stay on the Village Vanguard” (2025). The drummer produced and organized the album, which presents seven tracks of over 50 minutes of music written by him and a number of other band members, with a Geri Allen cowl. The title observe (14:26) options Gilmore in excessive velocity with an outrageous solo and comping brilliantly on this jaunty journey of jazzy electronics, engrossed within the piano dexterity of Virelles.
Most of Gilmore’s repertoire will come from this newest CD. The album is a chic journey by means of dancing electronics, shifting piano rhythms, acoustic bass melodies, and harmonies that transfer intuitively, hanging the ear with a contemporary sound. Gilmore will even seem within the Fred Hersch Trio from October 21-26. For reservations, go to villagevanguard.com
