Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

The theme for this week in music could easily be: “It only takes two. “After all, our week in music begins on tonight, Thursday with the duo of trombonist/vocalist Natalie Cressman and Brazilian singer/guitarist Ian Faquini and ends on Wednesday with the duo of violinist Regina Carter and pianist Xavier Davis at Dazzle. And beyond the duo mode, the week also contains guitarist Bill Frisell’s Harmony quartet on Tuesday, at Boulder Theater and tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin’s trio on Tuesday at Dazzle. That’s a pretty full plate of sounds no matter where you might be.

This past week, saxophonist Dayna Stephens, who topped the 2019 DownBeat “Critics Poll” list of rising star saxophonists, was at Dazzle, continuing the tradition of the club offering the best of newer jazz talent right here at home. This week that spot is occupied by Cressman , who topped the 2019 list of rising star trombonists in the critics poll. She and Faquini are also together on Cressman’s CD Setting Rays of the Sun.

Beyond the Brazilian tones of Setting Rays, the talented trombonist shares her talent on many other fronts: working with Phish’s Trey Anastasio and Carlos Santana’s band, as well as fellow trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, clarinetist Anat Cohen and trumpeter Nicholas Payton. Cressman was also selected by SF JAZZ to put together a tribute to Melba Liston and she also picked up some funk tips from the trombone of Fred Wesley (who worked with James Brown and spent time living in Denver). The two-some is at Dazzle on Thursday at 9 p.m.

On Wednesday at 6:30 and 9 p.m. (and March 5 as well), MacArthur Fellow Carter, who is simply a monster on the violin as witnessed by her top-spot finish in the 2019 “Critics Poll” for violinists without the rising star label. She is a great player who brought pianist Davis into her band. Along with Carter, the pianist has also worked with Freddie Hubbard, Christian McBride and others. Think of this as a “two-by-two week.”

In addition to the duos on tap, this week also offer the great guitarist Frisell with his band Harmony that has Petra Haden, cellist Hank Roberts and bassist/guitarist Luke Bergman. Frisell (who grew up in Denver) is at the Boulder Theater in Boulder on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Also, on Tuesday sat Dazzle saxophonist Donny McCaslin is at Dazzle at 6:30 and 9 p.m. with a trio that Dezron Douglas (who was named the top rising star bassist in the 2019 “Critics Poll”) and Joe Dyson on drums. McCaslin, whose work with David Bowie edged him into the pop world, is a strong who joined Gary Burton when the saxophonist was a senior at Berklee College of Music and stayed with him for four years. Then he took over the saxophone spot occupied by his idol – Michael Brecker – in the group Steps Ahead, as well as working with Maria Schneider. Bowie heard the saxophonist in New York and the rest, as they say, is history (just listen to Bowie’s Blackstar along with McCaslin’s Blow).

Mixed in with all of this is, saxophonist/flutist Nelson Rangell brings his band to Dazzle on Saturday at 6 and 8:30 p.m. While Rangell , through his years on GRP  Records and beyond, is often identified with the crossover side of the music, he is a fine player who more that held his own during his stints with the Gil Evans Orchestra.

Norman Provizer
Jazz Notes 2-27-2020