Jazzheads Jazz Festival Took Place In New York City On May 4-5, 2012
This year Jazzheads celebrates its 20th anniversary as a label. The first annual Jazzheads Jazz Festival took place at the Players Club in New York City on May 4-5, 2012. The Players Club is the beautiful 18th century townhouse that belonged to Edwin Booth, the great Shakespearean actor and brother to John Wilkes. The townhouse has a performing banquet hall with wonderful acoustics and ambiance. It is a place to listen good performance space to listen to improvised music from some very fine musicians!
Friday night, Dave Frank performed a stellar set of solo piano pieces. This guy has super chops! It was followed by the fine and subtle playing of New York Jazz Initiative. Then, vocalist, Gabriele Tranchina group entertained with groove and joy. Closing the night was the flute maestro, Mark Weinstein with his rhythmic Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble. The players played their hearts out and the audience lucky enough to hear the music, responded with grand applause.
Saturday night was more of the same with an inspiring set by Jeff Lederer’s Sunwatcher group. Jeff takes the saxophone to new places and keeps the audience involved. The Randy Klein’s Two Duos project with Nik Munson and Alex Skolnick was subtle and musical. Nik Munson has a rich and alluring vocal sound and Alex Skolnick is a fine Jazz guitarist, with Randy Klein’s excellent piano accompaniment. Duo playing at its best! The evening ended with the screaming and enormously educational and fun Bobby Sanabria Big Band. Bobby is a master of the stage and this is one of the best big bands out there. This night the music was happening!
Jazzheads thanks to all the players and volunteers who made the festival a musical success! Look for more to come from Jazzheads in the future!
Review of Mark Weinstein’s “El Cumbanchero” from Latin Jazz Network
“The album literally explodes from the gates…”
Latin Jazz Network - posted April 16, 2012 by Raul da Gama
It might seem foolhardy to many to take a chance and make an entire record based on “charanga”; perceived as rather old-fashioned too considering the rising eminence of the goldmine of what is now salsa—a common misnomer for all things Afro-Cuban. But not for flute maestro, Mark Weinstein, who, four years ago in a great leap of faith—literally—made, with Omar Sosa, Tales From The Earth a record that raised the spirit of the Holocaust and indeed the spirit of all who perished in the hatred of racism (Ota, 2009). That was certainly a lot more risqué and unfashionable compared to this record; still, however, the fact is that Weinstein will not shy away from taking a chance on almost anything. Another fact about the flutist—borne out yet again on this record—is that he has the uncanny knack of finding the finest musical associates to collaborate with on projects. A case in point: the monstrously talented Cuban born pianist, Aruán Ortiz, who has not only played magnificently on this record, but who has also contributed the most exquisite and authentic “charanga” arrangements on this album… (read more)
Jazzheads Jazz Festival Line-up announced!
Join the EVENT PAGE on Facebook!!
Space is limited, so make reservations: reservations@theplayersnyc.org or call 212-475-6116
JazzTimes announces “Jazzheads Jazz Festival” coming MAY 4-5, 2012 at The Players Club NYC
Latin Jazz Corner Podcast Episode #3
The final portion of this podcast features an interview with Jazzheads Flautist, Mark Weinstein, where they discuss his most recent album El Cumbanchero.
Latin Jazz Corner describes Mark Weinstein and his latest album:
This album is another fantastic chapter in Weinstein’s creative exploration of Cuban music, where he mixes jazz with danzon in a charanga setting. Cuban pianist Aruán Ortiz provided the arrangements, which simply overflow with beauty - these magnificent works in combination with Weinstein’s flute performance make El Cumbanchero a masterpiece.
Weinstein is an important voice in Latin Jazz - from his time with Eddie Palmieri’s La Perfecta to the essential album Cuban Roots and his modern recordings, Weinstein is someone that you need to hear. If you want to get the full scoop on Weinstein’s career, check out the extensive interview with him that I published on LJC - you’ll want to read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.
El Cumbanchero is really a fantastic album that brings together all of Weinstein’s experience into an important statement. You don’t want to miss this one - here’s a link to pick up Mark Weinstein’s El Cumbanchero.
JazzTimes reviews Mark Weinstein’s Jazz Brasil!
JazzTimes, April, 2011
Mark Weinstein’s CD Jazz Brasil debuts at #1 on the World Charts!!!
Mark Weinstein’s CD Jazz Brasil is at #1 on the World Music Album Chart
… and at #10 on the Jazz Album Chart!!!
Two mucisians from Mark Weinstein’s CD ‘Timbasa’ got the Latin Jazz Corner Best Of 2010 Awards!
The Latin Jazz Corner Best Of The Year Awards is an annual event, the winners are selected through a voting process open to LJC readers, artists, fans, and the general public.
This year two mucisians from Mark Weinstein’s CD ‘Timbasa’ got the Latin Jazz Corner Best Of The Year Awards! Congratulations to Axel Tosca Laugart - 2010 Latin Jazz Pianist Of The Year, and Panagiotis Andreou - 2010 Latin Jazz Bassist Of The Year!
Review: Midwest Record on Mark Weinstein’s Jazz Brasil
‘Flutes, Brazil and jazz seem like such a natural combination and Weinstein has found the corner to turn to make Herbie Mann smile down upon his efforts. With a different touch of special sauce this time around, adding the coloration of fellow Monk devotee Kenny Barron on piano, the cross cultural cross currents never turn into a rip tide but they draw you in big time. Slightly to the left of being a commercial recording, this is simply a set of heartfelt, buoyant and bubbling playing that’s played and heard for the fun of it. A great set to change your mood if it needs some lifting fast. Well done.’
Volume 34/Number 75
MIDWEST RECORD Blog
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
