local events of note

The second event in the Seacoast Jazz Society’s ongoing Jazz Appreciation Project, takes place at The Press Room in Portsmouth on Sunday, Nov. 14, when renowned saxophonist, composer, educator and author Jerry Bergonzi gives a pre-performance workshop at 4:30 p.m. Bergonzi will talk to audience members about his career and his approach to jazz performance. The event is free and open to the public.

Bergonzi will perform beginning at 6 p.m. in the Sunday Jazz at the Press Room series, along with Phil Grenadier on trumpet, Ryan Parker on piano, Bruce Gertz on bass and Les Harris Jr. on drums. The normal Sunday cover charge of $10 will apply to this portion of the evening. That’s a bargain for an artist of this caliber.

On Monday evening, Nov. 15, the UNH Traditional Jazz Series continues with a performance by Boston-based and equally renowned vocalist Dominique Eade. Joining Eade will be Billy Pierce (another Boston legend) on saxophone, Jed Wilson on piano, John Lockwood on bass and renowned percussionist Joe Hunt on drums.

A former student of pianist Ran Blake at the New England Conservatory, Eade is an exceptional singer whose approach is steeped deeply in the improvisational side of jazz, ala Ella Fitzgerald, Sheila Jordan, Kurt Elling and Cassandra Wilson. This show marks her debut performance on the UNH campus in Durham. The concert begins at 8 p.m. and will be held at the Paul Creative Arts Center’s Johnson Theatre. For ticket info, call 603-862-2290.

new releases: New England and beyond

This fall has seen the release of two superb jazz recordings with local connections. First is “Nor’Easter,” the debut recording of the Portland Jazz Orchestra from Maine, directed by trombonist Chris Olberholtzer.

I’ve often been critical of contemporary big band music over the years. So let me say up front that this is one of the finest big band recordings I’ve heard in a very long time. The charts, mostly by members of the ensemble—Craig Skeffington, Terry White, Brad Ciehomski, Chris Humphrey and Willie Johnson—offer a variety of textures, colors and grooves. All of the music on this disc has a superb balance between the ensemble material and the open solo sections.

Highlights on the album are many. One standout is Skeffington’s humorous original “It’s A Waltz… Man,” featuring dynamic solos from David Wells on tenor saxophone, Olberholtzer on trombone and Ciehomski on drums. Another is Chris Humphrey’s stunning adaptation of his original tune “Anna’s Song.” A loving ode to his daughter, the arrangement features a short, incisive solo from Humphrey on piano before giving way to a richly melodic and probing solo by Wells.

The CD closes out with its only non-original chart, “Carmelos by the Freeway,” from the pen of late West Coast composer Bob Florence. The tune features powerfully explosive solos from Skeffington on trumpet and local favorite Marc LaForce on tenor sax. And kudos to the relentless rhythm section work of Humphrey on piano, Ciehomski on drums and Kim Bird on bass, who anchors everything in a perfectly steady manner. For more information, visit www.portlandjazzorchestra.com.

Singer and former Seacoast resident Louise Rogers has released her debut on the Chesky label—one of the better independent labels in the business. Titled “Black Coffee,” the disc features her group, consisting of husband Rick Strong’s rich bass work, Paul Meyers’ masterful guitar, and veteran drummer Billy Drummond’s rock solid grooves. Rogers wraps her warm soprano voice around 14 standards, from familiar hits like “Sentimental Journey” and “Pennies from Heaven,” to obscure numbers like Nikki Giovanni’s “Be My Baby” and Les Brown’s “Comes Love.” Rogers’ approach is similar to that of Sheila Jordan, as she interprets lyrics in a spontaneous, improvisational way without losing the essence of the tune she’s singing, such as on “Alice in Wonderland” and the title cut. For more information, visit www.chesky.com.

I have to thank local musician John Francoza for recommending the next artist to me. Pianist-composer Amina Figarova is a musician of diverse and dynamic skills and abilities. These qualities are fully displayed on “Sketches” a remarkable tour-de-force of a recording of 13 of her originals, which serve as a form of reflective travelogue of Figarova’s life and musical experiences.  An expressive and formidable pianist, Figarova’s solos are thoughtfully melodic and powerfully energetic as she draws rich colors out of each tune’s various textures and grooves. She is adeptly accompanied by flutist Bart Platteau, whose intense solo work is a highlight throughout the disc, as is the forceful work of bassist Jeroen Vierdag and drummer Chris Strik. Also contributing fine work to the disc are trumpet player Ernie Hammes and saxophonist Marc Mommaas. But the focus is really on Figarova, a stunning artist worthy of wider exposure. For more information, visit www.munichrecords.com or www.aminafigarova.com.