Next week begins the Lugo Jazz Festival. It’s absolutely wonderful in this little town of North Spain to have the chance of listening great jazzmen like Roy Hargrove or Kenny Barron aside some interesting local bands.

Roy Hargrove is one of the best trumpeters nowadays. Some years ago I saw the live at San Sebastian with drummer Roy Haynes launching a great album: “Birds of a feather: a tribute to Charlie Parker”(2001). Recently my friend Javi Calvo lend me “RH Factor”(2003), where he performs a more funky sound.

Kenny Barron is one of my favorite pianists alive (McCoy Tyner is obviously the other one). He usually has a classic sound of accoustic jazz bands. If you hasn’t still listened his duet with Charlie Haden “Night and the city”(1998), run to your store and buy it ASAP

The history of the music has two parts: history before Kind of blue, and history after Kind of blue.

And it was published in August, 17th, 1959. Trane and Miles were 33 years old. Bill Evans, 30. In two impromptu performances they amazed the world.

3rd Jazz Festival in Pontedeume, next Thursday to Saturday. It’s more  than accident

If you still didn’t hear Sumrrá live, you’ll have a chance. But if you  are not around, you can download some recordings from their web page.  Amazing “Israel”, “Lisboa 5 PM”… Sumrrá is currently one of the most interesting jazz groups in North Spain.

Two weeks ago my friend Javi Calvo invited me to go to the little village of Cedeira. to hear “When a man loves a woman” played by the original author -the soul legend Percy Sledge. The event: American Roots Festival of Cedeira.

Of course we attended to a great concert, but when we didn’t got surprised because it, we really wondered with the concert after. The Big Four, a Belgian-Dutch quartet of blues played with 81 years old sax Big Jay McNeely and harmonicist Mark Tortorici three hours and half in the  night. They really seemed drowned in Red Bull. They were very, very wild. Then at 3:30 the police came to throw out us of the square and the  rain made explosions with the electric instalation, they stopped. But people began to shout asking for more. So Mark Tortorici and The  Big Four gitarist began to play without loudspeakers. The Californian  draw out his trowsers and went into the fountain in the center of the  square. A really blues ecstasy

We wish a new, intense edition of the American Roots the next year  again. We’ll return to have dinner in Kilowatio tavern at the port,  drinkbeer at the Plaza Roja square, and, of course, to swing all the  night.

Via JamSession, Randy Brecker Electric Band in Ourense, next May 26th in “XII Festival de Jazz de Primavera 2008″. I would like to listen both brothers in concert, but it won’t be possible

And via Toma Jazz, Wayne Shorter in “Imaxinasons” next June, 29th at Vigo. It’s a very bad date for me, but I’ll try to go.

The day before of Dudesconf my friend Javi Calvo and me went to the Jofre Theater in Ferrol. That was the late evening/night of Marlango.

Some years ago I saw their first public performance in a TV. In that moment they were still working in their first album “Marlango” (2004), but that scoop promised a good future for the band: a nice jazz/rock/pop fusion performed by good musicians and a not great but very passionate, female voice. “Marlango” and “Automatic Imperfection” (2005) were the main part of my soundtrack for last summer (along with “Alone” (1968) by Bill Evans, “Full Circle” (2002) by Jon Mayer and, of course “A love Supreme”).

“The Electrical Morning” (2007) is the last album of Marlango. I like it much, but I miss part of jazz style of the former albums. Oscar Ybarra’s trumpet sounds under cover, and the music is a bit psycodelic. So, I had one doubt because it.

I had another doubt too. Well, Leonor Watling is a very pretty woman and a good actress. And she sounded well in the studio. But how would she be on the stage?

Last concert cleared up me the two doubts. The band is even better on stage than in the studio. Not only playing music, they created a good air joking with the audience. Leonor performs every song with voice, body and soul. She’s funny. She’s shy. She’s lovely. She has an impressive presence on the stage.

So, the guiness and cigarrettes after the concert pleased us very much

I have been hearing jazz all my life. But I begin to listen to jazz the first time I heard John Coltrane’s quartet. My first album was a Verve compilation “John Coltrane For Lovers”, and it meant for me the first piece of the jazz puzzle. I began to look for the rest of the pieces.

I read about Coltrane’s career. I began to buy John Coltrane Quartet reeditions, and albums where Coltrane was sideman of another jazzmen, and albums of those jazzmen without Coltrane.

“A Love Supreme” (1964) took me too much time, because it was difficult to buy in my usual stores. Some months after I bought it, I lend it to a mate and I never saw it again. But in those months I understood the importance of those album in the history of the music.

Last year my friend Carlos brought to me a vinyl edition. A month later I found in a Fnac store a new reedition, and I bought it too.

A love supreme was the culmination of 1960-1965 Coltrane’s music evolution. And yesterday was for me the beginning and the end of a circle. Tonight, McCoy Tyner, the lone member of the Quartet that is still alive, played in Coruña. He came with Gerald Cannon at the bass and Eric Kamau at drums, and Joe Lovano as guest star. It was a vibrant concert from the beginning to the end, with only one moment for McCoy playing a ballad alone. After the first encore, people asked for more, and we think it could be possible. But it didn’t happened. McCoy was very tired. In fact we could observe how he moved out the stage slowly dragging a leg.

I waited a minute down aside the stage, then I saw a hostess and I explained her I only wanted McCoy signed the cover of the album. She kindly explained me where are the dressing room’s out doors. So I went through the crowd that was going out, rounded the building and I reached those doors. Gerald Canon was signing autographs, I gave him the programme and he signed kindly. Then he went in again with 3-4 persons that another hostess allowed it. I waited some minutes, then I got alone, so the hostess allowed me to go in too. At this point I must say it: hostess of the Opera Palace are the best in the world!!!

When I went in I saw some people taking photos with Joe Lovano, and taking photos to McCoy Tyner who was trying to rest in his dressing room, he was trying kindly to close the door . I found this action of the people disagreeable: they seemed paparazzi. I understood I would have only a chance, so I approached to him with the cover. I beg him “Please…”. He seemed surprised. I suppose it was because I was the only person there that gave him a vinyl cover. While he was signing it I said him “This album saved my life” (because I listened heavy metal before, I thought ), he thanked me the words. It was the moment I never thought it could happen. 70 years of the best jazz in a humbly, tired old boy, in front of me.

After this moment I seized the opportunity to talk with Joe Lovano. He is a smiling man. We saw in the first Kamau solo how he re-adjusted the position of Kamau’s microphone, because Kamau got aware it was too much near of the drums. It was a gesture of a great professional, not of a primma donna. But he had another humbly gesture. I thanked him for the great concert, but he waved his head and made a face of self-unsatisfaction. He laughed again when I explained him I was in the ScoLoHoFo (Scofield/Lovano/Holland/Foster) concert some years ago.

The night ended for me celebrating with Guiness at Mathew’s. I went back to home to sleep soon. It was a very intense day for me

…yes, this is the title of a theme I heard played wonderfully by Kenny Barron and Charlie Haden in Night and the city (1998). It’s my current leit motiv. And, of course, it is true: we are near of the spring season, and it arrives with some interesting concerts around.

Marlango, the jazz-pop-rock-something else band of actress Leonor Watling, Alejandro Pelayo and Oscar Ybarra will play at Coruña next weekend. I couldn’t get tickets because they are sold out. I hope I will go to the concert in Ferrol the May 1st.

Dave Kikoski will play in Vigo next April 29th. It’s a bit far but I’ll try to go, he’s one of my favourite pianists since I hear him playing with the Brecker brothers some years ago at San Sebastián. Dave Holland will play with Pepe Habichuela in the same city.

The greatest concert in my life, April 26th: McCoy Tyner. He is the only alive member of Coltrane’s quartet since 1960 to 1965. It’s a great chance to meet one man that helped to change the history of the music. He comes with an special guest: Joe Lovano, who returns to Coruña six years after the ScoLoHoFo (Scofield-Lovano-Holland-Foster) tour.

A junkie drummer and a soulless pianist. A loner saxophonist that seems Eric Dolphy. Two brothers (bassist and drummer) fighting for the same fatal femme. Three paralell histories in the same point of space (Dolphin’s Club at NY) and time (some days before 11-S). It is the comic “Hate Jazz”, by Horacio Altuna and Jorge González (Sins entido Ed., 2006).

Amazing colour and scent of jazz. Highly recommended if you still are not sure about the difference between the beauty eroticism and the grotesque pornography. It is written in Spanish, I wish them in English soon.

Black. Oscar Peterson passed away a week ago. Virtuosity and legend of piano remain.

White. Eldar Djangirov, a new l’enfant terrible. My friend Javi Calvo gave me his first album “Eldar” (2005) backed by Michael Brecker. Eldar is an Oscar Peterson fan, and he proves it. Of course, Lady Wicks.

Black & white. Kenny Barron and Brad Mehldau. I recently meet p2p a video file of their wonder duet at Umbria Jazz 1999.

Tequila+lime+a jazz masterpiece. A nice recipe for surviving to a crushing night.

Last Tuesday Sonia and me attended to the concert that played a living legend: one of the free jazz movement rebels, Ornette Coleman. I always compare free jazz with high purity chocolate: it’s bitter at first taste, but you end up appreciating it.

We heard a great concert. The group covered some standards, and themes from Sound Grammar (2006) album. Chaos and melody swapped and merged. Intense performances, and the fastest bassist I ever saw.

I only missed just bit more nearness to the audience. No introducings, only one encore. Just 1:30, and goodbye. But, I repeat, a great, fuzzy concert.

If you need to smash an addiction, maybe it’s a good idea swap it for another one. Six weeks ago, I cut the ethernet wire to concentrate on September tests. And, of course, jazz was there to help me to forget all the world around.

What did I hear? That’s my playlist in my mp3 player:

• Bill Evans “Alone” (1968): since those bitter June days that’s my leitmotiv. That’s one of the albums that marked me in my life.
• Charles Mingus with Eric Dolphy “Cornell 1964″(2007): A great missing surprise. An orgy of jazz in Dolphy’s latest year.
• Marlango “Marlango” (2004)and “Marlango Automatic Imperfection”(2005): Nice fussion of jazz, pop and rock. You can think it’s only an actress who tries to sing, but Marlango is more than this. The soft, sensual voice of Leonor Watling, the impressionist piano by Alejandro Pelayo, and the urban touch with Oscar Ybarra’s trumpet, make me to lose in the city. You can see a sunset at a desert beach hearing “Every”, then you drop a tear
• Sumrra, several tracks (2001-06): I discovered this acoustic trio last summer. I still didn’t bought any of their CD because I still have not chance, but the tracks in their web page show a great group to discover. I feel an Atlantic style like Abe Rábade’s. First time I heard “Lisboa 5 p.m.” I knew they are great!
• Jon Mayer Trio “Full Circle”(2001), “My Romance”(2005): Bille and me bought these albums after the great live in Ferrol. Jon Mayer (formerly known as John Maher) is a great pianist who played with John Coltrane, Freddy Hubbard, Ron Carter… His personal problems moved away the music along decades, but now he rised stronger than ever. About “Full Circle” I suggest change the order of the tracks: 9-7-8-6-5-10-4-3-2-1. I usually respect the order in the albums, but I accidentally discovered this kind of hearing this CD and I think it’s better
• Thelonious Monk “Underground”(1968): One of the most complete albums by Monk at Columbia Records. Impressive work by tenor sax Charlie Rouse
• John Coltrane “Like Sonny”(1960): This Coltrane’s forgotten album features Jon Mayer. The first track, “One and Four”, will keep in my memory associated to the morning I backed to the Campus walking on foot after a binge, and I took the head photo in this blog
• Charlie Haden “Nocturne” (2001): This album moves among jazz, latin jazz and bolero. I was in the concert at La Coruña when Charlie Haden launched this album and Air France lost his bass. Even with this hitch, Haden was in a good mood, and even he joked with a baby who cryed in the audience during a solo: “Oh, I have a very young fan!”
• V.S.O.P. “The Quintet”(1977): Two sessions recorded at California by Miles Davis’ quintet in the 60’s: Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, Wayne Shorter on sax, Tony Williams on drums, and Freddy Hubbard replacing Miles. Do you need know any thing more?
• Abe Rábade Trío “Playing on Light” (2006): I wrote about this album a year ago and I can’t stop hearing it
• John Coltrane “Live at Birdland” (1963): One of my recent purchases. John Coltrane with his great quartet, the year before A Love Supreme. The fourth track, “Alabama”, make me goose pimples
• John Coltrane “A Love Supreme” (1964): Some years ago I downloaded the mp3, then I bought the CD, this summer a friend gave me in a vynil, and two weeks ago I bought it again in 180 gr. vynil, a recent special edition. Let’s call… obsession

It seems the jazz scene is improving in my humbly, little hometown. Yesterday we reach the II Festival de Jazz de Pontedeume, and, despite of the rain, I hope it won’t be the last. The people of O Abrevadeiro bar are doing a great effort to push a nice festival in a 10,000 population town.

This year we could listen to The Gypsy Jazz Project, a two-gitars and bass trio from Barcelona, the played nice swing in the Django style. Then we knew the new quartet of Guillermo Lacelotti, Mr. Dixie Jazz Band’s trumpet: Cool Beat. They show us the hidden bop inside Guillermo. And finally, more than two hours of Sonny, Parker, Coltrane… performed by Enrique Guzmán Quarter. The concert end around 3 AM and we were still in the square under the rain crying for more

More photos in my gallery.

Some days ago my felipoper friend Carlos Holgado brought to me this jewel:

To hear one of the greatest albums of the history of the music in pure vynil is a priceless gift

Last July, 17th was the 40 anniversary of the death of John Coltrane. It has been written millions of words about one of the five great jazzmen in the history (the numer one for me). But they are not enough to describe him. Rather these words are vain. If you really want to meet John, then hear his music. Because his music is still alive. Like himself.

Today when I went off the train in the evening, it began to rain. I had 1 km. down to home, so I put my headphones and shooke off the glasses.

The water drops run on my face, but I didn’t hear the rain. Rather I didn’t hear that rain. Because it was sounding in my ears “Here’s that rainy day”, then “A time for love”. These are the first tracks of “Bill Evans Alone”(1968).

The rest of the album… well, with a nice mug of tea, a cigarrete and… sneezing a bit But I felt free in that lonely walk…

Some days ago I visited Abe Rábade web page and I saw he now has a blog. And I read through it about the new project: “Jazz In Galiza Series”. The basic idea is to release some annual albums that show exchanges between Galician and foreign jazzmen. The first volume is a recording at the Pazo da Cultura of Pontevedra with John O’Gallagher (sax), Jeff Williams (drums), Paco Charlín (bass) and Abe Rábade (piano). When I get it in my hands I’ll write about it

With this new I discover too Free Code Jazz Records, a young record company that has released some works by Paco Charlín out of the Abe Rábade Trío. It’s a bit complicated to buy online now, but I’m sure they will improve it.

I don’t want forget to write some lines about Dee Dee Bridgewater concert in Coruña near a month ago. I read “Bridgewater presents her most daring album”. Maybe it’s true, but it was a wonderful live: she mixed standards with Black Africa arrangements with Black Africa songs with bop arrangements. She touched all the great West Africa topics in her search of her Mali roots: slavery, celebrations, Mother and, of course, love. She had time to pay tribute to the great Nina Simone. The audience end the show standing up, and clapping following the rythm

The night ended with my friend Sonia and me celebrating at Jazz Filloa. It was a very nice night

Two bad news for jazz enthusiasts: on friday died Alice Coltrane, John Coltrane’s widow and his pianist in the latest years (of course she was performer in the mythical “Olatunji Concert” (April 23,1967); on saturday, the same bad new with saxophonist Michael Brecker.

Alice Coltrane had a musical life after Coltrane’s death. She had her own groups, following the John’s innovative trail. Recently she recorded “Translinear Light” (2004) with one of their three musicians sons, Ravi.

Michael Brecker was a great saxophonist, for jazz, and pop, rock as well. He is well-known as electric, fusion jazz. But I meet him with his brother Randy in a live in the 36 Jazzaldia San Sebastián that RTVE broadcasted in summer of 2001: “Brecker Brothers, the return of the acoustic band” (Randy and Michael Brecker, Peter Washington, Dave Kikoski and Carl Allen). Since then one of my favourite themes is “Nascente” ( Nearess of you: the ballad book, 2001).
Via Tomajazz(es) and JamSession(es).

Updated,Jan.16: obituaries of Alice Coltrane and Michael Brecker in All About Jazz