Music Report

Holy Moses! You’ve just opened the Kosher for Passover unleavened edition of the Music Report.

The release of the Jews from Egypt around this time in 2448 Anno Mundi was a pretty big deal but, more importantly, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History has designated April Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM). One interesting jazz show takes place tonight and Friday at the Jazz Standard. The Nels Cline Singers are a trio named for their guitarist whom they share with Wilco, and, in fact, contain no vocalists. Could be a love it or hate it affair as there is expected to be a great deal of improvisation in their live show.
http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/jam/jam_start.asp
http://jazzstandard.net/red/secondary/jazzCalendar.html

Also this week, through Sunday at Birdland, Arturo Sandoval will be performing the Afro-Cuban Jazz hits and standards that have earned him 4 Grammys, 6 Billboard awards, and an Emmy. A protégé of Dizzy Gillespie, Sandoval plays the trumpet blending his childhood influences from growing up outside Havana, Cuba, with the traditions of American Jazz. For further enrichment, see “For Love or Country,” a movie made about his life starring (who else but) Andy Garcia.
http://www.birdlandjazz.com/

There must money in producing concert festivals because they seem to grow in number each year. One of note this summer is the traveling Rock the Bells which comes to New York July 27th. Venue is TBA but could likely be Randall’s Island. Lineup includes Cool Kids, Ghostface, Nas, Mos Def and a reunited [A] Tribe Called Quest among others. Toward the bottom of the bill is Flosstradamus, a pair of Chicago-based DJs that could prove to be second stage sensations with their combination of mashups and straight up turntablism.
http://www.guerillaunion.com/rockthebells/
http://www.feedmecoolshit.com/player.php?pcid=22

Although the genre is only about 35 years old, it’s not exactly news that hip hoppers are already sampling each other in new releases. What may be news to most though is the burgeoning hip hop scene in the Pacific Northwest. Washington State has birthed the legit trio Dyme Def, consisting of MCs Fearce Villian, S.E.V. and Brainstorm, whose album Space Music borrows generously from their predecessors but integrates the pilfered elements well with original elements and exemplary rhyme flow. Producer BeanOne, a staple of the Seattle hip hop scene, who worked on their debut calls it futuristic old school.
http://www.imeem.com/dymedef/

Instead of, perhaps prematurely, concluding the Report by touting an album as the Next Big Thing as was the case last week, I’ll submit for your assessment producer Pete Rock’s latest NY’s Finest. Rock returns to his mainstays of sampling reggae, classical music and Miles Davis. Lyricists also include some of his old favorites such as Raekwon (the Chef), Masta Killa and himself on the mic.
http://www.amazon.com/NYs-Finest-Pete-Rock/dp/B0012CQTQO/