January 27th, 2011 by admin
The always amazing Fred Anderson
It appears Fred Anderson’s legendary Velvet Lounge has closed their doors, possilby for good. Fred passed away last June after a short illness and despite great effort by his Grandaughters to keep it open, it just wasn’t to be. The Grandaughters did a great job but end the end, Fred’s son took control of it and basically did nothing with it.
Man, I have a lot of great memories of this location and the one located on Indiana Avenue. Seeing Fred along side greats such as Henry Grimes, the equally wonderful Kidd Jordan, Hamiett Bluiett, Harrison Bankhead, Dee Alexander, Roscoe Mitchell, Billy Brimfield and many other great musicians was really a treat. Fred was just a wonderful man, a friend to all that knew him and an amazing artist and mentor to hundreds of musicians over several decades. Long Live Fred Anderson!!!
January 25th, 2011 by admin
The legendary Red Holloway performing at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago. Summer 2010
January 25th, 2011 by admin
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September 28th, 2010 by admin
This image of the great Bill Penick was made on September 29th, 2010 in the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis. The shoot was done in support of the upcoming 2010 Ralph Adams Lifetime Achievement Awards which Bill will receive. Photo©2010 Mark Sheldon
January 25th, 2011 by admin
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January 15th, 2010 by admin
This is a photograph of Indy’s own Melvin Rhyne. Mel was part of the original Wes Montgomery Trio. The photo was made at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis. That’s Greg Artry on drums. Photo © 2010 Mark Sheldon
January 19th, 2011 by admin
This image of the great Dr. Lonnie Smith was made on April 12th 2010 at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis. After sitting through about three hours of music with his trio; it appears the good doctor is getting better with age. Lonnie lived in Indianapolis for a short time or as he told me “I stayed in Naptown for a minute”. Some of the guys in Indy that he played with or knew him from his days here came out for the show, most notably drummer Mad Harold Cardwell. Lonnie spent much of his break and an hour or so after the show to pose for photos and sign cds for a long line of fans.
Much of the music he played this night is off of his new, soon to be release recording called “Spiral”.
I spoke with Lonnie for a few minutes, he had some great stories to share about some of the guys in Indy. It was great to have him back in ”Naptown” as Lonnie still refers to it as, after a couple years….I hope he’ll be back soon.
June 5th, 2010 by admin
I recently returned from a great weekend in sunny Los Angeles where I attended a program called “East Coast Sounds”, another wonderful event put on by Ken Poston and the LA Jazz Institute. It featured many jazz greats including Johnny Mandel, Bob Brookmeyer, the always unpredictable Med Flory, Teddy Charles, Terry Gibbs, Ed Shaunesey, Don Menza, Mose Allison, Scott Robinson and many more.
In addition to four days of almost non-stop music, rare films and facinating panel discussions, I still managed to find time to take in a great exhibit at the Fahey-Klein Gallery featuring the photography of the recently departed Herman Leonard, William Claxton, William Gottleib and Jim Marshall. It was wonderful seeing several dozen well know and some not so well known images in on place.
Then it was on to another exhibit called “The High Preist of Bop: The Jazz Odyssey of Thelonius Monk”. This one featured several Monk related items…lp covers, photographs, drawings and so on. This took place at the William Grant Still Arts Center.
For more on the event; here is a smiling review by friend and writer Jeff Krow.
I’m a believer
Los Angeles Jazz Institute Presents: East Coast Sounds – Out of the Cool & into the Hot - May 27-30, 2010 – Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel
There are moments for a jazz music and concert reviewer when the stars align and the skies clear to let heavenly musical bliss flood your senses. It can occur when listening to a CD and a particular passage straightens your spine, brings a smile to your lips and perhaps a mini-bolt of electricity brings a warmth that flows from your fingers down to your toes. When this rare sensation arrives, all is well with the world.
Listening to live jazz in a concentrated multi-day festival allows a greater chance for this jazz nirvana to appear. One of my first reactions when this occurs in a concert setting is to look around and see if others have seen and heard the light. It is a magical and mystical experience when you observe this telepathic exchange of energy. You can recognize when the non-verbal transference has taken place. There is a small bit of recognition between strangers- a nodding of the head accompanied by an occasional body sway. I’ve always felt a particular bonding at these moments, a near religious experience shared without the need for further communication.
