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‘Nine Lives,’ Chris Coles’ Magnum Opus, Gets New Life

Published 15 May, 2024 By John Chacona

After my freelance music gig for a newspaper in Erie, Pennsylvania had vanished in 2020 and I had moved to Cleveland, I resolved to document the local jazz scene, one that was all but ignored by media outlets in northeast Ohio. Good people making interesting music is catnip to a culture reporter, and I found a subject right away.

This was Chris Coles whose “Nine Lives” project became the first post in my documentary project covering the local scene. That was November 2021. Now, 30 months later “Nine Lives” is back for a performance Friday at Tri-C. And just like a familiar melody that is transformed by a master improvisor, Coles’ magnum opus returns reimagined as a new work.

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Roll Call: Recent Recordings By NEO Artists

Published 7 May, 2024 By John Chacona

One of the great pleasures of this project is the opportunity to do a weekly temperature check of the NEO scene., with a focus on live performance where it surely belongs. No performances, no scene, right?

But NEO artists have lately been as active in the studios as they are on the area’s stages and bandstands. That’s a good thing, too. Some projects have been covered here, including Work and Song, the exultant live recording by Alla Boara made at BOP STOP last July, Lucas Kadish’s Tundra, which was a big part of this entry from 2023, and the forthcoming recording laid down two weeks ago by the Third Law Collective wsg Russ Johnson, a project I profiled here. A few more will get the in-depth treatment in future posts here and at All About Jazz.

Still it’s been a while since let’s call this has called the roll on recordings, and given the spring shower of recent releases, now’s the time.

Dan Weiss’ Trio Even Odds Is A Sure-Thing Bet

Published 2 May, 2024 By John Chacona

*Miguel Zenon, Matt Mitchell, Dan Weiss photo by Stephanie Ahn-Weiss*

Rock, paper, scissors is perhaps the most elementary game ever devised. Yet within its narrow structure it offers endless strategic possibilities. Little wonder that the three hand gestures form the cover image of Even Odds, Dan Weiss’ terrific new release on Cygnus Records. Put it on your Bandcamp Friday wishlist and listen to the music at Even Odds’ two shows at BOP STOP Saturday night.

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Collective Action: The Third Law Collective Records Saturday

Published 25 April, 2024 By John Chacona

The last year or so has seen an explosion of recordings by Cleveland improvising artists such as Kent Engelhardt and Stephen Enos, Kevin Martinez’s Reclamation Band, Alla Boara, Bobby Selvaggio, TRIAD, a new project by Dominick Farinacci (more about that one soon) and a forthcoming Cleveland Jazz Orchestra anniversary release.

Into this hive of activity by established artists comes an ambitious live recording date Saturday night by a band that is scarcely more than a year old. Youthful overreach? Not when the band is the Third Law, the composers collective that is a veritable all-ages writers room for some of the most interesting large ensemble jazz being made around here.

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It’s One More Time For The Bill Charlap Trio At The Treelawn

Published 8 April, 2024 By John Chacona

If you’re planning to hear the Bill Charlap Trio Thursday night at The Treelawn, don’t feel like you need to dress up. Listening to the elegance and the urbanity conjured by pianist Charlap, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington and you might think you’re wearing a tux or a designer dress and opera gloves instead of your Browns quarter-zip or yoga pants.

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Tag: jazz CD

‘Nine Lives,’ Chris Coles’ Magnum Opus, Gets New Life

Roll Call: Recent Recordings By NEO Artists

Dan Weiss’ Trio Even Odds Is A Sure-Thing Bet

Collective Action: The Third Law Collective Records Saturday

It’s One More Time For The Bill Charlap Trio At The Treelawn