Over the past two or three months, a number of personal and professional commitments have greatly reduced the time available for listening to and reviewing new releases, and I’ve watched quite a few pass under the Bridge of Timely Review and out to sea. So I hope now to get up to speed again with some short reviews of new and newish releases, such as El Arte del Bolero from Miguel Zenón and Luis Perdomo, Mar Adentro from Oscar Rossignoli, and Illumination from Alex Murzyn.
Bébé La La—the multiaward-winning singer/songwriter duo of Alicia Ultan (viola, guitar, vocals) and Maryse Lapierre (accordion, harmonium, vocals), backed by longtime collaborators Micky Patten (bass) and Joe Chellman (drums)—celebrates its 15th (crystal) anniversary with a November 15 concert at the Outpost, presented by AMP Concerts.
Vocalist Patti Littlefield has been a popular mainstay on the Albuquerque–Santa Fe scene for many years, but she’s been out of sight for several years thanks to a variety of personal circumstances that sapped her energy. On November 2, at the Outpost, newly energized, she’ll be fronting a band of local all-stars for the first time in almost five years, and you will want to hear what she’s been cooking up.
Artrio—one, a new release from saxophonist Alex Murzyn, pianist John Funkhouser, and bassist Terry Burns—resident New Mexicans all—offers a master class in small ensemble jazz and a satisfying reminder of the high quality of the musicians here in New Mexico. They’ll celebrate their work with a CD release party at Q Bar, Friday, October 6. I was honored by their invitation to write the album’s liner notes, which, slightly adapted, also provide this review.
When I moved back to New Mexico from New York City, where I lived a short walk from some of the best-known jazz clubs in the world, I figured that I would have little opportunity to hear quality jazz in Albuquerque. Much to my very pleasant surprise, the Santa Fe–Albuquerque corridor was and is brimming with players who have the chops to play on any stage with anyone—and have done—and there are terrific venues to accommodate them. Exhibit one: the Cal Haines Quartet at the Outpost on December 1.
