“Is it a future you want or a future you want to run away from?”
I’ve been in a New York City state of mind as of late. Not for the shopping (I have enough of everything) but for the walking about and taking in some decent chow. I love my upstate New York home and my wild woodland companions, but I need to break out every so often. So, when another opportunity came ‘round to head on in for some fun, I did.
Here’s how it went…
Last Thursday night I was at Birdland to see vocalists Jane Monheit (Birdland Theater, at street level) and my brontosaurus-lovin’ woman Lauren Henderson (Birdland Club, downstairs), both leading their own quartet. On the third night of her five-night engagement, Ms. Monheit was pleasing in her conversation with the audience between songs and could not have had a better melodic partner than saxophonist Harry Allen. Monheit invited fellow singer Gabrielle Stravelli to the stage for a quick chat-chat and a song. As the ensemble squoze out seventy-five minutes of music, including an encore, I sipped on a most unsatisfactory Aperol spritzer and endured a couple loading on the PDA at the table in front of me – TMI!!! I then bounced downstairs for somethin’ else – chocolate and hazelnut mousse and Ms. H. She was and is fabu, extending a warm embrace to her material. The long line of audience members waiting to meet her afterwards said it all. And yes, she’s just as personable in person as she is in performance.
Now, let’s talk about bassist Christian McBride.
Wednesday was the night to celebrate his new release Prime (on his Brother Mister Productions in partnership with Mack Avenue Records) at a listening party in Brooklyn. A select group of the Jazz cognoscenti (God only knows how I slid in) got to hear McBride as a guest on his own Apple podcast Comes a Time, pre-recorded and hosted by Sirius XM’s Mark Ruffin. McBride made it clear that he doesn’t intend to let moss grow under this music. He’s steadily welcoming artists to his label, the most recent being the erudite ensemble East Axis (they were my guests during last week’s Situation Fluxus). The New York Times handed him a feature last week. He’s become Jazz’s Everyman – spokesman through outlets such as NPR (Jazz Night in America) and The National Jazz Museum in Harlem (co-Artistic Director).
So, we sat down and listened inside the Oswald Mill Audio (OMA) space. Founded by Jonathan Weiss, he and the Fleetwood Sound Co. build high-end “speakers, amplifiers and turntables” that look retro and sound incredibly intimate (my house would be a down payment for a set of speakers.) In- between their conversation, Ruffin and McBride would slide aside and allow the equipment to engage our senses. Audio/technical jargon aside, it sounded great. A few of us commented on the inescapable surround-sound of the drums.
Let me mention some of the faithful who were there:
· The Mack Avenue team – superb co-hosts. Thanks for wrangling us in and out.
· Mr. McBride and Melissa Walker – wonderful to meet you both!
· Matt the photographer – you said you got my good side…I’m holding you to that, brother!
· Andrew and Shannon/FED Hospitality –These two sweet people wanted to see us eat well, drink responsibly and be thoroughly satisfied – success! The displayed of fresh charcuterie, fruits, nuts, and local wine (but no crackers because “crackers leave crumbs”!) complimented the industrial-looking space. Good food, good company!
· Everybody else (you know who you are…)
I think the best line of the night came from our host Jonathan (and he knows we ALL want to be invited back for the next shindig in his space) in addressing the need for decent audio for a pleasurable listening experience in the 21st century: “Is it a future you want or a future you want to run away from?”
Hmmm, chew on that.
To see pictures of my trip to The Big Bitey Apple, go here.
Now, I’m back home with a throat cold. I sound somewhere between Moms Mabley and Will Arnett. Ugh! And btw, if you’re heading towards NYC’s Moynihan Train Hall (yes, Penn Station is still operational – they’re now attached) and you’re approached by some guy – a Jude Law/bad boy “Englishman in New York” sort with tan loafers and no socks – just swerve past him and his devilish smile. I don’t know what con he was pullin’ that day…