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| Highnote Records New Releases CDs of previously unreleased “live" performances by pianists Mary Lou Williams and George Cables and a CD/DVD of saxophonist Eric Alexander leading a quartet in concert are set for March 4th release by HighNote Records. Williams, indisputably the most important female jazz instrumentalist, composer and bandleader during the first 50 years of the music's development, is heard in a trio performances at the Statler Hotel in Buffalo during the winter of 1970 with bassist Ronnie Boykins and drummer Roy Haynes. “A Grand Night For Swinging" (HighNote HCD 7180) is the only known recording of Williams and Haynes playing together and includes performances of “I Can't Get Started," “My Funny Valentine," “St. Louis Blues" and "Caravan" among other songs as well as an interview with the pianist. “Morning Song" (NighNote HCD 7182) presents Cables - who performed and/or recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Art Pepper, Roy Haynes, Max Roach, Tony Williams, Freddie Hubbard among others and accompanied Dexter Gordon after his historic homecoming from Europe from 1976 to 1978 before embarking on a solo career -- in a 1980 performance at San Francisco's legendary Keystone Korner. The pianist leads a quartet featuring trumpeter Eddie Henderson, bassist John Heard and drummer Sherman Ferguson performing “Polka Dots and Moonbeams," “I Remember Clifford," “Who Can I Turn To" and “On Green Dolphin Street," among other songs. “Prime Time" (HighNote HCD 7201), a CD of Eric Alexander performing in concert in April 2007 in Asheville, NC, is the award-winning tenor saxophonist's first live appearance recorded for release as a DVD and HighNote's first CD/DVD release. Alexander is heard - and seen - performing with his working quartet featuring pianist David Hazeltine, bassist John Webber and drummer Joe Farnsworth. Videographer Andy O'Neil -- who shot "Anywhere USA" which won a Special Jury Prize for “independent spirit" at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival -- taped Alexander's DVD, which includes nine performances as well as an interview with the saxophonist. Seven of the tracks on the DVD are also on the CD. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |