Well lookie here...

I've gotten the best opportunity the other night...

On Saturday evening, I was able to write a review of the They Might Be Giants show at the 9:30 club for BrightestYoungThings.com, and after a bit of conversation, I'll be doing a little something something on the side.

So I may be busy this December, but I do have three posts for the next three weeks that will hopefully satiate your ravenous hunger.

Here's the link to the review, and I'll see you guys soon. I'm so excited, my dog ran upstairs to escape the squealing.

xxoo

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.

After a spell of joblessness, laziness, and general drama, I am back and hopefully better for the ware.

I start you, my lovers, with the Ethan Iverson Trio Masterclass and performance at the Atlas Performance Center on H St; part of my personal friend Brad Linde's Jazz at the Atlas program

The lighting, the general fabulousness of the space--it definitely made the experience.

Ethan Iverson, pianist of The Bad Plus and avid blogger of Do The Math, started the masterclass with a conversation about discussing the process of improvising, and the control a musician must have to say no to a gig involving music they can barely comprehend. He's got seriously strong opinions, like saying that playing classical music requires less soul than playing jazz. That kinda made me want to raise my hand and say, "UM NO". 

Meaning he did his job right. It was a poignant conversation, albeit short and with a small group. Even if you aren't a musician, it's something I definitely recommend you catch before the actual performance, because if you want to truly enjoy jazz, knowing about the craft and hearing what the musicians themselves have to say is so insightfully vital.

The performance, to say the least, was spectacular. I was pacing the the outskirts of the room, getting some amazingly BLURRY shots of Mr. Iverson lifting himself off his seat with exhiliration as he played. It always takes my breath away knowing I'm watching someone who KNOWS how to play, and truly loves doing it.

From the sweet ballads to the fast paced pieces, the DC native bassist Corcoran Holt kept his eyes on Iverson and also DC native drummer extraordinaire Steve Williams. It was electric between the three---their connection on stage was amazing. So many riffs, pauses----it felt like they rehearsed it all and at the same time didn't rehearse a damn things.

What a pretty marquis they got there.

     All in all, I was thrilled I was finally able to get over to H St. to catch this scintilating performance. It reinforces what I've been trying to show my lovely readers something so vital and to incredibly exciting about DC: WE HAVE JAZZ. It is a force that's been quietly growing over the few years, but the more I'm exposed, the more I want to jump onto the roof and yell 'GO SEE SOME JAZZ'. We have so many amazing musicians, and so many great places to listen to them. So please, for your own sake, go to a jazz show this weekend, hell even during the week. 

Here are my top pics on what you should catch soon:

-(EVERY MONDAY)- Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra- 

Bohemian Caverns, 8pm-11pm, $7 cover, no minimum 

-(MY BIRTHDAY, 12/7/11)- Grachan Monchur, III with the Brad Linde Jazz Ensemble- 

Jazz at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 8pm-10pm, $35

-(11/26/11)- Trumpet > Donvonte McCoy-

18th Street Lounge, 10:30pm-12ish

-(11/26/11 --I'll be here!)- Diamond Terrifier-

Red Door Loft, 9pm-12am

MMMMMMmmm, it's good to be back <3

xxoo