The Ten Best Jazz Shows in NYC This Month

By David R. Adler Mon., Mar. 4 2013 at 3:30 AM

Categories: Jazz

Charles Lloyd

These are the 10 best jazz shows in New York this month.

Charles Lloyd New Quartet
The tenor sax icon turns 75 on March 15. He'll celebrate at the Met's Temple of Dendur, where imposing Roman-Egyptian ruins will highlight the ancient, ruminative quality of his playing. Greek vocal powerhouse Maria Farantouri, Lloyd's 2011 collaborator on Athens Concert (ECM), joins a stellar group with pianist Jason Moran, bassist Reuben Rogers, drummer Eric Harland and guests.

Joel Harrison 8: Search
From jazz, blues, classical, country, world music and other influences, guitarist Joel Harrison has evolved a personal language full of warmth and harmonic color. His forays into extended composition include Search (Sunnyside), which will be the focus of this March 7 appearance at Roulette. Also on tap: the new "Train Dreams," plus guests Gregoire Maret on harmonica and Paul Hanson on electric bassoon.

Hush Money with John McNeil & Jeremy Udden
John McNeil could probably charge admission to hear his cutting and jaded humor, but it's his laser-like trumpet that'll get you. Hush Money is his newest quartet, with younger guns Jeremy Udden on alto and C-melody saxes, Aryeh Kobrinksy on bass and Vinnie Sperrazza on drums. They play Cornelia Street Café on March 8, previewing music from an album in the works.

Carlo De Rosa's Cross-Fade
Aficionados knew Carlo De Rosa as a top sideman-bassist, but when his debut Brain Dance (Cuneiform) dropped in 2011, the searing intensity of his compositional voice came into view. His lineup for March 12 at Korzo is deadly: tenor saxist Mark Shim, pianist Luis Perdomo, drummer John Davis. After the set break: the superb pianist-composer Angelica Sanchez with the Kaheri Quartet.

James Falzone's KLANG
Today's Chicago improvisers are a tight-knit community with a unique sound, heady and abstract but relentlessly rhythmic. KLANG, led by clarinetist James Falzone, offers up a fine example on March 15 & 16 at Ibeam. With vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, bassist Jason Roebke, drummer Tim Daisy and some New York guests, Falzone will burrow into music from his latest disc Brooklyn Lines ... Chicago Spaces.