The Jazz Session » RIJF

RIP, Gerry Niewood

Jason Crane — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 02:07:29 +0000

Saxophonist and flutist Gerry Niewood died in the plane crash in Buffalo last night. He was a wonderful player whose saxophone was heard most famously with Chuck Mangione and on the Concert In Central Park album by Simon & Garfunkel.

Niewood was one of the first horn players I ever knew by name because Paul Simon yells out his name after a solo on that live album. I’ve always been a huge Chuck Mangione fan, too, and own all the LPs that Chuck and Gerry made together, many of them recorded in their native Rochester.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Gerry Niewood in 2004 at Jazz90.1. He was very gracious, humble and funny. I interviewed his son Adam in the fall of last year. He’s also a very talented saxophonist, and he talked quite a bit about Gerry during the interview.

LISTEN to the interview with Adam Niewood. He starts talking about his dad halfway through.

My condolences go out to Adam and the entire Niewood family. What a sad, sad day.

UPDATE: Here are some of the many press stories about Gerry’s passing:

Buffalo crash silences saxophonist Gerry Niewood
Two Jazz Musicians On Board
Buffalo crash silences Gerry Niewood, Rochester native and saxophonist (From the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)
Gerry Niewood, Glen Ridge Jazz Musician, Perishes In Plane Crash

Rochester International Jazz Festival In Review

Jason Crane — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 15:50:01 +0000

The Jazz Session brought you more than 7 hours of coverage and more than two dozen interviews from this year’s Rochester International Jazz Festival. Here’s a list of the week’s guests:

Festival producers John Nugent & Marc Iacona
Trumpeter Mike Catone
Jazz broadcaster Gary O
Festival staffer Bob Madeira
Vidar Brathen of the Norwegian Jazz Forum
Bengt Strokirk of Concerts Sweden
Norway’s Zanussi Five
Trumpeter Saskia Laroo
Trumpeter Peter Asplund
Canadian Afrobeat band Mr. Something Something
Trombonist Robin Eubanks
Lisa Nordstrom from Midaircondo
Pianist Dino Losito
Drummer Mike Melito
Drummer Matt Wilson
Guitarist Mel Henderson of Paradigm Shift
Pianist Jason Moran
Clarinetist Don Byron
Andy Milne and John Moon from Dapp Theory
Greg, Seth and Ken from the jazz blogosphere

And here’s the complete list of shows (not counting the Quick Hits moblogging entries):

Rochester International Jazz Festival – Day 9

Jason Crane — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 07:07:38 +0000

Show #9 from the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Featuring reviews, news, interviews and more! On this edition: Live sound samples from The Jens Winther European Quartet, Cowboy Mouth, The Soul Rebels and Avishai Cohen. Then, the grand finale: Greg, Seth, Ken and Jason get together for one massive roundtable discussion about the festival. Enjoy — and see you next year!

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

The Jazz Session #20: Dapp Theory

Jason Crane — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 06:05:16 +0000

Jason Crane interviews Andy Milne and John Moon of Dapp Theory at the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Andy Milne formed Dapp Theory several years ago to fuse many musical worlds, including hip hop, spoken word, and jazz improvisation. The original group recorded Y’all Just Don’t Know (Concord, 2003). Since then, the personnel roster has changed, but the visionary outlook and exciting music haven’t. Find out more at DappTheory.com.

The Jazz Session #19: Don Byron

Jason Crane — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 20:22:59 +0000

Jason Crane interviews clarinetist Don Byron at the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Byron performed two sets with his Ivey Divey trio featuring pianist Jason Moran and drummer Billy Hart. Byron has covered a lot of ground in his musical career, from the Ivey Divey project (honoring Lester Young) to the music of Junior Walker, Raymond Scott and Mickey Katz. Byron talks about Lester Young, his next project, and the influence of African-American religion on African-American speech. Find out more at DonByron.com.

The Jazz Session #18: Jason Moran

Jason Crane — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 04:27:07 +0000

Jason Crane interviews pianist Jason Moran at the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Moran came to play with two bands — his own Bandwagon and Don Byron’s Ivey Divey trio. Moran’s most recent CD is Artist In Residence (Blue Note, 2006), an album composed mostly of Moran’s commissioned works. Moran talks about philosopher Adrian Piper, pianist Jaki Byard, and his new commission to create a multimedia piece inspired by Thelonious Monk’s 1959 Town Hall concert. Find out more at JasonMoran.com.

Rochester International Jazz Festival – Day 7

Jason Crane — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 04:27:39 +0000

Show #8 from the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Featuring reviews, news, interviews and more! On this edition: Live sound samples from James Moody, an interview with guitarist Mel Henderson of Paradigm Shift, and a sneak preview of a soon-to-be-released album from a major name in jazz.

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

Show #17: Matt Wilson

Jason Crane — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 06:51:47 +0000

Jason Crane interviews drummer Matt Wilson between his sets at the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Wilson played two shows with his Arts & Crafts band featuring Dennis Irwin on bass, Gary Versace on organ and piano, and Michael Rodriquez on trumpet (sitting in for Terrell Stafford). The band’s new album is Scenic Route (Palmetto, 2007). Wilson is one of the most in-demand drummers in jazz, having appeared on more than 160 recordings. Find out more at MattWilsonJazz.com.

Rochester International Jazz Festival – Day 6

Jason Crane — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 05:40:10 +0000

Show #7 from the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Featuring reviews, news, interviews and more! On this edition: Live sound samples from the Webster Schroeder High School Jazz Band, a wonderful story about vibraphonist Joe Locke, and some wacky behind-the-scenes antics from the members of Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts.

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

Rochester International Jazz Festival – Day 5

Jason Crane — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 05:41:04 +0000

Show #6 from the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Featuring reviews, news, interviews and more! On this edition: Live sound samples from Trio Beyond with John Scofield, Jack DeJohnette and Larry Goldings, interviews with festival attendees, and conversations with pianist Dino Losito and drummer Mike Melito.

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

Rochester International Jazz Festival – Day 4

Jason Crane — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 06:25:36 +0000

Show #5 from the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Featuring reviews, news, interviews and more! On this edition: Live sound samples from Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks and Mamadou Diabate, interviews with festival attendees, and a feature on the Swedish electronica group Midaircondo.

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

Show #16: Robin Eubanks

Jason Crane — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 20:59:23 +0000

Jason Crane interviews trombonist Robin Eubanks before his set at the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Eubanks is in Rochester with his band EB3, which features Eubanks on acoustic and electric trombone, loops and percussion pads, and keyboard bass; Michelle Rosewoman (subbing for Orrin Evans) on keyboards and keyboard bass; and Kenwood Dennard on drums and keyboard bass. Eubanks is also a member of the Dave Holland Quintet and Big Band and the new Dave Holland Sextet. Find out more at RobinEubanks.com.

Rochester International Jazz Festival – Day 3

Jason Crane — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 03:46:58 +0000

Show #4 from the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Featuring reviews, news, interviews and more! On this edition: Interviews with Dutch trumpeter Saskia Laroo, Swedish trumpeter Peter Asplund, and Canadian Afro-beat band Mr. Something Something. Plus music samples from all three artists.

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

Nordic Jazz Now

Jason Crane — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 06:48:22 +0000

Show #3 from the Rochester International Jazz Festival. This show focuses on Nordic Jazz Now — bands from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark who are performing all this week at the festival. RIJF Artistic Director John Nugent also produces the Stockholm Jazz Festival. In this episode: Vidar Brathen from the Norwegian Jazz Forum, Bengt Strokirk from Concerts Sweden, an interview with the members of the Norwegian band Zanussi Five, and excerpts from various Nordic albums. Look for more from Nordic Jazz Now later in the week.

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

Rochester International Jazz Festival – Day 2

Jason Crane — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 04:59:21 +0000

Show #2 from the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Featuring reviews, news, interviews and more! On this edition: “Sounds of the Street.” Includes performance excerpts from Scott Goudie and The Shuffle Demons, plus interviews with trumpeter Mike Catone, Jazz90.1 DJ Gary O, and RIJF staffer Bob Madeira.

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

Rochester International Jazz Festival – Day 1

Jason Crane — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 04:05:21 +0000

Show #1 from the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Featuring reviews, news, interviews and more! On this edition: reviews of Raul Midon, Geri Allen with Jimmy Cobb, Peter Asplund, Steps Ahead, and Jon Ballantyne.

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

Please excuse this extra data, but I’m testing My Odeo Channel (odeo/5698c72e2f326cfc) with this post.