2010 in Review

2009 was a great year for a swing and bop jazz historian/performer to celebrate the anniversaries of the "Birth of the Cool", "Monk at Town Hall", and Lester Young's 100th Birthday. However, 2010 was an even better year to expand on those exciting milestones and to push forward to new things. A brief year-in-review for 2010 finds many of my musical dreams coming true, events I will look back on for the rest of my life.

January 2010- I took a sideman role to my former student and frequent collaborator, Sarah Hughes, as she crafted and executed her own performances of the music of Ornette Coleman and Lee Konitz/Gerry Mulligan/Chet Baker. She even penned several of her own arrangements and compositions, in addition to numerous transcriptions.

February 2010- I had the honor of putting together the Freddie Redd Sextet and booking a performance at Birdland in New York City. In the middle of one of the worst snowstorms in recent history, I was able to get Freddie and myself to the gig and play to a very receptive audience. The BLE officially released "Feeling That Way Now" at Blues Alley on February 15 and we returned to Chris' Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia.

March 2010- Another amazing opportunity to book the Freddie Redd Quintet at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola and feature Chris Byars, Ari Roland, and Stefan Schatz with a broadcast by WBGO. Freddie then joined us in Washington DC at Twins Jazz Club.

April 2010- Jazz Appreciation Month. No one appreciated it more than I did. My ensemble performed at the Iridium in Times Square and I debuted "Sax of a Kind" at the Sylvan Theatre during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Freddie Redd again returned to Smalls Jazz Club to perform with me and Chris Byars Quartet.
During the Big Band Jam, I was honored to feature Lee Konitz with my ensemble at Blues Alley. We performed music from the "Birth of the Cool" and his collaborations with Jimmy Giuffre and Mark Masters, then we enjoyed a 6 hour drive to NC to get Lee to his next gig. After much planning, Omrao Brown and I created the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra as a resident ensemble at the 85 year old club, marking the return of big band Monday nights. The BCJO has maintained a huge following and a collective artistic direction, co-led by myself and Joe Herrera. My ensemble celebrated the birthday of Ella Fitzgerald featuring Lena Seikaly at the Smithsonian Institute.

May 2010- The BLE performed at the Mansion at Strathmore and "Sax of a Kind" featured Ted Brown at the University of the Streets in NYC.

June 2010 - DC Jazz Festival performances by the BCJO, the BLE paying tribute to Dewey Redman with Joel Frahm at Bohemian Caverns, and the Brad Linde Sextet performed at the Phillips Collection. I received a Creative Communities Grant to collaborate with Matt Ripa and Jane Franklin on an original work for the Source Festival. That initial "blind-date" created "A Great(er) Depression" and has offered repeat performances and new ventures to come.

July 2010 - The BLE shared the bill with "The Beast: North Carolina's Progressive Hip-hop and Jazz Quaret" at Busboys and Poets. We even participated in each others sets - Pierce freestyled a blues and I improvised over a hip-hop ballad before attempting to follow Pierce's dance moves.

August 2010 - "Sax of a Kind" wrapped up Lester Young's 100th birthday with a performance at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and featured music by Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, Lester Young, Ted Brown, and myself.

September 2010 - The BLE performed at my new place of employment, Carroll Community College and the BCJO continued to draw crowds through the summer and into the fall.

October 2010 - BLE at Miles Cafe in NYC started the month off, then we featured the great bassist Butch Warren in a performance of his music and songs from his Blue Note years. Butch's first performance at Blues Alley in nearly 40 years revealed a strong and creative musician, one that is still composing and playing brilliantly. Freddie Redd returned to Twins Jazz with longtime bassist John Donnelly and joined what would become the Freddie Redd/Butch Warren Quintet with Brian Settles, Tony Martucci and myself.

November 2010 - I got to join the Chris Byars Octet for a weekend at Smalls Jazz Club, performing the music of Freddie Redd with Sacha Perry, Scott Wendholt, John Mosca, Ari Roland, and Mark Lopeman. I returned to NYC to perform with old Chapel Hill friends and bandmates Jack Sorock and Will Caviness at Tomi Jazz. Jane Franklin invited my quartet to reprise "A Great(er) Depression" at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre. And I got to play reeds in a production of Harry Connick, Jr.'s "The Happy Elf".

December 2010 - At the urging of Bertrand Uberall, Freddie Redd and Butch Warren teamed up for the first of performances to come at a house party in Boyds, MD. The chemistry was evident from the first note and forged a band with Brian Settles, Tony Martucci and myself that looks forward to work in 2011.
I presented two nights of saxophones at Twins Jazz, featuring my favorite District reedists: John Kocur, Sarah Hughes, Brent Birckhead, Brian Settles, Elijah Balbed, and Charles Phaneuf, supported by Dan Roberts, Rodney Richardson, James King, Dave McDonald, and Dominic Smith.
My quartet also previewed new music at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. The performance will take place in March 2011 as part of INTERSECTIONS: A New America Arts Festival.
The BCJO held two special holiday concerts to sold-out crowds and received 68 lbs. of donated canned goods for the Capital Area Food Bank. After years of listening enjoyment, I was able to play the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn adaptation of "The Nutcracker Suite" with an amazing band.
The year ended with an annual Holiday gig at The Fuse in Chapel Hill with some old friends and a pair of NYC performances with my heroes Ted Brown, Murray Wall, and Taro Okamoto.

With such a great year behind me, I cannot wait for 2011. If I am half as lucky as I was this year, then I'll be twice as happy (but if I am twice as lucky as this year, then I will be four times as happy). Thanks to all involved with music this year and for making it possible. I am a very lucky person and very grateful for all of these amazing opportunities. Here's to 2010.

Brad Linde Quartet featuring Ted Brown

I have the distinct pleasure of playing two gigs in NYC with one of my improvising heroes, Ted Brown. Ted is a tenor saxophonist out of the Lester Young tradition and a spontaneous improviser like his colleagues from the Tristano School, Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh. Joining me and Ted for these quartet dates is Murray Wall-bass and Taro Okamoto-drums. Murray and Taro having been playing with Ted recently and were once the rhythm section of choice for Marsh.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 7:30pm - Miles Cafe
Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at 9:30pm - Tomi Jazz

Please come out to hear these amazing musicians improvise on and interpret standards, along with melodies by Brown, Konitz, Marsh, and Tristano.

December Performances (including special Holiday Shows)

Concert on the Hill: Freddie Redd and Butch Warren

12.04.10 | 7:00pm Boyds, MD

Freddie Redd-piano

Butch Warren-bass

Brad Linde-tenor saxophone

Brian Settles-tenor saxophone

Tony Martucci-drums and cymbals

Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra at the Historic Bohemian Caverns

12.06.10 | 8pm and 945pm Washington, DC

Brad Linde Presents "Alto Madness" with Brent Birckhead, John Kocur, and Sarah Hughes

12.10.10 | 9pm and 11pm Washington, DC

The first of two "DC Saxophone Conclaves" at Twins Jazz with original compositions and arrangements by the featured soloists.

Brent Birckhead-alto saxophone, flute

Sarah Hughes-alto saxophone, flute

John "The Smoker" Kocur-alto saxophone, flute

Brad Linde-alto saxophone, flute

Dan Roberts-piano

James King-bass

Dominic Smith-drums

Atlas Performing Arts Center 12.11.10 | 8pm Washington, DC

Brad Linde Quartet preview for the "Intersections: A New America Arts Festival 2011" featuring all new music composed by Brad Linde.

Brad Linde-tenor saxophone

Sarah Hughes-alto saxophone, flute

James King-bass

Tony Martucci-drums

Brad Linde Presents "Four Tenors" with Brian Settles, Eliijah Balbed, and Charles Phaneuf

12.11.10 | 9pm and 11pm Washington, DC

The second night of the "DC Saxophone Conclave" with original compositions and arrangements by the featured soloists.

Elijah Balbed-tenor saxophone

Brad Linde-tenor saxophone

Charles Phaneuf-tenor saxophone

Brian Settles-tenor saxophone

Rodney Richardson-guitar

James King-bass

David Mcdonald-drums

Christmas in the Caverns with the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra

12.13.10 | 8pm and 945pm Washington, DC

Featuring holiday music arranged by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Claude Thornhill, Stan Kenton, Ralph Carmichael, Thad Jones, and others.

Christmas with the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra

12.20.10 | 8pm and 945pm Washington, DC

Christmas in the Caverns continues with holiday music from the bands of Ellington, Kenton, Jones-Lewis, and more.

Brad Linde Quartet featuring Ted Brown at Miles Cafe

12.21.10 | 7:30pm-9:30pm New York, NY

Brad Linde-tenor saxophone

Ted Brown-tenor saxophone

Murray Wall-bass

Taro Okamoto-drums

Brad Linde Quartet featuring Ted Brown at Tomi Jazz

12.28.10 | 9:30pm - 12am New York, NY

Brad Linde-tenor saxophone

Ted Brown- tenor saxophone

Murray Wall-bass

Taro Okamoto-drums

Also, TBD, a special Holiday Homecoming performance in Chapel Hill...

Support the BCJO: Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra Education and Performance Program

The Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra is developing repertory programs designed to explore the large body of work from jazz composers and big band leaders including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Oliver Nelson, Thad Jones, Thelonious Monk, Gil Evans, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Bob Brookmeyer, and many others. As the repertoire grows, so does the ability to present concerts and clinics highlighting each specific composer, band, or era.

In an effort to take the BCJO into public schools, community centers, and performance venues outside of the orchestra's Monday night engagement at the historic Bohemian Caverns jazz club, funding is needed for advertising, promotion, branding, and to design and print educational packets. The BCJO has hosted masterclasses and performances with public school ensembles at Bohemian Caverns and looks forward to reaching out into the classroom.

With generous support for logo development, stand lights, bandstands, and additional repertoire, the BCJO can successfully pass the importance and style of big band music on to future generations of musicians and continue to exist as the District's first and only in-house resident jazz orchestra.

Support the BCJO here.

July Jazz Performances

Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra at Bohemian Caverns
07.05.10 | 8pm and 9:45pm
Washington, DC
The District's first resident 16-piece big band, co-directed by Brad Linde and Joe Herrera.

Sarah Hughes Quartet at Twins Jazz
07.07.10 | 8:00pm and 10:00pm
Washington, DC
Sarah Hughes-alto saxophone
Alex Shubert-piano
Alex Lacquement-bass
Brad Linde-drums


Sarah Hughes is an alto saxophonist and music educator in the Washington D.C./Maryland area. She teaches public school in Prince George's county, Maryland and teaches woodwinds privately at the Del Ray School of Music in Alexandria, Virginia.
Sarah plays alto saxophone in the Brad Linde Ensemble, a Washington D.C.-based collective dedicated to exploring and expanding the bebop style of jazz and with the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra. She has performed with the BLE at such D.C. venues as Blues Alley, Twins Jazz, and Bohemian Caverns as well as Chris' Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia and the Iridium Jazz Club, Smalls Jazz Club in New York City. She has performed with legendary bebop pianist Freddie Redd and Tristano School saxophonists Lee Konitz and Ted Brown. She has also had the pleasure of playing alongside New York musicians Joel Frahm, Dan Tepfer, Chris Byars, Ari Roland, and Lena Bloch. Sarah makes regular trips to New York to study with Barry Harris has also had lessons with the great Lee Konitz.

Chris' Jazz Cafe
07.08.10 | 8pm
Philadelphia, PA

The Brad Linde Ensemble presents the music of jazz pianists and composers Sonny Clark, Freddie Redd, Lennie Tristano, and Ronnie Ball.

Brad Linde-tenor saxophone
Sarah Hughes-alto saxophone
Alex Shubert-piano
Eric Harper-bass
Tony Martucci-drums

Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra at Bohemian Caverns
07.12.10 | 8pm and 9:45pm
Washington, DC
The District's first resident 16-piece big band, co-directed by Brad Linde and Joe Herrera. This performance will be proceeded by a masterclass and performance with the Middle C Jazz Collective.

Caffe Vivaldi
07.13.10 | 8:15pm-9:15pm
New York, NY
Duo with Dan Tepfer, piano

About Dan Tepfer:
Critics have called New York-based pianist/composer Dan Tepfer "brilliant" (the New York Times), "impressive" (the Boston Globe) and "certainly among those clearly willing to play with familiar formulas and take new approaches, even as he incorporates strokes from the masters (Jazzreview.com). While he has played with some of the great names in jazz — Lee Konitz, Steve Lacy, Paul Motian, Ralph Towner, to name a few — he strives to create music that is distinctly of our time. The young artist’s breadth and talent have won recognition in the form of the first prize and audience prize at the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition, the first prize at the 2006 East Coast Jazz Festival Competition, and the first prize at the 2007 competition of the American Pianists Association — leading him to be named the 2007-2009 Cole Porter Fellow in Jazz.

Signature Theatre

07.17.10 | 4:45pm-6:45pm
Arlington, VA
Signature's Target Open House presents the Brad Linde Ensemble with Brent Madsen, Sarah Hughes, Doug Elliott, Leigh Pilzer, Rodney Richardson, Alex Shubert, Eric Harper, and Tony Martucci.

"Signature's FREE open house is back – this time in July – with a full day filled with the music and mayhem you've come to expect from Signature! With performances and events in the Theatre and out on our plaza, you can't beat a day of free entertainment for the entire family!"

Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra at Bohemian Caverns
07.19.10 | 8pm and 9:45pm
Washington, DC
The District's first resident 16-piece big band, co-directed by Brad Linde and Joe Herrera.

5C Cultural Center
07.24.10 | 10:30om
New York, NY
Brad Linde Quartet with Ted Brown, tenor saxophone, Alex Shubert-piano.

Cool-influenced tenor saxophonist Ted Brown studied under Lennie Tristano, learned banjo and violin from his father, and clarinet and tenor sax from his uncle. After playing in army bands from 1945 - 1947 and in Hollywood from '47 - '48, Brown moved to New York. He worked with Tristano and fellow pupils and associates Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh from 1955 - 1957. During that time he also recorded a session for Vanguard and worked with Ronnie Ball, plus a date in Hollywood with Marsh. He later returned to New York and worked extensively in clubs. Brown recorded with Konitz in 1959, and again in 1976, while heading his own group in the late '70s. Ted is still actively playing in and around New York City, and has toured with Lee Konitz in Europe and played in Holland with Hod O’Brien. In January 2007 Ted recorded for the Danish record label SteepleChase with guitarist Steve Lamattina and bassist Dennis Irwin and this recording has just been released on SteepleChase SCCD 31628 under the title “Shades Of Brown”.

Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra at Bohemian Caverns
07.26.10 | 8pm and 9:45pm
Washington, DC
The District's first resident 16-piece big band, co-directed by Brad Linde and Joe Herrera.

BLE at the Mansion at Strathmore

Art After Hours: Brad Linde Ensemble
Presented by Strathmore
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Mansion


Groove to bebop jazz with this tight ensemble, fronted by esteemed DC jazzman, saxophonist and pianist Brad Linde. The ensemble’s repertoire ranges from classics by Miles Davis and Lester Young to new arrangements and compositions by Brad Linde, Chris Byars, and Jon Metzger.

Sponsored by The Strathmore Jazz Society

For Tickets: www.strathmore.org or call (301) 581-5100.
Art After Hours: Brad Linde Ensemble
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Mansion

With:

Brent Madsen-trumpet
Sarah Hughes-alto saxophone
Heidi Littman-horn
Doug Elliott-trombone
Brad Linde-baritone and tenor saxophone
Jarrod Williams-tuba
Rodney Richardson-guitar
Alex Shubert-piano
Tom Baldwin-bass
Tony Martucci-drums

Jazz Appreciation Month (April 2010) Performances

Upcoming Performances:

Iridium Jazz Club
04.03.10 to 04.04.10

11:59pm-1:30am
New York City, NY
The Brad Linde Ensemble performs at the notable Times Square Jazz Club following the Cedar Walton Quartet with Buster Williams-bass, Jimmy Cobb-drums and Javon Jackson-tenor saxophone.

with:

Joe Herrera-trumpet
Sarah Hughes-alto saxophone
Brad Linde-tenor saxophone
Ben Brody-french horn
Matt Musselman-trombone
Matt Rippetoe-baritone saxophone
Liz Prince-tuba
Rodney Richardson-guitar
Alex Shubert-piano
Corin Stiggall-bass
Stefan Schatz-drums


"Sax of a Kind" at the Sylvan Theatre
04.05.10 | 2:45pm-3:45pm
Washington, DC
"Sax of a Kind" with Sarah Hughes, Charles Phanuef, Herb Scott, Leigh Pilzer-saxophones and Alex Shubert-piano, Rodney Richardson-guitar, Jon Steele-bass and Web Grant-drums.


Smalls Jazz Club
04.09.10 | 9:30pm and 11:00pm
New York, NY
Legendary Freddie Redd Sextet with Freddie Redd-piano, Brad Linde-tenor saxophone, Chris Byars-alto saxophone, John Mosca-trombone, Corin Stiggall-bass, and Stefan Schatz-drums.



Smalls Jazz Club
04.10.10 to 04.10.10

10:30 and 12:00am
New York City, NY
Legendary Hardbop Pianist Freddie Redd featuring Brad Linde-tenor saxophone, Chris Byars-alto saxophone, John Mosca-trombone, Corin Stiggall-bass, and Stefan Schatz-drums.


Lee Konitz with the BLE at Blues Alley
04.14.10 | 8:00pm and 10:00pm
Washington, DC
Alto saxophone icon Lee Konitz performs the "Birth of the Cool" and music by Lennie Tristano/Lee Konitz with a big band edition of the Brad Linde Ensemble.

About Lee Konitz:
Generally considered one of the driving forces of Cool Jazz, Konitz has also performed successfully in bebop and avant-garde settings. Konitz was one of the few altoists to retain a distinctive sound in the 40s, when Charlie Parker exercised a tremendous influence on other players.
Konitz, like other students of pianist and theoretician Lennie Tristano, was noted for improvising long, melodic lines with the rhythmic interest coming from odd accents, or odd note groupings suggestive of the imposition of one time signature over another.
Konitz's association with the Cool Jazz movement of the 1940s and 50s, includes participation in Miles Davis' epochal Birth of the Cool sessions, and his work with Lennie Tristano came from the same period. During his long career, Konitz has played with musicians from a wide variety of jazz styles. (wikipedia.org)

His newest release is with pianist Dan Tepfer, "Duos with Lee" (Sunnyside 2009).

With:

Trumpets: Chris Walker, Chris Gekker, Joe Herrera, Brent Madsen, and Jim Ketch
Trombones: Doug Elliott, Jen Krupa, Matt Musselman, and Liz Prince (tuba)
Reeds: Sarah Hughes, Matt Rippetoe, Charles Phaneuf, Leigh Pilzer, and Brad Linde
Rhythm Section: Rodney Richardson, Alex Shubert, Jack Sorock, Tom Baldwin, and Tony Martucci


Masterclass with Lee Konitz
04.14.10 | TBD
Washington, DC
Lee Konitz and Brad Linde present a masterclass as part of Jazz Appreciation Month and the Big Band Jam 2010. Details to be announced.


Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra at the Historic Bohemian Caverns
04.19.10 | 8pm and 10pm
Washington, DC
Big Band returns to the Caverns with a resident orchestra as part of Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) 2010. Co-directed by Brad Linde and Joe Herrera.

The debut will be broadcast live by WPFW and Rusty Hassan and feature an 18-piece big band.



French Market in Georgetown
04.24.10 | 12pm-4pm
Washington DC, DC
The Brad Linde Quartet performs songs about Paris and by Parisian jazz musicians.


Ella Fitzgerald Celebration for JAM (Jazz Appreciation Month) at the Smithsonian American Art Museum-Kogod Courtyard
04.25.10 | 3pm-5pm
Washington, DC
The Brad Linde Ensemble celebrates the birthday of the "First Lady of Song", with new arrangements (by Brad Linde and Chris Byars) that feature vocalist Lena Seikaly.

With:

Joe Herrera-trumpet
Sarah Hughes-alto saxophone
Brad Linde-tenor saxophone
Matt Musselman-trombone
Matt Rippetoe-baritone saxophone
Rodney Richardson-guitar
Alex Shubert-piano
Tom Baldwin-bass
Tony Martucci-drums
Lena Seikaly-vocals

Lee Konitz with the BLE at Blues Alley!

Lee Konitz with the BLE at Blues Alley
04.14.10 | 8:00pm and 10:00pm
Washington, DC
Alto saxophone icon Lee Konitz performs the "Birth of the Cool" and music by Lennie Tristano/Lee Konitz with a big band edition of the Brad Linde Ensemble. This show will sell out. Buy tickets here: Lee Konitz with BLE

About Lee Konitz:
Generally considered one of the driving forces of Cool Jazz, Konitz has also performed successfully in bebop and avant-garde settings. Konitz was one of the few altoists to retain a distinctive sound in the 40s, when Charlie Parker exercised a tremendous influence on other players.
Konitz, like other students of pianist and theoretician Lennie Tristano, was noted for improvising long, melodic lines with the rhythmic interest coming from odd accents, or odd note groupings suggestive of the imposition of one time signature over another.
Konitz's association with the Cool Jazz movement of the 1940s and 50s, includes participation in Miles Davis' epochal Birth of the Cool sessions, and his work with Lennie Tristano came from the same period. During his long career, Konitz has played with musicians from a wide variety of jazz styles. (wikipedia.org)

His newest release is with pianist Dan Tepfer, "Duos with Lee" (Sunnyside 2009).

With:

Trumpets: Chris Walker, Chris Gekker, Joe Herrera, Brent Madsen, and Jim Ketch
Trombones: Doug Elliott, Jen Krupa, Matt Musselman, and Liz Prince (tuba)
Reeds: Sarah Hughes, Matt Rippetoe, Charles Phaneuf, Leigh Pilzer, and Brad Linde
Rhythm Section: Rodney Richardson, Alex Shubert, Jack Sorock, Tom Baldwin, and Tony Martucci

Legendary Hardbop Pianist Returns to Washington DC-March 26-27

Returning to the East Coast last March, Freddie Redd played to eager audiences in DC and NYC. Those performances earned several follow-up engagements and after successful performances at Birdland and Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in New York City earlier this year, the Legendary Hardbop Pianist returns to Washington DC on Friday and Saturday, March 26-27, 2010 to perform at Twins Jazz (www.twinsjazz.com).

About Freddie Redd
Since his emergence as composer of the score for Jack Gelber's harrowingly exact play, The Connection, Freddie Redd has finally been gaining some of the recognition that has eluded him for much of his playing career. Freddie also plays the taciturn pianist in the play with convincing effect. Although he hopes to work again in the theatre, Freddie remains essentially a jazz player-writer, and this album underlines his growth as a composer of vigorously expressive jazz originals. Freddie has been writing since he started playing. In both disciplines, he is largely self-taught. Born in New York, May 29, 1928, Freddie came of a moderately musical family. His mother sang in church, and still does; and his father, who died when Freddie was not yet a year old, had played piano. Unlike most professional jazzmen, Freddie didn't take up an instrument until quite late in his teens. Around 1946, when he was in the Army, Freddie bagan to pick up the piano on his own. After being discharged, he studied for a month at the Greenwich House Music School in New York, but he became so proficient through his own investigations that he left school to take his first professional job, a jazz gig in Syracuse. With him, by the way, was tenor saxophonist Tina Brooks. After Syracuse, he free-lanced in Harlem, especially in a sit-in room called Club Harlem where pay was small but the chance to learn before an audience and other musicians was extensive. Meanwhile, he was absorbing a number of influences. The first jazz record he recalls having had a sharp impact on him was the Charlie Parker--Dizzy Gillespie "Shaw' Nuff" to which he was exposed in the Army. Later, Freddie heard Bud Powell. "Bud really got me started. I'd never heard a pianist play quite like that--the remarkably fluent single lines and the pretty chords. In time, Thelonious Monk got to me too. Actually, however, I've been influenced by many things I've heard on a lot of instruments. What I do is try to piece together what stimulates me into my own way of feeling things musically." By 1953, Freddie had joined Cootie Williams and spent a stimulating year traveling mostly through the South. Back in New York, Freddie started working with vibist Joe Roland and began to be heard quite often at Birdland's informal Monday night sessions. In 1954, Freddie was with Art Blakey, and then for a time he seemed to have disappeared. He turned up in Sweden on a tour with Rolf Ericson, joined Charlie Mingus's Jazz Workshop in 1956, and when Mingus went to the coast, Freddie left the band there. He was based in San Francisco for six months, and returned to New York where he did some recording but was inactive on the club scene. After several years of shuffling, the chance came to write the music for and appear in The Connection. Freddie has been at the Living Theatre on Sixth Avenue ever since. He doesn't find the long run dull since "something different happens every night," but he would like to form his own group and go back into the clubs. He was particularly anxious to work out some of his ideas on how jazz writing and playing can be productively interrelated in this album and the result, he feels, has given him more confidence than any experience since his scoring The Connection. --NAT HENTOFF, from the liner notes, Shades Of Redd, Blue Note.

Performance details
Mr. Redd will be joined by Brad Linde-saxophone, Tom Baldwin-bass, and Tony Martucci. This is a rare opportunity to hear a living jazz legend perform selections from his score to "The Connection" and interpret standards in his own unmistakable style. Do not miss this event!

Twins Jazz
1344 U Street NW, Washington DC
Friday and Saturday, March 26-27, 2010
Sets at 9pm and 11pm
www.twinsjazz.com

March Gig-Tonight!

Legendary Freddie Redd Quintet at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 7:30pm and 9:30pm
Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz At Lincoln Center
33 60th Street and Columbus Circle
New York, NY 10023
www.jalc.org

"The Freddie Redd Quintet: The Jazz Connection" performs music from Freddie's classic Blue Note albums, including music from "Shades of Redd" and "Redd's Blues".

Freddie Redd-piano
Brad Linde-tenor saxophone
Chris Byars-alto saxophone
Ari Roland-bass
Stefan Schatz-drums

Upcoming Jazz Performance in February

Hello all,

Here is a list of upcoming jazz performances for the Freddie Redd Sextet, the Brad Linde Ensemble and the Brad Linde Sextet in New York City, Washington DC and Philadelphia. I hope to see you at one or all of them! (Also, there is information on the BLE's CD "Feeling That Way Now" and a chance to vote for the BLE for the 2010 Wammies).

Special East Coast appearance by the Legendary Hardbop Pianist, Freddie Redd!!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 8:30pm and 10:00pm
Birdland-"The Jazz Corner of the World"
315 44th Street between 8th and 9th Ave
New York, NY
www.birdlandjazz.com

Freddie Redd returns to the East Coast to perform at New York's famous Birdland jazz club. The sextet will perform Freddie's original music from his classic Blue Note albums of the 1960s, including music from "The Connection".

The Freddie Redd Sextet
Freddie Redd-piano
Brad Linde-tenor saxophone
Chris Byars-alto saxophone
John Mosca-trombone
Ari Roland-bass
Stefan Schatz-drums



Brad Linde Ensemble CD Release Performance
Monday, February 15, 2010 at 8pm and 10pm
Blues Alley
1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20007 C 2
www.bluesalley.com

Release Party for the BLE's "Feeling That Way Now" CD, celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Miles Davis classic "Birth of the Cool" and the 50th Anniversary of the historic "Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall" concert. The CD features new arrangements and compositions by Gene D'Andrea, Chris Byars, and Brad Linde.

Brad Linde Ensemble
Brad Linde-tenor saxophone, clarinet
Brent Madsen-trumpet
Sarah Hughes-alto saxophone, clarinet
Heidi Littman-f horn
Matt Musselman-trombone
Matt Rippetoe-baritone saxophone
Liz Prince-tuba
Alex Shubert-piano
Rodney Richardson-guitar
Tom Baldwin-bass
Web Grant-drums


Brad Linde Sextet presents "Foreground Music: The Music of Tristano/Konitz/Marsh/Brown"
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 8pm and 9:45pm
Chris' Jazz Cafe
1421 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
www.chrisjazzcafe.com

The Brad Linde Sextet presents "Foreground Music: The Music of Lennie Tristano, Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh, and Ted Brown", plus original compositions and improvisations inspired by the Tristano School.

Brad Linde-tenor saxophone
Sarah Hughes-alto saxophone
Rodney Richardson-guitar
Alex Shubert-piano
Jeff Reed-bass
Web Grant-drums


Legendary Freddie Redd Quintet at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 7:30pm and 9:30pm
Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz At Lincoln Center
33 60th Street and Columbus Circle
New York, NY 10023
www.jalc.org

"The Freddie Redd Quintet: The Jazz Connection" performs music from Freddie's classic Blue Note albums, including music from "Shades of Redd" and "Redd's Blues".

Freddie Redd-piano
Brad Linde-tenor saxophone
Chris Byars-alto saxophone
Ari Roland-bass
Stefan Schatz-drums


"FEELING THAT WAY NOW"
You can purchase "Feeling That Way Now", the new CD by the Brad Linde Ensemble celebrating the Miles Davis classic "Birth of the Cool" and Thelonious Monk's Orchestra performance at Town Hall, at the following locations:

1. www.bradlinde.com, click on "Buy the CD"

2. www.cdbaby.com/bradlindeensemble

3. Amazon, itunes, lala, napster or any other internet music distributor


You can also vote for the Brad Linde Ensemble for the Washington Area Music Association's "Fan Favorite" award for the 2010 Wammies. The BLE was nominated for Best Jazz Group and "Feeling That Way Now" was nominated for Best Jazz Album. Show your support for the ensemble here:

(before Feb 19): http://wamadc.com/wama/wammies/fanform.htm


Thank you all for the support.

Sarah Hughes Quintet with Brad Linde-January 2010

Wednesday, January 6 at 9:30pm
U-topia Bar and Grill on U Street NW
Washington DC

The Sarah Hughes Quintet plays the music of Ornette Coleman.

Sarah Hughes-alto saxophone
Brian Settles-tenor saxophone
Brad Linde-alto saxophone
Andrew Cox-bass
Web Grant-drums

Wednesday, January 13 at 9:30pm
U-topia Bar and Grill on U Street NW
Washington DC

The Sarah Hughes Quintet plays Gerry Mulligan Quartet w/Lee Konitz arrangements and original arrangements by Sarah Hughes and Brad Linde.

Sarah Hughes-alto saxophone
Joe Herrera-trumpet
Brad Linde-baritone saxophone
Andrew Cox-bass
Web Grant-drums