Jan 9, 2014
For the past few years, the Jazz Standard in New York City has presented an evening concert that attempts to rethink a classic jazz album in its entirety. Two years ago, it was John Coltrane’s Ascension. Last year, it was Ornette Coleman’s Free Jazz. The brain-child of producer-promoter Milan Simich, these shows have allowed some of today’s finest players pay tribute to the past while sharing what these great works have meant to them. Click here to listen to Donnie McCaslin discuss Ascension, here to listen to Ben Allison discuss Free Jazz.
On January 14, Simich and the Jazz Standard will present Compulsion!!! The Music of Andrew Hill as another of these great shows. Many of the musicians for the evening have been on the bandstand for Simich before, including Greg Osby (alto saxophone), Donnie McCaslin (tenor saxophone), Jeremy Pelt (trumpet), Ben Allison (bass), and Matt Wilson and Billy Drummond (drums). Relative newcomers are alto sax player Jaleel Shaw and reedman Marty Ehrlich.
I spoke with Milan about the show, about his love of the music of the oft-misunderstood Andrew Hill, why he thinks musicians take too many solos, and what his plans are for other shows to present in 2014. Podcast 403 is that conversation, including some Andrew Hill music for good measure including:
Title track from Black Fire (alternate take)
“The Day After (alternate take)” from Smoke Stack
“Legacy” from Compulsion!!!
“For Blue People Only” from Mosaic Select