If you're anywhere near Charlottesville, Virginia -- say, in Richmond or Washington, DC -- you owe it to yourself to stop by C'ville Coffee, tonight, to hear jazz greats Hod O'Brien and Stephanie Nakasian. The gig starts at 8 pm, and I can just about guarantee that the eight bucks that you'll hand over to get in will be the best money you've spent in a long, long time.
Hod O'Brien, in the recording studio, 13 January 2011. (All photos copyright John Edwin Mason, 2011. Click on any of the images to see larger versions.)
Hod's new CD, It Don't Mean a Thing, has just been released on the Japan's Spice of Life label. I was lucky enough to have been asked to photograph the recording session, and my images appear on the CD's cover and in the booklet. You'll be able to purchase the CD at the show. (For the music, not the pics!)
CD cover photo by John Edwin Mason.
Hod is without a doubt one of the great jazz pianists of our time, but he's only gotten the recognition he deserves within the last decade or so. Over the years, he's played with people like Art Farmer, Stan Getz, and Donald Byrd, and he was only 21 when he replaced Bill Evans in Oscar Pettiford's quintet.
A couple of years ago, he was a guest on Piano Jazz, the National Public Radio show that's hosted by Marian McPartland. Hod and Marian clearly enjoyed each other's company and made some absolutely terrific music together. (You can listen to the program, here.)
Stephanie Nakasian, in the recording studio, 13 January 2011.
Stephanie Nakasian, who appears on It Don't Mean a Thing, will be joining Hod this evening. Stephanie has released many CDs of her own, and like Hod, was recently a guest on a National Public Radio show. In her case, she spoke to Terry Gross, on Fresh Air, about her album of songs associated with Billy Holiday. (You can listen in, here.)
Michael Hawkins, in the recording studio, 13 January 2011.
Unfortunately, the other two musicians who appear on It Don't Mean a Thing can't make it to tonight's gig. Michael Hawkins, the bassist, was a member of Cyrus Chestnut's trio for 10 years. He's also played with Duane Eubanks, Montez Coleman, Antonio Hart, Mulgrew Miller, Gary Bartz, Eric Reed, Steve Turre, among many others.
Billy Williams, in the recording studio, 13 January 2011.
The drummer, Billy Williams, also has an impressive resume (especially for someone so young), having played with Cyrus Chestnut, Benny Golson, Orrin Evans, and Larry Willis.
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You can find out more about tonight's performance, here.
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