E. Doctor Smith's Blog

I recently had the pleasure of playing with one of Montana's legendary saxophonists, Wilbur Rehmann, during one of his frequent visits to the Bay Area. Known for his keen ear and smooth tones, Rehmann is the leader of the "Wilbur Rehmann Quartet", and the man behind "Montana Jazz". "Rehmann and his Quartet," wrote Mike Clark of the Great Yellowstone Coalition, "have brought to us a sense of joy, wonder and solitude with their original jazz interpretations, which explore the interior landscapes of the American West and the meaning of wilderness". Rehmann's "Going Down the Gulch" is but one of many fine examples of that style, and embodies a true "Big Sky Jazz" sound. Rehmann grew up listening to the last of the traveling big bands in the late forty's and early fifties. and as a teenager, got interested in bebop and wanted to know not only why they played like that, but how. Now he knows, and he plays it ...

Plus Winston Montgomery's "Momma's Tattoo" Bay Area favorite, guitarist Cas Lucas returns from a busy trip up north, to perform at Jupiter in Berkeley, this Wednesday night, in an unplugged duet with long time partner Stephen Inglis. Lucas has been quite busy following the release of his critically acclaimed "Giving It Back" CD, and his work with the East Bay's legendary Palm Wine Boys. In addition to finishing up his, as yet unnamed new CD, Lucas plans a Spring tour of Colorado, Utah, Nevada, the Pacific Northwest and Southern California. Indeed, Lucas also plans for an "African Highlife-Jam Band" group, and featuring some surprising local musicians. From his early work with the renown Yusef Lateef, to his more recent outings with the Palm Wine Boys, Lucas clearly hopes to be breaking some new ground with his new CD, and his newfound African-Highlife influences. Recorded in 2004 with Inglis, "Giving It Back", Lucas' ...

I first enjoyed the original Oregon, during an "ECM Festival", at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Alongside Gary Burton, a young Pat Matheny, Eberhard Weber, John Abercrombie and Jack Dejohnette, Oregon truly shined. Thirty five years, and dozens of recordings later, the incredible jazz quartet Oregon will be releasing their latest effort, the eagerly awaited "Prime". Led by three of their original members, guitarist and keyboardist Ralph Towner, Bolinas-based Paul McCandless on reeds, and bassist Glenn Moore, Oregon's "Prime" follows the success of their Grammy winning "Oregon in Moscow" and "Live at Yoshi's". Oregon has continued, rather admirably following the tragic death of original percussionist Colin Walcott during their 1984 European tour. Walcott had ironically suggested that the great Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu could make a fine addition to the group, and after his dea...

The great jazz pianist-composer Ahmad Jamal will be performing at Yoshi's in Oakland, January 4th-8th. His most recent album, "After Fajr", was recorded live with his trio in France last year, and is considered one of his best. Recorded with bassist James Cammack, and the masterful Idris Muhammad on drums, his "Live in Baalbeck" DVD and the "L'Olympia 2000" CD concerts, are two of my personal favorites, and a must for Jamal fans. Jamal continues to tour throughout the world, as he has for the last five decades. Noted for his outstanding technical command and identifiable sound as a piano stylist, Jamal ranks as one of the most influential and popular artists in the history of jazz music. He is one of the few jazz artists to sell over 1 million copies of an individual recording with "But Not For Me", which featured the huge hit "Poinciana", (Jamal's favorite Caribbean tree), which stayed on the charts for an unpre...