E. Doctor Smith's Blog

Béla Fleck is no doubt, one of the premiere banjo players in the world and has made a name for himself as a virtuoso instrumentalist unbounded by genre. His band The Flecktones - Victor Wooten on electric bass, Jeff Coffin on sax and flute, and Future Man on electric and acoustic percussion - are equally talented and adventurous as Fleck himself. Last year's holiday CD "Jingle All the Way" is still all of that, with bells on - Christmas music as it's never been heard it before, with unique tonal textures, hot solos and tight ensemble arrangements that make every measure new. The Flecktones last appeared at Yoshi's on Fillmore 2 years ago, promoting this album with several memorable shows. They skipped the West coast last year however, for a memorable tour in Europe, reuniting them with original member, pianist and harmonica legend Howard Levy. Last night, they returned to the Fox Theater in Oakland for another stellar, Christmas-time performance. Released two tear

This Saturrday night, the Meridian Gallery at 535 Powell will present the CD release show for the Emergency String (X)tet's "Emergency Rental". Recorded one spring evening in San Francisco, Emergency Rental is a collaboration by the ES(X)tet and saxophonist and producer Rent Romus exploring sound in and outside the elements of free improvisation between saxophone and strings, and released on Romus' Edgetone Records label. "For about a year prior I searched up and down looking for the most interesting set of string players I could to create Emergency Rental", says Romus. "I am honored that all seven of the current Emergency Strings choose to work with me on this project." The Emergency String (X)tet grew out of the ashes of Fred Longberg-Holms Phenomenal String Quartet in Chicago some fifteen years ago. After the dissolution of the Phenomenal Strings, ESX founder Bob Marsh was disconsolate, greatly missing the aural wonders provided by that group. H

When I last saw the guitarist Mike Stern at Yoshi's San Francisco, he was performing alongside the incredible drummer Billy Cobham, as well as keyboardist Mark Soskin and bassist Victor Bailey. Cobham's reprise of his "Spectrum" era repertoire thrilled the audience, as did Stern's incendiary solos. Later that week, Cobham would play Yoshi's Oakland with an all-acoustic line up, featuring the brilliant trumpeter Randy Brecker, another longtme Cobham alum. Now Stern and Brecker return to Yoshi's for a weekend of music with drum virtuoso Dennis Chambers and bassist Anthony Jackson. Stern and Brecker will also participate in the Jazz Heritage Center's popular lecture series, "We're Talkin' Jazz" on Sunday. In a career that spans three decades and a discography that includes more than a dozen eclectic and innovative recordings, six-time GRAMMY nominee Stern has established himself as one of the premier jazz and jazz-fusion

Edo Castro is one of the Bay Area's most prolific bassists and composers. His previous albums, "Edo" and the critically acclaimed "Phoenix" both on the Passion Star label, saw Castro's love of jazz, textures and his Matheny-like passion for perfection reach new heights. Now comes Castro's most ambitious work to date, "Sacred Graffiti". Castro brings together the members of his "Expandable Trio", guitarist Erik Lindquist and drummer Alex Aspinall, as well as stellar musicians like trumpeter Mark Isham and virtuoso bassist Michael Manring to produce a sonic soundscape that will treat the listener to the breadth and depth of his musical prowess. Castro is a master of the 7 string bass, looping, and like the legendary Manring, adept with the use of a device called the "Ebow". The Ebow allows a guitarist or bassist to electronically vibrate their strings, producing some of the most beautiful textures you are ever lik

One of my favorite keyboardists passed away suddenly in his sleep last month, the incredible T. Lavitz. I first saw Lavitz many years ago with the famed Dixie Dregs, and later as a founding member of the Grateful Dead-inspired "Jazz is Dead", alongside Alphonso Johnson, Billy Cobham and Jimmy Herring. Lavitz's death at a young age comes as shock to the jazz-rock world. Lavitz began his intensive study of classical and jazz piano at age seven. At the same time, the Beatles invaded America, igniting in Lavitz a lifelong love of rock music. Born on April 16, 1956, Lavitz grew up in New Jersey. He started taking piano lessons at the age of seven and was offered a scholarship at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan where he studied before attending the University of Miami's School of Music. By twenty-two, Lavitz was asked to join the "rock, jazz, and everything else" instrumental band, the Dixie Dregs. It was a dream come true, because they were

To say that Yusef Lateef has had a remarkable career would be a major understatement. Lateef, who celebrates his 90th birthday this year, was recently honored as a 2010 NEA Jazz Master. On the tenor, flute and oboe he has an inimitable voice, and along with Miles Davis and John Coltrane, he was a trailblazer of modal jazz. Although he had stints with Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderley and Charles Mingus, Lateef has primarily been a leader throughout his career with over 70 innovative albums to his credit. He was one of the first to emerge from mainstream jazz and explore “world” music, on his landmark 1961 Prestige record Eastern Sounds. And he had a great run of classic releases on the Impulse! label from 1964-66. Rather than use the word “jazz,” Lateef prefers to call his music “autophysiopsychic,” meaning, “that which comes from one’s spiritual, physical and emotional self.” And what better place than Grace Cathedral to continue this journey? Providing subtle support

Over the course of a remarkable, still-unfolding career, Gary Husband has defined himself as the ultimate musician’s musician: a fiery, perceptive presence who elevates every scenario – from the tightly arranged to pure, open-ended improvisation. Whether focusing on his intricate, propulsive drumming or unleashing his nimble, harmonically astute keyboard abilities, Husband never fails to make his presence felt, while always remaining sympathetic to his fellow musicians and to the composition at hand. His vast range of experience allows him to balance the technical and the intuitive with rare grace, earning him the opportunity to perform and record alongside such maverick, inventive talents as John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck, Allan Holdsworth, Jack Bruce, Mike Stern, Robin Trower, Billy Cobham, Gary Moore, Level 42, Andy Summers, and many, many more. In addition to his prolific career as a sideman, the British-born Husband has recorded seven of his own albums, featuring his mul

It's no secret that saxophonist and longtime friend Wilbur Rehmann is one of my favorite musicians. No small wonder, as Rehmann draws much of his inspiration from none other than the great Sonny Rollins. I've had the privilege of performing with Rehmann during his annual sojourns to San Francisco, most recently at the Fillmore Jazz Heritage Center last August. Now, after a 10 year recording hiatus, ("Back Home Jazz" in 1996, and Mann Gulch Suite in 1999), Rehmann returns with what must be considered his best effort to date with " Old Friends and New ". Rejoining Rehmann are two of his longtime collaborators, the incredible father and son duo of Blackie and Ken Nelson, as well as the rhythm section of bassist Rennan Rieke and drummer Jeremy Slead. This is the Wilbur Rehmann Quintet at its finest, and well worth the wait. I consider Rehmann and the elder Nelson, two of the "Deans of Montana Jazz", so it seemed fitting to quote someone wh

In the past few years, Wilson’s original work has premiered internationally and nationally at highly acclaimed venues such as the Willisau Jazz Festival, Switzerland, NYC Central Park's Summerstage, the deYoung Museum in SF, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival and the Festival of New Trumpet Music in NYC. Wilson’s new record label, Brass Tonic Records celebrates the release of her 2010 CD, Trapeze Project with Wilson (trumpet/vocals), Myra Melford (piano), Ben Goldberg (clarinet), Jerome Harris (bass) and Scott Amendola (drums). Fresh from over a decade-long stint in NYC as an active fixture in the downtown jazz world, Wilson exploded back on her native SF Bay Area music scene winning critical acclaim for her 2006 CD, Music for an Imaginary Play. The CD garnered a Best in 2006 Bay Area Jazz CDs highlight from the music critic Andrew Gilbert. Her music has also received esteemed national accolades from the New York Times, Time Out New York, San Francisco Chronicle and Cadence

Last November, Gadd brought an all star line-up to Yoshi's in San Francisco with keyboardist Joey DeFrancesco, saxophonist Ronnie Cuber and guitarist Paul Bollenback. Now comes a live album featuring that band, "Live at Voce". A well-respected drummer who has appeared in many types of settings in many genres, Gadd's impressive technique and flexibility have been influential during the past 20 years. He started playing drums at the age of three, sat in with Dizzy Gillespie when he was 11, and after extensive study and a stint in the Army, Gadd became an important studio drummer beginning in 1972. Among his more significant jazz associations have been with Chick Corea (starting in 1975), Bob James, Al DiMeola, Tom Scott, Grover Washington Jr., David Sanborn, the group Stuff, the Manhattan Jazz Quintet, and his own impressive band (the Gadd Gang) which recorded for Columbia in 1986 and 1988. Gadd's website features a review of the aforementioned album,

Next Saturday, September 11, 2010, visionary musician and human rights worker, Michael Franti, along with Guerrilla Management present the 12th Annual Power to the Peaceful Festival (PTTP) at Speedway Meadow in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Beginning in 1998, this diverse music, arts, action and yoga festival has become a premiere San Francisco tradition dedicated to educating attendees on issues of social justice, non- violence, cultural co-existence and environmental sustainability. With over 70,000 attendees, PTTP has grown from a local community based event to one of the nation’s largest free annual music festivals in the U.S. PTTP features a variety of international musicians, visual artists, renowned keynote speakers and over 200 exhibitors and green vendors. The Power of the Peaceful movement has reached a new level by gaining international recognition. PTTP is committed to sustainability via innovative recycling programs, initiating partnerships with other sust

My all-time favorite guitarist is none other than the legendary Allan Holdsworth. I first saw him back in the late '70s, in one of the latter incarnations of the Tony Williams Lifetime; next with the British group U.K., featuring Bill Bruford, John Wetton and Eddie Jobson; and later, after seeing subsequent tours with his own incredible trio of bassist Jimmie Johnson and drummer Chad Wackerman, I knew I was witnessing pure guitar genius. There is no one who sounds like the self-taught guitar wizard, though many have tried. His unique way of phrasing and beautifully crafted chords, is an extremely rare gift. Holdsworth is indeed, one of a handful of musicians who has consistently proven himself as an innovator within the worlds of rock and jazz music. Many of music's best-known instrumental masters cite Holdsworth as that rare and shining voice—a legendary player who continues to push the outer limits of instrumental technique and the electric guitar's range of

Alongside the late Tony Williams and Billy Cobham, Lenny White is part of my personal trinity of the greatest drummers of all time. I have seen all three, many, many times over their storied careers. There are none better. Williams, Cobham and White redefined jazz drumming in the '70s, giving birth to the jazz-rock era and paving the way for all who came behind them. According to Abstract Logix, his label's website, "Following his triumphant worldwide reunion tour with Return To Forever in 2008 and separate trio tours in 2009 with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke and pianist Hiromi with Clarke, White was primed to put out his own recording, his first as a leader in ten years. With "Anomaly", the pioneering jazz-rock drummer returns to his roots, blending powerhouse backbeats and improvisational abandon in a bold, unapologetically aggressive manner that characterized the early 70s fusion movement. On that RTF tour he told sold-out crowds every night: “T

This Sunday, the Excelsior Cultural Group and the San Francisco Parks Trust will present the 8th Annual Jerry Day Celebration at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, located at 45 John F. Shelley Drive. The first Jerry Garcia / Excelsior celebration happended in 2002 as a fundraiser for Crocker Amazon Playground in Jerry Garcia's childhood neighborhood - The Excelsior District. Spearheaded and conceived by Excelsior District natives and residents, this civic and cultural event is the largest event associated with the neighborhood. It's wholeheartedly embraced by the community and the city. In 2009, the festival received the "Best Community Building Event Award" from the City and County of San Francisco. Jerry Garcia, as most people know, was one of the biggest musical icons of our time, the leader of the Grateful Dead, and a native son of the Excelsior District who grew up at 87 Harrington Street. This community celebration of Jerry Garcia originated in 2002 a

Outsound Presents, the home grown artist nonprofit collective of the Bay-Area returns July 18th - 24th for the 9th Annual Outsound New Music Summit, one of the most comprehensive experimental music festivals on the West Coast with another unique roster of talent. The festival seeks to build on its reputation for diverse and critically-acclaimed performances with headliners that run the gamut from the films of Martha Colburn, multi-phonic drummer Alex Cline, the siren voices of Amy X Neuburg to the unabashed performance noise of Chen Santa Maria. Every summer since 2002, the New Music Summit spends a week in July showcasing some of the most innovative and pioneering new music that is happening in California and beyond. At first a celebration of the eclectic vanguard artists on the DIY Edgetone Records Label, the Summit now features a broad range of artists from across the US, Europe, Australia and Japan. It features world premieres and exclusive debuts, raging free improvis

Béla Fleck is often considered the premier banjo player in the world. “Throw Down Your Heart - Africa Sessions Part 2” includes fourteen new songs recorded during his journey from Nashville to Mali, The Gambia, Tanzania and Uganda. Fleck's goal was to collaborate with incredible African musicians, and look into the origins of the banjo and banjo music. This is also Fleck's second installment of his African musical odyssey and his first experiment with the idea of going direct to the listener online; no record company middleman, a popular concept being used in today's digital music world. For now, his website is the only place you can find and download this fabulous album. A New York City native, he picked up the banjo at age 15 after being awed by the bluegrass music of Flatt & Scruggs. While still in high school he began experimenting with playing bebop jazz on his banjo, mentored by fellow banjo renegade Tony Trischka. In 1980, he released his first solo