Jazz Nights (16)

Steve Nelson (vibraphone), Kirk Lightsey (piano), and Ray Drummond (bass)

There is a ghost that haunts these JazzNights evenings of ours. Perhaps "haunts" is the wrong word, because this ghost seems quite benevolent. Words like "informs" or "influences" might be better. The ghost is the shade of the late jazz club Bradley's, once and probably forever the greatest jazz club in the world. Really? Don't take my word for it - Here is what Hank Jones said when asked why musicians continue to revere this place so many years after its sad demise:

"Things just aren't the same without Bradley's.....that was the greatest place in the world."

At Bradley's, there was a commitment to intimacy and a great respect for the music - the New Yorker famously described Bradley's as "the place you can hear musicians thinking." There is a "Bradley's" type of musician, and that's just who we try to attract. All three of our artists this May fall exactly into that category.

In 1989 and 2004, the small, but highly estimable label "Sunnyside" released two excellent CD's. "Full Nelson" and "Fuller Nelson" by a trio consisting of Steve

"I'm taking what Hamp started, and then Bags showed that the vibes could be used like Bird." Steve Nelson

Nelson on vibraphone, Kirk Lightsey on piano, and Ray Drummond on bass. Those two CDs grew out of a gig at Bradley's, at which all three of these musicians were regulars. On Friday, May 19th, JazzNights is delighted to bring this trio to Princeton for the 16th concert of our series - Part 2 of our "Spring Vibraphone Festival." We aim to recapitulate the spirit of that greatest of all jazz rooms - intimacy coupled with invention and the highest level of musical artistry.

These three musicians are all what you might call "quiet stars" - sometimes below the publicity-driven radar but at the top of their professions nonetheless. Only Nelson seems to break regularly into the Downbeat polls, but if you talk to musicians, you hear all their names all the time. "Oh, you have Lightsey coming? - that's a coup! And Bulldog's the bassist? Even better." The reunion of these three gentlemen promises to be a happy and significant occasion.

We have expostulated on the history of the vibraphone before (see the website link to JazzNights 14), and won't repeat that discussion here. Suffice it to say that Steve Nelson is one of today's top two or three talents on that instrument. He fits solidly into the historical tradition, but is definitely a forward-looking instrumentalist. He comes from Pittsburgh, a important source of jazz talent, has taught at Rutgers, and was early on associated with pianists Kenny Barron and Mulgrew Miller, a connection that continues to this day. He is a member of two of today's very best small groups, The Dave Holland Quintet and Mulgrew Miller's "Wingspan."

Mr. Lightsey may be the "best pianist you don't know." After leaving the Dexter Gordon quartet, he has spent the last

"...Kirk Lightsey has all the prerequisites of a major piano artist - a singing, personal tone, solid technique, swing, and invention of line.." Peter Leitch, Cadence

several years in France and has been regrettably scarce in the New York scene. He's from Detroit, and if Pittsburgh is an "important" source of jazz talent, Detroit is THE source of jazz pianists: Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris, and Roland Hanna are examples. There must be something in the air out there, because Lightsey, like these others, plays with exquisite taste and great imagination. He's bop- and blues-influenced for sure, as befits a member of that illustrious group from Detroit. He also has a fine feeling for melody and an impressive technique that is used to good effect, never for its own sake. He's also an accomplished accompanist for singers, always a good sign, and a composer of note - check out his two tunes on "Fuller Nelson."

Ray Drummond started early - he was a trumpeter at 8, and a bassist only at the advanced age of 14. He plays as a leader and sideman with everyone, and is a "first call" bassist these days. No surprise: he has a wonderful deep tone, impeccable time, and an always interesting imagination.

Like Nelson, he's also a teacher, and has been resident artist at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Lafayette College, the Stanford Jazz

"That dark voice, ponderous,yet strangely articulate, tells stories with a dignity and poignancy that no horn can touch." Thomas Conrad, Stereophile

Workshop and many other places. His work embraces big bands - he was the bassist in the great Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band - and small groups. He is a long time associate of Kenny Barron in a trio that usually includes Ben Riley on drums. In 2001, this group performed a legendary week's gig at Iridium during which they never repeated a tune. This trio was caught brilliantly in 1996 on "Live at Bradley's" and "Live at Bradley's II - The Perfect Set." (see below).

His own groups, among them "Excursion" (see below), always present his own work, which is unfailing unusual and provocative. Hear, for example, "Excursion, a Suite in 5 Parts" on the CD "Excursion," or "Ballade Poetique #1" on "Vignettes," a CD that features five Drummond originals - and Renee Rosnes on piano. I also recommend two collaborations with pianist John Hicks, a connection that goes back to their association in the Betty Carter trio in 1978 (Betty Carter University, again!). I especially like the duo disk "Two of a Kind." He's appeared with us before, with Renee Rosnes on JazzNights 8, December , 2004.

These gentlemen have many, many CDs - Here is a short selection - all of these are very good.

Nelson-Lightsey-Drummond trio:

Full Nelson, Sunnyside, SSC 1044D

Fuller Nelson, Sunnyside, SSC 1134

Nelson:

Communications, (with Ray Drummond, Mulgrew Miller, and Tony Reedus), Criss Cross 1034

Points of View, Prime Directive, Not for Nuttin', Extended Play (all with the Dave Holland Quintet), ECM 1663,1698,1758,1864/5

Wingspan (with Mulgrew Miller and Wingspan), 32 Jazz 1168

Lightsey:

The Nights of Bradley's (with Rufus Reid), Sunnyside, SSC 1136

Goodbye Mr. Evans, (with Tibor Elekes and Famoudou Don Moye), Evidence ECD 22165-2

Isotope, Criss Cross 1003.

Drummond:

Live at Bradley's, Live at Bradley's II, Universal Music - Gitanes 549-099-2, Universal Music -Sunnyside, SSC 3031

Two of a Kind, (with John Hicks), Evidence, ECD 22017

Lover Man, (with John Hicks, Victor Lewis, and Ray Drummond, Red Barron,1996, JK 53748

Vignettes, (with Gary Bartz, Chris Potter, Billy Hart, and Renee Rosnes), Arabesque,1996, AJ0122

Excursion,(as leader with Joe Lovano, Craig Handy, Danilo Perez, "Smitty" Smith, and Mor Thiam), Arabesque,1993, AJ 0106