2011 in (RVA) Jazz

We look back at 2011.

January 6, 2012; 6:00 AM • by Aaron Williams

2011 saw some of the best music ever in ol’ RVA. While we look forward to all of the wonderful things that 2012 will bring us (including February 29th), we also pause to look back at all of the great music that happened in 2011:

All of that jazz and more

Old Band, New Sound, One Night of Fun – Glows in the Dark went electric and performed dance music based on Italian crime thrillers.
Minimum Wage is far from minimum quality – Drummer and engineer Lance Koehler plays a very important role in the Richmond music scene.
Richmond reuinion Before Sean Moran returned to Richmond to perform with Brian Jones, we found out a little about what Richmond used to be like.
Amazing May May turned to out to be an action packed month worthy of its own chronicling.
Déjà vu: The Richmond Jazz Festival We comment on the return of the Richmond Jazz Festival.
Cutting contest, Cutting contest, part 2 – In a two part series, Bryan Hooten and John Lilley discuss illegally downloading music.
The list: five essential non jazz records for the jazz listener/musician – Stevie Wonder isn’t jazz, but non jazz musicians have limitless influence on jazz musicians.
Titans of the Tough Toned Texas Tenor John Lilley delivers a history lesson on the Texas tenor sound.
Selba – more jazz than anywhere else in Richmond Selba has become one of the hottest spots in town for straight-ahead jazz.

Live

Two trios tear it up at The Camel – Trio of Justice and Marcus Tenney Trio tore up the Camel.
District rendezvous – In a night of north meet south, Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society and Fight the Big Bull met up at Subterranean A in Washington DC.
Lou Hoff Quartet at VMFA Jazz Cafe
Toby Whitaker Big Band at Balliceaux
Brian Jones – two nights, five sets
Brian Jones’ Musicircus
Snarky Puppy
Looking back at a crazy week
Esperanza Spalding – showmanship without the fluff
Gretchen Parlato didn’t swing (and that’s OK)

Listening Back

UTV.Chamber and Scott Clark 4-tet
Brian Jones Quintet and The Music of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
Lucas Fritz Quintet and Old Soul
Devonne Harris’s Reeverb + 2 bonus sets
Jazz By Numbers
Larri Branch Agenda and Steve Kessler
Brian Jones
UTV.chamber & Compass Rose Orchestra
Elby Brass
Mara Rosenbloom Quartet
Zevious and Top Knot Trio
Brian Jones Set 1
Brian Jones Set 2
Rattlemouth
Glenn Wilson and the Jazz Maniacs Set 1
Glenn Wilson and the Jazz Maniacs Set 2
Miller’s Band Set 1
Miller’s Band Set 2
Glows in the Dark

RVA Records

UTV.chamber: The First Letter
Ombak – Fan Bricks
Deep Dish: Scott Burton on Glows in the Dark’s new record
part one: Bryan Hooten – Richmond Love Call
part two: Bryan Hooten – Richmond Love Call
Old Soul – sounds before the silence

Everywhere else on record

Throughout the year, we feature some out of town albums.

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones – Rocket Science
From “Live at Smalls” to live at The Camel
Patois-Patois
Building groove mansions

RVAJazzfest

After facing a sudden death in the family and a blizzard in 2010, the 2011 RVAJazzfest escaped unscathed. Oh yeah and some great music happened too.

Announcing RVAJazzfest 2011
Harris Eisenstadt and Canada Day: Fitting in, standing out
Richmond Jazz Society: Miles at the Mosque
Scott Clark 4tet: Back line leader
Old New Things
VCU presents pianist Fred Hersch
Southside Jazz at Milestone
Looking Back at the RVAJazzfest
RVAJazzfest in video

Drop the Needle

You really stepped up, Richmond. Hear some of the best impromptu sessions hand picked by Toby Whitaker.

DROP THE NEEDLE! Round 3!
Drop the Needle #3: Toby Whitaker edition

Farewell to Dean Christesen

Farewell pt. 1
Farewell pt. 2

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January 6, 2012 6:00 AM 0