Photo: John Sharpe

On Sunday, February 12th at 8:00 p.m., New York-based alto saxophonist/composer Darius Jones will be the featured artist at Creative Differences’ monthly 2nd Sunday Series at The Windup Space in Baltimore.

Jones, an AUM Fidelity recording artist, has created new arrangements of material from his first two releases, Man’ish Boy (A Raw & Beautiful Thing) and Big Gurl (Smell My Dream), specifically to perform on this night with local musicians Dave Ballou (trumpet), John Dierker (reeds), Lafayette Gilchrist (piano), Michael Formanek (bass) and Eric Kennedy (drums).

Since delivering “one of the great jazz debuts of the past decade” (Britt Robson, eMusic.com) in 2009, Jones has been called “a singular talent” (Brian Morton, Jazz Journal), “a hot commodity in the Gotham jazz scene” (Dusted), “one of the most impressive and unique voices of our time” (Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz.com) and “a skilled composer, a hugely soulful saxophonist, and an assured leader” (François Couture, AllMusic.com).

Time Out New York‘s Steve Dollar adds, “A powerhouse saxophonist with an unusually focused perspective, Darius Jones has ambitiously framed his personal story within the bigger picture of African-American musical history. It’s one of the reasons his performances have such a passionate narrative force, as if every solo conjured holy ghosts and prodigal sons, each with its own story to tell. The drama comes through loud and clear, as the stocky Virginia native has a lot of preacher blood in his veins.”

Jones, who is profiled in the February issue of DownBeat, earned his second consecutive nomination for Up & Coming Artist of the Year at the 2011 Jazz Journalists Association Awards, and Big Gurl appeared on a variety of best-of-the-year lists, including a Top 20 finish in the prestigious Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll. Book of Mæ’bul (Another Kind of Sunrise), his third release as a bandleader, and the latest chapter of his ongoing Man’ish Boy series, will hit the streets in April.

Learn more about Darius Jones at http://dariusjonesmusic.com

Photo: Michael Jackson

Chicago-based clarinetist/composer James Falzone and his working quartet KLANG will play two local concerts before heading into the studio at Electrical Audio to record their fourth release, tentatively titled Brooklyn Lines, on February 9th. The band, which features Jason Adasiewicz (vibraphone), Jason Roebke (bass) and Tim Daisy (drums), will be presenting all new music composed by Falzone, including pieces commissioned through the 2010 Kickstarter campaign for its previous release, Other Doors (Allos Documents).

Tuesday, February 7th at 9:00 p.m.
KLANG
Jerry’s Wicker Park
1938 W. Division Street in Chicago, IL
http://jerryssandwiches.com

Wednesday, February 8th at 9:30 p.m.
KLANG
The Hideout
1354 W. Wabansia Avenue in Chicago, IL
http://www.hideoutchicago.com/event/86769/

Critics have called KLANG’s music “thoughtful and stylish” (Ben Ratliff, New York Times), “so unmistakably right” (Brian Morton, Point of Departure), “adventurous yet accessible” (Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz.com), “distinct, challenging and pleasurable” (Mark Holston, Jazziz) and “an impressive combination of practiced virtuosity and spontaneous creativity” (The New York City Jazz Record). “The level of rapport is extraordinary,” adds Cadence reviewer Stuart Kremsky, “and the malleability of each player’s role in the ensemble provides a broader range of instrumental color than you might expect. Great stuff, with more to discover in the music each time around.”

Founded in January 2006 as a one-off ensemble for a now defunct local concert series, KLANG has since become one of Chicago’s most recognizable bands. Made up of four of the city’s busiest bandleader/composers, the group has performed music ranging from original compositions to its innovative tribute to fellow Chicagoan and jazz legend Benny Goodman at prominent venues, series and festivals across the Midwest. The success of its 2011 recording, Other Doors, helped earn Falzone a nomination for Clarinetist Of The Year at the Jazz Journalists Awards, as well as profiles in DownBeat and a half dozen other publications this year.

Learn more about James Falzone and KLANG at http://allosmusica.org

Congratulations to our clients on being recognized by the following 2011 polls and year-end lists!

Darcy James Argue

DownBeat Critics’ Poll: Rising Star Composer (#1)

DownBeat Critics’ Poll: Rising Star Big Band (#2)

DownBeat Readers’ Poll: Big Band (#2)

JazzTimes Readers’ Poll: Best Big Band (#3)

100 Composers Under 40
—NPR in conjunction with WQXR 

Top 10 concerts/gigs in Ottawa
—Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen 

Top 10 Concerts Of The Year (Brooklyn Babylon)
—David R. Adler, New York City Jazz Record

Noteworthy Live Shows This Year (Brooklyn Babylon)
—Ralph A. Miriello, Jazz Journalists Association

AUM Fidelity

Darius Jones

Musicians Of The Year
—The New York City Jazz Record

Darius Jones & Matthew Shipp, Cosmic Lieder (AUM066)

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Francis Davis, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Steve Dollar, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Ed Hazell, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Tim Niland, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top Albums For 2011
—S. Victor Aaron, Something Else!

Top 10 New Releases For 2011
—Tim Niland, Music and More 

Top 10 of 2011
—Stanley Zappa, Free Jazz 

Top 30 of 2011
—Andrew Forbes, THIS IS OUR MUSIC.

2011’s Ten Best New Releases
—Alain Drouot, Jazz Journalists Association

Albums of the Year: Honorable Mentions
—The New York City Jazz Record 

Top 10 Concerts of the Year
—Andrey Henkin, The New York City Jazz Record

Farmers By Nature, Out Of This World’s Distortions (AUM067)

Top 5 Albums of 2011
—Kevin Le Gendre, BBC 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—David Fricke, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—John Sharpe, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top Ten New Releases of 2011
—Kevin Le Gendre, Jazzwise 

Top Ten New Releases of 2011
—Daniel Spicer, Jazzwise 

Best New Jazz/Improvised Music Albums of 2011
—Steve Holtje, Culture Catch

Albums of the Year: Honorable Mentions
—The New York City Jazz Record 

Best Releases of 2011
—John Sharpe, AllAboutJazz.com 

David S. Ware/Cooper-Moore/WilliamParker/Muhammad Ali, Planetary Unknown (AUM068)

Jazz & Improv A-Z
—The Wire 

Record Of The Year (#34)
—Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Clifford Allen, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Larry Birnbaum, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Troy Collins, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Steve Dollar, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—David Fricke, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Aiden Levy, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Chris Monsen, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Bret Saunders, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top Ten New Releases of 2011
— Daniel Spicer, Jazzwise 

Top 10 Satisfying CDs of 2011
—Bret Saunders, Denver Post

Top 10 Albums of 2011
—Lawrence Joseph, Montreal Mirror

Best New Jazz/Improvised Music Albums of 2011
—Steve Holtje, Culture Catch

Top 10 of 2011
—Stanley Zappa, Free Jazz 

Best New Releases of 2011
—Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz.com 

Best New Releases of 2011
—Clifford Allen, Ni Kantu 

Top 10 New Releases For 2011
—Tim Niland, Music and More 

Best of 2011
—Antonio Terzo, Jazz Journalists Association 

Favorite 20 + 3 for 2011
—John Braithwaite, CKUT 90.3 FM

Albums of the Year: Honorable Mentions
—The New York City Jazz Record 

Darius Jones Trio, Big Gurl (AUM069)

Albums of the Year
—The New York City Jazz Record 

Record Of The Year (#19)
—Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Larry Birnbaum, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Troy Collins, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Steve Dollar, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Laurence Donohue-Greene, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Alain Drouot, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Tad Hendrickson, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Lyn Horton, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Chris Monsen, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—John Sharpe, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Jeff Stockton, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top Jazz Albums of 2011
—Shaun Brady, Philadelphia City Paper 

Best New Releases of 2011
—Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz.com 

Best Releases of 2011
—John Sharpe, AllAboutJazz.com 

Top 10 of 2011
—Guy Peters, Free Jazz 

Top 10 of 2011
—Tony Verstraete, Free Jazz 

Top 10 of 2011
—Lyn Horton, The Paradigm For Beauty

Top 10 New Releases
—Laurence Donohue-Greene, Jazz Journalists Association

Top 10 New Releases
—Shaun Brady, Jazz Journalists Association

Top 10 for 2011
—Tad Hendrickson, Jazz Journalists Association

Best of 2011: New Releases
—Luke Stewart, Jazz Journalists Association

Favorite 20 + 3 for 2011
—John Braithwaite, CKUT 90.3 FM

David S. Ware, Organica (AUM070)

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Larry Birnbaum, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top Jazz Albums of 2011
—Shaun Brady, Philadelphia City Paper 

Best of 2011: Jazz
—Bill Meyer, Dusted 

Best New Jazz/Improvised Music Albums of 2011
—Steve Holtje, Culture Catch

Top 30 of 2011
—Andrew Forbes, THIS IS OUR MUSIC.

Top 10 New Releases
—Shaun Brady, Jazz Journalists Association

James Falzone

DownBeat Critics’ Poll: Rising Star Clarinet (#4)

Great Arts Events I Was At 2011
—Janis Hashe, Chattanooga Pulse

KLANG, Other Doors (Allos Documents)

The year’s best jazz CDs
—Neil Tesser, Examiner.com 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Lyn Horton, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Derek Taylor, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Favorite 20 + 3 for 2011
—John Braithwaite, CKUT 90.3 FM

Albums of the Year: Honorable Mentions
—The New York City Jazz Record

Best of 2011
—Antonio Terzo, Jazz Journalists Association

Top 13 of 2011
—Neil Tesser, Jazz Journalists Association

Mary Halvorson

DownBeat Critics’ Poll: Rising Star Guitar (#1)

Best Guitarist 2011
—Village Voice, Best of New York

100 Composers Under 40
—NPR in conjunction with WQXR 

Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone, Departure Of Reason (Thirsty Ear)

My favorite albums of 2011
—Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Lyn Horton, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top Albums for 2011
—Mark Saleski, Something Else!

Top 10 of 2011
—Lyn Horton, The Paradigm For Beauty

Weasel Walter/Mary Halvorson/Peter Evans, Electric Fruit (Thirsty Ear)

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Alain Drouot, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

2011’s Ten Best New Releases
—Alain Drouot, Jazz Journalists Association

Fay Victor

Other Dimensions In Music featuring Fay Victor, Kaiso Stories (Silkheart)

Vocal Releases of the Year
—The New York City Jazz Record 

Best Vocal Album (#6)
—Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Record Of The Year (#40)
—Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Vocal Release of the Year
—John Szwed, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Vocal Release of the Year + Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Laurence Donohue-Greene, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Vocal Release of the Year + Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Ed Hazell, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Vocal Release of the Year + Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Robert Iannapollo, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Vocal Release of the Year + Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Chris Monsen, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Vocal Release of the Year + Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Derek Taylor, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Albums of the Year
—Laurence Donohue-Greene, The New York City Jazz Record

Best of 2011
—Derek Taylor, Dusted

Vocal releases of 2011
—John Szwed, Jazz Journalists Association 

Top 10 New Releases + Vocal releases of 2011
—Laurence Donohue-Greene, Jazz Journalists Association 

Top 10 of 2011
—Guy Peters, Free Jazz

Top 10 of 2011
—Stanley Zappa, Free Jazz

Favourites for 2011
—CKUT 90.3 FM 

Favorite 20 + 3 for 2011
—John Braithwaite, CKUT 90.3 FM 

Photo: Amani Willett

Tonight at 8:30 p.m., guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson will perform with her new quartet, Reverse Blue, at Cornelia Street Café in New York.

The group, which began its life back in February as a fully improvised one-off collaboration at Search And Restore’s Spontaneous Construction series at The Blue Note, features Chris Speed (saxophone and clarinet), Eivind Opsvik (bass) and Tomas Fujiwara (drums).

“We had so much fun improvising,” she explains, “I thought I’d put together a band and actually write some music for it, just to try out something different.”

Ms. Halvorson, whose latest recording with violist Jessica Pavone, Departure Of Reason (Thirsty Ear), hit the streets in November, won the Rising Star Guitar category in the latest DownBeat Critics Poll and was recently named New York’s Best Guitarist 2011 by the Village Voice.

Critics have called her “the most future-seeking guitarist working right now” (Lars Gotrich, NPR.org), “one of the most exciting and original guitarists in jazz—or otherwise” (Steve Dollar, Wall Street Journal) and “a bandleader whose composition skills rival her brilliantly unorthodox instrumental technique” (Time Out New York).

Learn more about Mary Halvorson at http://maryhalvorson.com

Photo: Peter Gannushkin

On Sunday, November 6th at 10:00 p.m., Brooklyn-based guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson and her acclaimed quintet will close Chicago’s 2011 Umbrella Music Festival with a set at Hungry Brain.

Although she has performed around the city numerous times in collectives and as a sideperson, this will be Ms. Halvorson’s official Chicago debut as a bandleader.

That band, featuring Jonathan Finlayson (trumpet), Jon Irabagon (alto saxophone), Trevor Dunn (filling in for John Hébert on bass) and Ches Smith (drums), will preview music from its forthcoming 2012 release, Bending Bridges (Firehouse 12 Records).

It follows the group’s highly regarded 2010 debut, Saturn Sings (Firehouse 12 Records), which appeared on nearly 100 best-of-the-year lists.

Ms. Halvorson, winner of the Rising Star Guitar category in the latest DownBeat Critics Poll, has been called “NYC’s least-predictable improviser” (Howard Mandel, City Arts), “one of the most exciting and original guitarists in jazz—or otherwise” (Steve Dollar, Wall Street Journal) and “a bandleader whose composition skills rival her brilliantly unorthodox instrumental technique” (Time Out New York).

“Halvorson has been steadily reshaping the sound of jazz guitar in recent years with her elastic, sometimes-fluid, sometimes-shredding, wholly unique style,” adds the Philadelphia City Paper‘s Shaun Brady. “Her compositions, shaped by a pop sensibility and unconstrained avant aggressiveness, are ably explored by five of modern jazz’s young leading lights.”

Learn more about Mary Halvorson at http://maryhalvorson.com

DownBeat‘s August issue is reaching subscribers now and with it the results of the 59th Annual Critics Poll.

We’re very pleased to report that our clients are well represented and in more categories than ever before.

AUM Fidelity earned the number nine spot on the Jazz Album of the Year list with William Parker’s I Plan To Stay A Believer: The Inside Songs of Curtis Mayfield, while its recording artists Darius Jones (Rising Star Alto Saxophone) and David S. Ware (Tenor Saxophone) made strong showings in their respective categories.

The members of Farmers By Nature, who recently released their second AUM Fidelity record, Out Of This World’s Distortions, also made some noise for their recent individual accomplishments. William Parker and Gerald Cleaver were recognized in the Bass and Rising Star Drums categories respectively, and Craig Taborn scored a hat trick with wins for Rising Star Piano, Electronic Keyboard and Rising Star Organ.

Darcy James Argue got the most votes in the Rising Star Composer category and his GRAMMY® nominated big band Secret Society grabbed the second spot for Rising Star Big Band. He and the group were also recognized in the Arranger, Rising Star Arranger, Composer and Big Band categories.

James Falzone, who appeared on three very different recordings in the past year (KLANG’s Other Doors, Allos Musica Trio’s Lamentations and Vox Arcana’s Aerial Age), was fourth in the Rising Star Clarinet category.

Firehouse 12 Records and Mary Halvorson share the credit for Saturn Sings‘ number eight spot on the Jazz Album of the Year list.

Ms. Halvorson also went on to win for Rising Star Guitar while also being recognized in the Rising Star Jazz Artist category. Her longstanding trio, featuring Rising Star Bass winner John Hébert, finished fourth in the Rising Star Jazz Group category.

Last but definitely not least, Fay Victor, who has been impressing critics and fans alike in recent months with her own bands as well as collaborations with Other Dimensions In Music and the ICP Orchestra, was recognized in both the Rising Star Female Vocals and Female Vocals categories.

Congratulations to all the musicians and labels on this recognition of their work and thanks to all the voters for their attention and support of our clients and their music.

The July issue of DownBeat features Joe Tangari’s four-star review of Matthew Shipp & Darius Jones’ 13-part song cycle, Cosmic Lieder (AUM Fidelity).

“It’s easy to hear why Shipp was so taken with the young saxophonist,” Tangari writes. “Jones speaks through his alto in an original and unforced language, conversing easily with Shipp in a dialog of equals. Shipp lets Jones take the lead, responding to the saxophonist’s searching phrases with great sensitivity. The pieces are short and to the point, each originating with a statement from Jones and proceeding down a dual stream of consciousness.”

He adds, “The brevity of Cosmic Lieder lends it the sense that this is just the beginning of the conversation and that there’s much left to explore.”

Jones and Shipp will continue their musical discussion on June 16th at The Stone, when they open a two-week series of concerts curated by AUM Fidelity‘s Steven Joerg.

Bill Meyer gives KLANG‘s new Benny Goodman-themed recording, Other Doors (Allos Documents), a four-star review in the June issue of DownBeat.

“While the quartet’s leader, clarinetist James Falzone, is, like Goodman, well steeped in both swing and classical music,” Meyer writes, “his allegiance lies more with Jimmy Giuffre and the music of Brittany and the Middle East. But that distance is part of what makes this album stand apart from the repertory exhumations that clog the jazz bins in those few stores that still carry jazz records.”

He adds, “While they honor much that Goodman stood for—’AC/DC Current,’ for example, is full of joy and swings like mad, and the musicianship on ‘Stompin’ At The Savoy’ is of the highest level—they don’t forget who they are or where they come from. Their shared history in groups like Vox Arcana, Engines, and the Valentine Trio is as much an inspiration as Goodman’s tunes for the masterful mixing of tight ensemble playing, free improvising and exploratory atmospherics found on Other Doors.”

KLANG will celebrate the release of Other Doors with performances at The Hideout in Chicago on May 25th and Sugar Maple in Milwaukee on May 27th.

Learn more at http://allosmusica.org

Photo by Michael Jackson

Chicago-based clarinetist/composer James Falzone is one of two musicians interviewed by Jon Ross for an article about the online fundraising site Kickstarter.com in the May issue of DownBeat.

In the piece, entitled “Kickstarter Becomes Crucial Funding Source For Indie Jazz Projects”, Falzone talks about his experiences using the site to offset the recording, mixing and licensing costs of his April 26th release, Other Doors (Allos Documents).

Falzone exceeded his original goal of $3500 during his Kickstarter campaign this past November thanks to help from 58 contributors, including 8 supporters who pledged $100 or more in exchange for a new original piece to be composed in their honor and performed at the band’s May 25th CD release show at The Hideout in Chicago.

“I’m really into these new tunes,” Falzone explains in the article, “and I could see the next record easily being made up of these eight tunes or at least having them be the focus of the new record.”

Learn more about James Falzone at http://allosmusica.org

Guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson‘s new release, Saturn Sings on Firehouse 12 Records, is one of four featured titles in The Hot Box section of DownBeat‘s December issue.

“Saturn Sings is a wisely calibrated affair that finds the inventive guitarist reaching a new level of eloquence by balancing skronk with sweetness,” writes Jim Macnie in the main four-star review. “The shards of melody that drive the pieces—somewhat abtrusive and mildly cantankerous in their own way—are rendered with interplay both lithe and spry. Ultimately, Saturn Sings sounds like Halvorson is cracking her own code, making complex tunes express themselves with a bit more ease, and revealing that a punch can be delivered in numerous ways.”

In their accompanying four-star capsule reviews, Paul de Barros declares, “Halvorson has quite simply the most original guitar sound since Bill Frisell and Kurt Rosenwinkel,” and John Corbett adds, “the writing has great range and originality, and Halvorson’s precise, hardscrabble guitar playing is just plain bad-ass.”