Abbey Lincoln

Honestly, I didn't know who she was until she died a few days ago, but I should have:

1964 In Nothing But a Man:


Freedom Day, she comes in at the end:

Schwartz's Point New Website

Check out their new website. This is a great place to go when it gets cold...

I wish I Could Go

To Schwartz's Point.

.....this week we are going to kick Friday up a notch with a special performance by the Fiery Five. And -- we’ve started offering complimentary hand-crafted, gourmet pizzas on Friday evenings, so be sure to check it out.

Tuesday, Mar 31: Ed Moss and The ever-enthralling Society Jazz Orchestra w/Pam Ross on vocals ($10 cover). Includes buffet

Thursday, Apr 2: Ed Moss on piano, Dave LaRocca on bass, and award-winning vocalist Kathy Wade on vocals ($10 cover)

Friday, Apr 3: The Fiery Five with the incendiary Ed Moss on piano, Dave LaRocca on bass, Sandy Suskind on flute/alto sax, Todd Remy on drums, Pam Ross on vocals ($10 cover)

Saturday, Apr 4: Ed Moss on piano Sandy Suskind on Alto Sax and Flute and Pam Ross on vocals ($8 cover)

[where: 1901 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202]
Look for GREEN lanterns on either side of door 651-2236
Music starts 8:30 p.m. (Tues / Thur) and 9:00 pm (Fri / Sat)

Schwartz Point Website

Ed Moss and Pam Ross now have a website with weekly show information.

 

If you have never been, you've got to try it. Tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec 23) should be a good show. perfect for showing that holiday guest a hidden gem.

Schwartz Point Jazz Returns

Great news:

...Ed is back and happy to announce the reopening of the "The Jazz Club at the Point" beginning Tuesday, October 7. It's been a year in the making, but Ed has obtained a liquor license and buffed up the club, which will now be open 4 days a week.
The Autumn lineup will be:
-Tuesdays: Schwartz Point's very own 8 piece "Society Jazz Orchestra"
-Wednesdays: Jazz Vocal Cabaret Night -- All singers welcome
-Thursdays: Closed (but will be open for private parties and special events)
-Fridays & Saturdays: The East Coast Rhythm Section with Zac Kruez from Philly on drums, Dave Laracca of Woody Herman fame on drums, and Pam Ross on vocals

[where: 1901 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202]
(at Vine and McMicken in the cobblestone building. The doors have green lanterns)
Hours: Music starts 8:30 p.m. (Tues, Weds); 9:00 pm (Friday and Saturday)
Cocktail Hours from 6 to 8 pm (Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat)

Blackness Urbanity and Jazz

By happenstance, I picked up Miles Davis' autobiography last month while in the library. I ended up reading more than half of it. It was fascinating on several levels. He lived in some of the most vibrant cities of the twentieth century, playing the most dynamic music.

Racism was a relentless burden for him. He found freedom in cities. He mentions a few times, about travelling across country, and how difficult it was for example in rural Indiana, and how East St. Louis, LA, Chicago, Detroit and New York were such liberating places. But also there were present the things that would eventually ruin some of these cities. Drugs, for example. Miles had a few years, 49-51 when he was a heroin addict. As in many things, the artists were in the vanguard, as drugs like this did not take-over cities for a few decades.

He writes a lot about looking sharp, dressing right. See this photo below of some of the top jazz musicians of the 40's in front of Mintons:

 

Mintons was north in Manhattan, near or in Harlem, and was black owned, I believe.

Further south in Manhattan, was a happening strip on Fifty Second Street:

 

Lots of cars and lots of lights. He mentions that many of these nightclubs were cramped, and not built for the purpose. Interesting how creativity blossoms in such places.

Here is Bird and Miles playing on one of these cramped stages:

 

He also mentions the Emmit Till murder. When this murder in the rural south became news in 1953, Miles was in the midst of a major studio recording. It affected him deeply. It also spurred activism in the urban black community. Coincident white flight accelerated at this time. American cities have not been the same since.

....Bringing it full circle to today. I just read this quote:

Obama will formally accept the Democratic nomination on Aug. 28, exactly 45 years to the day after King’s speech and 55 years to the day after 14-year-old Emmett Till was murdered in Mississippi...

Now, for the first time in many decades, we may have a president who was raised and lives in a big city, and seems to believe in cities as liberating places. ...Unfortunately he also likes "smooth jazz".

Katie Laur at Rinks

Katie Laur Album, Black Tie, Recorded in 1982 at Octev Records, 5825 Vine Street, 45216. Recording Engineer: Larry Nager. Sold at Rinks for $6.99:

 

Octav Records was in Elmwood Place, near or perhaps the same place as Vernon McIntyre's Old Time Music (now moved to Wapokaneta, OH) and before that was it Jimmie Skinner Music Center, at 1300 Vine and before that at 222 E. Fifth Street?)

Rinks, now a Flea Mercado:

 

[Where: 9651 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45231] at Meredith Drive

Society Jazz Orchestra Rocks

 

Last night, Ed and Pam had the Society Jazz Orchestra with them at the Jackson Street Underground, and Ed brought his home-cooked food. They rocked, and everyone had a great time and a full belly.

Two favorite songs: sand in your toes and the snake. Plus the xmas stuff.

Pam and Ed Continue at Know Theater

Pam and Ed look to have a great show on tap for this coming Tuesday. I hope to go:

Join us next Tuesday December 18th, at the Jackson Street Underground (aka The Know Theater) as Ed Moss and Pam Ross perform with the tremendously talented Society Jazz Orchestra. Everyone loves them, so if you haven't had the opportunity to hear them, now is your chance. The show starts at 8pm and ends at 11. And for those of you who miss Ed's cooking from Schwartz Point, Ed will be providing his acclaimed gourmet buffet. For this show, there will be a $10 cover, and where else can you get jazz and dinner at such a great price?

In addition, Ed and I have been performing during pre-theater hours at the Jackson Street Underground. So Stop in after work for a drink to unwind and hear some jazz; Then, right after our show, you can catch the new performance of "Christmas.to come" upstairs at the Know Theater right. For additional info, here is a link to the Know Theater site

Ed Moss Busted

For several years, local jazz pianist legend, Ed Moss has partnered with vocalists Pam Ross, and hosted regular Tuesday night sessions at Ed's place at Schwartz's Point (in the center of the photo below). The invitation was by word of mouth and the vibe was intimate. A maximum of 50 people, usually less, would come for some food prepared by Ed, have a glass of wine and enjoy some beautiful music. Ed and Pam only asked that people leave tips for the band. There was no charge for drinks or food.

 

Unfortunately, an undercover liquor agent was sent in and served a free drink. A few days later Pam and Ed were wrongly arrested. They are now attempting to clear their name, and secure a license so that they can continue in some fashion. Until they can make that happen, they are continuing their shows at the Know Theater, every Tuesday from 8-11pm. We went last week, and sadly, attendance was down from when it was an private party, though the music was as good as ever.

Please, support local artitst like this and visit them tonight or any Tuesday at the Know Theater. Thanks.

Ed Moss and Pam Ross

Ed Moss, jazz pianist, and Pam Ross, vocalist, are continuing their Tuesday night shows at a new, more public location: The Jackson Street Underground. This is the lower level of the Know Theater, and should be a good time for all. They will be there every Tuesday in October except the 16th.

When: Tuesday, October 2, 8:00PM, Phone: 513-919-3498

Pam Ross and Ed Moss invite you to our "Tis Autumn/Tis Jazz" show at the Jackson Street Underground (lower level of Know Theater) in downtown Cincy on Tuesday, October 2nd. We will be joined by one of Cincy's hottest bass players, Mike Sharfe.

Some of our favourite tunes are those inspired by the Fall season, so we will be covering tunes such as "Autumn in NY", "Autumn Leaves", "September in the Rain", "Early Autumn" and, well, "Tis Autumn to name a few.

Please note that the Underground has a bar (with a liquor license), and drinks are extremely reasonably priced -- some of the lowest prices I've seen in town. There will be a $10 cover charge (to help pay band).

[where: 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202]