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Drummer Herlin Riley moves in ‘new direction’ with project

rileySince coming of age in the nurturing environment of a very musical family and a distinguished bloodline of drummers, New Orleans native Herlin Riley emerged from that most creative era of all things rhythmic in the late ’70s and early ’80s, to enliven the ensembles of such influential and demanding improvisers as pianist Ahmad Jamal and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis through his commanding yet elegant rhythmic presence. His authoritative style of melodic percussion is deeply imbued in the fertile creative soil of the Crescent City, encompassing as it does the entire length and breadth of America’s ongoing musical journey.
Now the release of his debut recording for Mack Avenue Records, Riley’s New Direction (available on Feb. 12) is an engaging, wide-ranging recital that distills a lifetime of experience into a swinging body of new music that defines what a big tent the music of New Orleans has always represented stylistically and spiritually.
This joyous cultural amalgam of Afro-Cuban, jazz and blues speak not just to Riley’s command of all things swinging — from the formative days of Sidney Bechet and Louis Armstrong — but which evoke, what for want of a better term we might call “the pocket” — those deeply dancing grooves that have nurtured parallel streams of rhythm & blues and funk in the tradition of such great Crescent City drummers as Vernel Fournier, Earl Palmer, Ziggy Modeliste and Idris Muhammad.
“You see,” Riley explains, “New Direction  reflects a personal transition from being a musical associate with the likes of Ahmad and Wynton, to functioning in a leadership capacity, both as a bandleader and a composer. Like Art Blakey, I’m trying to maintain a certain exuberance by using all younger musicians, while helping them develop their own voices. So many great musicians and drummers have come out of New Orleans, and that really defines my personal legacy; I’m standing on the shoulders of giants. But I’ve been playing drums since I was three years old; so, while the title New Direction may suggest new bottles, this is surely some well-aged wine.
“As a boy growing up in New Orleans, way before you heard that big bass drum in the street parades, you could feel it coming from four or five blocks away, and it would literally beckon you to come on down to the street, check out this music, and participate in it. On ‘Connection to Congo Square’ I quote the ‘Reveille’ in my intro. It reflects the melodic nature of how I tune my tom toms and is also a symbolic call to arms, for all the cats from the different neighborhoods to gather ‘round, and participate in this celebration, this collective dialog.”
Well-traveled listeners might hear echoes of Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo in the Afro-Cuban celebrations of “The Crossbar” and “Connection To Congo Square.” The down and dirty groove of “Harlem Shuffle” suggests a connection to Benny Golson’s venerable “Killer Joe,” while the title tune (in the person of guest guitarist Mark Whitfield) evokes echoes of George Benson and those classic hard bop and grooving CTI sessions of yesteryear.
So when Riley and his band reference iconic elements of the jazz tradition, listeners might very well smile contentedly in recognition of audible gems with which they are conversant. Nevertheless, throughout New Direction, Riley and company also essay a very personal, original rhythmic signature on visceral, dancing arrangements such as “The Big Banana,” “Herlin’s Hurdle” and “Hiccup Smooth.” As Riley explains it, “in everything I play, there’s some reference from my own personal experience, and while it may not be explicit, it’s all underneath there somewhere.
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Composer/pianist Myriam Alter evokes nostalgia with ‘Crossways’

alterCrossways is composer/pianist Myriam Alter‘s third production for Enja Records (licensed to Justin Time Records in North America).  Her mother grew up in Saloniki, which has given Greece some of its greatest musicians, artists, poets and thinkers, thus providing a rich background for Alter to draw upon. Her father was born in Istanbul and lived there until he was 17 when he moved to Belgium. Being brought up around these different cultural influences left an imprint on Alter and has influenced her music and compositions throughout her life.

Alter gathered a standout ensemble, with diverse cultural backgrounds like her own, to come from all over the world to produce the tight overall sound on Crossways. At the center of the music is Italian accordion virtuoso Luciano Biondini. He is joined by American (now Netherlands based) clarinetist John Ruocco, who fulfills an important soloist role in a similar fashion to his role on Alter’s previous albums. Belgian bassist Nic Thys always impresses with his strong acoustic bass foundation, and the liquid tuba of Belgian Michel Massot will be a discovery for many. The creative young Dutch percussionist Landers Gyselinck provides steady rhythmic  support and is making a name for himself in both the jazz and the avant-garde rock scene, and Italian Michel Bisceglia provides subtle, crisp piano solos with his arrangements that truly balance and support the compositions.

“I chose Crossways because of my own upbringing. I came from a Judeo-Spanish family and lived in Belgium,” says Alter in a news release. “Once you add that to the background of these musicians, all those cultures meet in the music.” Crossways not only refers to the diversity and eclecticism in the musicians’ backgrounds but also to the instrumentation for the album. The unique combination of accordion, clarinet, and tuba along with the traditional instrumentation adds a distinctive element to Alter’s music that is undeniable and also adds succinctly to the warm melodies throughout the recording. 

Although most of the performances were improvised, the melodies were arranged to evoke a certain feeling of peacefulness and tranquility. For Alter, it’s the feelings of nostalgia in the arrangements that provoke these feelings that she hopes draw the listener back. “I want these melodies to create a warm and loving feeling so the melody really sticks with the listener,” explains the composer.

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Mitch’s Travel: Royalton Riviera Cancun hosts first ‘Just for Laughs Resort Week’

Royalton Riviera Cancun
Royalton Riviera Cancun

Ready to giggle, snicker, whoop and chuckle? Royalton Luxury Resorts has announced its inaugural “Just For Laughs Resort Week,” a comedy event in partnership Montreal-based entertainment group Just For Laughs, which produces the world’s largest annual comedy festival. This Nov. 8-14, comedy’s crème de la crème, including a Saturday Night Live alumnus, will take over Royalton’s newest addition, Royalton Riviera Cancun, for seven days of non-stop laughter and light-hearted fun.

Complimentary to all resort guests, the weeklong event will feature stand-up comedy performances, busker-style sidewalk shows, and “sleight-of-hand” workshops. Noted headliners include Saturday Night Live’s Jim Breuer, Last Comic Standing’s Alonzo Bodden, Vegas magician Ben Seidman, and more soon-to-be announced Just For Laughs comedians.

“This partnership brings guests a uniquely entertaining experience to enjoy the world’s best comedy without ever having to leave our luxurious all-inclusive resort,” said Francisco Jorge, general manager at Royalton Riviera Cancun, in a news release.

“We’re thrilled to bring our popular entertainment to Royalton Luxury Resorts vacationers in Cancun,” said Christine Melko-Ross, vice president of operations and business affairs for Just For Laughs. “As one of the top comedy brands in the world, we produce festivals and large-scale tours across North America. This time, we’re very excited to pack our bags and head south with some of our funniest alumni for the inaugural edition of Just For Laughs Resort Week – which we’re confident will be the first of many.”

At Royalton Riviera Cancun, luxury accommodations range from family-friendly suites to adults-only rooms at the boutique hotel within a hotel, Hideaway at Royalton Riviera Cancun. All guests can enjoy Royalton’s All-In Luxury™ offerings, which include reservation-free gourmet dining at nine restaurants, free WiFi throughout the resort, and an onsite à la carte Royal Spa which features a hydrotherapy circuit and full selection of pampering treatments. For an enhanced experience, the resort offers the Diamond Club®, which includes a room upgrade and amenities such as personal butler service, an exclusive beach area, a mini-bar restocked daily, and more.

For more information or to book your next vacation, visit www.royaltonresorts.com/en/riviera-cancun or contact your travel agent.