This month sees the third autumn JVC Jazz Festival in Paris from Oct 19-30. Among the many concerts, watch out for alto saxophonist Steve Coleman’s new group Renegade Way, featuring fellow hip-hop pioneer Greg Osby and tenor saxmen Ravi Coltrane and Gary Thomas, Oct 25 at the Bataclan. Flutist Orlando “Maraca” Valle, a founding member of Chucho Valdes’ Irakere, is here with his own 13-man group, Otra Vision, and a new CD “¡Sonando!” at New Morning, Oct 21. At the same club pianist Bill Carrothers launches his new CD “Bill Carrothers” (Birdology) in duets with drummer Bill Stewart Oct 26, trumpet legend Lester Bowie and his Brass Fantasy the following night and saxophonist Michael Brecker Oct 28.
Along with Blossom Dearie, 75-year-old singer Jimmy Scott is one of the great eccentric jazz phrasers of the last half decade. Like another great singer, Abbey Lincoln, Scott boasts an unconventional repertoire, a heart-break voice and emotional intensity. Scott launches his new CD, “Holding Back The Years” (Birdology) Oct 29 & 30 at New Morning.
Meanwhile at the Sunset Jazz Club, the JVC Jazz Festival mounts an homage to Blue Note artists, starting on Oct 19-20 with exciting Brazilian pianist Malcolm Braff and his “Combo.” Braff layers Brazilian and West African rhythms across straight-ahead chords with vibrant energy. On Oct 21-22, French pianist Jean-Pierre Como’s quintet, featuring Dario Deida on contrabass, performs an homage to bassist Jaco Pastorius and Oct 26-30 highlights trumpeter Flavio Boltro’s sextet, featuring Stefano di Battista on sax.
Venues
Bataclan, 8pm, 50, bd Voltaire, 11e, Mº Oberkampf, tel: 01.47.00.55.22,150F.
New Morning, 9pm, 7-9, rue des Petites Ecuries, 10e, Mº Château d’Eau, tel: 01.45.23.51.41, 120F.
Sunset, 9pm, 60, rue des Lombards, 1er, Mº Châtelet, tel: 01.40.26.46.60, 100F/80F.
