Jazz grace and eloquence: Lynne Arriale

Lynne Arriale is highly acclaimed for her musical prowess in the world of jazz. Like any practitioner of an artform, there is the constant drive to move forward with a new message of expression. That is exactly what Arriale has done in her latest CD release, Arise. She just returned to her home in Indiana after an extensive European tour.

Arriale: Who would be on my CD player is not necessarily a jazz pianist. I listen to John Coltrane and James Taylor. James Taylor is a pop singer but that"s music that reaches my heart so deeply. When we were in Paris, I played opposite a group that had pianist Hilton Ruiz in the group. He is just a fireball. I have got to get some of his recordings; he is so inspiring. There are many gifted pianists out there and they are all pursuing their vision and there is so much great music to listen to.

NUVO: You"re the successful leader of a trio. As a woman, do you face rigors competing in what has been a male-dominated profession?

Arriale: We spend more time working in Europe because there are so many different venues. I am not aware of it being a problem, but you never know ... It"s a non-issue. All we are looking at is the next concert and how we can make it the best we possibly can.

NUVO: What are the trio"s musical goals?

Arriale: We want the trio to explore every range of human emotion so that people feel completely engaged from the first note to the last. I think that when we engage people in sound, that can be a very calming and uplifting experience in the right kind of hands.

The hands and mind of Lynn Arriale are extremely compelling on her Arise CD, but you can get the full experience when she performs at the Jazz Kitchen on Friday, April 11, with Steve Davis on drums and Jay Anderson on bass for two shows at 8 and 10 p.m.

Buselli Wallarab Jazz Orchestra and "Porgy & Bess"

The final concert of the 2002-"03 season at the Indiana Historical Society is a masterpiece of orchestral jazz to be performed by the Buselli Wallarab Jazz Orchestra. One of the most significant orchestral recordings in American jazz, the Gil Evans/Miles Davis recording of Porgy & Bess, will be played by the BWJO on Sunday, April 13. There will be a 2 p.m. matinee and a 7 p.m. evening performance. This rarely performed work, which was researched and transcribed by Brent Wallarab, artistic director of the BWJO, will feature co-leader Mark Buselli on trumpet and world renowned guest clarinetist Frank Glover, with an expanded orchestra of 20 pieces for this major undertaking. The classic Gershwin score, coupled with Gil Evans" adventurous arrangements, will bring the listener into a new world of sound, filled with emotion, brilliant sound colors and varied rhythms as a springboard to showcase daring solo performances. Tickets are available for the 2 p.m. matinee at $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students. The 7 p.m. performance tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students. Tickets can be purchased by calling (317) 464-5388.

Jazz Appreciation Month

One of the new traditions being celebrated in music nationally is April as Jazz Appreciation Month. It was created at the Smithsonian and has been adopted by the International Association of Jazz Educators, of which Indiana University"s Director of Jazz Studies David Baker is the IAJE president. The aim is for you to attend jazz functions in your community this month and support your local jazz musicians or purchase jazz CDs.

Jazz happenings

This week in jazz around Indy has some exciting new offerings.

Northside

The Jazz Kitchen will showcase a rare appearance of an important player representing Indy"s jazz in Melvin Rhyne"s Quartet on Saturday, April 12 at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Something new is a live broadcast every Wednesday from the Jazz Kitchen by WTPI, 107.9 with the Nightbreeze Night Out show, hosted by Oleta Martin and J.C. Culver from 7 to 10 p.m. Yours truly will also be on hand for the evening"s activities of prizes, interviews and premier jazz sounds from Cathy Morris" Latin Band, 6 to 9 p.m. Morris will be followed by the sensational Seven Pleasures" grooving acid jazz dance sounds from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., coupled with a menu to delight any taste. This will be a great way to escape from the daily grind.

Downtown

The Chatterbox has the new incarnation for guitarist Peter Kienle"s "KWYJIBO" experimental sounds Friday, April 11. A young group making an impact is pianist Steve Jones" Quintet performing Saturday, April 12. Sets both nights are from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Chuck Workman is the producer/host of the Sunday Morning Jazz Show at 107.9 WTPI.