It was midnight in the afternoon, deep in sleep, I met a goddess walking on the Nile, she was lost in the moment of now, entangled in a breathtaking sound. I thought it was a babbling brook but no, it was beautiful dancing rhythms, holding us hostage, listening to this mesmerizing sound. A big bold tenor sound that held us in rhapsody … Wait , don’t move, it’s coming from a mortal, she asked “how can such intoxicating bliss rattle my soul….”
SHHHHH! Listen, it’s J.D. Allen playing from his latest album Love Letters (The Ballad Sessions) (Savant, 2025). “Why,” she asked, “are jazz musicians, if that’s the correct term, always intent on recording albums of all ballads? Is it to prove they can to the public, or is it to expose their inner spirit that can only be experienced in the beauty of rhythmic harmonies?!” I had to hold the bed tight, the goddess, she disappeared into the dawn of Allen’s captivating ballads. And I remained motionless floating in Love Letters (The Ballad Sessions).
Love Letters consists of eight well-traveled standards from the Great American Songbook that Allen has effortlessly tagged as his own with his outrageous bold tenor tone. This is the nineteenth recording Allen has recorded for Savant, as a leader, since 2012, all critically acclaimed efforts. This is his second all-ballads album; his first was Love Stone (Savant, 2018). Allen plays outside the realm of jazz, hip swing that allows him to stand apart from the rest. Some years ago, a young Allen stood in the midst of a stage after 1 a.m. blowing high and low as many folks milled about during this after-hours jam session. Stanley Clarke even breezed by me at this Detroit Jazz Festival in Allen’s hometown. As Allen played looking like one of those hip jazz cats from the 1950s, the gentleman standing next to me inquired “who is that kid?” Proud to share my awareness with this legend, I said “J.D. Allen,” he responded “that kid is going places,” and the NEA Jazz Master Buster Williams knows talent. Allen’s star continues to orbit further out into the stratosphere. Love Letters (The Ballad Sessions)is on my list as one of the best albums of 2025.
As The Jazz Gallery continues its 30th anniversary special concert series, be prepared for an enthralling journey on Dec. 17-20 with the imaginative pianist and composer Gerald Clayton and the inventive resourcefulness of guitarist Emmanuel Michael, bassist Harish Raghavan, and drummer Tyshawn Sorey (who won 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Music). Some groups play well together; this talented quartet plays like a Ferrari roaring in precision with improvisational abandonment.
Music is always front and center at The Jazz Gallery, not food being hurried around on trays or clicking glasses colliding with ice cubes. Young aspiring and established artists play inside the music not so much what they were taught, but organically from their creative being. Enjoy their in-the-moment journey. For tickets visit jazzgallery.org.
On Dec. 26-27, trombone and seashell innovator Steve Turre makes a special guest appearance with the Vincent Herring Quintet. Rolling Stone called Turre “perhaps the leading trombonist of this generation.” His storied career includes work alongside music legends Ray Charles, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Woody Shaw, and a longtime member of the Saturday Night Live Band (WNBC-TV).
On Dec. 27, the creative trombonist, composer and cultural warrior Craig Harris will perform “Five on the Black Hand Side,” a live music concert to honor five influential men in the trombonist’s life who are now ancestors: Brother Leroy Baylor, the Honorable Bill Perkins, Keith Thompson, Lloyd Williams, and Ted Wilson.
In tribute to these five Harlem giants, Harris and one of his standing ensembles, Nation of Imagination, will perform his complete suite of “Harlem State of Mind” at Mount Morris Ascension Presbyterian Church (15 Mount Morris Park West @ 122nd Street), 7-8:30 p.m.
For many years, these distinguished men served as big brothers who advised and guided Craig and many others in committing themselves and their art to uplifting and inspiring our beloved community.
It is presented on the second day of Kwanzaa where the principle of KUJICHAGULIA (Self Determination), will be celebrated through remembrance and advocacy in this free-to-the public event. Offered in collaboration with Community Works, New Heritage Theater, and Harlem Jazz Boxx. Visit harlemjazzboxx.com.
The Countdown 2026 Coltrane Festival, NOW through Dec. 30, features a joyous blast of celebrated jazz artists packing bundles of inspired jazzy delights. No sleigh, no reindeer, just bold harmonies dancing in straight-ahead jazz. (Or is it, hard bop?) No matter, it’s the holiday season — time to swing!
Smoke’s 13th annual Coltrane Festival will present the Ravi Coltrane Quintet, Dec. 17-21. Ravi, who has become an inventive saxophonist and composer playing outside his father and mother’s massive shadows, will be joined by trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson, guitarist Adam Rogers, bassist Chris Lightcap, and drummer Elé Howell. Ravi makes a highly anticipated encore appearance to elevate the festival dedicated to his father once again, with an intuitive quintet. In over two decades, Ravi has worked as a sideman to many and recorded noteworthy albums for himself and others, including McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Terence Blanchard, and Geri Allen.
Countdown 2026 continues on Dec. 24-25 with jazz notables trumpeter Eddie Henderson plus the Vincent Herring Quintet featuring pianist George Cables, bassist John Webber, drummer Willie Jones, III, and Herring on alto saxophone. The well-dressed, dapper Henderson is considered jazz royalty, and continues to demonstrate his mastery of the instrument into his ‘80s. Henderson is featured alongside old friend and fellow legend, pianist George Cables, who is highly ranked as one of the great jazz pianists of our time. Over the years, Herring has proven to be an outstanding alto sax player, composer and bandleader — an innovating source.
The Countdown 2026 Coltrane Festival grooves on with more exceptional musicians until December 30. For complete listings. visit smokejazz.com.