CABARET TONIGHT IN NYC: CRAIG HANDY & 2nd LINE SMITH WITH SPECIAL GUEST DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER
Craig Handy & 2nd Line Smith, with Special Guest Dee Dee Bridgewater, will perform at THE BLUE NOTE (131 West 3rd Street, NYC - 212-475-8592) on Thuesday & Wednesday, January 14th & 15th with shows at 8:00 & 10:30 pm. With Craig Handy & 2nd Line Smith, his OKeh debut and first recording as a leader since 2000, tenor/alto/soprano saxophonist Craig Handy presents his initial encounter with an organ ensemble. Available January 21, 2014, the album, which consists of 10 numbers from the songbook of Jimmy Smith - the founder of modern jazz organ expression - grew out of Handy's realization several years ago that his distinguished resume included no opportunities "to cut my teeth with any of the great organ players." Handy's reinterpretation of Smiths' work includes solos with a creative edge and grooves derived from the tight second-line funk of the Crescent City. In keeping with the jazz tradition regarding finding a fresh working group, Handy recruited soul jazz specialists Kyle Koehler on Hammond B-3 and Matt Chertkoff on guitar (both New Jersey neighbors and members of his working band), sousaphone virtuoso Clark Gayton, and well known New Orleans drummers Jason Marsalis, Herlin Riley and Ali Jackson. Trumpet virtuoso Wynton Marsalis, singer Dee Dee Bridgewater and blues singer-guitarist Clarence Spady make their trademark appearances on the record as well. There is a $15-$30 cover,
