WRTI Picks from NPR Music

Around The Jazz Internet: April 6, 2012

By Patrick Jarenwattananon

Published April 6, 2012 at 6:54 PM EDT

Detail from the cover of BBNG2, the new mixtape from controversial Toronto trio BADBADNOTGOOD.

Poll: does this look like Duke Ellington or not? How about this? Washington D.C. wants to know.

The Jazz Internet hubbub of this week centers around the band BADBADNOTGOOD, a young trio from Toronto known for instrumental covers of hip-hop and dubstep beats. They were profiled on the cover of NOW Magazine, a Toronto alt-weekly, where their brash comments about the jazz community drew the ire of many in the jazz world. Peter Hum has a strong response at jazzblog.ca; Alex Rodriguez writes about the band's racist implications; David Ryshpan comments as well; Anthony Dean-Harris defends the band a bit; and a Facebook thread started by Toronto trumpeter Nick "Brownman" Ali says a lot about musicians' consensus on the band. It might be pointed out that in addition to criticizing their attitudes, professional musicians and commentators have also roundly criticized their music itself. But hear for yourself: BBNG released a new free mixtape this week, available for download at the band's website.

It's Jazz Appreciation Month again.

The great drummer Jack DeJohnette is the subject of a JazzTimes cover story, plus a breakout feature on highlights from his discography. The man's about to be 70 and will swing you into bad health.

Ten great jazz clarinet performances, picked by Ken Peplowski, no slouch on the horn himself. Also from JazzTimes.

Bill Evans discussed his creative process in a 1966 documentary called The Universal Mind of Bill Evans. As Open Culture points out, all 44:16 of it is on YouTube. On a related note, more unreleased Bill Evans recordings are coming this summer.

Satchmo was the original "king of pop." Other Nicholas Payton statements have been highly contested, but there really ought to be no argument for this.

A look at a recording session, featuring saxophonist Paul Carr and a top-notch cast: Terell Stafford, Joey Calderazzo, Michael Bowie, Lewis Nash. A collaboration between The Independent Ear and the Jazz Video Guy.

Butch Warren released a CD this week. Yes, the same Butch Warren on all those Blue Note records and of Thelonious Monk's band. The link goes to his brief bio.

Benny Golson, saxophone/composer giant, answers questions from the Detroit Free Press. "I want my melodies to not only strike the medium of the air and the ears but the deepest grotto of the heart's core." Yea man.

Eight tracks for new jazz listeners, from Ted Gioia, author of The History of Jazz.

A CD reviewed, then "unreviewed" due to a political dispute with the musician.

The Map Of Jazz, a multimedia interactive. Haven't played with this much yet but this looks interesting. For all you visual thinkers in the room.

The Juno Awards, Canada's answer to the Grammys, were handed out last weekend. The jazz winners are up at jazzblog.ca.

Yes, that's correct, Groove Notes.

How to make a jazz record cover: the flow chart.

Ted Panken's archives this week: Benny Green Blindfold test.

JazzWax dug up performances of duets. Lots of them.

The Jazz Session spoke with pianist Myra Melford and vocalist Melissa Stylianou.

The Checkout sat down with pianists Craig Taborn and Enrico Pieranunzi, and recorded harmonica player Gregoire Maret's quartet.

Elsewhere at NPR Music:

Craig Taborn Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard. (Please make an hour for this.)

James Booker, New Orleans piano royalty, is the subject of a new documentary.

The Shakuhachi Jazz Of Minoru Muraoka.

JazzSet features Juan-Carlos Formell from Monterey 2011.

Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz features John Pizzarelli.

Theo Bleckmann's Kate Bush project is a Song of the Day.