Pianist, arranger and educator Mike Abene, caught at the recent Jazz Education Network Conference, laments the indifference of many composition students to the great jazz tradition of Ellington, Basie and Lunceford: how Ellington and Strayhorn often draws a “blank stare.” What students miss when they overlook their jazz heritage.

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Around this time of year, Winter Jazzfest is on the brain in New York. Here’s a look at violinist Jenny Scheinman and her hot band, Mischief and Mayhem, at last year’s Winter Jazzfest at Le Poisson Rouge with Nels Cline’s guitar, Todd Sickafoose on bass  and Jim Black on drums. People attribute lots of conceivable influences to Jenny Scheinman, including folk roots and classical tendencies; as I hear it, though, her sound is fiercely her own. Thanks to Peter Hum for pointing to this clip.

-Nick Moy

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