Charlie Haden Quartet West Plays Birdland, 3/22-3/26

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Charlie Haden Quartet West have confirmed a live concert engagement at New York City's famed jazz club, Birdland, slated for March 22nd through March 26th (two sets each night). The live gigs will feature surprise guests and also launch the release of their new and seventh recording, Sophisticated Ladies, available March 22 on Emarcy/Decca.

Already a #1 Jazz album in Europe, the German outlet Jazzthing described Sophisticated Ladies as, "a líttle bit of beauty in an insane world." The record features six of contemporary music's top-tier vocalists, including Cassandra Wilson, Diana Krall, Melody Gardot, Norah Jones, Renée Fleming and Ruth Cameron. Bassist and bandleader Charlie Haden - along with the core group of Alan Broadbent (piano/orchestral string arrangements), Ernie Watts (tenor saxophone), and Rodney Green (drums) - uncover lesser-known tunes delivered with refined improvisations that are equal parts romantic, classy, elegant and alluring. While Sophisticated Ladies spotlight is on "the ladies," Haden balances the album with Quartet West's instrumental brilliance on half the album.

Charlie Haden is one of the most respected bassists and jazz composers today. His legendary, groundbreaking work with Ornette Coleman in the 60's is just one highlight of this three-time Grammy winner's illustrious career. He has performed with some of the most revered and varied artists in music including Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Dizzy Gillespie, Hank Jones, Ricky Lee Jones, Yoko Ono and Ringo Starr to name a few. His discography consists of hundreds of recordings in a variety of roles including band leader, co-leader, collaborator and sideman among other duties. Haden's last album, Rambling Boy, revisited his roots in Americana and bluegrass, and featured members of his family including son Josh Haden, his triplet daughters, Petra, Tanya and Rachel Haden, and wife Ruth Cameron.