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This is the
time of year when music critics do more than just dream about finding
certain box sets under the tree. We also take part in the annual
ritual of compiling top 10 lists of CDs from the previous 12 months.
These lists are strange beasts. They don’t necessarily represent
the best music in every important genre. The top 10 lists in a recent
Georgia Straight, for example, scarcely acknowledged jazz
artists.
Last year I
tried to be different by only putting Vancouver-based jazz and world
music artists on my list. This year I’m going to depart from usual
practice again by not doing a top 10 CD list at all. While local
musicians released some fine albums in 2000 – Chris Gestrin’s Trio
and Orchid Ensemble’s Heartland are among the discs that
come to mind – the most significant developments in Vancouver’s
jazz and world music scene during the past year didn’t involve individual
recordings. Instead, there were noteworthy events that affected
the scene in good and bad ways. So what follows is a list of these
events.
• The Cellar
– Since taking over the Cellar in August, Cory Weeds and Don Guthro
have worked hard to revitalize the jazz joint. Given the challenges
they face, Weeds and Guthro have accomplished a lot. They’ve created
a friendly environment for listening to the city’s best jazz musicians
and, increasingly, compelling players from elsewhere.
•
Metalwood – This propulsive quartet, which includes Vancouverites
Chris Tarry and Brad Turner, is on the verge of signing a licensing
deal with Universal Jazz. It’s extremely rare for Canadian jazz
musicians to score a major label contract. The impending deal, and
the decision by John Scofield to play on the group’s Universal debut,
says a lot about Metalwood’s strength. (Reserve while you can for
Metalwood’s shows Jan. 17, 18 and 19 at the Cellar.)
•
Maximum Jazz – Here’s a done deal: Tarry, Turner and Shawn
Pierce’s sale of their Maximum Jazz label to Brian Watson. Maximum
has a track record for releasing distinctive music–by Metalwood,
Turner, Gestrin and Kate Hammett-Vaughan–and packaging it with striking
design. Watson, who has extensive music industry experience, plans
to take Maximum to the next level and increase opportunities for
local musicians.
•
Vancouverjazz.com – Brian Nation’s web site became indispensable
for Vancouver jazz fans in 2000. There’s no better source for finding
out who’s playing where in town than the site’s live jazz calendar.
Nation also used a discussion forum on the site to kickstart an
illuminating and entertaining debate about smooth jazz applications
for a FM license.
•
Smooth jazz – Speaking of the synthetic style espoused by
Kenny G and his odious ilk, a number of the companies proposing
a smooth jazz format for a new Vancouver FM station have promised
the CRTC they will invest in, promote and sometimes play local jazz.
That’s great, but any way you look at it, the non-local smooth jazz
they want to primarily play would pollute the airwaves.
•
Global Village – The most memorable concerts that Coastal
Jazz and Blues Society put on in 2000 were part of the Global Village
series. Performances by Trilok Gurtu, Remember Shakti and Habib
Koité, in particular, were rare displays of technique and
feeling. Kudos to CJBS for making these shows happen.
•
Tango – The concert of the year involving a local artist
was the April 6 show at the WISE Hall that paired Vancouver pianist
Linda Lee Thomas with bandoneón master Daniel Binelli from
Argentina. It was thrilling to hear Binelli and Thomas convey the
soul of tango.
•
"Rapprochements" – The most impressive large ensemble
performance with Vancouver players was the Nov. 13 premiere of Moshe
Denburg’s "Rapprochements (Reconciliations)", which concluded
the Westcoast Sacred Music Festival. Denburg succeeded in writing
a lengthy work that integrates instruments from diverse cultures.
The intercultural orchestra that the festival assembled met the
challenge of expressively playing the piece after just two rehearsals.
•
96.1 FM – Fairchild Radio’s decision to axe the Worldbeat
Wakeup and Crossing
Cultures programs, which Cal Koat hosted, has alienated once
loyal 96.1 FM listeners. Aside from substantially reducing support
of Vancouver’s thriving world music scene, the changes have made
96.1 sound more and more like an amateurish college radio station.
•
Kathy Kidd – Coming to terms with Kathy Kidd’s death will
take time. The best way to honour Kidd’s legacy will be to listen
to her recorded music, especially Hajji, and keep spreading
the word about the pianist/composer’s transcendent talents.
RebbeSoul, a.k.a.
Bruce Burger, explores his Jewish identity in music that combines
traditional and contemporary elements. The California-based singer/songwriter
plays instruments such as guitar, balalaika (three-stringed triangular
guitar) and mandolin. RebbeSoul has released three albums, including
RebbeSoul-O, the soundtrack to Burger’s one-man show chronicling
his musical and spiritual journey. RebbeSoul’s worldbeat band Common
Tongue also released a CD this year. Vancouver’s Jewish World Beat
Society presents a Hanukkah celebration with RebbeSoul Dec. 27 (7:00
p.m.) at the Roundhouse Community Centre.
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