DAY 2
GASTOWN
Every year, somewhere around Day 7 I hit a wall. By that point in the fest, the ears have taken in so much, the system goes into overload, crashes and shuts itself down and I’m forced to retreat. Well, somewhat anyway. See, the thing is, I LIKE intensity. I like over-the-top. Extremes work for me. It’s whole hog or nothing at all. Yesterday in Gastown, I guess I hit a wall of sorts, cause it was the latter. Nothing got in, nothing moved me.
I had flickers of sweetness with MUISTATKO (REMEMBER). The Finnish-Vancouverite group provided some nice vibes with their melodic Finnish pop tunes, including one gorgeous heartbreaking ballad. (Atro Mikkola, bass; Alan Matheson, trumpet/flug./ Craig Scott, drums, Pekka Tolvanen, saxes; Lasse Hirvi, piano)
Strolled over to the new Gastown stage at Victory Square, wondering what I would find, besides SMOKE RINGS on stage. All I could think about was a memo I received while working in a building across the street from the Square 6 years ago, that advised us not to wear sandals or open shoes while walking in the vicinity of the park. Filing that away, I headed up Cambie and could hear the strains of this hardcore avant jazz foursome echoing down the street. Lots of people parked on the grass(y knoll) in the Square, lounging comfortably in the sun. I’m sad to report that, although I LOVED this group when I heard them last year, it all just sorta sailed right by me this year, illustrating once again that thing about trying something again if at first you didn’t like it. Next time. (Shanto Bhattacharya, bass; Masa J. Anzai, a. & t. saxes; Joel Lower, drums/perc., Jeremy Page, a. sax/clar.)
Because I had such anticipation of hearing ANDERSKOV ACCIDENT, I couldn’t help but be let down, right? Unfortunately, kinda. I liked their ballsy brassiness, and leader pianist Jacob Anderskov’s hands waving over his keys (between notes) in blissfulness and like some tripped-out conductor. But once again, it didn’t get in. I couldn’t believe it. I felt nothing. Then I felt something: I got pissed off that I was missing out on connecting with so much music – some of it by musicians I know and like - going on around me. And then I HAD to hear something, if not amazing, then intense. Unfortunately the next stop was… (Kasper Tranberg, trumpet; Ned Ferm & Anders Banke, saxes; Petere Dahlgren, trombone; Jeppe Skovbakke, bass; Rune Kielsgaard, drums). Will try again tonight…
ROY HAYNES FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH @ The Centre
But how could I possibly miss out on a living legend in our midst? Haynes’ smooth, makin-it-all-look-so-easy charm actually soothed for a tune or two, but the beast awoke yet again and forced me up out of my seat (after 3 tunes, of course…) and down the street where I just KNEW something good was waiting. It HAD to be. The day was not allowed to end with my tank fast approaching empty. (Haynes, what else?; Martin Bejerano, piano; Marcus Strickland, saxes/b. clar., Joe Sullivan, bass)
STRONEN/STORLOKKEN “HUMCRUSH”
It took a little while to slip into their groove, and it only happened for the last 10 minutes or so of the 30 I heard, but it was pretty damn nice to get there and enjoy the insistent and pulsating drum rhythms, melodic tinging, and non-stop, yes, intensity, of this driving duo. These guys definitely win for best and most-appropriate group name so far for this fest. Now, I don’t know if the 30 minutes I heard continuous from the first half of the set, but they never looked up or stopped to breath even, I think, during the time I was there. Works for me. Not entirely magical, but as close to it as I think I was gonna get this day. (Thomas Stronen, drums; Stale Storlokken, keys)
I’m hopeful that yesterday was the Hit the Wall Day for this fest, and now that that’s outta the way. It’s Day 2 down in Gastown. The sun is not shining, but it’s not raining either, and if this is June in Vancouver, that’s not so bad. And some fave Vancouver musicians are on stage today, including BERNIE ARAI TRIO and ANDRE LACHANCE TRIO, and I look forward to hearing SCORCH TRIO. Time to fly.
Every year, somewhere around Day 7 I hit a wall. By that point in the fest, the ears have taken in so much, the system goes into overload, crashes and shuts itself down and I’m forced to retreat. Well, somewhat anyway. See, the thing is, I LIKE intensity. I like over-the-top. Extremes work for me. It’s whole hog or nothing at all. Yesterday in Gastown, I guess I hit a wall of sorts, cause it was the latter. Nothing got in, nothing moved me.
I had flickers of sweetness with MUISTATKO (REMEMBER). The Finnish-Vancouverite group provided some nice vibes with their melodic Finnish pop tunes, including one gorgeous heartbreaking ballad. (Atro Mikkola, bass; Alan Matheson, trumpet/flug./ Craig Scott, drums, Pekka Tolvanen, saxes; Lasse Hirvi, piano)
Strolled over to the new Gastown stage at Victory Square, wondering what I would find, besides SMOKE RINGS on stage. All I could think about was a memo I received while working in a building across the street from the Square 6 years ago, that advised us not to wear sandals or open shoes while walking in the vicinity of the park. Filing that away, I headed up Cambie and could hear the strains of this hardcore avant jazz foursome echoing down the street. Lots of people parked on the grass(y knoll) in the Square, lounging comfortably in the sun. I’m sad to report that, although I LOVED this group when I heard them last year, it all just sorta sailed right by me this year, illustrating once again that thing about trying something again if at first you didn’t like it. Next time. (Shanto Bhattacharya, bass; Masa J. Anzai, a. & t. saxes; Joel Lower, drums/perc., Jeremy Page, a. sax/clar.)
Because I had such anticipation of hearing ANDERSKOV ACCIDENT, I couldn’t help but be let down, right? Unfortunately, kinda. I liked their ballsy brassiness, and leader pianist Jacob Anderskov’s hands waving over his keys (between notes) in blissfulness and like some tripped-out conductor. But once again, it didn’t get in. I couldn’t believe it. I felt nothing. Then I felt something: I got pissed off that I was missing out on connecting with so much music – some of it by musicians I know and like - going on around me. And then I HAD to hear something, if not amazing, then intense. Unfortunately the next stop was… (Kasper Tranberg, trumpet; Ned Ferm & Anders Banke, saxes; Petere Dahlgren, trombone; Jeppe Skovbakke, bass; Rune Kielsgaard, drums). Will try again tonight…
ROY HAYNES FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH @ The Centre
But how could I possibly miss out on a living legend in our midst? Haynes’ smooth, makin-it-all-look-so-easy charm actually soothed for a tune or two, but the beast awoke yet again and forced me up out of my seat (after 3 tunes, of course…) and down the street where I just KNEW something good was waiting. It HAD to be. The day was not allowed to end with my tank fast approaching empty. (Haynes, what else?; Martin Bejerano, piano; Marcus Strickland, saxes/b. clar., Joe Sullivan, bass)
STRONEN/STORLOKKEN “HUMCRUSH”
It took a little while to slip into their groove, and it only happened for the last 10 minutes or so of the 30 I heard, but it was pretty damn nice to get there and enjoy the insistent and pulsating drum rhythms, melodic tinging, and non-stop, yes, intensity, of this driving duo. These guys definitely win for best and most-appropriate group name so far for this fest. Now, I don’t know if the 30 minutes I heard continuous from the first half of the set, but they never looked up or stopped to breath even, I think, during the time I was there. Works for me. Not entirely magical, but as close to it as I think I was gonna get this day. (Thomas Stronen, drums; Stale Storlokken, keys)
I’m hopeful that yesterday was the Hit the Wall Day for this fest, and now that that’s outta the way. It’s Day 2 down in Gastown. The sun is not shining, but it’s not raining either, and if this is June in Vancouver, that’s not so bad. And some fave Vancouver musicians are on stage today, including BERNIE ARAI TRIO and ANDRE LACHANCE TRIO, and I look forward to hearing SCORCH TRIO. Time to fly.
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