2004 Vancouver International Jazz Festival Diary
The drink is poured. The candles are lit. The tunes are on. Let's get to it.
Vinicius Cantuaria Quartet - The Cultch
Hmmm… not much to say on this one. It was really mellow, sweet-vibed
relaxed bossa nova. It was partly my mood, which I didn't know until later.
However, was expecting much and reality had something else in mind.
Brad Mehldau - The Centre
Expected to find some soul-soothing here, too, and instead had feathers
ruffled by nothing to do with music. Walked into the balcony during the
set and was grabbed (complete with fingernail dug in my arm) by an usher
who pulled my arm and ordered me to "Wait until the break" -
before what, rushing the stage from up there? I had just walked in and
was moving away from the door, where a couple other people were standing
and, dare I mention, blocking the door when I came through.
So, right, Brad Mehldau. You really get the sense that he, like Kurt Rosenwinkel (see Day 5) spends a lot of time with his instrument. His body language while he plays is interesting to watch. He hovers so close over the keyboard you think he wants to climb inside it. I came in near the end of one tune and left during the next. I broke my three-song minimum rule, but then again I'd seen him before. Hated him the first time. Loved him the second (a much more intense program than tonight's). So what am I doing writing about this?
Torsten Müller/Hakon Kornstad/Paul Plimley/Dylan van der Schyff
- Studio 16
Sounds like a shitty evening so far, eh? Ya, I'm enjoying reliving it,
too. But just when you realized you've missed the boat on Al Green, and
there's nothing pulling you any which way, along come Dylan van der Schyff/Paul
Plimley/Torsten Müller/Hakon Kornstad to renew your faith in music
that moves you. I realized around this time how unbelievably tired I was,
and that it was affecting the way I was thinking - or not thinking as
the case was in particularly special moments. As someone said to me tonight,
so much of it depends on where you're at - head and heart. Nothing like
magical improvised music and a good hang to unmuddy the waters and get
things flowing again. Came in near the end of the first set (which I later
heard was fantastic from the get-go) and the intense focus this foursome
had going was thick in the air and they were working hard to keep it up
there. Pianist Plimley is well-known for his exuberant performing style,
but here he pretty much matched the unbreakable focus of the others. I'm
still figuring bassist Müller out as a player, but whatever he is,
he sure 'worked' in this grouping. I can't even really point out any particular
thing any ONE did - it was the combination of them that made it. What
a great match-up that exemplified that it's the little things that matter:
creativity was coming in small gestures and especially in the slight alternations
they made as they went along. Did I mention audience enthusiasm and a
nearly full house through both sets? One piece in the second set
was so well-received it actually was allowed to hover in the air suspended
by the audience's awe, for at least a full five seconds - that's a long
time for people not to clap. Yes, it was that mesmerizing.
It was good to breathe again.
Jam Session w/ Mike Allen Trio - O'Doul's
Determined not to miss another thing at this nightly session after last
night's early and in light of subsequent activities (see Day
5 addendum) obviously ill-timed departure, finishing off the night
at O'Doul's was the only thing to do. Some familiar faces, more new, and
another rockin' jam session, by all appearances during the last 20-25
minutes that I caught. It's definitely hit its stride, as evidence by
the number of players who didn't get a chance to get up and play before
the clock wound down and the party moved (sans alcohol, natch) to the
sidewalk and slowly broke up. Have I mentioned just how much I love
these hardcore late-nighters? What a great spirit this gang has. I wonder
who'll show up tomorrow night…
Oh. Heard several reports on Al Green show. One indicated not much singing and something to do with roses. An opposing view was that it was a great show, but felt short. Apparently it was in fact (reliable source type) the full hour it was scheduled to be. A member of Green's band (see sidewalk party above) said it was an intense hour, and that it flew by for the band, too. Had there been an opening act there would probably be less chatter about it all. Anyway.
So, from worse to way better, in pretty much a single set. By four very
giving musicians with giant, sensitive ears. Oh, and a single beer. I'll
take it!
PS Am re-filing the Lovano (et al) 'don't get it' business into the 'don't
feel it' category. As anyone who's read me knows it's all about the feeling.
And I wasn't. But I am now. Ok, I'm out. Big day tomorrow. Happy Canada
Day all.
Got your own opinion on what went down? Visit the Jazz Forum.
Day 6
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
|
S
|
M
|
T
|
W
|
T
|
F
|
S
|
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
||
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
Writer/Photographer Josephine Ochej is a regular contributor to The Jazz Review, the Westender, Planet Jazz, and Coda Magazine.