2004 Vancouver International Jazz Festival Diary
Ok, behind still so I'll be brief. There's music going on out there and I'm not. And Day 9 is going to be huge…
GO! The Music of Dexter Gordon -The Centre
Last-minute decision to check this out - somehow missed it when scouring
the program weeks ago, and the combination of the players and the music
sounded too good to miss. Talk about classic jazz! This show was all about
the music composed by and played on by the tenor great, including a couple
of Herbie Hancock tunes. What a great chance to hear the music that you
usually only get to hear on record played live! Tenor saxist Ross Taggart
brought his warm, full-bodied sound to the Gordon parts and was matched
nicely by similar warmth from trumpeter Kevin Elaschuk. I may have spoken
a little too hastily when I said the ballad was the thing w/ Elaschuk
- he's beautiful on these tunes, too. It's all in the tone, the soul the
players put into it and these two have it in wild abundance.
William Parker Quartet- The Cultch
What the hell else can be said about the power and prowess of bassist
Parker and the very spiritual, very focused drummer Hamid Drake? These
guys are the shit, and are among the heaviest cats around. It's exhausting
just watching them, just being in their supremely intense presence. Drake
is absolutely mesmerizing to watch as he hovers over his drum kit, eyes
closed, never wavering, never stumbling, always with stealth, smooth moves
causing continuous rumble. Parker's a powerhouse, but when Drake's on
stage, it's hard to take your eyes off him. I know Lewis Barnes was playing
trumpet and Rob Brown the alto sax, and I remember hearing them, seeing
them, but I find I can't recall much other than Drake's face.
François Houle/Walter Prati/Giancarlo Schiaffini/Giorgio Magnanensi/Mark
Sanders - Studio 16
More intensity. Moments of clarity and connection, but also feeling of
all having to work too hard for it. Split early for…
Jam Session w/ Mike Allen Trio - O'Doul's
Once again, it was kinda about the hang, which is a pretty cool thing
that's developed at these sessions. There are the O'Doul's regulars, mixed
with the festival regulars, mixed with the jam session regulars - it's
a fun gang in a really relaxed vibe that's easy to just be in.
Allen's been culling from the great pool of Vancouver musicians for his
'house band' for the night, although now I think about it, it's been a
quartet, not a trio (as above, and as programmed). This night saw Brad
Turner on piano, Julian MacDonough on drums and (ok, it's late and I'm
really tired, so please forgive me it I'm mixing it up with other nights)
I'm pretty sure Adam Thomas on bass. New blood showed up tonight, including
a trumpeter named Josh, from Seattle, I think. Again, please correct me
and forgive me if I'm wrong; a couple of guys (piano, sax) from Toronto;
and yes, Pat Martino was in the house for a bit, but there was nary a
guitar in sight. Another fun session that always ends at what seems way
before its time - I can hardly believe it when last call is called and
suddenly it's 1:30 once again.
Me - My Place
It's 1:30am now, and I can't believe I've just missed the jam session.
My music day hit its wall about one hour ago (after nearly 12 solid hours
of listening) and my writing mojo has just rashed, too. It's now the end
of Day 9 and it was a doozy: looking fwd to writing that report in the
morning with hopefully renewed energy. Meanwhile, it's getting down to
the wire. What on earth will we all do without each other each and every
day?
PS Have heard that two shows I missed this day were fantastic: Peggy Lee Band at the Cultch and the Mark Feldman/Sylvie Courvoisier duo at the Front. Try as I may, still can't manage to be everywhere I want to be.
Told you I'd be brief. I don't imagine either of us thought it possible…
Got your own opinion on what went down? Visit the Jazz Forum.
Day 8
Friday, July 2, 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.