A Little Sad to See RIJF 2009 End

Though I didn't have a Club Pass, the weather was more cooperative this year than last, and I had a great time on Jazz Street. Last night, I enjoyed hearing the Campbell Brothers and was thrilled to learn that my friend Cinnamon Jones was singing with them. It was great to see her - it's been a long time. Campbell Brothers were excellent and filled with life.

We stayed for about half of Robert Randolph, but were tired of being pushed and shoved and rudely stepped into, so we headed out of that fray and up toward Tower of Power.

Robert Randolph was the powerhouse I expected them to be, and if they come anywhere near here, I will be first in line to buy tickets to see them in a better venue than the free stage at Alexander and East.

We stood in a fog of cigar smoke not even close enough to really hear Tower of Power well. What is Hip was the last tune I heard before we tried to beat the crowd to Matthews Pub to get a late dinner and rest our weary backs, legs and feet. Matthews was pretty good - food was fine and the service was quick, pleasant and thorough.

I don't know that we'll be going back down tonight; there's really no one on my list to see, though I heard that Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers is supposed to be good. Don't know if I want to fight the crowd, the smoke and the rain. We'll see.

I kept hearing people say how great these nine days are every year and how the city feels "alive" and how they don't want to see it end. Here's my thought: if we could just get the RIJF folks to promote and support the local jazz scene all year round with the expertise they show during the Jazz Fest, then we'd really have something going on in Rochester!

yours in music,
Tracy

Bill Tiberio Band at RIJF

The boys were back in town! A year since their RIJF 2008 debut, the Bill Tiberio Band only gets better. With favorites they've been playing for a while - Watching the River Flow, Return of the King - and some new additions, BTB pleased the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd. There was not a chair to be had, and the street was packed with appreciative fans - old and new! The Bill Tiberio Band - Bill Tiberio, Scott Bradley, Joe Chiappone, Phil Lake, and Geoff Smith - finished their set to a well-deserved standing ovation.

By the way, the sound guys at the Jazz Street Stage did a great job with the volume and the mix.

yours in music,
Tracy

Rain, rain, go away . . .

Bill Tiberio Band on the Jazz Street Stage at 6:00 pm tonight - be there!

SMV THUNDER!!!!

What an AMAZING show last night at Eastman Theatre - Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and the incredible Victor Wooten! I don't think one person left that building in anything less than amazement and appreciation for the talent of those three men. Two full hours of melodic bass, accompanied by drummer, Derico Watson, and keyboardist, Federico Pena, each holding his own beautifully.

I'm sure some people were thinking, "Three bassists . . . all you're going to here is, well, bass." No, no. We heard melody, harmony, soul - MUSIC. It was a real treat and one of the all-time best shows I've ever seen.

yours in music,
Tracy

"Your love of music will be an important part of your life." Bo's Fortune Cookie Message

There were three fortune cookies sitting on the dining room table. My daughter and I decided to share them and include the dog, Bo. She let him pick first. He got the fortune that was clearly meant for me. I got one about a distant relative calling me.

Jazz Fest Day One - For starters, I got to meet Kathy from the Rochester Music Hall of Fame planning committee, and I received some promotional cards to hand out along my Jazz Fest travels. If you see me there, you will get a card! This project is the brainchild of Karl LaPorta, and I'm delighted to be able to help him and his planning group in any way that I can. I posted a link to the site; check it out.

I saw Bill Frisell last night. I enjoyed the last 45 minutes. The first half-hour was, as I told Joe, complete "monkey-torture" for me. It sounded like a bunch of kids at Northfield Music Studio trying out all the effects pedals and "noodling" around. It made me very tense. I was not enjoying it at all, and the second piece went on forever. I was waiting for it to end so I could answer a text message I knew had come from my daughter. As the piece ended, I left the Kilbourn auditorium area so I wouldn't disturb anyone. I was followed by a herd of people who also were not enjoying the "music."

However, upon my return, Mr. Frisell found a melody. I think it was Danny Boy or something that sounded like it, but he made it his own. There were still plenty of effects, but there was melody. And it was beautiful. And each piece after it had a melodic base to it. Finally, the concert was enjoyable for me. Had the whole concert been like that, I would say I loved his playing. He is clearly a good player. Too bad for the herd of people who left, I think they would have enjoyed the last 45 minutes. I did.

Tonight, SMV Thunder Tour!!!!

yours in music,
Tracy

News!! Rochester Hall of Fame has a Website - Check it out!

http://www.rochestermusic.org:80/