My daughter and I visited Charlotte Beach one fine day not too long ago, and as I was laying there soaking up the sun, I started telling her something about my friend, Greg Bell, being a "bloggist." "Blogger," she said, rather authoritatively. That caused me to lay there and think. Hard.
Why are you a blogger, and not a bloggist? You're an artist, not an arter, right? You're a flutist, a cellist, a guitarist, a pianist, a saxophonist, a harpist, a violinist, a trombonist . . . but, you're a drummer, not a drummist; though, a drummer IS a percussionist, right? You're a tuber, not a tubist. No. Wait. You're just a tuba player, I guess.
You're an actor, not an actist. Though, many of today's actors are activists. You're a doctor, not a doctist, but you're a specialist, a generalist, an internist, dermatologist, a psychiatrist and a hospitalist. You're a surgeon, though, not a surgist OR a surger. You're a typist, not a typer; pharmacist, not a pharmer; a farmer, not a farmist; a physicist, not a physicer.
Let's see, what have I forgotten? Acupuncturist, anesthetist, archaeologist, balloonist, biologist, chemist, cosmetologist, cyclist, ecologist, evangelist, flavorist and the list goes on.
Columnist! There's an ist for you. However, it's author, editor, reporter, reviewer, and writer; not authist, editist, reportist, reviewist and writist. So, until such time as bloggist becomes a real word, I guess I will have to use blogger. Like my daughter said.
yours in music (and words),
Tracy
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
2010 XRIJF - Finale!
Well, it's about time for me to sit down and write up my adventures from the last day of the ninth edition of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival!
My daughter and I started out by grabbing a quick bite to eat on Jazz Street - a hot dog for her and a Santa Fe Chicken Wrap for me. This was my fourth of the Jazz Fest. They seemed the least bad for me of all the "street meat" that was there to be had.
We finished up and tried to find a place to see one of my favorite local bands, The Lawnmowers, who were supposed to appear on the Jazz Street stage at 6:30. Lots of people wanted to see The Lawnmowers; there was no place to sit and hardly anywhere to stand where you could see. I had a great view of a tree. They were late starting due to some sound problems. We stayed for a few songs but then had to head down East to see Tinted Image at the East and Alexander stage.
The last (and, also, first) time I saw Tinted Image was at The Keg - an intimate venue to say the least. They were a trio that night, and were somewhat subdued. But they sounded great then. This show was on a big stage outdoors; I wondered if they would sound as good. They did. This show was all five pieces, and I was impressed. I like their sound very much. I would be surprised if this band wasn't able to take it to the next level - success-wise. Though, there are many excellent bands in this city, and some that are world class, and they just don't get that lucky break. I wish Tinted Image luck.
After we'd been there for a while, I had gotten tired of being hot, gotten tired of standing, and had gotten especially tired of having people blow their smoke in my face. So we hit the road. I was tempted to call it a night, call it a wrap. But Joe wanted to come down after working late, so I took my daughter home, and then Joe and I headed back downtown.
We walked into the Big Tent to hear Bryan Lee and the Blues Power Band. They were good, but, to be honest, they were nothing special. They were a blues band, like the kind that plays at the Dinosaur on a nightly basis. You could definitely dance to them if you were so inclined. No offense to Bryan Lee, but there are certainly a number of local bands of equal or higher musicianship that could have been playing in the Big Tent that night.
We left there and headed down Jazz Street over to the East and Chestnut stage where we listened for a while to Marc Broussard. I'd never heard of him before that night, but judging from the fact that many women were swaying and singing along to the words, many others had. He had a nice, romantic sound - music you would put on in the background for a night of seducing your special someone. He looked kind of cute, too, which might explain all the swaying ladies.
We headed over to the Montage for our last club show of this edition of the Jazz Fest - Ibrahim Electric. FUN!! We were at their second show of the night, and it was apparent that they were enjoying themselves. It was their first time in America, but they said that they were feeling "at home." They wanted to do a different set for the 10:00 crowd since there were many repeat attendees; this was not always the case with other artists - many did exactly the same performances. Anyway, the band said they were going to go out on a limb and do more debuts in this set. They did one that they entitled, "Rochester Suite." It was good. And the guitarist, and seeming band leader, Niclas Knudsen, did his "robot guitar dance." This was special. Actually, it was quite fun! It was a great way to end the festival on a night when we really didn't know whom to see.
So, Joe asked me how many shows I saw, and, after thinking about it, I realized that this has been a record for me. I saw at least part of each of 21 acts. And of those 21, I saw the entire shows of 14. This does not include the Eastman shows - John Pizzarelli and Jeff Beck. I am very happy with that. I could have seen more given the right circumstances, but I have no regrets. I chose thoughtfully. This has been my best XRIJF experience ever. I'm a little whipped, and I need some recovery time, but next year seems such a long time away!
There is still lots of music to be had in this great music city - tons of great local bands. We can get our fill of live music, and we should get out and support these bands the way we support the Jazz Fest. Come on, people of Rochester! Get off your butts and come out and support our live music scene. I will be there. You be there, too!
yours in music,
tracy
My daughter and I started out by grabbing a quick bite to eat on Jazz Street - a hot dog for her and a Santa Fe Chicken Wrap for me. This was my fourth of the Jazz Fest. They seemed the least bad for me of all the "street meat" that was there to be had.
We finished up and tried to find a place to see one of my favorite local bands, The Lawnmowers, who were supposed to appear on the Jazz Street stage at 6:30. Lots of people wanted to see The Lawnmowers; there was no place to sit and hardly anywhere to stand where you could see. I had a great view of a tree. They were late starting due to some sound problems. We stayed for a few songs but then had to head down East to see Tinted Image at the East and Alexander stage.
The last (and, also, first) time I saw Tinted Image was at The Keg - an intimate venue to say the least. They were a trio that night, and were somewhat subdued. But they sounded great then. This show was on a big stage outdoors; I wondered if they would sound as good. They did. This show was all five pieces, and I was impressed. I like their sound very much. I would be surprised if this band wasn't able to take it to the next level - success-wise. Though, there are many excellent bands in this city, and some that are world class, and they just don't get that lucky break. I wish Tinted Image luck.
After we'd been there for a while, I had gotten tired of being hot, gotten tired of standing, and had gotten especially tired of having people blow their smoke in my face. So we hit the road. I was tempted to call it a night, call it a wrap. But Joe wanted to come down after working late, so I took my daughter home, and then Joe and I headed back downtown.
We walked into the Big Tent to hear Bryan Lee and the Blues Power Band. They were good, but, to be honest, they were nothing special. They were a blues band, like the kind that plays at the Dinosaur on a nightly basis. You could definitely dance to them if you were so inclined. No offense to Bryan Lee, but there are certainly a number of local bands of equal or higher musicianship that could have been playing in the Big Tent that night.
We left there and headed down Jazz Street over to the East and Chestnut stage where we listened for a while to Marc Broussard. I'd never heard of him before that night, but judging from the fact that many women were swaying and singing along to the words, many others had. He had a nice, romantic sound - music you would put on in the background for a night of seducing your special someone. He looked kind of cute, too, which might explain all the swaying ladies.
We headed over to the Montage for our last club show of this edition of the Jazz Fest - Ibrahim Electric. FUN!! We were at their second show of the night, and it was apparent that they were enjoying themselves. It was their first time in America, but they said that they were feeling "at home." They wanted to do a different set for the 10:00 crowd since there were many repeat attendees; this was not always the case with other artists - many did exactly the same performances. Anyway, the band said they were going to go out on a limb and do more debuts in this set. They did one that they entitled, "Rochester Suite." It was good. And the guitarist, and seeming band leader, Niclas Knudsen, did his "robot guitar dance." This was special. Actually, it was quite fun! It was a great way to end the festival on a night when we really didn't know whom to see.
So, Joe asked me how many shows I saw, and, after thinking about it, I realized that this has been a record for me. I saw at least part of each of 21 acts. And of those 21, I saw the entire shows of 14. This does not include the Eastman shows - John Pizzarelli and Jeff Beck. I am very happy with that. I could have seen more given the right circumstances, but I have no regrets. I chose thoughtfully. This has been my best XRIJF experience ever. I'm a little whipped, and I need some recovery time, but next year seems such a long time away!
There is still lots of music to be had in this great music city - tons of great local bands. We can get our fill of live music, and we should get out and support these bands the way we support the Jazz Fest. Come on, people of Rochester! Get off your butts and come out and support our live music scene. I will be there. You be there, too!
yours in music,
tracy
Saturday, June 19, 2010
2010 XRIJF - Day 8 - Nils Landgren and Jeff Beck
I started out the evening being way too late on the scene to get into the 6:00 pm Jane Monheit show. The person working at the door of Kilbourn told me the room was SRO and closed. I wondered if the people still waiting in the alley had any idea they were waiting for nothing. Unless they were planning on standing there until the 10:00 show . . . That's one that I'm really sorry I missed, but I heard that she does come to town every once in a while. I'll have to catch her next time.
So I ended up loitering over near Max of Eastman Place scanning the show listings for what to do while I waited for Joe. As I was standing there, an former neighbor/friend showed up with his pals, Skip, Paul and Phyllis. We headed into Max's for the 6:00 pm show - Brazilian singer Joyce Silveira Moreno. Said a quick hello to Kevin Hart in the bar and a quick goodbye to Rich Russell on my way out about 6:30. Since we were in the bar, we couldn't really hear too well, but what I did hear sounded like enjoyable dinner music. The group sitting and listening to her seemed entranced.
We wandered out of there and down to the East Avenue and Chestnut stage for the 7:00 show of Nils Landgren's Funk Unit. I had heard a couple of their tunes last night, and they were fun and funky. So, I was looking forward to seeing them again. They were introduced, they came onto the stage, said hello, and the sound for the keyboards was messed up. So, after dilly-dallying for a moment, they left the stage to wait while things got fixed. It was taking a while, and Nils Landgren came back out and entertained us solo with his red trombone. First he played the whole trombone, then he took off the bell, and played what was left. Then he played just the slide piece, then the mouth piece and then just made noise with his mouth. It was all surprisingly good, and it took up just enough time to get the keyboard amplification problem solved.
Then, the Unit, as a whole, took the stage and funked out! The crowd was dancing from the first note. Joe arrived on the scene, and he thought the group was really good. The crowd obviously loved the funky vibe - our very own PTF should be playing out more - people want this stuff. It's a feel-good dance groove that makes people happy.
We had to leave to grab iced tea and a "health" cookie at Java's on our way to see Jeff Beck's 8:00 show at the Eastman. We cut it so close that I needed to find the ladies room as soon as we'd been seated, and by the time I came back, Jeff Beck was into his first tune. Knowing nothing about Jeff Beck, I was expecting a sort of Pat Metheny meets Allan Holdsworth kind of thing, not the rock concert that this show was.
Jeff Beck is such a huge talent, Narada Michael Walden (drums) was killing, Jason Rebello (keys) was excellent, but I was totally blown away by Rhonda Smith, the bassist. Now you know I love my Victor Wooten, and I saw the SMV Thunder Tour last year (Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor), which was absolutely phenomenal and one of my favorite shows of all time. But I've got to tell you, Rhonda Smith could hold her own with those guys - technically and soulfully - and she does it in stilettos. And, guys, I've got to tell you, that says a lot. She was an awesome player, she had a great singing voice, she could totally rock out, and she was wearing killer shoes. She's my hero.
After that, we wandered about a little bit on Jazz Street, caught a few tunes by Djabe, ran into my new friend - photographer, musician, music scholar and more, Gerry Szymanski, then ran into my jazz blogger friend, Greg Bell, got ice cream and then headed for home on a funky, rocked-out vibe.
Looking forward to The Lawnmowers and Tinted Image tonight - both free shows by excellent local musicians. I might try to catch Ibrahim Electric at the Montage depending on weather and other factors. If my daughter comes down, we'll see Smashmouth after the other two free shows.
Enjoy the last night of the 2010 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival - the best yet, IMHO.
yours in music,
Tracy
So I ended up loitering over near Max of Eastman Place scanning the show listings for what to do while I waited for Joe. As I was standing there, an former neighbor/friend showed up with his pals, Skip, Paul and Phyllis. We headed into Max's for the 6:00 pm show - Brazilian singer Joyce Silveira Moreno. Said a quick hello to Kevin Hart in the bar and a quick goodbye to Rich Russell on my way out about 6:30. Since we were in the bar, we couldn't really hear too well, but what I did hear sounded like enjoyable dinner music. The group sitting and listening to her seemed entranced.
We wandered out of there and down to the East Avenue and Chestnut stage for the 7:00 show of Nils Landgren's Funk Unit. I had heard a couple of their tunes last night, and they were fun and funky. So, I was looking forward to seeing them again. They were introduced, they came onto the stage, said hello, and the sound for the keyboards was messed up. So, after dilly-dallying for a moment, they left the stage to wait while things got fixed. It was taking a while, and Nils Landgren came back out and entertained us solo with his red trombone. First he played the whole trombone, then he took off the bell, and played what was left. Then he played just the slide piece, then the mouth piece and then just made noise with his mouth. It was all surprisingly good, and it took up just enough time to get the keyboard amplification problem solved.
Then, the Unit, as a whole, took the stage and funked out! The crowd was dancing from the first note. Joe arrived on the scene, and he thought the group was really good. The crowd obviously loved the funky vibe - our very own PTF should be playing out more - people want this stuff. It's a feel-good dance groove that makes people happy.
We had to leave to grab iced tea and a "health" cookie at Java's on our way to see Jeff Beck's 8:00 show at the Eastman. We cut it so close that I needed to find the ladies room as soon as we'd been seated, and by the time I came back, Jeff Beck was into his first tune. Knowing nothing about Jeff Beck, I was expecting a sort of Pat Metheny meets Allan Holdsworth kind of thing, not the rock concert that this show was.
Jeff Beck is such a huge talent, Narada Michael Walden (drums) was killing, Jason Rebello (keys) was excellent, but I was totally blown away by Rhonda Smith, the bassist. Now you know I love my Victor Wooten, and I saw the SMV Thunder Tour last year (Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor), which was absolutely phenomenal and one of my favorite shows of all time. But I've got to tell you, Rhonda Smith could hold her own with those guys - technically and soulfully - and she does it in stilettos. And, guys, I've got to tell you, that says a lot. She was an awesome player, she had a great singing voice, she could totally rock out, and she was wearing killer shoes. She's my hero.
After that, we wandered about a little bit on Jazz Street, caught a few tunes by Djabe, ran into my new friend - photographer, musician, music scholar and more, Gerry Szymanski, then ran into my jazz blogger friend, Greg Bell, got ice cream and then headed for home on a funky, rocked-out vibe.
Looking forward to The Lawnmowers and Tinted Image tonight - both free shows by excellent local musicians. I might try to catch Ibrahim Electric at the Montage depending on weather and other factors. If my daughter comes down, we'll see Smashmouth after the other two free shows.
Enjoy the last night of the 2010 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival - the best yet, IMHO.
yours in music,
Tracy
Thursday, June 17, 2010
My XRIJF 2010 Highlight - I got kissed by Joe Locke!!
Yes, I did. I am now a very big fan. And it's not just because of the kiss, though that was very nice. It's because he plays his music with the whole of his being - heart, mind, soul and body. You can see and hear the passion with which he plays and with which he composes.
His choice of accompanying musicians - Geoffrey Keezer, Clarence Penn and Reuben Rogers - was perfect. Each complemented the other. His choice of a vocalist, Kenny Washington, was obviously very thoughtful, as well.
I loved how he took the time to tell us stories of the how and why of each song. He opened up his heart to the audience, and it really was a beautiful thing. Each tune was better than the one before, and then he got to Verrazano Moon. He told the story of how that song came to be - a dedication to his dear friend who had died - and the reason for the song, along with the beautiful words, brought me to tears. And me with no kleenex.
It was a completely packed house. I sat behind the D&C's Anna Reguero, who was blogging and tweeting about the show, and next to my Rochester Music Hall of Fame colleague, Kathy Palokoff. And, of course, Joe Chiappone.
The set included many ballads, which I love. Kenny Washington sang and scatted and sang some more. He has a real nice, soulful voice. There were some very uptempo, high energy tunes, too, including the one which closed the set. (Joe Locke must burn a zillion calories each show.) Then he and the pianist came back for the encore. After that, Joe came out into the lobby of Kilbourn to sign CDs.
Which brings me to the kiss.
So, Joe (Chiappone) bought a CD for us, and we waited in line to have it signed. Joe Locke talked with each person as if he knew them. Surely, there were some he did know - he's a hometown boy, after all. But it just seems like it is his way to make each person feel like a friend. When we got up to him, he complimented my funky coat. We chatted a bit about my coat, his shirt, and Andy Calabrese and Steve Curry - with whom he has played. He signed the CD, and I asked him to sign my pass as well. Then, for some reason as we said our goodbyes, we hugged and he kissed my cheek! I think I might have floated out of Kilbourn.
Although I am looking forward to seeing as much as possible the last two days of the 2010 XRIJF, I don't think anything can top that!
yours in music,
tracy
His choice of accompanying musicians - Geoffrey Keezer, Clarence Penn and Reuben Rogers - was perfect. Each complemented the other. His choice of a vocalist, Kenny Washington, was obviously very thoughtful, as well.
I loved how he took the time to tell us stories of the how and why of each song. He opened up his heart to the audience, and it really was a beautiful thing. Each tune was better than the one before, and then he got to Verrazano Moon. He told the story of how that song came to be - a dedication to his dear friend who had died - and the reason for the song, along with the beautiful words, brought me to tears. And me with no kleenex.
It was a completely packed house. I sat behind the D&C's Anna Reguero, who was blogging and tweeting about the show, and next to my Rochester Music Hall of Fame colleague, Kathy Palokoff. And, of course, Joe Chiappone.
The set included many ballads, which I love. Kenny Washington sang and scatted and sang some more. He has a real nice, soulful voice. There were some very uptempo, high energy tunes, too, including the one which closed the set. (Joe Locke must burn a zillion calories each show.) Then he and the pianist came back for the encore. After that, Joe came out into the lobby of Kilbourn to sign CDs.
Which brings me to the kiss.
So, Joe (Chiappone) bought a CD for us, and we waited in line to have it signed. Joe Locke talked with each person as if he knew them. Surely, there were some he did know - he's a hometown boy, after all. But it just seems like it is his way to make each person feel like a friend. When we got up to him, he complimented my funky coat. We chatted a bit about my coat, his shirt, and Andy Calabrese and Steve Curry - with whom he has played. He signed the CD, and I asked him to sign my pass as well. Then, for some reason as we said our goodbyes, we hugged and he kissed my cheek! I think I might have floated out of Kilbourn.
Although I am looking forward to seeing as much as possible the last two days of the 2010 XRIJF, I don't think anything can top that!
yours in music,
tracy
Wednesday Night at 2010 XRIJF
A lovely night at XRIJF! I began the night at the 6:00 pm show at the Club Pass Tent. It was the Bill Tiberio Band - Bill Tiberio, Scott Bradley, Joe Chiappone, Phil Lake and Geoff Smith. The guys were hot, hot, hot! Everything sounded great, from the Scott Bradley originals to covers of a Stevie Wonder tune and Watchin' the River Flow. Everyone was ON! The tent was packed! They had a great crowd - old friends and new fans. And not only did they sound great, they looked like they were having fun - and that makes for an awesome vibe.
Next up was John Pizzarelli along with the Woody Herman Orchestra. Wow! All I can say is, I'm pretty sure I was born in the wrong era. Loved the big band music, loved the Ellington, Sinatra. All the musicians were top-notch, and Joe noticed that one of the sax players was an old professor of his from Miami. Gary Lindsay, also a member of Miami Sax Quartet, was one of Joe's mentors when he was in music school in Miami.
I loved John Pizzarelli's choice of songs, and he had a great voice for them; he is a talented musician - really can play the guitar. The orchestra was excellent, and it was totally fun. As far as I'm concerned, they could have played another hour, and I wouldn't have been tired of it. My only complaint was that John's vocals could have been louder. Quite often, he was drowned out by the orchestra.
As much as I loved the big band sound, I would love to see him again with just his pianist, his drummer, and his brother, the bass player, in a smaller venue. In fact, just John and his guitar would be awesome.
Wishing I could be in two places at once tonight, and doubting that I'll get down to the scene in time to see both, my choices for tonight would be Joe Locke and Nils Landgren Funk Unit. I'd also like to see Get the Blessing.
This iteration of XRIJF has seen me picking and choosing very carefully as my time has been more limited than I'd expected. In the past, I've almost felt an obligation to see as much as possible, and it very much began to feel like a job. That has not been my feeling this time. That's due, in part, to the great stuff I saw early on that made it feel like whatever else I saw was just gravy.
Serve me up that gravy.
yours in music,
tracy
Next up was John Pizzarelli along with the Woody Herman Orchestra. Wow! All I can say is, I'm pretty sure I was born in the wrong era. Loved the big band music, loved the Ellington, Sinatra. All the musicians were top-notch, and Joe noticed that one of the sax players was an old professor of his from Miami. Gary Lindsay, also a member of Miami Sax Quartet, was one of Joe's mentors when he was in music school in Miami.
I loved John Pizzarelli's choice of songs, and he had a great voice for them; he is a talented musician - really can play the guitar. The orchestra was excellent, and it was totally fun. As far as I'm concerned, they could have played another hour, and I wouldn't have been tired of it. My only complaint was that John's vocals could have been louder. Quite often, he was drowned out by the orchestra.
As much as I loved the big band sound, I would love to see him again with just his pianist, his drummer, and his brother, the bass player, in a smaller venue. In fact, just John and his guitar would be awesome.
Wishing I could be in two places at once tonight, and doubting that I'll get down to the scene in time to see both, my choices for tonight would be Joe Locke and Nils Landgren Funk Unit. I'd also like to see Get the Blessing.
This iteration of XRIJF has seen me picking and choosing very carefully as my time has been more limited than I'd expected. In the past, I've almost felt an obligation to see as much as possible, and it very much began to feel like a job. That has not been my feeling this time. That's due, in part, to the great stuff I saw early on that made it feel like whatever else I saw was just gravy.
Serve me up that gravy.
yours in music,
tracy
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Day 5 - Russell Malone at the Kilbourn
Well, my lovely daughter and I arrived on the scene about 5:00pm only to find the line for Russell Malone down the alleyway and onto the street behind the Kilbourn all the way to the back door of the Rochester Club. I almost gave up, thinking that we wouldn't get in. But folks in front of me were optimistic - their experience on previous nights led me to believe we would make it through the doors. And, voila, we did. We had nosebleed seats, but that was okay.
Russell Malone performed contemporary, original tunes - my favorite being Flirt - alongside some standard ballads. Everything was great. Always a melody, but his own spin on everything. The members of his band were excellent as well. I'm looking at his website as the band members were not listed in the program. This is wrong, as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, the amazing drummer was Johnathan Blake. And he was ... AMAZING.
The concert was over exactly an hour after it started, and based on what Russell said before the last tune, we knew there was not going to be an encore. But we definitely got a full hour of delightful music, for sure. He was engaging with the audience - had great stage presence - and his talent, and that of his band, was not to be denied. I would love to see him again for more than an hour. I'm trying not to make this concert sound as good as it was since Joe missed it. But Russell Malone was damn good.
As we were finding our way out of the building, my daughter chose a bathroom with a line. As she waited, she saw the band coming out of a room next door to the bathroom. I positioned myself strategically, and as the band members were being led out of the "green room?" to go out to dinner, I ambushed both the drummer and Russell for autographs. They most graciously signed our Club Passes and chit-chatted a bit with us.
My daughter and I left to go get something to eat. We were going to go down to Veneto, but stopped at the Sagamore Grill instead. We got in, got seated and placed our orders. After that, I decided it was my time to find the Ladies' Room. Just as I got settled in there, the fire alarm went off - flashing lights and honking siren and all. Had my daughter not been out there, I would have stayed in the bathroom and finished what I had intended to do; however, with her out there in some possible danger, I fled out the door. As I came into the restaurant, she was evacuating with the rest of the patrons. We all stood around outside for a few minutes, and then when it was determined there was no danger, we were let back in. Our salad awaited. It was good. Simple, but good. Then Caroline's tuna steak arrived in all its rare glory. She said it was perfect. It was accompanied by a fabulous orzo salad. My burger was cooked exactly to my specifications - well done to over-cooked. Just like I ordered it; I don't like raw! The fries were so good that they should be illegal. Seriously. Could. Not. Stop. The owner/manager gave us a drink on the house for the inconvenience of the "fire." The food was really good. Can't wait to go back and take Joe.
Ran into my good friend and jazz bloggist (??), Greg Bell. It's always good to see him at anything. Had the chance to chat with one of Joe's good friends and colleagues - John Nau. Met a new friend in the line. That is the one cool thing about all this standing in lines. Sometimes you meet some really awesome people.
Tomorrow night - 6:00 pm at the Club Pass Tent - Bill Tiberio Band, which includes Joe Chiappone, Geoff Smith, Scott Bradley and Phil Lake. Be there.
yours in music,
Tracy
Russell Malone performed contemporary, original tunes - my favorite being Flirt - alongside some standard ballads. Everything was great. Always a melody, but his own spin on everything. The members of his band were excellent as well. I'm looking at his website as the band members were not listed in the program. This is wrong, as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, the amazing drummer was Johnathan Blake. And he was ... AMAZING.
The concert was over exactly an hour after it started, and based on what Russell said before the last tune, we knew there was not going to be an encore. But we definitely got a full hour of delightful music, for sure. He was engaging with the audience - had great stage presence - and his talent, and that of his band, was not to be denied. I would love to see him again for more than an hour. I'm trying not to make this concert sound as good as it was since Joe missed it. But Russell Malone was damn good.
As we were finding our way out of the building, my daughter chose a bathroom with a line. As she waited, she saw the band coming out of a room next door to the bathroom. I positioned myself strategically, and as the band members were being led out of the "green room?" to go out to dinner, I ambushed both the drummer and Russell for autographs. They most graciously signed our Club Passes and chit-chatted a bit with us.
My daughter and I left to go get something to eat. We were going to go down to Veneto, but stopped at the Sagamore Grill instead. We got in, got seated and placed our orders. After that, I decided it was my time to find the Ladies' Room. Just as I got settled in there, the fire alarm went off - flashing lights and honking siren and all. Had my daughter not been out there, I would have stayed in the bathroom and finished what I had intended to do; however, with her out there in some possible danger, I fled out the door. As I came into the restaurant, she was evacuating with the rest of the patrons. We all stood around outside for a few minutes, and then when it was determined there was no danger, we were let back in. Our salad awaited. It was good. Simple, but good. Then Caroline's tuna steak arrived in all its rare glory. She said it was perfect. It was accompanied by a fabulous orzo salad. My burger was cooked exactly to my specifications - well done to over-cooked. Just like I ordered it; I don't like raw! The fries were so good that they should be illegal. Seriously. Could. Not. Stop. The owner/manager gave us a drink on the house for the inconvenience of the "fire." The food was really good. Can't wait to go back and take Joe.
Ran into my good friend and jazz bloggist (??), Greg Bell. It's always good to see him at anything. Had the chance to chat with one of Joe's good friends and colleagues - John Nau. Met a new friend in the line. That is the one cool thing about all this standing in lines. Sometimes you meet some really awesome people.
Tomorrow night - 6:00 pm at the Club Pass Tent - Bill Tiberio Band, which includes Joe Chiappone, Geoff Smith, Scott Bradley and Phil Lake. Be there.
yours in music,
Tracy
Monday, June 14, 2010
Stanley Jordan Made Me Cry ...
but only in the best way.
So, on Day 4 of the Jazz Fest, because of time constraints, the only show I could see was Stanley Jordan's 7:15 Harro East show. Well, if I could only see one show, that was the one to see! This man is an incredible talent. A solo show, just Stanley and his guitar (and his piano), tonight's music ranged from a Mozart piece to his improvisation of a Bela Bartok concerto to Stairway to Heaven.
The Mozart piece was where the tears began, but I was able to hold it together. Although I wanted to see his hands moving on the guitar strings, it was so beautiful to just close my eyes and be transported to a place of peace and beauty. And it kept the tears where they belonged! His improv on the Bela Bartok concerto took him to the piano. With the guitar still strapped to him, he started with both hands on the piano, then one hand on the guitar for the lower notes and one on the piano for the higher notes. At the same time. And he switched. It was amazing. What was cool about it, was that it wasn't some kind of showy trick; it was like musical genius. At least to me. And, I think it was to everyone in the packed Harro East because he got his first standing ovation after that. Well deserved, I'd say.
There's nothing I can say about his version of Stairway to Heaven except that it was so well done and very, very cool. Once again, a standing ovation after that which brought him back out on stage for an encore. That was Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and that was when the tears were unstoppable. So beautiful, so different, so excellent.
I managed to wipe my face and get myself together enough for the "meet and greet" in the lobby where he most graciously signed my Club Pass.
yours in music,
Tracy
And now, an addendum to my post on Mose Allison. Everyone who has mentioned that particular show has expressed disappointment, but also surprise. It is obvious that he was much more of a talent when he was younger. The man is 82, and he is still touring around the country. I feel kind of bad that I was so negative about his show when, clearly, I do not have 1/100th of his abilities.
So, on Day 4 of the Jazz Fest, because of time constraints, the only show I could see was Stanley Jordan's 7:15 Harro East show. Well, if I could only see one show, that was the one to see! This man is an incredible talent. A solo show, just Stanley and his guitar (and his piano), tonight's music ranged from a Mozart piece to his improvisation of a Bela Bartok concerto to Stairway to Heaven.
The Mozart piece was where the tears began, but I was able to hold it together. Although I wanted to see his hands moving on the guitar strings, it was so beautiful to just close my eyes and be transported to a place of peace and beauty. And it kept the tears where they belonged! His improv on the Bela Bartok concerto took him to the piano. With the guitar still strapped to him, he started with both hands on the piano, then one hand on the guitar for the lower notes and one on the piano for the higher notes. At the same time. And he switched. It was amazing. What was cool about it, was that it wasn't some kind of showy trick; it was like musical genius. At least to me. And, I think it was to everyone in the packed Harro East because he got his first standing ovation after that. Well deserved, I'd say.
There's nothing I can say about his version of Stairway to Heaven except that it was so well done and very, very cool. Once again, a standing ovation after that which brought him back out on stage for an encore. That was Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and that was when the tears were unstoppable. So beautiful, so different, so excellent.
I managed to wipe my face and get myself together enough for the "meet and greet" in the lobby where he most graciously signed my Club Pass.
yours in music,
Tracy
And now, an addendum to my post on Mose Allison. Everyone who has mentioned that particular show has expressed disappointment, but also surprise. It is obvious that he was much more of a talent when he was younger. The man is 82, and he is still touring around the country. I feel kind of bad that I was so negative about his show when, clearly, I do not have 1/100th of his abilities.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Charnett Moffett
This guy was all that I expected and more. Charnett played with a drummer and a woman playing tambora (sp?). Both of these musicians shared the last name Moffett. I can only assume the drummer is his brother. The woman may be his sister or his wife. There was a pianist whose name I didn't catch, and a trumpet player - RJ Avallone. Charnett introduced these players multiple times, but through the applause, I couldn't be sure of all their names. It's unfortunate that none of the band members' names are listed in the XRIJF program book. (I noticed this when I looked up the Bill Tiberio Band and found that none of the members besides Bill were listed, and no bios for them.)
Anyway, back to Charnett. I saw him, for the first time, when he played with McCoy Tyner. His "mad skills" blew me away, and I knew if I ever had the chance to see him play again, I would. His was the first name I saw on the 2010 XRIJF artist list, and I was so happy to have my Club Pass to be able to see him.
If memory serves, when he played with McCoy, most of the tunes were jazz standard type tunes. Tonight, he was much more avant-garde, maybe bebop-ish, but there was always a little melody I could hold on to or that he would come back to - for simple Tracy. You all know I like my melodies. So, tonight's Charnett was a little more challenging for me, but he was awesome. His fingers FLEW. And the drummer would keep up, note for note. Very cool. Charnett very graciously signed my Club Pass after the show; he was sitting in the foyer on the way out so the crowd could meet and greet. Love that!
One of my favorite photogs was there, and he showed me some shots he got of Charnett - they were most excellent. I need a camera like his. And skills like his, too!
Because of some unforeseen family conflicts, I was only able to stay for that one show. But that was the one show I wanted to see, so all's well that ends well.
I'll probably be back on the scene tomorrow; I'll post my schedule when I know it. There are a few I'd like to see. Hope to see YOU!
yours in music,
Tracy
Anyway, back to Charnett. I saw him, for the first time, when he played with McCoy Tyner. His "mad skills" blew me away, and I knew if I ever had the chance to see him play again, I would. His was the first name I saw on the 2010 XRIJF artist list, and I was so happy to have my Club Pass to be able to see him.
If memory serves, when he played with McCoy, most of the tunes were jazz standard type tunes. Tonight, he was much more avant-garde, maybe bebop-ish, but there was always a little melody I could hold on to or that he would come back to - for simple Tracy. You all know I like my melodies. So, tonight's Charnett was a little more challenging for me, but he was awesome. His fingers FLEW. And the drummer would keep up, note for note. Very cool. Charnett very graciously signed my Club Pass after the show; he was sitting in the foyer on the way out so the crowd could meet and greet. Love that!
One of my favorite photogs was there, and he showed me some shots he got of Charnett - they were most excellent. I need a camera like his. And skills like his, too!
Because of some unforeseen family conflicts, I was only able to stay for that one show. But that was the one show I wanted to see, so all's well that ends well.
I'll probably be back on the scene tomorrow; I'll post my schedule when I know it. There are a few I'd like to see. Hope to see YOU!
yours in music,
Tracy
Day 3 - Shorter schedule tonight
My big must-see tonight is Charnett Moffett at Harro East. I'll be shooting for the 5:30 show. After that, I'll try to get in to see Christine Ohlman and Rebel Montez at Abilene at 7:45. If that line looks too long, I might go see Ted Michaels at the free stage although I can't find that much about him online.
It's going to be a short night, tonight, I think. I'm pretty whipped, but you never can tell what might happen at XRIJF!
yours in music,
tracy
It's going to be a short night, tonight, I think. I'm pretty whipped, but you never can tell what might happen at XRIJF!
yours in music,
tracy
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Day 2 - Catherine Russell and Michael Kaeshammer
Wow! I stuck to my schedule, and if it hadn't have rained, I would have heard everything. I missed only Filthy Funk because they couldn't take the stage on time due to the rain. Otherwise, I got to everything on my schedule.
Starting about 4:45, I stood in what was a pretty long line for the 5:30 Catherine Russell show. I got in and was able to grab a stool near the back. She was excellent - her voice, her engagement with the audience, her choice of tunes - what a great show! She looked and sounded like she loved what she was doing. Even the Harro East sound system was pretty good; either that, or they have better sound engineers these days. Anyway, what a delight!
At the end of that, I ran over to the Lutheran Church to get in line for Torben Waldorff. I was Number 2 in line! We had our pick of seats, and this time, the guitarist wasn't hung up by visa problems. The sax player, Seamus Blake, was quite good. I think, though, that he and Torben had never played together because a) Seamus was reading everything, and b) Torben mispronounced his name. Twice. It's Shay-mus, not See-mus. Felt bad for the guy. The music was just a little bit "out there." (Tracy is kind of a simpleton when it comes to jazz - I like a melody.) Anyway, there was enough melody throughout their pieces for me to hang on to, and the "out there" stuff was fine.
Running through the fairly heavy raindrops to get umbrellas and jackets was fun! Then a trip to the Merch Tent for Joe to buy a non-pastel blue umbrella and a hat. The hat will ultimately be mine! We grabbed some chow and met up with some friends, caught a few Los Lonely Boys tunes and waited for Filthy Funk.
We parted ways at 9:30, and I headed over to the Montage to hear Michael Kaeshammer. Holy Cow. I'm in love. (Just kidding, Joe.) This kid is huge talent and huge personality. Not only can he play piano like crazy, he can sing, he is totally engaging and has fun with the audience, and he is ADORABLE. And, he gave his bassist and drummer lots of their own time in the spotlight. I wish I knew their names, and he did introduce them several times, but people were clapping and yelling so loud I missed them. I felt like the bassist was channeling a little bit of Ralph now and again. Here's a little piece of a number he did tonight. This is just a clip I found on You Tube. I do not own the video or any rights to the song. His CDs were sold out, so I'm going to his website to see how to order them.
Catherine Russell and Michael Kaeshammer's shows went a long, long way in making me feel like I sure did get my money's worth from this year's Club Pass. I can't wait to see them both again.
yours in music,
Tracy
Starting about 4:45, I stood in what was a pretty long line for the 5:30 Catherine Russell show. I got in and was able to grab a stool near the back. She was excellent - her voice, her engagement with the audience, her choice of tunes - what a great show! She looked and sounded like she loved what she was doing. Even the Harro East sound system was pretty good; either that, or they have better sound engineers these days. Anyway, what a delight!
At the end of that, I ran over to the Lutheran Church to get in line for Torben Waldorff. I was Number 2 in line! We had our pick of seats, and this time, the guitarist wasn't hung up by visa problems. The sax player, Seamus Blake, was quite good. I think, though, that he and Torben had never played together because a) Seamus was reading everything, and b) Torben mispronounced his name. Twice. It's Shay-mus, not See-mus. Felt bad for the guy. The music was just a little bit "out there." (Tracy is kind of a simpleton when it comes to jazz - I like a melody.) Anyway, there was enough melody throughout their pieces for me to hang on to, and the "out there" stuff was fine.
Running through the fairly heavy raindrops to get umbrellas and jackets was fun! Then a trip to the Merch Tent for Joe to buy a non-pastel blue umbrella and a hat. The hat will ultimately be mine! We grabbed some chow and met up with some friends, caught a few Los Lonely Boys tunes and waited for Filthy Funk.
We parted ways at 9:30, and I headed over to the Montage to hear Michael Kaeshammer. Holy Cow. I'm in love. (Just kidding, Joe.) This kid is huge talent and huge personality. Not only can he play piano like crazy, he can sing, he is totally engaging and has fun with the audience, and he is ADORABLE. And, he gave his bassist and drummer lots of their own time in the spotlight. I wish I knew their names, and he did introduce them several times, but people were clapping and yelling so loud I missed them. I felt like the bassist was channeling a little bit of Ralph now and again. Here's a little piece of a number he did tonight. This is just a clip I found on You Tube. I do not own the video or any rights to the song. His CDs were sold out, so I'm going to his website to see how to order them.
Catherine Russell and Michael Kaeshammer's shows went a long, long way in making me feel like I sure did get my money's worth from this year's Club Pass. I can't wait to see them both again.
yours in music,
Tracy
XRIJF 2010 - Second Night Plan
Here's the plan, we'll see how it goes.
5:30 - Catherine Russell at Harro East
7:30 - Torben Waldorff at the Lutheran Church
9:00 - Los Lonely Boys at the free stage for a tune or two
9:15 - Filthy Funk at the Jazz Street Stage for a tune or two
10:00 - Michael Kaeshammer at Montage
I'm going to wear my more comfy shoes tonight!
yours in music,
Tracy
5:30 - Catherine Russell at Harro East
7:30 - Torben Waldorff at the Lutheran Church
9:00 - Los Lonely Boys at the free stage for a tune or two
9:15 - Filthy Funk at the Jazz Street Stage for a tune or two
10:00 - Michael Kaeshammer at Montage
I'm going to wear my more comfy shoes tonight!
yours in music,
Tracy
Friday, June 11, 2010
XRIJF 2010 - Night 1 - Beautiful evening but a somewhat disappointing music experience
So, I was late. As usual. I wanted to get to Jazz Street by 4:00 to stand in line for Mose Allison. It didn't work out that way at all, and we got down to XRIJF's Jazz Street about an hour or so before Andreas Oberg was set to hit the stage at Reformation Lutheran Church. Joe got some coffee at Java's and we headed down to the Church to stand in line for Andreas.
We only had to wait about 15 minutes or so, and then we got really nice seats in the church. The emcee came on the stage at 7:30 to make some announcements. Unfortunately, the last one was the Andreas Oberg's visa was held up and so he was not going to be there. It was going to be the Marian Petrescu Trio with Christian Haus (sp?) on electric violin. We were there, along with many, many others, to see the phenomenal guitarist, Andreas Oberg. We were very disappointed, and I was tempted to leave and get into something else I wanted to see. But we stayed put, and were pleasantly surprised at the great band we ended up seeing. Petrescu was a great pianist, the violinist, bassist and drummer were all excellent as well. It was much, much less of a disappointment than what I had originally thought it would be.
However. If I did not have a Club Pass, and I had waited in that line and paid $20 or $25 at the door with the express purpose of seeing Andreas Oberg, and they did not have the courtesy of letting me know that the guy I was paying to see was still at home in Sweden, I'd be pretty darned angry. To put it bluntly.
After that, we went down to Kilbourn and stood in line for an hour or so to see Mose Allison. Now, I've heard his name forever, and it was always uttered in that "legend" sort of way. Obviously, others have had the same experience because I heard the first show had lots of people who did not get in - the line stretched down Jazz Street, down the alley, along the street behind that all the way to East Avenue. The people who were standing in line behind me had been shut out of the first show. So, I was not alone in my delusion that I was in for something really great.
There were points in Mose's first song that I think even I could have banged out. Then, in the second song (and subsequent songs) Mose "sang." Which was really him speaking in rhymes in a very repetitive manner. Also, he kind of growled some kind of scat singing as he played which was picked up by the mic. It was kind of disturbing. Every tune he played seemed to have the same rhythm, every "song" he "sang" seemed to have the same melody. I was extremely disappointed. We left before the halfway mark.
We then hit the Club Pass Tent and saw Sauce Boss. That was a waste of walking. The guy was a good-enough blues guitar player, but did too much talking. We heard, later, that during his first set he took a 30-minute break to cook and talk. Apparently, the tent cleared out. We stayed only a few minutes and headed out to find food.
We found friends, instead, and walked up East Avenue ending up in front of the Inn on Broadway listening to an impromptu jam of contemporary jazz performed by some young guys. They were good! I will have to get more info on them, because I'd love to see them again. We got a quick bite a Matthew's and headed home.
I need to plan out tomorrow much better than I planned out today. And I have high hopes that tomorrow will be better. The Jazz Fest's line, "It's not who you know, it's who you don't know!" did hold true as far as the Marian Petrescu group goes. I'll look for more surprises like that tomorrow.
yours in music,
Tracy
We only had to wait about 15 minutes or so, and then we got really nice seats in the church. The emcee came on the stage at 7:30 to make some announcements. Unfortunately, the last one was the Andreas Oberg's visa was held up and so he was not going to be there. It was going to be the Marian Petrescu Trio with Christian Haus (sp?) on electric violin. We were there, along with many, many others, to see the phenomenal guitarist, Andreas Oberg. We were very disappointed, and I was tempted to leave and get into something else I wanted to see. But we stayed put, and were pleasantly surprised at the great band we ended up seeing. Petrescu was a great pianist, the violinist, bassist and drummer were all excellent as well. It was much, much less of a disappointment than what I had originally thought it would be.
However. If I did not have a Club Pass, and I had waited in that line and paid $20 or $25 at the door with the express purpose of seeing Andreas Oberg, and they did not have the courtesy of letting me know that the guy I was paying to see was still at home in Sweden, I'd be pretty darned angry. To put it bluntly.
After that, we went down to Kilbourn and stood in line for an hour or so to see Mose Allison. Now, I've heard his name forever, and it was always uttered in that "legend" sort of way. Obviously, others have had the same experience because I heard the first show had lots of people who did not get in - the line stretched down Jazz Street, down the alley, along the street behind that all the way to East Avenue. The people who were standing in line behind me had been shut out of the first show. So, I was not alone in my delusion that I was in for something really great.
There were points in Mose's first song that I think even I could have banged out. Then, in the second song (and subsequent songs) Mose "sang." Which was really him speaking in rhymes in a very repetitive manner. Also, he kind of growled some kind of scat singing as he played which was picked up by the mic. It was kind of disturbing. Every tune he played seemed to have the same rhythm, every "song" he "sang" seemed to have the same melody. I was extremely disappointed. We left before the halfway mark.
We then hit the Club Pass Tent and saw Sauce Boss. That was a waste of walking. The guy was a good-enough blues guitar player, but did too much talking. We heard, later, that during his first set he took a 30-minute break to cook and talk. Apparently, the tent cleared out. We stayed only a few minutes and headed out to find food.
We found friends, instead, and walked up East Avenue ending up in front of the Inn on Broadway listening to an impromptu jam of contemporary jazz performed by some young guys. They were good! I will have to get more info on them, because I'd love to see them again. We got a quick bite a Matthew's and headed home.
I need to plan out tomorrow much better than I planned out today. And I have high hopes that tomorrow will be better. The Jazz Fest's line, "It's not who you know, it's who you don't know!" did hold true as far as the Marian Petrescu group goes. I'll look for more surprises like that tomorrow.
yours in music,
Tracy
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Planning my XRIJF strategy - Part I
Well, it's been pretty busy of late. I haven't written since just before the Remembering Ralph II concert at the Lilac Festival. Since then, I've hit the road twice - once to pick up my daughter from college and once to attend my son's graduation from college. He graduated on the 23rd, and my daughter celebrated her birthday driving home in the car on the 24th.
Now, it's time to get back to the music and planning for 2010 XRIJF. Looking at the Artist Lineup, I think my plan of attack for the opening night will be to see Mose Allison at Kilbourn at 6:00 pm and Andreas Oberg at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation at 7:30. Those are the two artists I definitely want to see that night. (Click on my second Oberg link, and you'll see why both Joe and I are looking forward to this guy!) If we could get to see them both first thing, then we could go to Abilene, XRIJF's new Americana/Roots venue, to see Earl Pickens and Family.
Now, I realize that due to lines, we might not be able to make it happen just that way, so we could always wander around until the 7:30 Oberg show and then head over to stand in line for the later 10:00 Mose Allison show. We'd miss the Pickens group, but c'est la vie; we might catch the Michael Kaeshammer 6:15 show instead. If not, then I have the chance to see him on Saturday night.
Wow, I've written and rewritten this post, getting more confused as I go along. I think I actually need to draw up a schematic to make sure I have plans for all situations! Given my "flexible schedule" these days, I'm hoping to get to really use that Club Pass to the utmost this year. No excuses.
yours in music and Jazz Fest anticipation,
Tracy
Now, it's time to get back to the music and planning for 2010 XRIJF. Looking at the Artist Lineup, I think my plan of attack for the opening night will be to see Mose Allison at Kilbourn at 6:00 pm and Andreas Oberg at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation at 7:30. Those are the two artists I definitely want to see that night. (Click on my second Oberg link, and you'll see why both Joe and I are looking forward to this guy!) If we could get to see them both first thing, then we could go to Abilene, XRIJF's new Americana/Roots venue, to see Earl Pickens and Family.
Now, I realize that due to lines, we might not be able to make it happen just that way, so we could always wander around until the 7:30 Oberg show and then head over to stand in line for the later 10:00 Mose Allison show. We'd miss the Pickens group, but c'est la vie; we might catch the Michael Kaeshammer 6:15 show instead. If not, then I have the chance to see him on Saturday night.
Wow, I've written and rewritten this post, getting more confused as I go along. I think I actually need to draw up a schematic to make sure I have plans for all situations! Given my "flexible schedule" these days, I'm hoping to get to really use that Club Pass to the utmost this year. No excuses.
yours in music and Jazz Fest anticipation,
Tracy
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