Yes, I Took One of Those Quizzes

Because it was on Jack Lavere's MySpace. What Kind of Wine Are You? was the quiz, and like with most of those, there were questions in which I was torn between two answers that equally "defined" me. So, I took it twice, and the answers did not surprise me. Here they are.

You are a Pinot Grigio
Origin: Italy, Oregon, France
Serve With: Mild cheeses, strongly flavoured cheeses, appetizers, dips, shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, mussels, seafood with cream sauces, grilled fish, salmon, pasta with cream or red sauces, poultry, Asian food, pork/veal
Taste Description: Medium to full bodied, neutral aromas

You are a Cabernet Sauvignon
Origin: California, Australia, France
Serve With: Strongly flavoured cheeses, pasta with red sauce, lamb, game, beef, chocolate dessert
Taste Description: Medium to full bodied, blackcurrant flavour

So, not exactly a music post, but fine wine is quite often linked with music, especially jazz so . . .

yours in music (and wine, I guess),
Tracy

We'll Call This One "Hanging With Gene"

Went to the Strathallan last night to see Gene Bertoncini. What an incredible talent! His music was simply beautiful to me. The band who backed him included all heavy hitters as well. Unfortunately, the only name I could hear was Bill Dobbins (who was backing him on piano). Gene wanted to know if he "sounded alright." Alright?! He sounded pretty damned good to everyone in the room--even the people who talked through the show. More on that later. Back to Gene. He hoped that he'd been good enough for Bill. That's, apparently, his level of modesty. He was talking about being nervous for this show he's slated to do in November, how he wasn't practicing enough. Wow. I was, of course, impressed with his talent, but also how down-to-earth he was and how modest. It was cool hanging out with him. He asked about my family, talked about regular stuff, talked with the guys about music, musicianship, past shows, life in general.

We almost didn't stay for that last set because we were tired and the room was so noisy. Gene and the band were set up in the middle of the front wall of the center room--dining room on the left almost completely separated by walls, and the bar on the right. There was an undercurrent of noise coming from the bar, but it was mostly manageable until the roar that happened every so often. I thought they were watching some important sporting event, but the hostess said the roars were most likely due to shot-drinking enthusiasm. It was the people in the room watching Gene--people I assumed were actually there to hear him play--whose talking was so troublesome. Cell Phone Woman on the sofa--Gene shot her a couple of looks, and I think it finally dawned on her to leave the room to continue her call--this after at least 10 minutes of talking (loudly). Stupid? Discourteous? Rude? Clueless? All of the above? Then there was the table of four behind me. 60-somethings, well-dressed, looking fairly educated, but obviously complete idiots when it came to what is acceptable in a social situation in which a performance is being enjoyed by others. The two women blatted loudly and shrilly throughout the whole set, and one of the guys insisted on keeping time by clapping now and again. I did shoot them a couple of withering (I hope) looks, and they would quiet for a moment, but not for good. Gene shot them and Cell Phone Woman a couple of pointed looks, but it did no good. I walked up to him after the last set was over, the band was packed up and gone and he was picking up his stuff. I told him how wonderful he sounded, and how embarrassed I was at all the talking. He was so gracious about it, but we did talk about it afterward and it does bother him. None of us at the table--Gene, Bill Blind, Joe Chiappone, nor I--can understand why people behave in this discourteous way. I noticed fellow bloggers (big-league bloggers, at that) Greg, Ken and Seth there last night--sitting, listening, appreciating, NOT talking. I'm going to have to ask Greg if he notices this at every event he goes to or if the talkers just follow me!

So, for all of you who want to hear some beautiful music, go see Gene Bertoncini tonight at the Strath from 8:30 until 12:30. For those who want a little more rock in their Saturday night, join me at Six Pockets to hear Joe Chiappone, Dave Profetta, Dick Caleri and Ken Kahler (Frontline) at 9:30. Sonic Duality is playing at The Flat Iron Cafe at 9:00--some day I'm going to see those guys. Gene Bertoncini is going to be playing a concert at Nazareth College on Tuesday night. When I have more info, I'll post it.

yours in music,
Tracy

Wait. Do my eyes deceive me?

Is it really Gene Bertoncini playing both this Friday and Saturday nights at the Strathallan? I'm there on Friday. Also, I received a very nice email from a musician who actually reads my blog. Go figure. Anyway, his name is Ben and he has a jazz band called Sonic Duality, and they will be playing this Saturday night at 9:00 at the Flat Iron Cafe. I would love to be able to see him, but I have a previous engagement. Next time, though, for sure. Go out and support this local musician!

'til next time,
Tracy

Did The Fat Lady Sing?

I didn't see one, but I think it's all over all the same.

I did see two ladies sing--Nancy Donnelly and a local favorite, Tina Albright. Neither were fat, but both could sing, that's for sure. I missed a couple other singing ladies: Catherine Russell and Esperanza Spalding, who one friend told me was her all-time favorite RIJF performer! Too bad I missed that.

So, let's see, what can I say in this 2007 RIJF post mortem that isn't being said by many others? I'm not sure that I have anything unique to say about this iteration of the Jazz Fest. Everyone who was there had highs and lows, favorites and disappointments, joys and gripes. The thing about music that is so beautiful is that it is enjoyed subjectively and independently. What I loved, someone else hated and vice versa . . . and that's okay. Props to Mark Iacona and John Nugent for bringing in such a wide variety of talent--there was certainly something for everyone (if you could get in).

The thing that is so beautiful about a festival in Rochester is the number and variety of people who come out and walk the streets enjoying the sights, sounds, smells and tastes. The good news is that the crowd (as I experienced it) was diverse, happy and friendly. The bad news was that people thought that a jazz fest was a good place to bring their toddlers in strollers, double-wides and wagons. When your toes get mowed over, your heels clipped, or you trip over a stroller trying to make your way through the crowds, you really question some people's common sense (or lack thereof). I liked seeing kids who were old enough to enjoy the music, but toddlers on leashes and in huge strollers didn't belong there. Can you say, "BABYSITTER"?

I have to touch on the experience of getting shut out of a show. I do understand that it's first come, first served. However, not everyone can get out of work early (or take vacation) to get to a 4, 5, or 6 o'clock show. And I do think that if we are going to continue to utilize intimate venues, we need to consider adding more venues or adding more shows to each venue. And, if the volunteer staff knows that the venue is full, there should be a policy of telling those still standing in line so they can make a decision to remain and hope that people leave or go get in another line. I wasted time and missed out on seeing other things because I wasn't made aware that the venue (Max) was full. (Twice.)

Additionally, many people I know (who happen to be musicians) had a lot of gripes with the quality of the sound systems in the venues. The Harro East had big problems for the first couple of days, Max of Eastman place is acoustically difficult.

High points. I've mentioned Jonathan Kreisberg before. If he comes back, I'll be getting tickets for that show! Benny Golson, what a gem! He's Jazz History 101 in the flesh. Randy Brecker and his band were amazing, and they were gracious enough to sign our passes after the show. He chatted with my friend and I for quite a few minutes. I was impressed. The Rick Holland/Evan Dobbins Little Big Band was a tremendously talented group of local musicians. I can't wait to see them out again. They could more than hold their own in any city, any jazz fest, any situation. We are so lucky to live in a city with such incredible talent. Right here in Rochester!! Go out and see these people the other 51 weeks out of the year. I should have gone to see the Ilmiliekki Quartet at the church instead of Bonerama. Nothing against the trombone group--they were loud and fun. But I heard, after the fact, how wonderful this quartet was, and when am I ever going to get the chance to see them again? I'd probably have the chance to see Bonerama again before I would them. Too bad. On Friday, with no plan, we ended up seeing Andreas Pettersson after a friend texted us and told us we should. Thank goodness for friends. He ended up being my favorite performer of the whole fest. On Saturday, I saw Bill Frisell. After the first song which was weird and, as my son put it, "kind of hokey," he redeemed himself, and I really ended up enjoying him.

I need to learn how to see/hear more during the fest. Next year, I plan on taking a two vacation hours each day--go in at 10:00 (so I can finally make it to one of those jam sessions--I'm so bummed I missed the one with Pettersson) and get off at 4:00 so I can actually make it into a 6:15 show at Max's and not be shut out. Next year, maybe I'll be tech-savvy enough to podcast or at least moblog a la Greg at Jazz@Rochester whom I finally met after the Frisell show. Greg is cool: I was so glad to finally meet him. And, Greg, I loved your shirt--you were way cool and totally jazz, man. (Of course, that is what I expected from a man with an incredible jazz music blog like Greg has.) http://www.jazzrochester.com/

Well, as a friend and I were discussing, I'm kind of in withdrawal. I miss wandering the streets of Rochester with lots of other people. I miss my cookies at Java's. I miss the music, the commeraderie, the aching feet (well, not really), the feeling of living in a vital and vibrant city, the running into people all over the place and the feeling that I got every night--the feeling of being on vacation. Great music, beautiful weather, fun people--it sure did feel like a vacation to me. I can't wait until next year!

Don't be afraid to comment and let me hear your reflections on this year's RIJF!

yours in music,
Tracy

Still recovering . . .

I'll post a Post-Jazz Fest Wrap Up very soon. I have to organize my thoughts, and right now my brain is tired. There were highs and lows; more highs. I heard some great music and wished I'd gotten the chance to hear more. Strategizing for next year begins now!

Back soon,
Tracy

Rick Holland/Evan Dobbins Little Big Band

There's nothing little about these guys--big sound and big talent. What a great show at Hi Fidelity with a special guest singer Nancy Donnelly. Dean Keller killed on bari--his solo on Nightlights was so beautiful that I had tears, and Evan Dobbins is a monster trombone player. I can't wait to hear these guys again.

A quick peak in at Bonerama--a loud, rollicking, New Orleans party band--I sat way too close to the speakers. Considering that I could still hear them loud and clear in the merchandise tent, I feel I made the right choice to take off and save my hearing. I did like them, but one song was enough for me tonight.

I went back to Hi Fidelity on my way to my car and bought one of Nancy Donnelly's CDs. She was gracious enough to sign it for me. It was a good night at the Jazz Fest.

yours in music,
Tracy

Well, SOMEBODY Got a New Effects Pedal.

That SOMEBODY was John Scofield, and he used it to the hilt. Wow. There was one pretty tune (an actual tune, not a cacophony of organ screeches and weird pedal sounds) that was called Flower Power. That was nice. If the whole concert could have been like that, I would have liked it very much.

I had no idea how great Jean Luc-Ponty and his band would be. They got three standing ovations (okay, a little much, but they were absolutely excellent), and just blew everyone away. All the band members were wonderful, energetic, and innovative players. What a delight!