Another Jazz Fest Has Come and Gone

With the Jazz Fest came old traditions (Abbott's) and new (tailgating) and of course the lines and crowds.  Last year was the first time I took off the whole week for the festival and I learned that it's the way to go.  This year the staycation was doubly enjoyable with my old roommate in town to play lazydays together.

Favorite acts included new discoveries Monophonics, Kneebody, Mederic Collignon and The Abney Effect while the returning Catherine Russell and Trombone Shorty did not disappoint and will always draw my attention. Honorable mentions go to Big Sam's Funky Nation, Gypsophilia and Big James and the Playboys for fun[ky] and rocking times. 

The end is always bittersweet -am always a bit worn out, yet sad to see the fun times come to a close; but, as they say, until next year.

Getting Lucky

Lucky Peterson, that is.

Yep, it's that time of year again when Jazz Fest is my life. Unfortunately, I've started this year fighting off The Worst Cold Ever so I've had a slow start but have still managed to catch some great acts.

So getting back to getting Lucky. Seriously. He played on our table. Apparently, there's now a taboo on taking photos during the gigs so I guess I can't post the up close and personal shots that I, er, didn't take. The Tent was rocking. He played over the allotted time so by the time he was done with the first set, it was too late to go anywhere else so we stuck around. It wasn't as rowdy, or even packed which I'm guessing was because it was Sunday night and everyone crammed in for the earlier show. However, those of us who stayed got quite a treat with a completely different set. Lucky and wife Tamara closed out with a duet of "Proud Mary" and the opening riff of "Play that Funky Music."

Best so far: Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts. I saw these guys opening night simply by tagging along with friends who had seen them before and couldn't stop raving about them. These guys were A. Ma. Zing. To think I almost missed them -- I had been feeling pretty lousy and almost opted to call it an early night and head home. My friends' hype could not have prepared me for what I experienced and wow, have these guys set the bar high -- what a great way to kick off the fest.

Honorable mentions go to the three shows I saw yesterday -- Les Doigts de L'Homme, Arild Andersen Trio, Ensemble Denada and the aforementioned Lucky.

The Girls With Guitars were fun; Soweto Kinch was interesting (I think I liked him, but am still deciding) and Champian Fulton was sweet.

As I'm a sucker for anything Django-esque, my must see for Monday is Stephane Wrembel. I saw him a few years back and am looking forward to some more.

O, Jazz Fest, how I love thee.

For actual substantive commentary on the festival, go visit Greg's site and follow his links.

The Final Days

Another Jazz Fest come and gone. It's always sad to see it end and hard to say goodbye ... sigh.

[Day 8]

Bryan Lee & The Blues Power Band (Abilene) -- If being anointed by Muddy Waters isn't enough, I don't know what is. There's no feeling blue while listening to these guys jam out the blues -- just pure enjoyment, appreciation and maybe a little itch to dance. There was no question in our minds that we weren't going to stay for the second set.

[Day 9]

Gwyneth Herbert Quartet (Max) -- I took Greg's advice and checked out the spunky Brit with the sweetly mischievous tone and immensely amusing lyrics. Charming and self-deprecating at the same time, the girl's got musicality and a voice to match. My only confusion is, why quartet? (I only recall there being three ...)

Ibrahim Electric (Montage) -- Part punk and part California surf-rock with a sprinkling of Afro-beat and a whole lotta quirkiness, I couldn't have asked for a better way to close out the Jazz Fest than with these Danes. Fun, personified.

Repeater

[Day 7]

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey (Montage) -- This was friend Ken's pick and I ended up at the Montage really only because it worked out that I could make it there after a "late" exit from the office (actually, "early" on a regular day, but I've been operating on JFT [jazz-fest-time] these days). These guys were awesome despite a slight snafu to their start. The pianist opened with a couple amazing solos due to some "equipment issues," which we ultimately discovered had something to do with the upright bass (or lack of one, rather). After playing a tune or two with the electric bass, an upright eventually arrived and the guys were clearly in their groove for the second half of the set (though pre-groove was very, very good!). Their final piece which was played upon request seems to sum them up quite well -- "Drethoven" [inspired by their love of Dr. Dre and Beethoven] Oh, a happy new discovery!

Bottle Rockets (Abilene) Roots rock at its core - clean, solid set. Just some good, old fun.

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey (Montage) Nope, not a typo and yes, we went back; this time with our other friends in tow. If we thought the foursome was amazing earlier, nothing could have prepared us for the jaw-dropping performance we were in for and which we happily and greedily enjoyed right up front. These guys have incredible chemistry and just play and feed off each other creating intensely energetic but beautifully musical pieces tinged with optimism and humor, each song amped higher than the last. I walked home grinning from ear to ear, and am still feeling happy thinking about that set. A stupendous show!

Can't Get Enough

[Day 5]

Trombone Shorty, Take 2 (Harro East) -- Though the Tent is a much better venue for these guys acoustically, it sure didn't affect these guys' energy. I just love these guys.

Alison Brown Quartet (Tent) -- Tried to see her the last time she was in town but it was not meant to be. This time however we scored seats right in front. Not sure which wooed me over more, her picking skills or her charm. Either way, I'm so glad I got to see her this time 'round.

Russell Malone Quartet (Kilbourn) --- Wow. The man can play jazz, funk and da blues. And lucky for us, he played for an hour and forty minutes, including a take on Hendrix's Purple Haze. Oh, yeah.

[Day 6]

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Final Act. (Harro East) - Um, yeah, so a bit of a groupie. We caught the night's second and festival's final billing tonight and are we sure glad we did. Apparently having to cut the first set short due to a fire alarm, the boys from New Orleans were amped up and raring to play. As an extra special treat they played musical switcheroo just to show us how good they really are.

Hackensaw Boys (Abilene) -- Makes me just wanna watch O, Brother Where Art Thou? These Virginny boys were a hand-slappin', foot stompin', do-si-do-in' hoot 'n a holler.

Back to Work, But Jazz Fest Marches On

[Day 3]

Charnett Moffett Trio -- The guy's got mad skills and for the most part, I enjoyed the gig. Some of the stuff was a little out there and I wondered if the band were always in sync, but not a bad way to start the evening.

Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez -- The Beehive Queen can rock the blues and put on a lively show. Too bad (but good for her) the place was packed -- otherwise I think there would have been a whole lotta dancin' goin' on.

Chuchito Valdes -- Talk about flying off the keys. This. Guy. Was. Incredible. Though dismayed at first when the place was packed despite getting there very early, this performance was worth the wait, the sore feet, stiff legs, tight back and general tiredness from having stood through the Ohlman show just before. I don't know that I could say that about any other performance, but I'm sure glad I stayed and ignored my initial instinct to bag it and head home for a foot bath.

[Day 4]

Ryan Quigley Sextet -- Yep, still loving Ryan Quigley and his trumpet and his sextet was just as enrapturing as Brass Jaw was on Saturday. I really can't think of a better venue for these guys -- both ensembles captured the resonance the church's echo-y acoustics have to offer. I was a bit torn to have to leave before they finished up, but after last night's near miss at the Montage, we didn't want to miss our chance to see Trombone Shorty over at the tent.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue -- This was the guy in the lineup that I had to see. I fell in love with him back in 2006 when he and other New Orleans musicians guested on Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip and played an incredible performance of O' Holy Night. The write-ups for the festival brochures all suggested he rocks and funks out just as well as he emotes. Well, he sure funked out the house tonight and just when you thought he couldn't possibly get any better, he closed out the night with a rendition of When the Saints Go Marchin' In -- Louie style. Literally. Shorty, who can rock it on the trombone, trumpet and on vocals pulled out an incredible replication of that seemingly singular gravelly voice we've all come to love, right down to the scat. And, since I couldn't get enough, I plan on going to the Harro tomorrow to catch some more.

Oh man, do I love Jazz Fest.

9th Annual Jazz Fest Is Here!

After missing out on most of last year's musical festivities due to work obligations (I'm not bitter or anything), I am happily ensconced in Jazz Fest life for the next week or so that's left.

Highlights thus far:

[Day 1]

Billy's Band (Harro East)- These guys were just as fun and quirky as they were when last I saw them. I was a bit worried that the guys who wowed the crowds at Max a couple years ago would be suffocated by the acoustically challenged space, but the sound guys have done amazing things this year. Both the Russians and Catherine Russell have sounded great at the Harro.

[Day 2]

Catherine Russell (Harro East) -- Loved her the last time she was around, and more than contentedly saw her again. Tiny woman. Amazing pipes.

Terry Clarke Trio (Xerox Aud) -- This band was not on my radar and I had no idea what to expect but I tagged along with friends and was pleasantly surprised by their extremely polished performance. I felt smarter by the time they were done. It was like having read a really, really great book.

Brass Jaw (Christ Church) -- Love, love, love these guys. I could have listened to them all night long. And the church? Couldn't have picked a better venue for this band. Have I mentioned that I love, love, love these guys?

Hazmat Modine (Tent) -- They look and sound like gypsies -- in the good-gets-the-beat-going-makes-you-wanna-get-up-and-dance kinda way. Great way to close the night.

Jazz Fest Is Hard Work. RIJF Days 5 & 6

Phew. On the one hand, I think to myself, "It's over." And on the other hand, I think to myself, "It's over?" Jazz Fest is hard work, I tell ya. Popping from one set to the next, listening to great music, indulging in greasy street fair food, slurping on frozen custard cones and carrying on at the after hours sessions. I mean sheesh! A gal can get tired, for crying out loud!

So ends another Jazz Fest, and another good one at that. I didn't hit too many of the after hours sessions, but last night was one of them, as we closed the night out and I came stumbling home around 3 in the morning.

Caught up on my sleep today, gleefully hitting the sack last night without turning on the alarm clock. Though I didn't stay out late every night, the hustle and bustle sure catches up to one so I took advantage of this day of rest, and slept until my body could take it no more.

I ran out of time during the week to keep up on my posts, so here's a partial rundown of the latter half of the week:

Day 5 - Double Dosage

A college friend of mine was in to The Yellowjackets. I remembered that I liked some of their stuff so decided to check them out at the Harro East to start my evening. I've decided that smooth jazz isn't really my thing, but that being said, the band is quite good. The musicality was excellent and you can tell these guys have been playing together for awhile. Not a bad way to start the day.

After the show I met up with Seth and some others to catch the tail end of the Bill Tiberio Band. Greg joined us shortly thereafter and we set up shop for the Henderson-Owens Trio with Dr. Lonnie Smith. Being relatively new to this whole jazz thing, I had no idea who this guy was. I learned however that he is a fellow Buffalonian and Akiko's teacher.

Oh, and he's Phenomenal.

He was on fire and if I had thought Akiko could play the organ, well then I don't know what the Doc was doing with it. At one point he was even blasting away at the keys with his nose. He was flying all over the organ filling the Tent with funk and groove in Pentecostal fashion. Check out Seth's blog for some great pics of the fabulous flying fingers.

Staying for the second set was a no brainer. The later show was mellower and more soulful but no less rich than the first. During the earlier set, we sat off to the side and had an unobstructed view of the completely synchronized chemistry between him and drummer Ulysses Owens. It was hard to tell who was having more fun -- Smith or Owens.

We moved to a front table for the second set to catch a different view. From there, I fell in love with guitarist Mel Henderson, who seemed to be having the laugh of his life. Every look had some gleeful mischief and it was as if he and Smith were sharing an inside joke. His guitarin' warn't too shoddy neither. I was thrilled to learn he's local and can't wait to catch more of his stuff.




Day 6 - Who Needs Sleep?

After Day 1, I thumbed through the handy dandy Jazz Fest guide to try and decide which artists I wanted to see the rest of the week. I was intrigued by the write up on Jake Shimabikuro, and no less intrigued after I viewed the YouTube video that apparently was the catalyst to his current fame. So he went on my list of must-sees. My initial interest was even more piqued when we heard Tuesday night that he was possibly the sleeper artist of the festival. Apparently both Montage shows were packed and people were turned away. Lucky for me, I was able to sneak away from work early and got myself into the line by 4:20 for the 6:30 show. Even still, I was just shy of a seat in the smallish venue. I did however get the next best thing -- an unobstructed view (very unusual given my lack of height) of the guy who makes the four-stringed ukelele sound much more than that and is well-deserving of the comparison I overheard one festival goer make that he is the Jimi Hendrix of the ukelele.



From there I wandered over to the Lutheran Church to see the Iro Haarla Quintet. I'd have to say that this was the set that disappointed me the most. I went to see this act because the guidebook said she was a pianist and harpist. There was no harp. There was also no audience which guilted me into staying for the whole thing. It was probably this latter fact that threw the band out of sync -- they seemed nervous and out of touch with each other. I felt bad for this band and hope they can iron out whatever kinks they need to to get it together. I also hope that if I ever hear them again, there's a harp.

Despite the letdown at the Church, I got myself over to State Street for the after-hours sessions, after hearing from a reliable source who had heard from his reliable source that it was likely going to be a good night. There were after all, some heavy hitters in playing with the Rochester Philharmonic at the Eastman Theatre. Word was that some might show up and jam with Bob Sneider and company. The word proved true and I discovered among others, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, whose charismatic talent wowed me and saddened me a bit that I hadn't thought to see the Eastman show. Also with him at the session were saxophonist Eric Alexander, drummer Kenny Washington, and guitarist Peter Bernstein, whose energized performances set the bar high for the night.

We were not to be disappointed.

Jake made his second after-hours appearance (rumor had it he was there the night before) and we had the pleasure of seeing him strum-down with Bob Sneider:




Following Jake was a wonderful saxophonist who I learned to be Stanley Wilson. The night rounded out with a number of young local musicians taking turns at the stage including Mike Cottone, who gets better and better each year.

I stayed for the entire session, thinking that if I didn't make it to another jam session for the whole festival, it wouldn't matter. Of course, I did make it for one more night as I noted above, but I'll save that as well as my thoughts on the last days for another post.

Strumming, Drumming & A Bit O' Be-Bop -- RIJF Days 3 & 4

I called my pops Saturday morning to meekly beggar off a drive home for the weekend -- it is after all, Jazz Fest, right? Actually, I had been home a couple weeks earlier to celebrate an early Father's Day while my brother was in town from the land of Jersey, so I didn't feel as guilty.

Was it worth it? Am I a bad daughter if I say it was?



The highlight of Day 3 took place at the Montage where Howard Alden graced us with his seven-stringed guitar and wowed the crowd with some of the best jazz guitar I've heard to date. His numbers ranged from Cole Porter to Django Reinhardt to selections from The Sweet and Lowdown soundtrack he was responsible for. Alden joked that Sean Penn was his most successful student while humbly taking credit for the Oscar Penn would win a few years later for a totally different movie (he insisted that learning the guitar was instrumental -- pun not intended -- to the character he portrayed in Mystic River). Though often paying homage to his own inspirational greats, Alden gave each tribute his own flavor and flair. This was a truly wonderful experience.

Though he finished late after starting late, we still made it to the church for Jacob Anderskov's 7:30 performance. Here's the thing about Anderskov. He's brilliant. His technique, his phrasing, his emoting -- all flawless. He was introduced as one about to "have a conversation with himself." Well, with all due respect, the conversation was extremely languid and exhausting. I kept thinking, "just spit it out, please." I felt as if the hobbits must have when speaking to the Ents. Try as I might, I could not sit this one through and after the third piece, left with Christine to get some air and a bite to eat.

We tried to catch up with her sister and brother-in-law at the tent to see Alison Brown and her banjo but it was not our fate. The longish line was not moving, so we wandered over to the stands so I could have my dinner, thinking we had a better shot of getting to the tent a little later. We were lucky enough to grab a table and a couple seats despite the vulture-like hovering everyone was guilty of exhibiting. The guys having stayed through Anderskov's set eventually found us after they too were unable to get into the tent.

We opted to stay outdoors and give JazzKamikaze a listen. I liked the young band, despite a few missteps. They were energetic and certainly gave their all to their rock-ish performance. We stayed until the threat of precipitation actualized into rather large droplets and called it a night. It's a good thing we left at that point, too. The lightning was flashing non-stop during my short drive home.



I had a light enough day at work that I was able to head out a little early (I anticipate I'll be doing this a bit this week) to get in line for the Cindy Blackman Quartet. Lenny Kravitz's drummer was simply a force to be reckoned with. She just kept pumping out beat after beat, the raw power never waning, and in fact just getting richer and richer. It was impossible to take my eyes off of her -- she was mesmerizing. It was a good way to start off Day 4.

We contemplated our musical options and that point and decided instead to have a proper dinner. We popped into a nearby Asian eatery and I introduced my cohorts to the delectable Chinese dessert, the egg custard pastry. Tummies full, we wandered over to the Tent and caught a bit of the tap-dancing, singing trombonist, Todd Londagin and his quartet before heading to the Kilbourn line.

Seth was excited to see Lou Donaldson and I was not opposed (though the sight of the line had us momentarily apprehensive about whether we were actually going to wait it out.) Boy, am I glad we did.

The foursome was Absolutely Magical.

I could have listened to the band play all night, and still not get enough. The 81-year old saxophonist frequently made fun of himself for his age and for his ways, but the old-timer still has what it takes to put on a good show. My eyes told me were sitting in Kilbourn Hall. My ears and my heart told me we were sitting in one of those old school jazz clubs, just whiling the night away. The ensemble never missed a beat, and never missed a chance to highlight each other's talents. Watching them play was like being at a party that was so much fun you hated to see it end. By far, the most pleasant discovery of the evening was organist Akiko Tsuruga (hailing from "Mississippi") who manipulated the organ as if it were an extension of herself. At rest, she exuded innocence. At play, she was a raging beauty. On reflection, she is to the organ as Cindy Blackman is to her drums.

All in all, a fabulous night. Can't wait til tomorrow.

It's All About Timing ... RIJF Day 2

So yesterday, I headed leisurely over to the Fest with plans to meander before Robin McKelle's 6 o'clock set. After perusing the offerings in the merch tent, I decided to get to Montage early and snag a good seat. Although it was only 5:20 when I got over there, this was not to be. There was a sizable line working its way in and by the time I got in the doors, the place was packed and it was standing room only (it occurred to me later that the audience was full of family and friends of the local star). I spied wall space in the corner and quickly claimed it before that too dissipated and sent off a warning text to Ken who was on his way.

McKelle got off to a late start and my annoyance at the delay and having to stand initially left me apprehensive and looking for a reason to take off. But. The marvelous vocalist made it up to me when she opened her mouth to reveal a beautiful sultry voice that brought to mind Rosemary Clooney and Ella Fitzgerald. Though most of the numbers were standards, her renditions made the pieces all new to me. I was particularly taken with her performance of Billie Holliday's, "Don't Explain" which gave me chills -- in the good way. Between numbers, we got a taste of her witty personality as she sought, rhetorically, a solution to the hair falling in her face, and plugged her new CD, due to come out stateside in August (she repeatedly stressed the limited copies from the European release that she brought with her, humbly pleased with the fact that it debuted #1 on the French jazz charts). Her humor and playfulness shone best though with her performance of "Bei Mir Bist Du Chon," which after a plea for audience participation landed her friend's husband on the stage. He was then subjected to her stage flirtations and doing the salsa.

The annoying waitress was back working her rounds, but finally must have gotten a talking-to, as she managed to tone her voice down to a whisper during the latter half of the show.

Because of her late start, McKelle still wasn't finished with her set at 7:10 when I left to try and get a good seat at the Church. However, my early departure landed me in front of her merch table to snag one of the remaining copies of her new CD.



Next stop was the Church for the show I was most looking forward to -- the Ola Kvernberg Trio. Sporting Austin Powers glasses, the violinist and his band members were everything I hoped they would be and more. Having played the violin as long as I have, I'm always partial to the fiddlers -- especially when they've got something innovative to show me. Kvernberg was just a-MA-zing. Between pieces, he fed us anecdotes of life as a jazz musician. My favorite was his telling us about his grandfather who would tell him there was no money in playing jazz. According to Kvernberg, his grandfather insisted that country music was more profitable and often tried to steer him in that direction. Kvernberg's response was to try to play jazz that sounded kind of like country. What I heard last night was a sound that was just irresistible: bluegrass, Norwegian style, with a jazz twist.

The Church gig won out as my favorite of the night, though it was a tough call between this and The Bad Plus, which apparently has quite the following. After I left the Church, I set off to find Ken at the Tent. There was a significant line there that seemed to be moving slowly, so I let him know I was off in search of grub at the stands. I opted for a giant (and satisfying) hot dog (my guilty pleasure) and noting that the line was already forming in front of Kilbourn (at 8:30 for the 10 o'clock show!), quickly jumped in. Ken met up with me shortly thereafter and we caught up on what the other had seen and heard. The doors finally opened and we quickly snagged the legroom seats (not an issue for me, but the rest of the gang does tend to sport the longer limbs). The auditorium filled up quickly and Seth was keeping us apprised of his arrival status. It was getting closer to showtime and Seth and Christine were still trying to get to us (apparently, their full days not only resulted in a delay getting to the festival site, but also included a return home to get the passes they had forgotten). Surprisingly, the usher was extremely accommodating and kept us updated as to the status of people coming in as well as how much more time we had to try and hold the seats. This resulted a last-minute call to Seth letting him know we still had his seats and they shouldn't give up yet. They made it in the nick of time.

Prior to the start of Jazz Fest, Seth had talked up this band to me. Yesterday, Ken seemed surprised that he hadn't ever made me a mix CD of this phenomenal band (Ken, I'm now waiting for that CD). This was my first time seeing them, and boy, were they nothing but fun. I was completely won over by the time they did their number about the 1980 world champion skiier -- penned by drummer Dave King, who according to pianist Ethan Iverson celebrated for three-hundred and sixty-five days after the win with a victory dance each day (the number allegedly embodied one of those such dances) -- and didn't think it could get much better. But then there were four. The band announced its new collaboration with Wendy Lewis -- a petite woman with powerhouse vocals and took off with Nirvana's Lithium and Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb, to name a couple. Having no familiarity with the band's previous incarnation, I don't have anything to compare it to, but the general consensus appeared to be that the collaboration made a great thing even better. I was completely wowed. Oh, and they obliged with an encore ... oooh, Barracuda!

Something to Blog About - RIJF 2008 Has Begun

It's not that I've been lazy about posting; it's that I haven't felt that inspired to post. Until now. The Rochester International Jazz Festival kicked off its seventh run last night and I met up with the usual suspects, Ken, Seth (with wife Christine sporting her first club pass) and Greg to see it off to a good start.

After tooling around last year as a club pass member, I knew that there was no other way to do the Jazz Fest. I was left however, with a bit of anxiety up until the last minute as to whether this was actually going to happen. A friend at work had promised me some time ago that he could hook me up with a complimentary pass through a connection in the local music biz. As the time drew closer though, he had not yet confirmed a pass for me despite my numerous efforts to ascertain this status and my willingness to go out and purchase my own pass. He insisted I had nothing to worry about yet worry I did until about noon, yesterday when I was finally given my very own ticket.

The Harro East was our first stop of the Fest and it did not disappoint. This was my first time in this venue, and I was rather taken with it. The acoustics were quite good and the air-conditioning provided a nice respite from the heavy humidity that hung about outside. Ben Riley's Monk Legacy Septet put forth a worthy tribute to its namesake, whetting our appetites for more jazz. It was the perfect starter course.

We popped into the tent for a few minutes for some good ol' acoustic blues reminiscent of Muddy Waters, courtesy of the Rowdy Blues then made our way to the Lutheran Church, where the Nordic Jazz Now series returned after last year's acclaim. The Five Corners Quintet was one of my favorite gigs from last year and that was certainly one of the reasons I wanted to hear the band's saxophonist with his own ensemble, the Timo Lassy Band. This was my favorite set of the night. Like The Five Corners Quintet, the band was spot-on and clearly enjoying themselves. Their exuberance was contagious and I don't think there was a member in the audience who wasn't swept away by their their Afro-Latin flavor.

Not letting the intermittent rain dampen our spirits, we waited briefly in line at the Big Tent to get in to see the funk band Spam All Stars. The pieces had a catchy beat and there were few in the crowd not bopping to the Latin/Hip Hop groove. This is a band I need to play at my next party, served in conjunction with drinks with tiny umbrellas.

With the rain coming down harder, we sped quickly over to the Montage to hear Rachel Z's interpretation of pieces ranging from Neil Young to Depeche Mode to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I don't know if it was sitting in the back corner away from the speakers or what, but the sound quality at the Montage seemed much better than it was last year. The arrangements for the trio consisting of piano, string bass and drums were intricate and engaging -- the perfect recipe for a pleasurable experience.

Like my fellow fest-goers, I opted to go home and save the after-hours jam sessions for another night.

On the agenda for tonight are The Bad Plus, Robin McKelle and the Ola Kvernberg Trio. In the meantime, I'm off to run some errands.

Bruce, Stella and the Hunt for DK Angora Yarn

My schedule has become more normal over the course of the last week or so as my late nights have become less late and my weekends have actually included some leisure time. Though I have spent the better part of that "leisure" time battling a rather feisty and stubborn cold.

Last Monday night we trekked out to Toronto to catch The Boss play the Air Canada Centre. Springsteen's stamina never ceases to amaze me, though my friends and I were a tad disappointed that this show was shorter than those of concerts past. We initially thought it had something to do with the lackluster Canadian crowd, but when I later reviewed the set lists for the previous Magic Tour shows, it appears that he's cut his playing time a bit. One can't really blame him though -- the guy is 58 or so. He still played for over two hours, and his voice is as powerful as ever. I actually think it's the strongest I've heard him -- though that may have had something to do with the acoustics, which were excellent.

So, did I mention the lackluster Canadian crowd? I bring this up again because if it weren't for the less-than-spirited audience (among other things, my friends and I were perplexed in observing very few Canadians wearing concert t-shirts), we may not have gotten the personal acknowledgment that made our night. After politely sitting through some slower songs, we shot up onto our feet for an upbeat number. It didn't appear that anyone else in our section cared to join us. Bruce made it over to our side of the stage, saw us behaving like crazy, obnoxious American fans, gave us a wave, as much eye contact as can be made up to the second row in the 300 level and a shout out to us "Up on top!" It really doesn't get much better than that.

In knitting news, I took a little break from the Central Park Hoodie (which I ended up frogging in order to correct the cables) to sneak in a couple Last Minute Knitted Gifts for my friends' recent addition to the world -- a beautiful little girl named Stella. Some friends decided to throw a Welcome Stella party in lieu of an earlier baby shower, and had it last weekend. Talk about some truly last minute knitted gifts -- the invitations were sent out just under two weeks before and despite my recent resolution to no longer cram for knitted gifts, I just couldn't resist. Baby girls will do that to a person. Especially since I'd already met little Stella a few times and knew how adorable she was.

I never cared much for knitting baby booties, but after seeing Kate knit up the Baby Angora Booties a while back, I was tempted. Figuring I'd knit up a couple pairs to go with the Baby Bonnet from the same book, I calculated about eight hours of knitting time which meant that I'd have plenty of time, right? Not so much. Who knew that DK weight angora yarn could be so elusive? I ended up trying four different shops before I was successful. By the time I actually managed to get the yarn I needed, it was the Friday night before the party. Then I thought the party started at 4 and figured I had all morning to finish knitting. It's a good thing my friend Amanda thought the party started at 1, or we may have never checked the invite to find out it was actually at 2. Needless to say, I failed yet again to finish a project in time. I did however complete the gifts shortly thereafter, so that's a small accomplishment. And really, aren't they just too cute?!

It's a Wrap

My Club Pass is now retired. I closed the festival by checking out Andy Milne's Dapp Theory at High Fidelity -- the bar, not the movie. But in the spirit of that movie and an attempt to to answer Seth's question the other night about one's Top 3, here are my "Top" 5 of the Fest (in order of viewing):

********

Stephane Wrembel (Day 2)

Zanussi5 (Day 2)

Five Corners Quintet (Day 5)

Zapp String Quartet (Day 7) Granted, I have a soft spot in my heart for the violin, but I can say without bias that this is one of the best string ensembles I've had the pleasure to hear -- classical or otherwise; recorded and otherwise. Max was the perfect venue for the quartet as well. These guys played seamlessly, and it was a treat to hear the classical instruments playing contemporary pieces (many specifically written for them!). I had been looking forward to hearing these guys since Day 1 when Ken told me to check out their downloads on the RIJF page.

Soul Rebels (Day 9) I've never been to New Orleans, but this stuff sure sounds like what I imagine N'awlins music to be. These guys just rocked the tent tonight, and I let myself get rocked away with the rest of them (although I missed the reputedly stupendous Avishai Cohen Trio because I wanted to see the whole show in the Tent, I have no regrets [too bad there's no Tivo for the Jazz Fest!]. These guys know how to get people on their feet. I particularly enjoyed their rendition of Blister in the Sun.

**********

It's impossible to rank these performers in any order since their modus operandi are so diverse and varied. As Ken and Seth have both commented throughout, and repeated in their guest appearances with the Jazz Session's Jason Crane (accompanied by their fellow blogger and podcaster Greg), it's the variety of the festival that seems to make it such a success.

This past week has been incredible. Not really sure what I'm going to do tomorrow with no Jazz Fest [actually, that's entirely false as I know exactly what I'll be doing -- shuffling off to Buffalo to spend time with my pops], but the daily attendance has become such a routine that it's hard to believe it's been only a week. It seems unnatural that there will be no more JazzFest until next year. But, as they say, c'est la vie, and la vie goes on.

Some thoughts on the shows I attended the last few days that I've been hard-pressed to find time to blog about:

Day 6:

Christian Scott Band -- The band is full of talent and promises to be a musical force to reckoned with in the years to come. While their age was apparent in their performance, they certainly did not lack enthusiasm. Experience should cure the nerves and the need to overplay, and I look forward to catching up with these cats at a future Jazz Fest.

Ilmiliekki Quartet -- This foursome did not disappoint in the Nordic Jazz Now series which became an automatic stop in our daily venue hopping. The introspective Finnish ensemble was a stark contrast to the youthful bouyancy and funk of Christian Scott and his mates. Their style -- contemplative; the musicality -- soothing.

Bonerama -- A powerhouse ensemble that just knows how to party. Then again, would you expect any less from an ensemble comprised of four trombones and a sousaphone? Fun, fun, fun! In my wildest dreams, they'll be playing the Chicken Inferno.

Hilario Duran Trio -- This guy can play the piano. Max resounded with rich hues of Afro-Cuban culture. The only things missing were a drink in a coconut and a conga line.

Day 7:

In the Country. Thanks to these Norwegians, I am now enlightened on the subject of torch fishing (as well as alligator counting and frogging, courtesy of Seth and Ken, respectively). Their style called to mind that of Badly Drawn Boy, but with less rock (i.e. more jazz). The pieces were interspersed with bits akin to a stand-up routine, and clearly engaged the audience; yours truly was no exception.

Corey Harris. Muddy Waters meets Bob Marley. What a great juxtaposition.

Jason Moran & The Bandwagon. My JazzFest companions loved this act. I will at least agree with them that Jason Moran is a tremendous pianist. The drummer, also of high caliber. The performance as a whole however, gets merely an "S," in my book. I was particularly annoyed by the inexplicably loud bass line, which should have been turned down a notch or three. Louder is not always better, especially at the acoustically challenged Montage. Balance is key to a great musical performance, and I found this lacking in this show.

Day 8:

Don Byron's Ivey Dyvey Trio -- Unfortunately due to timing issues, I only managed to catch about five minutes of these guys. Those 5 minutes were fantastic, and Jason Moran again delighted by moonlighting (eve-lighting?) as the pianist.

Omar Sosa -- This trio was just on the cusp of my Top 5. These guys were clearly having a fun time playing their Afro-Caribbean tunes. That kind of energy just infects an audience -- at least, it infected me.

Andreas Petterson Quartet -- Ever heard Gershwin? Not like this you haven't. I never would have pegged an acoustic guitar to be a conduit for swing. These guys gave yet another stellar performance at the Church. We had the added pleasure of catching the band at the after-hours, despite my inadvertent bullying past them to get to the bar (hey, they were in my way, and I wasn't paying attention to who was actually blocking my path).

Toots & The Maytals -- Not sure which was more entertaining -- the reggae act on the stage, or Seth's giddiness at being there.

Day 9, a.k.a., Day Last:

Layah Jane -- This chick's got a phenomenal voice -- a perfect accompaniament to a much-needed ice-coffee from Java's. I caught the tail-end of this free show on the Gibbs Street stage when I arrived too late [from an extremely satisfying outlet mall shopping spree] to catch the highly regarded Bill Frisell Trio.

Jens Winther European Quartet -- Another tight, solid performance fronted by a Swedish trumpeter, in what I've been calling the "classic" jazz style. If only it weren't so hot in that Church! What a great series -- I'm looking forward to what they'll bring next year.

Andy Milne's Dapp Theory -- A good club show. Ran into friends Binet and Paul who aptly characterized these guys as stereotypical "Eastman Jazz" types. These guys played what I'd describe as "intellectual jazz" -- thoughtful, multilayered compositions that kept one's mind constantly thinking (reminds me of Mozart). I'm not sure how I feel about the "percussive poet" though. He had great delivery and rhythm, and those characteristics made me think of De La Soul's Tread Water, but the lyrics left me a bit wanting. Still, an enjoyable performance to end my Jazz Fest run.

So ends a great week:



(Clockwise from top:

Trusty Program Guide: Well, this was a replacement I picked up the second day due to my careless misplacement of the first. This one though made it through the week as is evidenced by its well-worn look.

Silk sleeves: So much more convenient to cart around than a sweater, these beauties came in handy for the unexpected cooler summer nights and air-conditioned venues. How lucky was I to have been drawn by Kate in the Chicks' holiday gift exchange?!

Club Pass: The thing speaks for itself.

Monkey Sock No. 2: Perfect break-time knitting!

Club Pass Gets Around

Despite a manic Monday (couldn't help myself) at work, I still managed to hook up with the guys for the next installment in the intriguing Nordic Jazz Now Series -- namely, midaircondo. The performance was incredible, and for a dead on description, check out Seth's commentary. I did have some trouble staying awake however -- midaircondo was intensely serious; thus the lack of sleep (3 hours the night before) combined with the hectic work day took its toll, and I thing I nodded off a couple times. Nonetheless, I did my best to keep up and after midaircondo, tagged along for the 10 PM spot at Montage to catch Robin Eubanks for another good, solid performance. In fact, Seth has done such an excellent job recapping Day 4, that I'm just sending you readers his way (i.e., am too lazy to come up with my own summary).

Day 5 left me to my own devices. Before hitting Jazz Street, I met up for a quick happy hour drink with my friend Tom, newly returned to the area from the West Coast. After some catching up, he went his way to check out Urinetown, while I went mine to put the Club Pass to use. The guys were taking the night off (though I believe Seth made it to a few outdoor shows with his wife), so I grabbed some chow and made my way to the Church.

Tonight's spotlight there was on The Five Corners Quintet. Each show I've seen thus far has had its own flavor and watching this band was like drinking a fine wine ... or at least what I believe drinking a fine wine would be like. The ensemble had charisma, chemistry, and an aesthetically pleasing wardrobe (think, Ocean's 11 [or 12, or 13]). The packed house never stopped cheering, and the standing ovation was well-deserved. The music itself is what I'd classify as old-school jazz -- the traditional stuff. Except that the band's interpretation and performance were anything but old school. Their sound is clearly twenty-first century.

The humble Helsinki band apparently just played in New York City, and seemed surprised and embarassed that they only had five CD's left to bring with them to Rochester. Thus my copy, along with countless others, will have to be ordered and shipped later from Finland.

Since I had actually caught up on my sleep last night, I was fully ready for a 10 pm performance. I treated myself to yet another chocolate-almond cone (the Abbott's stand on Jazz Street is quickly becoming an irresistible stop, as I have had a cone each of the last three summer-like nights), and hung around a bit to hear Ted Michael's free performance on the main stage. Then, emulating the Yarn Harlot, my sock and I found ourselves in line at Kilbourn for the Harry Allen Quartet. As an aside, I was happy to learn that despite having left the pattern at home, I had inadvertently memorized the lace pattern, and thus was able to knit away.

I wanted to like the Harry Allen Quartet. I wanted to like them because I love swing. I wanted to like them because they started strong with an energetic rendition of Diamonds Are a Girls' Best Friend. I wanted to like them because they were playing in Kilbourn Hall. I wanted to like them because they just made a CD of Guys & Dolls songs, and I looooove Guys & Dolls. You see where this is going. They had a such a great start, but somewhere along their journey, they just lost their way. The bassist had a solo that went awry with what appeared to be an out-of-tune string (I'm guessing this because he sounded off, and I later saw him adjusting the tuning pegs while the band tried covering for him). But they had begun to fade even before that. It's hard to pinpoint where and why, but it happened. I felt badly because the already sparse audience was thinning down after each number. I felt I had to stay, but I couldn't. Though I did make it through 11 pm. To make matters worse, WXXI was there to tape it for their live performance series coming this fall. I'm curious to know if it will make the cut.

So, another day down, and my Club Pass has certainly gotten its use.

Before I close, I need to have a little rant. A few weeks ago, I went to hear Bill Clinton speak at RIT's commencement ceremonies. My friend's sister was graduating, and she had some extra tickets to attend. I jumped at the chance, and she and I and a third friend put in an appearance. The event was clearly a big one, and the school managed to employ shuttle bus services to get from the parking lot to the graduation area (in actuality, another parking lot). My friends and I patiently stood in line, as we clearly hit the cut-off point. We calmly waited for the next bus to come 'round. Come 'round it did, but it stopped going in the other direction so that the line we were in was on the other side of the bus (away from the door). Even though we were clearly at the front of the line, the people behind us (all of suitable age and sense) pushed their way and rushed over to the bus, pushing us back farther in the line. It was disturbing, annoying and maddening -- those people should know better. At any rate, I bring this up because of what happened tonight.

I had plenty of time to kill between shows, and as I wasn't pressed to see anything, I decided to just hang out in front of Kilbourne until the doors opened. There were a couple people in line already and I sat down next to them on a window ledge and minded my own business (i.e., I took out my sock). At some point some people walked past us and entered the building. Or at least the annoying woman behind me (if I had to guess, I'd say she was in her late 50s) thought so, and got up, hustling to the door. When she realized that the doors weren't opening, she only half attempted to return to her spot behind me in line. What she really did was place herself between me and the door and decided to engage me in conversation about my knitting. As she was talking at me (notice my choice of preposition), she maneuvered her way so she was standing in front of me. She seemed to think that by conversing with me she could distract me and get away with it. I wasn't going to make a big scene out of it, but I did try to discourage the interaction by scowling and responding monosyllabically (in contrast to the pleasant exchange I had with the couple that had been standing in front of me). Once she had manipulated her spot with me, she decided to befriend the people standing in front of the couple that had been standing in front of me. Needless to say, by the time the doors really opened, she was at the front of the line. Now, I'm not writing this because I necessarily begrudge her place in the line -- I was about seventh or eighth in line which is pretty much the same thing. I just wonder, where do these people get off?!

Okay, I feel much better now that I've let that out.

Bed calls. Tomorrow is another day and good music (hopefully) awaits.

Weekend O' Jazz: The Recap

Saturday:

My Irish Creme latte and I enjoyed the Newark High School Jazz Band's free outdoor performance before Kari, Ben and Ken arrived. After catching up with Kari for a bit, I made my way to the Big Tent to see what the Stephane Wrembale Trio was all about. Well, it was all about some captivating gypsy jazz with the most incredible percussionist I've had the pleasure to enjoy. The ensemble as a whole put forth a fun, energetic set, but I was particularly keen on David Langlois and his lap contraption that he played marvelously with thimbled fingers. I didn't get as close-up of a look as I would have liked, but it appeared to be a washboard with a mini-cymbal, clay pot and pie tin attached atop of it. The performance was first-rate. Ken meandered into the tent for the latter part of the set, and upon its conclusion we went in search of Seth.

We connected with Seth and his family and opted for some more outdoor entertainment. We caught the end of the Mambo Kings and stuck around for a few numbers by the Los Lonely Boys -- a group I discovered accidentally a few years ago, and was psyched to catch for a few live tunes. Apparently, all of Rochester was pretty psyched to catch them, as the crowd proved difficult to squeeze out of when time came for us to make our way to the Reformation Church for Zanussi 5.

But get to the church on time, we did [of course the My Fair Lady tune is now running through my head] and little did we know the treat we were in for. I confess, I was a bit skeptical after the first thirty seconds, but before I knew it, I was entranced. If orderly chaos has a musical equivalent, this Norwegian quintet centered on saxophone play is it. I can't explain the music except to say that it was, in a word, Awesome. The musicians created richly multi-layered sounds, satisfying cravings I didn't know I had. Each piece left me feeling the same way I feel upon reading a great book -- totally and utterly satisfied. I imagine this is how the Apostles felt at Pentecost. [And I'm not a religious one]. How fitting for this group to have played in the Church.

The night was still young, so we trooped over to the Crowne Plaza Hotel for the after-hours jam session and caught the final two sets. When I got home, it was 2:30 AM.

Sunday:

After leisurely sleeping in, I stopped by the office to put in a couple hours, which mainly consisted of setting up shop in my new office space. Grabbed a late lunch at Cibon -- my new favorite place -- before heading over to Jazz Street. Upon arrival, I ran into Greg, and shortly thereafter Seth ran into us. Ken was not far behind, and we lined up for the Fred Hersch Trio. The line formed rather early, and I managed to get a little bit of knitting done while waiting in line:



A while back Jenna asked if I'm becoming a sock knitter. Not really, but they're just so darn portable! At any rate, this sock will soon be looking like its mate (and yes, I've been working on the same pair for the past few months! Sock 1 finished up in a matter of days, but time languished between then and the start of Sock 2):



Fred Hersch and his bandmates gave a solid performance in the traditional style. I confess though that it was mellower than I anticipated, and at the end left me feeling a little sleepy. That may have been the reason for why I responded the way I did when we moved on to check out Lotte Anker. Going into the "free jazz" performance, we were 2 for 2 on the Nordic Jazz Now Series at the Church. Seth bought his first CD in ages after Lotte's performance, but yours truly ... well she had a bit of a nap. We stayed long enough for two [long] numbers -- the first one seemed to me just noise. I likened my response to that of babies falling asleep when they're bombarded with too many sounds, and end up just blocking everything out. Don't get me wrong -- she wasn't bad -- she was just interesting, and to me, indecipherable. There were measures here and there that were flavorful and promising -- just not enough to hook me, I guess. To me, she's the Jackson Pollock of jazz.


After Lotte, we parted ways with Greg and sat in for Mr. Something Something at the Big Tent. The band was quite good. The vocals, not so much. Mr. Something Something wanted to be Sting. The thing is, there's only one Sting.

Sunday's finale was at Max and we rushed over to try and get seats before Lalo took the stage. Unfortunately, only meager ones were to be found. They didn't seem so horrible at first, but as the show progressed, stragglers came in and stood in front of us, blocking our views. Seth left in frustration before the set concluded, and Ken and I exited not too soon thereafter. It was too bad, because I really enjoyed the performance. Lalo manipulated the vibraphone with grace and wit, enhanced by the fine complementary performance of partner Jack West on his 8-stringed guitar. The two were clearly enjoying themselves, which added yet another layer to their output.

All in all, a great weekend. Hitting the festival during the work week is a bit daunting, but this gal plans on giving it a go.

I'm Back ... I Think!

It's been a couple months since I moved in, and even longer since I've been set up at home with the internet. I finally finished unpacking (more or less) over Memorial Day weekend, and Mr. Cable Guy came and hooked me up this morning.

Can't say that there's that much to catch up on though in terms of the time I've been "away." Haven't done much knitting and the hockey playoffs were heartbreaking. 'Nuff said.

Serendipitously, I appear to be back online just in time for the Rochester International Jazz Festival. I defer to my betters for their analyses of the performances, but you'll find me here spouting out my own naive impressions.

I love all kinds of music but I enjoy jazz the way I enjoy art -- I am not particularly well versed, but I know what I like and what I don't like. For more thoughtful reviews, I'd recommend going here, here and here.

Last year I got my feet wet in the jazz festival hitting the free shows. I was lucky to get a taste of Club Pass life when Kelly scored a pair for a night, and after that I was determined to get on the bandwagon for this year. After yesterday's opening performances I'm glad I did, and thank Ken & Seth for letting me tag along with them.

With all the best intentions to jet out of work early, got stuck at the office finishing up a few things. The gig at the Montage had already started by the time I caught up with the guys.

Perhaps it was because I was sweat-drenched from the suffocating humidity; perhaps it was because our server first passed me over and then forgot my drink until much later; perhaps it was the lackluster acoustics. Whatever the reason, that first trio didn't impress me. There was no chemistry between the musicians and I felt like I was watching three separate performers. The drummer tried too hard and the bassist didn't try hard enough. The pianist was the only real talent in the group. Seth contends in their defense, that there was a lot of talking when the trio started [before I got there] while they were trying to find their way, so there was likely a bit of mutual disrespect going on. It probably didn't help that most of the audience was expecting to see a very different act, and had virtually disappeared by the end of their set. Still, I've seen and heard better.

Luckily, that opening didn't portend poorly (and I'd note that both Seth and Ken enjoyed the Montage performance). After connecting with their friend Greg (likely the most knowledgeable local aficionado), we stopped in briefly to catch a few numbers by the Shuffle Demons before hitting the Lutheran Church of the Reformation for an incredible performance by the Peter Asplund Quartet. My biggest beef with the first group we saw was the lack of chemistry -- Peter Asplund's crew however was the epitome of chemistry working at its finest. I was pleasantly surprised by the church's acoustics, which turned out to be the perfect venue to catch this quartet. Asplund's trumpeting is akin to fine storytelling -- the kind where you're hanging onto every word until the end.

Esperanza Spalding was our final stop of the night -- and what a great way to end it. It's impossible not to get caught up in this twenty-something's playful scat. She adds a flavorful Brazilian touch and was clearly just having a blast. The energy emanated from the band and spread through the packed house (I'd note that we caught her second set of the night). Drummer Francisco Mela stole my heart. The performance was just pure fun.

On that note (pun not intended, really!), I'm off to take care of some errands before hitting tonight's sets.

Next Year, Club Pass

Having RIJF running in town for the past week has been a welcome diversion, which I took advantage of as often as I could. I went back a few more times during the week, and met up with friends last night to catch the final night. After grabbing some chow, we hung out with the large mass of people that turned out for Dickey Betts. Though recovering from some late night carousing from the night before, I wanted to check out the nightly after-hours jam session with the Bob Sneider Trio. So, fighting heavy eyelids, I went with Ken and Sethto see what all the fuss was about, and let me say that I wish I could have stayed the whole night. What I saw was pure fun personified -- after the local trio played a set, it moved on to jam with other muscians in house for the night, whether they be locals, students, festival artists and others. An electric energy surged through the club, emanating equally from the artists and the audience; however, it was not enough to keep the z's away for me, and I begrudgingly had to call it a night around 1 AM. I managed to keep sleep at bay for the quick cab ride home, but was out cold the minute I locked my apartment door behind me.

I really like how the RIJF is set up, and think it's great that it runs for a full week rather than just a weekend. I also had the added benefit of living within walking distance, so it was pretty convenient to walk down any given evening to catch some great live music. The free shows, which are mostly what I attended, covered the gamut in variety, and were abundant in quality and talent. From what I have heard, the paid shows were equally diverse and satisfying. Having gotten a taste of club pass life with Kelly, and living vicariously through Ken and Seth, I'm definitely going that route next year.

For lack of knitting content as of late, I sign off with these shots --



I futzed around with the bell cuff part a few times, before settling on a more gradual taper than I originally started with. If I ever manage to finish its mate, I'll have the perfect accessories for the summer months -- easily stowed in one's purse, these will come in handy for cool summer nights and air-conditioned offices!

Wired.

I should be going to bed. I have to get up at the butt-crack of dawn tomorrow morning so I can get to a 10 AM deposition that is at least a 2 1/2 hour drive. But I am sooo wired, as if I'd just had a gallon of coffee.

Our resident steeker, Kelly, inherited a couple of RIJF club passes to use for the night and kindly offered me her second pass. Despite a few missed calls, we finally connected and were able to catch a couple incredible acts.

We started at the Big Tent to check out Sonya Kitchell, whose voice and stage presence belied her mere seventeen tender years. It's hard to categorize her sound, which invoked elements of folk rock and jazz (more of the former than the latter), that provided an unexpected backdrop to a sultry alto that had incredible depth. She reminded me simultaneously of Jewel (sorry, Seth!), Joni Mitchell and Sam Phillips, and was a treat to hear.

Neither Kelly or I are that well-versed in the jazz culture, so after Kitchell's last number, we hunted out Ken and Seth, who had already snagged a table at Max. I had no idea that I was in for the most incredible sensory treat that calls itself BraamdeJoodeVatcher. Who knew that a jazz act could stimulate both auditory and visual senses to a state of euphoria? Certainly, not I! These guys didn't "play" their instruments -- rather, they were extensions of them, bringing the piano, bass and drums to life. Bassist deJoode had the most incredible bow control I've ever seen a string player exhibit and Vatcher's expressions and mannerisms seemed to complete the performance. I was unable to see Braam's face from where I was sitting, but his fingers were magically flying all over the keys, and I couldn't help but wonder how his fingers could just find the right ones (as I recalled all those piano lessons where I'd inevitably find the wrong ones playing under tempo).

These guys produced sound from every part of their respective instruments bringing to mind Stomp -- if Stomp had a jazz trio counterpart, BraamdeJoodeVatcher would be it. Their contagious energy really does give me the same -- if not higher -- buzz than half a pound of chocolate covered espresso beans [Yes, I once really did consume such quantity in one sitting. In my defense, I was studying for the bar exam]. I didn't want the show to end, but as all good things must ...

I need to go back this week to the merch tent at the very least to pick up their CD (or I'll be at Kari & Ken's for dinner every night). C'mon ... how can you not love a group that composes a work entitled "Change This Song" that has movements that can be played in any order, and each movement's title is an anagram of that? Metaphors just don't get any better!

What a great night!

Jazz, A Sampler.

So the Rochester International Jazz Festival is the big buzz in town for the next week or so. I love music across most genres -- and a good live performance is always a great way to spend some time. When it comes to jazz, I'm a casual listener -- I enjoy it, but I stick to what I know and don't keep up with new acts. My CD collection consists of the legendaries and Ken Burns compilations, with an occasional friendly recommendation thrown in.

I consulted with friend Ken about what to check out while RIJF was in sway and he advised me the best sampler was to hit the free gigs. I didn't make it out for opening night on Friday, as exhaustion from a rough week at work and the wacky weather killed any motivation to make my way out. Rejuvenated after luxuriously sleeping in, I hit the streets last night to check out the festival. As it was a bit brisk, I picked up a cuppa joe and made my way downtown. Little Feat gave an immensely satisfying musical performance for my classically trained ear and my rock-n-roll heart. I didn't stay for the whole show, as the giant coffee I inhaled coursed its way through me. Having no desire to wait with the mobs around the portapoddies, I headed home. Still, with my windows open, I could faintly hear the band jamming into the night.

I hope to catch up with Ken, Kari and Ben later this evening for the Mike Kaupa Quartet and the Jack Allen Big Band!


* Edited to add: Caught both shows today as planned and enjoyed a nice mellow evening at the Jazz Fest. Met up not only with Ken, Kari and Ben, but
Seth as well. Good company, good music and a cuppa joe ... what better way to spend a Sunday evening?! I'm extremely impressed with the quality of the shows I've seen, which have cost me nothing more than a few cups of coffee and hot cocoa (yes, it's June in Rochester!), and am looking to invest in one of those club passes next year. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing a few more gigs before this '06 Fest leaves town. Will have to catch up with my fellow knitters Kelly and Jenna next time!

Voices In My Head

Well, it's Kelly's fault anyhow, for tagging her readers with this meme:

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.

1. 1963, Rachael Yamagata -- I was listening to this CD (Happenstance) over the weekend and whenever this track comes on, I just have a fun time with the catchy tune. Wearing flowers in my hair and all ...

2. Need You Tonight, INXS -- The band was on Letterman tonight, and no, they didn't perform this tune, but like many gals my age, this was a staple in our adolescence. The new frontman seems okay, I guess, but it's just not the same. Now I've got to go dig out the old stuff to get my fix.

3. Firebird Suite, Igor Stravinsky -- The local orchestra I play in has got this in rehearsal for our upcoming spring concert. I need to get my hands on a good recording of this; it's been on my to-do list, and I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Any recommendations?

4. La Vie en Rose, Louie Armstrong -- I recently made a CD sampler for a friend who wanted an introduction to this American great. Louie's got quite a few recordings of this tune, but what I love about this particular song is that it's a perfect sampling of both voice and instrument.

5. Bustin' Up a Starbucks, Mike Doughty -- I hear this tune on the radio almost every time I get in the car. Usually, I get annoyed with overplayed tunes, but the fact that the former Soul Coughing dude is back with his gravelly voice makes me happy.

6. Leroy Brown, Jim Croce -- I just happened to look over at my bookshelf and my eye caught a framed picture with some pals, including my pal Elle. This tune was one we always had fun with at karaoke. Now it's in my head and I want to go karaoke.

7. Home for a Rest, Spirit of the West -- This song is never not fun to listen to. Yes, double negative was purposeful.

Ken, Michael, Mike, George, Manda, Korin and Karyn, you guys are It!

Oh hey, I just missed my blogiversary. Oops!