Large crowds and great music
Perfect weather helped make jazz festival’s 30th anniversary a success
The TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival celebrated its 30th anniversary in grand style with more concerts, record attendance and revenue, and glorious weather for 13 of its 14 days.
Oh, and the shows weren’t bad either.
Here’s a look at the good, the not so good, and the peculiar at this year’s festival.
THE BIG PICTURE
Aided by the warm, sunny weather, attendance at the many free, outdoor shows exceeded last year’s rain-affected numbers, and ticket sales will likely set a new record. Not every show was a sellout, but crowds were large at the Orpheum, the Vogue, and Performance Works, and it was tough to find a seat at many of the shows at The Ironworks.
The three themed programs — Made in the U.K., French Jazz, South Africa Now! — were popular, and festival co-founder John Orysik said future festivals will continue with themes.
BEST CONCERTS (that I attended)
Kenny Werner Trio Pianist Werner, bassist Johannes Weidenmueller and drummer Ari Hoenig can both excite and soothe, sometimes within a single chorus. Constantly shifting gears, their originals make an instant impression; they even made John Coltrane’s unlistenable 26-2 listenable.
Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra
The 19-piece ensemble from Montreal burned from the first to the last moment. The leader’s compositions and arrangements turned ears at every measure, and trumpeter Ingrid Jensen (Christine’s big sister) and saxophonist André Leroux played dazzling solos. Hugh Fraser and VEJI The Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation is now 35, and its outdoor show on the opening weekend leaned heavily on Afro-Cuban originals on which baritone saxophonist Bill Runge and percussionist Jack Duncan shone. Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton One of the backup singers featured in the documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, the barefoot Fischer headlined and sang the lights out with her capable backup trio, Grand Baton. How many octaves can one person possess? She gave one of the best versions of Jumpin’ Jack Flash you’ll ever hear. Moholo Quartet One of five acts from South Africa, drummer-composer Louis Moholo’s band seamlessly went from rhythmic grooves to hummable melodies to free improvisation, linking everything together. Antonio Sanchez & Migration The drummer-composer and his quartet, with ex-Vancouverite Seamus Blake on saxophones, performed the entire five-movement Meridian Suite, a near-hour-long work that negotiates tricky time changes. Renee Rosnes Quartet The pride of North Vancouver proved to be one of the best pure jazz pianists in the world, leading a group that played with great power and great delicacy. Fred Hersch Trio Always reshaping the piano jazz trio, pianist Hersch, bassist John Hébert and drummer Eric McPherson showed off memorable originals and performed CPR on standards.
Adonis Puentes and the Voice of Cuba Orchestra
Does a septet constitute an orchestra? It does when they play like these gentlemen. Shows I wish I got to: GoGo Penguin, Cyrille, Aimée, Freshly Ground, Kyle Shepherd Trio, the Campbell Brothers, Julia Hülsman Trio.
LOCAL STANDOUTS
Hmmm, what constitutes a local musician? Renee Rosnes fled British Columbia for New York years ago, as did headliners Michael Blake (who led Tiddy Boom), Ingrid Jensen, Bria Skonberg (a terrific entertainer) and Cat Toren. Notable B.C. natives appearing in other bands included Sean Cronin, Evan Arntzen and Seamus Blake. Garfield Buckley, a member of a cappella singing group Naturally 7, lives part of the year in Vancouver.
Those still living in the rainforest who made great music included pianist-trombonist-band leader Hugh Fraser, flutist Tom Keenlyside, pianist Tyson Naylor, Latin dance band Mazacote and R&B singer Dawn Pemberton
So, was everything outstanding? Well, no. Electric Miles, one of the city’s best bands, opted to jam rather than perform songs from Miles Davis’s electric repertoire, and their David Lam Park performance wasn’t as good as previous shows. Saxophonist Eric Revis and his trio of pianist Kris Davis and drummer Gerald Cleaver, showed great individual skills but didn’t spark as a trio. You could say the same for The Bad Plus Joshua Redman; The Bad Plus is fine as a cutting-edge trio, but the addition of saxophonist Redman didn’t add much at all. The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer have loyal fans, but they’d be better off in a more snug venue.
Biggest bust was trumpeter Dave Douglas & High Risk. Douglas usually sets the bar high, and he did some fine playing personally, but his electronics-- focused quartet basically noodled for the four renderings ... er ... renditions that I stuck around for before retreating to David Lam Park.
The Emergency Sub Award
To Chin Injeti, formerly with Bass is Base. When Orpheum headliner Erykah Badu missed her flight from Los Angeles and would not arrive at the Vancouver airport until 20 minutes before her show, festival organizers frantically tried to find a warm-up act. Injeti came to the rescue, entertaining the big crowd.
The Verbal Dagger Award
To singer-guitarist Buddy Guy. When Guy mentioned his respect for the great blues guitarists, a loudmouth up front, who had been making a pest of himself, shouted “Willie Dixon!” Guy had to tell Leather Lungs that Dixon didn’t play guitar and, in no uncertain terms, to please shut his trap. It worked.
The Quick, Grab a Camera Award
To the flock of drummers who sat up front, stage left, for Performance Works shows because the drummer usually sets up on that side. There were at least six of them in the first two rows to watch Lewis Nash flash the sticks with the Renee Rosnes Quartet, and more than that for Antonio Sanchez.
The Quick, Lose a Camera Award
To the goof in the Vogue’s front row who flashed his cellphone at Brazilian singer-pianist Eliane Elias, who doesn’t like photos she hasn’t vetted. Elias stopped mid-song to give the guy hell.
The Who Needs Jenny Craig? Award
To Norwegian drummer-bandleader Paal Nilssen-Love for his behind-the-kit workout. In the middle of a free-improvisation trio performance, Nilssen-Love changed sticks, brushes and mallets every 10 seconds or less, also grabbing and discarding splash cymbals, wood blocks and bells with the same frequency. Someone give this guy a Valium!
Best Way to Put Guitarists Out of Work Award
To Naturally 7’s Ricky Cort, for his vocal imitation of a guitar solo on George Harrison’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
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