Year
54. the 2011 installment of the Monterey Jazz Festival, the seminal
longest continual running jazz festival in the world picked up where it
left off in 2010. Steeped in the rich history of jazz, the festival
covers a lot of ground in a fast paced two and a half day time span with
deep reverence for the idiom’s titans, it highlights present day
innovators, and showcases emerging artists too. To various degrees many
other jazz festivals emulate Monterey’s program, but with either a
lighter approach or with a strong emphasis on avant-garde. MJF is far
from being lightweight, yet doesn’t require a doctorate in music theory
to dissimulate the music and performers artistry. Alternatively, one can
delve deeply into the art form and musicians (often playing multiple
settings), with a plethora of concerts, merchandise, exhibits and
interviews (live and recorded) all going on simultaneously.
From the traditional standpoint in the main arena, trumpeter, Terence Blanchard and percussionist, Poncho Sanchez’s Latin Band celebrated trumpeter, Dizzy Gillespie and percussionist, Chano Pozo’s ground-breaking/legendary 1940’s collaboration. Father and son guitarists, Bucky and John Pizzarelli, with vocalist, Jessica Molaskey (John’s wife) and a backing quartet served up standards and related originals. Pianist, Geri Allen and Timeline showcased MJF commissioned work, “The Dazzler, a Jazz-tap Tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr. with tap dancer, Morris Chestnut.
The Next Generation Orchestra, featuring the country’s best high school players were spotlighted with veterans, saxophonist, Joshua Redman, 2011 Artist-in-Residence, pianist, Benny Green and saxophonist, Donny McCaslin. In tribute to the great Miles Davis/Gil Evans recordings Porgy & Bess and Sketches of Spain, Vince Mendoza led a big band, featuring Blanchard, drummer, Peter Erskine and trumpeter, Miles Evans (Gil Evan’s son). Saxophonist, Sonny Rollins masterfully blazed away with his group and injected impressive solos.
In contrast, other arena artists injected touches of funk, R&B, rock, world and fusion styles that drew a mix of positive and negative reactions. Pianist, Hiromi and The Trio Project impressed the audience with high-energy playing and imaginative improvisation (see Amanda Wheeler’s review below). Redman’s James Farm group pushed the threshold with forward-thinking compositions and playing. Keyboardist, Herbie Hancock with an impressive band rekindled his mid 1970s Headhunters’ funk groves, while mostly playing his strap-on synthesizer for dynamic solos and sidemen interactions.
For An Afternoon in Treme: The Musical Majesty of New Orleans, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk with guests, The Soul Rebels, Greg Errico, Kermit Ruffins, Blancard and emcee Wendell Pierce from HBO’s Treme all cut up with appealing and very danceable funk. Huey Lewis and the News presented Soulsville, a fun set of R&B and some of rocking hits that also got people dancing. In recent years, MJF has included a world music performance; singer India.Arie and Israeli pianist, Idan Raichel were clearly in that category. With an international cast of musicians/singers from Israel, Nashville, Atlanta and Brooklyn, they beautifully interwove songs that were spiritual and humanity based, with touches of soul.
Out on the grounds spread around three smaller indoor and one outdoor stage were equally compelling and diverse artists. Some of them were organist, Joey DeFrancesco’s Trio, with vibraphonist, Bobby Hutcherson and saxophonist, Chris Potter with drummer, Antonio Sanchez, and pianist, Green with saxophonist, Donald Harrison, along with saxophonist, Steve Coleman & Five Elements mix of funk and avant-garde. Reprising and extending their engaging arena shows were the Pizzarellis and Molaskey, Redman, and Hiromi for those who couldn’t get enough of them or missed out the first time around.
Dumpstaphunk brought a heap more, while saxophonist Tia Fuller with her
sister playing piano for hard driving funk jazz funk were amongst the
emerging standouts. Other non-arena artists of that ilk were
bassist/vocalist, Richard Bona & blind singer/guitarist, Raul Midon
who sang and played beautifully together. Pianists Eldar, Helen Sung and
Robert Glasper were more nuanced, mixing in hip-hop, rock and modern
themes.
Finally, from a non-performance aspect, McCaslin did Downbeat Magazine’s very popular Blindfold Test and Ashley Kahn for Jazz on Film interviewed actor/director/former Mayor of Carmel, Clint Eastwood and Pierce. Kahn also interviewed producer, Orrin Keepnews for The Art of Impulse Records: A 50-Year Retrospective. If that wasn’t enough, films More to Live for featuring Michael Beckerand Dave Brubeck: In his own Sweet Way were also shown. For info about year 55 go to: www.montereyjazzfestival.org
Friday night’s Main Arena opening act featured piano virtuoso Hiromi and The Trio Project, featuring Anthony Jackson on six string bass and Simon Phillips on a super-sized drum combo, worked beautifully to hypnotize the audience from the first note. Hiromi began her performance with a gentle intensity with fingers flying, and occasionally a foot, over a grand piano and electric keyboard adding a dramatic flair to her kinesthetic performance. Her music emoted a sheer joy that flowed from a deep inner source and radiate throughout her body accentuated by uniquely expressive and passionate facial expressions. The audience was transfixed by the sheer power of her intensely creative and advent-guard musical blend of fusion, classical rifts on hormones, electrifying yet cerebrally gifted and unique techniques
Throughout her performance the overriding emotion was that of joy, which is an anomaly in the traditionally serious milieu of outstandingly accomplished jazz musicians, where precision and concentration all too often limit extraordinary players to self-expression through their instruments exclusively. Not so with Hiromi; she emoted her wildly ferocious, creative genius through every pore of her body. Those fortunate enough to witness her performance traveled through the incredibly fantastic voyage with her. Thanks to technology that allowed the MJF attendees to see her facial expressions, which told the story of everything she was playing, produced a multi-sensory effect that was viscerally dazzling.
Following Hiromi in the main Arena, the John Pizzarelli Quartet performed adding a family flair featuring his wife, Jessica Molaskey and his father, Bucky Pizzarelli, who entertained the crowd with a mix of traditional standards, “Don’t get around much anymore” and “East Saint Louis Toodle-oo”, and more cotemporary tunes including, Harrison’s “While my guitar gently weeps” and a version of “Killing me softly with his song”.
The Main Arena closed Friday night with Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band, with Terrance Blanchard’s impressing the audience with his riveting performance of Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis tunes, while Poncho Sanchez’s group devoted a tribute to Cuban percussionist Chano Pozo, with impeccable timing and flair.
The
Monterey Jazz Festival is an event that embodies tradition as the
second longest running celebration of jazz in the U.S. Yet, it also is
innovative and open to new technology and musical directions.
Year Fifty-Three intermixed well-renown favorites, along with up and
coming players, in addition to a strong international flavoring.
Notably, the atmosphere throughout the festival grounds was relaxed and
filled with aficionados, but welcoming to newcomers getting their first
indoctrination to jazz and a full-blown festival.
Distinguishing features of the festival are an Artist in Residence, who acts a performer, clinician and a competition judge for a variety of MJF activities throughout the year prior to the festival. During the three-day event the selected artist performs in a variety of situations, including a set with the MJF’s Next Generation Jazz orchestra. There also is a Commissioned Work that is performed and spotlighted. Furthermore, a Showcase Artist, usually someone with a distinguished career full of achievements is highlighted through several shows and a Jazz Journalist Association event.
Unquestionably, MJF has something for anyone who has an interest in jazz and enjoys experiencing it in a live setting. Additionally, the event draws fellow enthusiasts, features a savory selection of food and is lined with plenty of booths for records, posters, clothing and many other products. Not to be forgotten are the picturesque communities of Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur that all offer distinctive getaway opportunities filled with an array of activities. Start planning for 2012 by going to: www.montereyjazzfestival.org.
Richard Bona, singer/guitarist with Raul Midon
Festival and other festival details:
www.californialifemag.net/FESTIVALS_.php
www.montereyjazzfestival.com
From the traditional standpoint in the main arena, trumpeter, Terence Blanchard and percussionist, Poncho Sanchez’s Latin Band celebrated trumpeter, Dizzy Gillespie and percussionist, Chano Pozo’s ground-breaking/legendary 1940’s collaboration. Father and son guitarists, Bucky and John Pizzarelli, with vocalist, Jessica Molaskey (John’s wife) and a backing quartet served up standards and related originals. Pianist, Geri Allen and Timeline showcased MJF commissioned work, “The Dazzler, a Jazz-tap Tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr. with tap dancer, Morris Chestnut.
The Next Generation Orchestra, featuring the country’s best high school players were spotlighted with veterans, saxophonist, Joshua Redman, 2011 Artist-in-Residence, pianist, Benny Green and saxophonist, Donny McCaslin. In tribute to the great Miles Davis/Gil Evans recordings Porgy & Bess and Sketches of Spain, Vince Mendoza led a big band, featuring Blanchard, drummer, Peter Erskine and trumpeter, Miles Evans (Gil Evan’s son). Saxophonist, Sonny Rollins masterfully blazed away with his group and injected impressive solos.
In contrast, other arena artists injected touches of funk, R&B, rock, world and fusion styles that drew a mix of positive and negative reactions. Pianist, Hiromi and The Trio Project impressed the audience with high-energy playing and imaginative improvisation (see Amanda Wheeler’s review below). Redman’s James Farm group pushed the threshold with forward-thinking compositions and playing. Keyboardist, Herbie Hancock with an impressive band rekindled his mid 1970s Headhunters’ funk groves, while mostly playing his strap-on synthesizer for dynamic solos and sidemen interactions.
For An Afternoon in Treme: The Musical Majesty of New Orleans, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk with guests, The Soul Rebels, Greg Errico, Kermit Ruffins, Blancard and emcee Wendell Pierce from HBO’s Treme all cut up with appealing and very danceable funk. Huey Lewis and the News presented Soulsville, a fun set of R&B and some of rocking hits that also got people dancing. In recent years, MJF has included a world music performance; singer India.Arie and Israeli pianist, Idan Raichel were clearly in that category. With an international cast of musicians/singers from Israel, Nashville, Atlanta and Brooklyn, they beautifully interwove songs that were spiritual and humanity based, with touches of soul.
Out on the grounds spread around three smaller indoor and one outdoor stage were equally compelling and diverse artists. Some of them were organist, Joey DeFrancesco’s Trio, with vibraphonist, Bobby Hutcherson and saxophonist, Chris Potter with drummer, Antonio Sanchez, and pianist, Green with saxophonist, Donald Harrison, along with saxophonist, Steve Coleman & Five Elements mix of funk and avant-garde. Reprising and extending their engaging arena shows were the Pizzarellis and Molaskey, Redman, and Hiromi for those who couldn’t get enough of them or missed out the first time around.
Finally, from a non-performance aspect, McCaslin did Downbeat Magazine’s very popular Blindfold Test and Ashley Kahn for Jazz on Film interviewed actor/director/former Mayor of Carmel, Clint Eastwood and Pierce. Kahn also interviewed producer, Orrin Keepnews for The Art of Impulse Records: A 50-Year Retrospective. If that wasn’t enough, films More to Live for featuring Michael Beckerand Dave Brubeck: In his own Sweet Way were also shown. For info about year 55 go to: www.montereyjazzfestival.org
Monterey Jazz Festival Scene
By Amanda WheelerFriday night’s Main Arena opening act featured piano virtuoso Hiromi and The Trio Project, featuring Anthony Jackson on six string bass and Simon Phillips on a super-sized drum combo, worked beautifully to hypnotize the audience from the first note. Hiromi began her performance with a gentle intensity with fingers flying, and occasionally a foot, over a grand piano and electric keyboard adding a dramatic flair to her kinesthetic performance. Her music emoted a sheer joy that flowed from a deep inner source and radiate throughout her body accentuated by uniquely expressive and passionate facial expressions. The audience was transfixed by the sheer power of her intensely creative and advent-guard musical blend of fusion, classical rifts on hormones, electrifying yet cerebrally gifted and unique techniques
Throughout her performance the overriding emotion was that of joy, which is an anomaly in the traditionally serious milieu of outstandingly accomplished jazz musicians, where precision and concentration all too often limit extraordinary players to self-expression through their instruments exclusively. Not so with Hiromi; she emoted her wildly ferocious, creative genius through every pore of her body. Those fortunate enough to witness her performance traveled through the incredibly fantastic voyage with her. Thanks to technology that allowed the MJF attendees to see her facial expressions, which told the story of everything she was playing, produced a multi-sensory effect that was viscerally dazzling.
Following Hiromi in the main Arena, the John Pizzarelli Quartet performed adding a family flair featuring his wife, Jessica Molaskey and his father, Bucky Pizzarelli, who entertained the crowd with a mix of traditional standards, “Don’t get around much anymore” and “East Saint Louis Toodle-oo”, and more cotemporary tunes including, Harrison’s “While my guitar gently weeps” and a version of “Killing me softly with his song”.
The Main Arena closed Friday night with Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band, with Terrance Blanchard’s impressing the audience with his riveting performance of Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis tunes, while Poncho Sanchez’s group devoted a tribute to Cuban percussionist Chano Pozo, with impeccable timing and flair.
The
Monterey Jazz Festival is an event that embodies tradition as the
second longest running celebration of jazz in the U.S. Yet, it also is
innovative and open to new technology and musical directions.
Year Fifty-Three intermixed well-renown favorites, along with up and
coming players, in addition to a strong international flavoring.
Notably, the atmosphere throughout the festival grounds was relaxed and
filled with aficionados, but welcoming to newcomers getting their first
indoctrination to jazz and a full-blown festival.Distinguishing features of the festival are an Artist in Residence, who acts a performer, clinician and a competition judge for a variety of MJF activities throughout the year prior to the festival. During the three-day event the selected artist performs in a variety of situations, including a set with the MJF’s Next Generation Jazz orchestra. There also is a Commissioned Work that is performed and spotlighted. Furthermore, a Showcase Artist, usually someone with a distinguished career full of achievements is highlighted through several shows and a Jazz Journalist Association event.
Unquestionably, MJF has something for anyone who has an interest in jazz and enjoys experiencing it in a live setting. Additionally, the event draws fellow enthusiasts, features a savory selection of food and is lined with plenty of booths for records, posters, clothing and many other products. Not to be forgotten are the picturesque communities of Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur that all offer distinctive getaway opportunities filled with an array of activities. Start planning for 2012 by going to: www.montereyjazzfestival.org.
Scenes from the 2011 Monterey Jazz Festival
Herbie Hancock Tia Fuller
Clint Eastwood Bucky & John Pizzerelli
An Afternoon in Tremé • Ian Neville, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
Joshua Redman's James Farm India Arie & Idan Raichel
Herbie Hancock Tia Fuller
Clint Eastwood Bucky & John Pizzerelli
An Afternoon in Tremé • Ian Neville, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
Joshua Redman's James Farm India Arie & Idan Raichel
Richard Bona, singer/guitarist with Raul Midon
See you next year!
Links to more California Reviews by Christopher J. Walker, including the Monterey Jazz Festival and other festival details:
www.californialifemag.net/FESTIVALS_.php
www.montereyjazzfestival.com
