Big Jazz Blog

Dee Dee Bridgewater

Written by Moreen Murray

Floating onto the stage, a vision in a green print chiffon sheath with fluttering enhanced eyelashes and killer green metallic sandals, brandishing a shimmering gold fan – yes, it was none other than Grammy award winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater set to weave her spell over the audience at Koerner Hall last night.

It wasn’t all glamour though – that this lady was here to give her listeners and the band a workout – not that it showed – she was cool and elegant throughout. Backed by and orchestra of many of Canada’s finest musicians including Guido Basso, Terry Clark, Reg Schwager, Mike Murley and Russ Little to name a few – and on bass trombone – yes, my brother Colin.

A funny and flirtatious Bridgewater – who kept referring to the band as “fine, and I do mean FINE musicians – cue the fluttering lashes - strutted her stuff from ballads to bop in a tribute to two of her biggest influences – Elenora Fagan – that’s Miss Billie Holiday to you and Ella Fitzgerald. After all as she pointed out, those two ladies had ushered her to the Grammy Podium.

The tunes ranged from a plaintive “Good Morning Heartache” and boisterous “Lady Sings the Blues” , energetic “Miss Brown to You”, a bopping “Undecided” and hopping “Cottontail” – a Grammy winning arrangement on that tune (yes, bad pun) – she even did a mean trombone impersonation on “Them There Eyes” - to Ella’s signatures – “A Foggy Day” and “Lady Be Good” – no worries on that score. She is a truly delightful performer.

Opening the show was the Mario Romano Quartet – with Mario on piano, Roberto Occhipinti on bass, Pat LaBarbera on sax, and the honorary Italian – Mark Kelso on drums. Set to tour in Italy this summer the quartet segued through standards such as “Night in Tunisia”, “Someday My Prince Will Come” and a Latin tinged “Autumn Leaves” – they also threw in a Beatles tunes “Norweigian Wood”. To borrow a phrase from Dee Dee – fine musicians.

Speaking of fine musicians – I caught a few numbers on Sunday night from the Spanish Harlem Orchestra on the Toronto Star Stage – wow. Muy caliente – the band was really tight – producing not only complex music – but tunes you couldn’t help swaying your hips to – in fact many succumbed to the rhythms and we dancing inside the tent and on the grass…

I’m off to see Branford and Joey on Wednesday night – and hopefully some things in between – looks like some great music in Quotes with the CJQ and guests like Guido Basso, Scott Hamilton, Randy Sandke and Gord Sheard’s Brazilian Experiences with the likes of Bill McBirnie – then there the free shows in the Square – Kollage tonight at 5:30, Sienna Dahlen at noon tomorrow, the Heavyweights on July 1^st at noon. Plus I hope to catch some of Molly Johnson with the Count Basie Orchestra tomorrow night and Bela Fleck on Thursday. Yes, it’s a full plate but I’m always hungry for great jazz.

Rochester Jazz Fest 2011 (Part 2)

Written by Moreen Murray

Well, after starting with a bang my festival trip ended with a bang as well in the form of the dynamic Curtis Stigers – Kilbourn Hall was packed of course – in fact people who came to the 6 p.m show returned for the 10 p.m. show, or as he referred to it – the “late show” and anything can happen. Stigers, who is a quick with a quip as a lyric or horn line – commented on the variety of jazz and music at the festival including the Scandanavians with their “long hair and “whale song” …

From the jumpin’ “That’s All Right Mamma” to a soulful “You Don’t Know What Love Is” to one of the best versions of “Bye Bye Blackbird” I’ve ever heard, to Tom Waits “San Diego Serenade” and John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy” – no matter what tempo or tune he chose the audience roared their approval and indeed brought about an encore with a gorgeous “In the Wee Small Hours”. He was backed by his usual outstanding trio – particularly Matthew Friese on piano.

Prior to that I squeezed in some Bonerama because as you may know, I have a particular fondness for trombones – funky stuff, electrifying the the big Verizon tent.

Over the previous two days – with a side trip to the beautiful Finger Lakes area – Keuka Lake wineries – check out McGregor and Konstantin Frank wineries – my music selections were more of a tasting than the full bottle – but that is also the beauty of the pass…if I am not fully involved in the music I can check out the other offerings.

Sunday did produce two stand outs though, a particularly fine vintage if you will – the co artistic director himself – John Nugent gave a free concert in Kodak Hall at the Eastern Theatre with strings (Rochester Philharmonic)– a lush wonderful afternoon beginning with “My Romance” a sultry “Yesterdays”, the latin groove of “Estate” onto a sublime “Polka Dots and Moonbeams” and a lovely “Moonlight in Vermont”. Caught a few tunes of talented up and comer Champian Fulton – vocalist and pianist at Max’s of Eastman Place and then with a stop to refuel and catch some free sounds (bluegrass and the Jazz Street stage) came one of the major highlights of my festival experience.

If you have never seen or heard of Davell Crawford – make sure you jump at the chance. You would never know the firecracker performer, a New Orleans native, singer, pianist and according to his website – B3 player as well, feels he is shy and in fact retired from performing briefly - let’s hope that doesn’t last. He is opening a club in Harlem called Davell’s Underground – that will be on my list of places to visit next time I’m in New York – and should be yours too.

The man is versatile with a capital V – sporting shades and a white straw fedora he launched into a bluesy “Mr. Boss Man” (complete with call and response from the audience) segued into “Jock a mo” and a delightful a cappella “Bye, Bye Blackbird”. That tune again…I’m sensing a trend. Other stellar selections included “Throw It Away”, Leon Russell’s “A Song for You” – featuring him plucking the piano strings and a sweet “I’m Glad There is You” - dedicated to two friends and fans who he learned just prior to going onstage had been shot and killed. Talk about dedication and perseverance.

The audience was reluctant to let him go – even as he paraded out with his trio with a little N’awlins flavor to the Mardi Gras “Indian Red”. Davell even borrowed a drum and some sticks to show he has mastered percussion as well. He was quite simply one of the most mesmerizing musicians I’ve seen.

That’s one of the things I enjoy about the festival – discovering new treasures and revisiting favourites, sharing information in the lineups and how close the venues are…and yes, I even enjoy the ethereal “whale music”. Most of all, I admire how proud the people of Rochester are of their festival….already I’m planning on returning next year. A big thank you to the city of Rochester, its citizens and most of all the festival itself – see you in 2012.

Rochester Jazz Fest 2011

Written by Moreen Murray

20th Annual Saint Lucia Jazz Festival

Written by Webmaster

JAZZ.FM91 President and CEO, Ross Porter, was on-site this past weekend covering the 20th annual Saint Lucia Jazz Festival. The festival takes place on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia and brings together international and local musicians.

On Sunday, May 8th, Ross Porter called in from the festival for a live interview with Heather Bambrick on "Sunday Afternoon Jazz".

Mike Stern and Richard Bona

John Legend on stage

Frishberg Forever

Written by Moreen Murray

"I’m from the old school,

The proper and the prude school,

Where it’s stiff upper lip, stay quietly hip and never reveal what you feel,

Behold the new school

The recently tattooed school

Where it’s in your face

And crank up the bass

And climb to the top of the pile

I prefer a much lower profile for my style”….

- The Hopi Way

And so the introduction for many in the audience at Hugh’s Room to the wit and wisdom of songwriting legend David Frishberg – who has produced such gems as “Peel Me a Grape” and of course “I’m Hip” – both recorded by the wonderful Blossom Dearie (and the quintessential versions in my opinion).