Submitted
by Al Kanovsky 05/25/15
You cannot put it in a box. The music itself evolves in an
ever widening circle. It encompasses a continuing growing number of formats.
As
I've said and written over a hundred times, "Listening to JAZZ or BLUES is
not an objective art". It is subject to numerous factors including
background, upbringing, education and lots more. I was somewhat disappointed by
some of the artists that were presented at the Jacksonville JAZZ Festival. Not
that it wasn't enough good music. It just wasn't enough JAZZ. So back to the
definition------I can't define it outside of saying, you know it when you hear
it.
So to last night. Eric and the JAZZers. A tight band with excellent
musicians. Cornelius Johnson "Juju" on reeds and flute, Yamin Mustafa
playing trumpet, Ken Burkhart manning the keyboard and 'Doc' Allison at the
kit. Yvette Norwood Tiger does the vocal chores. Eric----I'm still wondering
what he does. Altho he did play a little
drums last night. JAZZ? Yes and no. Solos a solid YES on the
JAZZ side. Program? Made to entertain and that's a good thing. Was it all JAZZ?
To my ear and understanding , no. And that ain't a bad or negative thing. I
enjoyed the music, regardless of definitions. Let me outline the evening. It
started out with a JAZZ line with Yamin taking the first solo, followed Juju,
Ken and Doc. Definitely JAZZ. Play "Cherokee" with Juju handling the
1st solo and Doc doing a dramatic drum solo and you almost have the definition
down pat. They follow with "Misty" and I am in full JAZZ listening
mode. Yvette takes the stage with "What Is This Thing Called Love".
JAZZ has taken over the house. JAZZ has history.
Piano Bob is invited up to do
what Eric calls BLUES. Piano Bob is a master, but not of the BLUES. Piano Bob
plays 8 Beat. BOOGIE WOOGIE!!!!. 8 to the bar. The jitterbugs loved it. The
'lindy-hop' was created by it's rhythm. I asked Eric's wife Chantale to dance.
We did and had fun doing it. I can listen to Bob bang those keys 'all night
long'. Yamin & Juju do some New Orleans riffs and Kenny sings
"Georgia". He ain't no Ray Charles but he can sing and makes the tune
his own. Juju plays soprano on this one and Yamin delivers a 5* smooth solo.
Yvette returns to do a request. "La Vie En Rose". Eric announces it
as a Louis Armstrong hit. It was. But it was Edith Piaf who made that song
famous. Yvette didn't do it like Louis or Edith. She did it like Yvette.
Emotional and absolutely perfect. During Ken's solo he quoted "It Isn't
Even Spring" bringing a different flavor to the tune. Ken is in 'quote'
mode 'cause in the next tune "Apple Blossom Time" he quotes
"Candy". Creativity=JAZZ. Spike Lee's "Mo' Better BLUES"
closes the set.
Eric likes to bring us to N'awlins for the second set. Now
we are in 'show biz' mode. "Saints Go Marchin' In", "Hello
Dolly". Kenny joined Yvette on the vocals. Juju did some 2nd line solo and
Eric took a turn at the kit. JAZZ came back to life with "Antelope"
and then a funky "Watermelon Man". Juju on flute and Yamin blowing
down the walls of Jericho. Tim Bluntson is invited up. He has a great set of
pipes and does "Lost In A Masquerade" Not exactly in JAZZ fashion but really good to listen to. Yvette returns to sing "Tenderly" with
Ken's solo closing the set. My notes for the last set are gone. I should be
honest not 'gone'. Never written. No memory except that I was having a lot of
fun. Tim Bluntson up for 'one more' and Mike doing a Frank Sinatra tune.
Eric called me up for the finale. I had written a BLUES
lyric on my drive down from Jacksonville. The title "My Kind Of
Woman". The band played in "F". I sang in "G".
Thanks
guys!!!!!
Al's Disclaimer:
A
short note: The reason I write this is because I love music and words. I do not
book acts. I do not promote acts. I do not accept invitations to review
artists. I go to venues of my own choice. When and where is not influenced by
anything other than who I would like to hear that night or day. If I don't like
what I hear, I won't write about it. When I like it I let you all know. I
never mention a name without asking permission. "Pardon me, Miss. Would
you like to dance?"
~ ~ ~
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