jazz festival . . . one
Got a slow start on the festival this year, missing day one entirely due to slowness of brain. Missed the opener – Tony Bennett – because I'm an idiot and didn't arrange anything in advance. I have a media pass so can basically just go to anything but this was sure to be sold out - not sure what happens in that case but, regardless, I didn't plan for it so went to the beach that night and ate a Vera's burger instead. More than seeing Bennett I wanted to photograph him - I've been a big Tony Bennett fan since I was five - but John Orysik (festival media guy) said it would be pretty much impossible to set up even five minutes to grab a shot. I guess Tony Bennett is famous. I've written about my first day in Vancouver, off the road in 1963, and walking from Howe Street downtown to the Blue Horn jazz club on Broadway at Alma. I met Al Neil that night, and Ron Proby, both of whom became friends and may or may not have been playing that night – too long ago to remember. But I do remember the rhythm section of Don Thompson and Terry Clarke. Forty-three years later I finally meet Thompson, at his CBC gig with James Danderfer. James Danderfer won't admit it was me that came up with his "Jim Dandy" nickname. He gave me a ride home from the Cellar about five years ago and I distinctly recall singing Lavern Baker's hit in the car. He'd never heard of it. He was a tenor player then and every time I've heard him since he was playing clarinet and playing it beautifully. A rare instrument in jazz these days – I love the sound of it when played as soulfully as Jim Dandy plays it, and bass clarinet, too.Over the last twenty-odd years I've heard Andy Bey maybe five times on the radio, always stopping me in my tracks . . . often singing songs I've heard a million times but making me feel like I'm hearing them for the first time . . . deep . . . and there's no richer voice on the planet. A couple of years ago someone played a track  off his latest, American Song, CD and that did it. Headed downtown and bought the thing . . . and I buy very few CD's nowadays. This was probably the show I was looking foward to more than any and it didn't disappoint. Any Bey is the best jazz singer alive! Jillian Lebeck sings beautifully, plays (piano, keyboards, and trumpet – although I haven't heard her trumpet, yet) beautifully, and writes beautifully. She absolutely deserves to become wildly successful, a major presence on the music scene but Jillian does her thing her way, without consideration for the fickle, irrational, marketplace but she's do damn talented she'll probably make it anyway. Caught her quintet's second set at CBC Studio One.  Almost missed André Lachance Trio's outdoor, weekend concert. I keep forgetting they've added Victory Square . . . I walked right by on my way to Gastown and then had to walk right back . . . not a big deal but it's gotten hot out and, besides, I need to conserve my energies. Anyway, I know André as one of our top bass players and this was one of the few times I've heard him on guitar (maybe he's an even hotter guitar player . . who knows?) and the first time I heard this funky organ trio with Chris Gestrin on the B3 and Brad Turner on drums. Great.Miscellaneous notes: Missed the first of the Mike Allen-led late-night jams at O'Doul's. These are always a highlight and great fun. Mike's been doing these for the last few years and does a superb job of keeping it well organized, getting the best players up on the bandstand and getting the wankers off as soon as possible. I don't know the names of anyone that sat in on Saturday night except for Michel Donato and Charnett Moffatt, both of whom played bass at various times. For a jam, the music was on a high level all night. I caught most of the Donato band's session in Gastown yesterday and wish I'd caught their main gig at The Centre. Donato is, of course, a major Canadian player and I probably haven't seen him live since about 1960 . . . Photos at O'Doul's are near impossible. No damn light on the bandstand! I may turn on the flash (hate to do it) one of these times just so I can try getting some of the action . . . The other late-night hang is at Ironworks . . . a great venue but as O'Doul's is my regular hang and in my neighbourhood, that's where I'll be at the end of most nights. An easy walk, pissed at 2AM! Today I'm heading over to Performance Works for the Bruce Freedman Quartet at 3 and later tonight, Mark Helias at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. There are way more photos than I can fit in here so will probably do up a jazz fest album at some point, maybe when it's all over. Jazz Festival posts |