1. It's hard to put the brilliance of Jason Moran's Bandwagon trio into words: Having listened to them for 15+ of their 20 years together, I found their Duke Performances gig Thursday night at Durham Fruit & Produce one of the best I've heard, reflecting Moran's involvement with the quilters of Gee's Bend, private academy students whose music he played, & the legacy of WWI-era jazz pioneer James Reece Europe, etl al. That describes what but not how....
Moran plays dramatically, complicatedly, going from thrashing to soft melody in the same tune, often quoting jazz history en route....
Check out this concert on YouTube--https://spectacularmag.com/2019/04/19/nccus-29th-annual-jazz-festival-brings-renowned-musicians-to-campus/
This doesn't sound like any other trio, any other pianist. I watching as I type, just realizing that they played a long intro to get into "Honeysuckle Rose". Wait for other surprises as Moran improvises from pieces of the tune, occasionally exposing the thread before moving. I could keep on for the 1+ hour of this concert but must move on. Keep listening to the YouTube, I will as I finish this blog.
2. "Leaves of Grass" is a do not miss performance (Duke Performances @ Baldwin Auditorium Saturday 4/27 8p): I heard the CD 15 years ago, I watched it live online 2 years ago, now I can--& you must--Saturday. Jazz pianist Fred Hersch put together this performance of Walt Whitman, leading a sextet with vocalists Kurt Elling & our Kate McGarry speaking & singing the free verses. A good fit for jazz, eh? You betcha. It is special, it is unique, who knows if/when it will be performed again in our area. You will leave Baldwin Auditorium enraptured...
3. How lucky can we be to have the two performances above in a nine-day stretch?
This Week: Not just "Leaves of Grass"! Yup, there's more...
Today/Sunday:
- Gypsy jazz jam at The Station 3p. I'll be there to check out this new-to-me.
- NCCU Jazz Fest details at
Friday:
- Nnenna Freelon sings with the NCCU Vocal Jazz Ensemble in the above at B.N. Duke Auditorium 8p. I'll be there as much for the VJE as for Nnenna.
- Check Sharp Nine, Irregardless, Brasa Steakshouse, C Grace, the NC Museum of Art, Cary's Mayton Inn, & Carrboro's Second Wind for many more opportunities.
- Where else should you be than "Leaves of Grass"?
- OK, as much as I want everyone to go to "LoG" there's lots of usual suspects in the usual venues tonight too. Check them out if you have a good excuse for not going to "LoG". Doctors or parents note, babysitting grandchildren, sheer ennui...
- Raleigh's Dix Park hosts a jazz brunch with Peter Lamb & the Wolves 11a.
- The Golden Belt has its second jam 12p.