I've just finished uploading the first batch of Locavore Jazz videos onto the next page. Now you can see & hear how good our local jazz players are!
Take a look...
Take a look...
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I forgot to note that pianist Ryan Hanseler plays at C Grace Wednesday night 9pm. He's worth hearing.
I suspect that more singing gigs will mean larger audiences.... OK, that gets me into An Ongoing Thought: instrumental jazz since bebop & economics wounded big bands critically has been chamber-music-with-drinks-&-conversation. When jazz left dancing, it left its audience. Now, that's just the way it is right now. So audience growth will come with more danceable music &/or more singing/emotion. We ain't gonna invent a 21st century jazz dance that I can see, so let's have more singing, feeling, emoting, etc., things that get to people's hearts. As much fun as it can be to sit back with a cognac in hand (in my case) & admire a band, I want to be moved by jazz, not just interested. Take heed, Wynton Marsalis... I like both local jazz & national/international jazz, so I find what's available in this area a nice balance. We can haunt local clubs & hear solid straight-ahead jazz & we have university programs--&, now, the Art of Cool Festival--bringing in jazz from across the spectrum. Not a bad deal at all!
My live music choices last weekend inspired the above. Listening to Ira Wiggins Quartet at the Beyu & an Al Strong Trio at Alley 26 Friday night, & then a Stephen Anderson trio at Brasa Brazilian Steakhouise Saturday night, I was impressed by the quality of the music. If you want to hear good jazz, it's here every weekend; if you want to hear great jazz, wait for Wayne Shorter or Branford Marsalis, etc., to appear at one of our universities. And, in between, the university jazz programs bring in guest artists who perform with some fine student musicians. Again, not a bad deal... In addition to the usual weeknight choices, Friday poses some problems for me. However, it may be possible to eat my cake & eat it: I can go hear the Gregg Gelb Quartet at the 140 West Franklin "Live & Local" music series at that address in Chapel Hill since they start at 6pm; after a set there, saxophonist Aaron Hill & pianist Eric Hirsh (who were great in Eric's quartet at the Beyu nine nights ago) at Brasa starting at 6:30pm; & then, if Al Strong is playing at Cuban Revolution at 9pm, there's another opportunity (I'll doublecheck that during the week). I should also take in saxophonist Brian Horton at the Straw Valley Café on the Durham-Chapel Hill border Saturday at 9pm. I will find out that night at the very latest what the Cafe's jazz plans are & if they go beyond Brian's twice-a-month gig. Not a bad deal! |
AuthorPeter Burke has liked jazz since he was in high school. Having lived & worked in exotic places with & without local jazz scenes, he has also led a Guide To Local Jazz class in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Duke. Archives
May 2020
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