Another Sharp Nine sold out performance, another peak musical experience. As good as the music was, their rapport & sheer enjoyment were even better. Yes, Keith almost scat-sings with his finger (while mouthing those notes silently) while Scott sustains his notes (is that vibrato?), but such analysis is only icing on the cake. They play...
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Sometimes I'm just plain lucky. I went to the Brasa restaurant to hear tenor saxophonist Stephen Riley for the first time, playing with pianist Stephen Anderson. I'd heard that Riley had played in NYC for a number of years but had moved back to NC recently. All the latter was accurate but paled in the sound of his playing: breathy & staccato at the same time, unlike anything I've heard around here.
And the alto saxophonist Brian Miller joined them to sit in. And off the three of them went, enjoying themselves mightily while I listened alone, Brasa lounge patrons oblivious to the marvelous music around them. So I had a private concert. Lucky, lucky me... It's simply worth noting that the NCJRO has sold out Sharp Nine for their last 3-4 monthly gigs. Those audiences have built up since they stated those gigs, but now it's hard just to walk in, both to get in & then to get a seat once you're in. It's more evidence that jazz & its audience are growing here. Yes, the NCJRO audience is primarily an older one. But there's more than just the NCJRO playing these days.
For example, if you want a funkier mid-week jazz experience, go to the Beyu for guitarist Baron Tymas, bassist Damon Brown, & drummer Thomas Taylor. Those NCCU professors don't always get many chances to play together, but now that school is out they're probably ready to break out... |
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 2024
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