Vienne 2016

[Ian Thumwood]

First night at Vienne2016. So far caught Jacob Collier who i felt was technically exceptional but all the musical ideas were thrown down in such concentration that it became a bit too much in the end. Not quite sure we're the technique and technology take pecedence. Impressive but perhaps too slick. Chic by comparison put on a terrific show. Granted that this was pure pop but don't believe it was possible without jazz. Nile Rodgers even warned up with some Monk during thecsoubd check.
Too tired to last the duration of Sins if Kemet. Ok but not compelling albeit I was too tired by that stage.

[Serial_Apologist]

First night at Vienne2016. So far caught Jacob Collier who i felt was technically exceptional but all the musical ideas were thrown down in such concentration that it became a bit too much in the end. Not quite sure we're the technique and technology take pecedence. Impressive but perhaps too slick. Chic by comparison put on a terrific show. Granted that this was pure pop but don't believe it was possible without jazz. Nile Rodgers even warned up with some Monk during thecsoubd check.
Too tired to last the duration of Sins if Kemet*. Ok but not compelling albeit I was too tired by that stage.

Good to have your starter report, Ian - looking forward to hearing more. Hope you have an enjoyable time - are you being accosted by irate Frenchmen and women, or hiding your Englishness under a bushel?

*I hadn't realised Shabaka had changed the name of his band!

(Interesting Freudian slip o'the keys. )

[Ian Thumwood]

No major concerts last night but pretty much continuous music throughout the day. The group Djoukil offered a mixture of standards,Django and Goodman with a sad plus 4 man rhythm. Clara Tumba played a Buena Vista style Cuban set which has masses of people dancing. Not so sure about Brazilian ten piece Bixiga 70 whose big band / Brazilian funk lacked real jazz.

Just seen the excellent Roosevelt High School band who ripped through a number of big band charts including Bob Florence,,a couple of obscure Elington., Horace Silver and Fletcher Henderson. These bands appear to be s ponsered by Wynton Marsalis and the results are impressive with the young musicians being really informed about jazz. More high school bands this afternoon before Randy Weston with Billy Harper and James Blood Ulmer tonight.

[Ian Thumwood]

Excuse typos as this is coming from my mobile which automaticallty corrects things in an unwanted manner.

No problems post Brexit in France. Just a sense of sadness amongst the friends I have spoken too. It would probably be a different reaction if I was Boris.!!!!!

[Old Grumpy]

if I was Boris.!!!!!

Thank goodness you are not!

[Ian Thumwood]

Monday was the best day so far.A free lunchtime set saw Roosewlt High School jazz band rip through some obscure Ellington and Horace Henderson. They wereexcellent and try another group that has been s ponsered by Marsalis. The band includes kids who has played at the grannies and one of whom was a student of ted Poor.
this was followed by Coastal University jazz combo who lined up with trumpet andvocal front line in a contemporary set The trumpeter was a big Dave Douglas fan and they played one of his arrangements. The rest of the programme were originals. Musicians were early twenties.
Thought this band put alot of UK acts to shame.

Loved the set by Columbia jazz band who played jazz classics in original arrangements. old duck time and song for bilboa were stand outs.

The evening saw Lisa simones jazz / film act . Very personal and excellent voice but felt material was a bit thin.

Highlight was Randy Weston including t.k.' blue and the edcellent billy harper. One for jazzrook!!! Bassist Alex Blake was the star. He drew most applause and was instrumental to a brilliant gig. Loved the addition of African musicians at the end. No me Ulmer though.

Missed the free concerts during yesterday as I was in Lyon. The evening concert started withHigh Goldman who is unknown to me. The set was atribute t Nat King Cole. Thought the arrangements for the guitar dominates quarter were really interesting.

The top bill went to Diana Krall. The set was subdued but the band with Anthony Wilson,katriem riggins and Bob guest was sharp. However the music has a supper club feel to it and it was only when Krall dropped out that the trio sounded like it was 2016 and not 1956. The music was polished and the use of more contemporary repertoire like Joni Mitchell helped. A lot of people live her music and the venue was packed. In my opinion it was a bit too polite if we'll executed.

Cheers

Ian

[Old Grumpy]

Thanks Ian

Very interesting and informative reviews.

Lovin' the typos - keep it up.

OG

[Ian Thumwood]

Predictive text and typing from mobile. Just got in from James Carter organ trip ripping up the time book on the Django repertoire in the small theatre. I have got to say that this was the best gig I have ever been to. Staggering. A monster musician and a cracking band .

[Ian Thumwood]

Yesterday started off with the CR R big band from Lyon - band of teenagers playing charts such as Jackson 5 I want you back and even Guns and Roses. BACK TO BLACK seemed particularly successful.

Too much Django inspired music during the day. I think these groups are very accomplished but the repertoire is a bit thin Sebastirn Felix trio were more tradional than Minor Song who got better and more off the beat and track as rhe set progresed.

The main concert started with Angelo Debarre and Markus Apostol. There Django Reinhardt inspired groups in a row was a bit too much. However the Amazing Keystone bb came to the rescue re imagining the music in a style more akin to someone like Gerald Wilson when Carter stepped in..,the band went up another level with Fleche d,'or sounding like post Coltrane. Loved the avant leanings of futuristic rhythm.

James Carter trio with Gerard Gibbs on organ and Alex white on drums were sensational. Everyone who was there last night has been talking about it. Carter can go from Chi Berry to Ayler at the flick of a switch. The hardest swinging musician I have heard. Shades of lock jaw Davis but this is how jazz should sound.

Just heard solo piano recital in museum. Interesting and liked the closing version of Anbleside says never heard if Pierre De Bethmann 'and he is atop bloke. Girl in the audience wearing a flowery dress was too much of a distraction - a point not lost with the sound engineer. .she was a student studyibg jazz piano in Berlin. We pkeasant to talk - to afterwards.
Off to listen to Scofield.
Cheers

Ian

[Ian Thumwood]

Quick update

Scofield/Mehldau /Guiliana was a massive let down. The guitarist saves the whole set from catastrophe. Mehldau was anonymous playing keyboards but the drummer was extremely stiff and programming. John McLaughlin followed up with a set showing how fusion should be done. Gary Husband was a monster on the keyboards and far superior to Mehldau. Drummer Sanjit Barot was the star in my opinion

Caught Chicago blues act Basses Ben Dario whose band was brilliant.
Last night's concert started with Imelda May whose rockabilly set had no place in a jazz festival and was extremely poor. She was followed by blues singer.,pianist and guitarist Beth Hart. This was the discovery of the week. An amazing singer and a totally frank and honest performance.

I felt that she was clearly a staggeringly brilliant artist and she was totally new to me Anyone else heard of her.?

Last concert of the day was Armel Dupas whose Chopinesque plus electronica set was too dull to warrant staying up beyond one am

Where are Bluesnik and Jazzrook.?

Cheers

Ian

[Tom Audustus]

Have a listen to Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa: Live From Amsterdam. Amazing album & DVD. I'm sure there must be lots on YouTube.

[Ian Thumwood]

Mixed bunch yesterday. The local Feyzin Groove orchestra performed a funk/Motown set which went down really well. In the afternoon I missed the first set but caught the electro..-ornette efforts of Lunatic Toys. Difficult to hear the alto above the keyboards and drums. Much preferred the Swiss pianist Monger Genoud.' Trio. Exceptional bassist an drummer. Very much reminded me of the late John Taylor.

The evening kicked off with Esperanza Spalding performing a kind of jazz opera. It was a bit bizarre. The set by Cuban electro.-percussion duo Ibeyi was too new hip hop for my taste but the closing set by yael nail was inteLLigent songwriter stuff akbout the highlight was a reworking of britany spear' Toxic. Didn't bother with the film giutar stuff in the club afterwards.

Went to the cathedral for the gospel mass this morning but the sermon outlasted the music. At least the girls next to me were more entertaining.

Gospel night tonight but my slope off midway for the football.

Cheers

[Ian Thumwood]

Caught the Swing System which features a choir plus rhythm,trombone and trumpet. This is a pretty professional local oufit and their set of standards was expertly crafted.

The gospel set in the evening features new Orleans group Joyful who were pretty entertaining. Tonya Baker have a more contemporary second set but I left after 45 minutes to watch the football. Shame that France lost.

The most improved thing this year has been the Off side of the festival and the local combos have been if a really high standard. Caught a quartet with singer last night but there have been other groups covering hard bip and even freer stuff inspired by Motian trio albeit the American never had a song called we are all worker's .- at least for 35 hrs a week in France.

Absence of hard bop from official gigs could be indicative of this music going the way of Trad with younger listeners. There are loads of alternatives out there and this has been fun although too much pop on the main programme. Biggest problem has been uneven spread of gigs which meant I missed Ibrahim Maalouf with Mark Turner clearance Penn and Scott Colley which was first night.


Chuck Corea with Kenny Garrett and Wallace Rooney tonight with Gregory porter in second set.

Will have to review upon return to UK.

Cheers

Ian

[Ian Thumwood]

Last day for me at the festival yesterday. The lunchtime concert by Lyon..'a esteemed Mystere Swing big band included Jaco.sThe Chicken and a number of Billy May charts for Frank Sinatra. All the music performed with polish.'

In the afternoon I was impressed by Berenger Magni's trio and especially their brilliant singetMatilda Gratte who might be familiar with some London based fans...


Got to dash........

[Ian Thumwood]

Apologies but got interrupted by the fact that I had to catch the train.

Matilda Magni was hugely impressive even setting aside the fact she borrowed a lot of her repertoire from Epseranza Spalding and Gretchen Parlato. She was resident in the UK for 12 months and I winder if SA had ever caught her. Interestingly. she is now a Berkley and we told me that there is an increasing tendency for this education establishment to concentrate of more electrical music and less jazz.

She was followed by Canadian quartet led by a tenor player and also featuring a guitarist. Their music was also very well played but the music was pretty dull. I think that the typified a lot which is wrong with the contemporary scheme. The tenor seemed polished rather like Joshua Redman and if there was a degree of technical accomplishment, the dull nature of the set was similarly echoed by the couple who were setting next to me.

The highlight of the afternoon was Black Flower, a Belgian group which specialised in Ethio-jazz and went down a storm. The music was extremely effective, part AEoC, part 1970's Afro-dance music. I loved their music.

The evening set was by two big hitters. Gregory Porter opened proceedings and only served to reinforce the fact that he is now easily one of the major names in the current jazz scene. Simoly put, this is an artist who is world calss, his concert offering a far wider agree of improvisation than might have been expected. He has emerged as probably the greatest male jazz vocalist since Jimmy Witherspoon whose approach never diminishes the qualities which make jazz so vital. I love his pianoplayer, Chip Crawford but the whole backing quartet were quality.

That said, my last concert saw an all-star Chick Corea quintet which featured the exceptional Kenny Garrett and the wonderful rhythm team of Christian Mc Bride and the hugely impressive Marcus Gilmore on drums. Only trumpeter Wallace Rooney failed to resonate yet the leader was in cracking form. The music included a tribute to Bud Powell as well as his own "Tempus Fugit" before covering Miles' "It's about this time." Having caufght Corea on numerous occasions beofe, I have never heard him with a band this good. this was a fabulous conclusion to the festival.