Jazz a Vienne 2018

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Ian Thumwood
    Full Member
    • Dec 2010
    • 4243

    Jazz a Vienne 2018

    Been here since Saturday evening but Sunday had little to offer in the evening. Some of the music in the bars was good but the Cybele stage kicked off for me with the big band Fanfarai which blended big band tradition with rai.

    Caught the vienne conservatoire big band the next day anf enjoyed their music but missed US college band having caught a brilliant guitar bass and drums trio from Bordeaux. Very very impressed.

    Evening kicked off with the blues rock of Joanne shaw Taylor who i thought was good in a beth Hart style.

    Not empressed with Jeff beck's 1980s style of fusion. Very loud and just on the fringes of jazz.
  • Serial_Apologist
    Full Member
    • Dec 2010
    • 37857

    #2
    Good to hear your report, Ian. Hope there's better stuff still to come, making your annual trip worth its while!

    Comment

    • Ian Thumwood
      Full Member
      • Dec 2010
      • 4243

      #3
      Was in Lyon most of yesterday but the evening gig in the theatre antique was terrific. It commenced with the Rhoda Scott birthday concert and featured a wailing band of French women. The line up was different to the programme with an exceptional tenor player who took the music to a higher level. Full praise to Julie Saury on drums who outshone the other drummer Bernard purdie. The crowd lapped up the music with the leader imperious. One of the greats and an organ legend.

      Marcus Miller was up next. Slick and polished funk and expertly played. The music had a contemporary edge but got the impression that Miller is better live than on his discs which I find a little over produced.

      Best music of the evening was the Trio Corrente from Brazil. The music was pulled from pillar to post with each musician relentlessly pushing the music outside time and harmonic boundaries. Easily the most creative piano trio I have heard since jason moran. I found the music hugely compelling and it reminded me a lot of egberto gismonti. It will be hard to better this gig.

      I will post more tomorrow.

      Comment

      • Ian Thumwood
        Full Member
        • Dec 2010
        • 4243

        #4
        Yesterday morning kicked off with the Villefranche big band playing arrangements of tunes by Brassens. The arrangements were good but not fussed by the over dominant singer who sported a checked combination that would have been too much even for Rupert.

        I liked the piano trio Equinox with a pianist / vocalist from Lyon called Elodie Mam. Touches of Esperanza Spalding. Very hip.

        Not so impressed by trumpet drum and Piano trio Tatanka. The music never really happened and the use of a toy piano and the drummer using squeeky toys pushed this towards novelty as opposed to anything more outside.

        Comment

        • Ian Thumwood
          Full Member
          • Dec 2010
          • 4243

          #5
          The evening was dedicated to more contemporary jazz. The Canadian group NadBadNotGood consisted on Standard quartet plus keys and electronics. A Canadian music teacher behind me was scathing as it was just one chord stuff. The dance crowd loved it. Very boring.

          Cory Henry Funk Apostles followed up with an enjoyable 1970s time warp set which took in music by the Bee Gees! It was fun and Henry had a good rapport with the audience.

          Last night's biget draw was Robert Glasses all star project that included Terrace Martin and Christian Scott. It started late and a sharp rain storm emptied the venue . Got to saw Glasper underwhems me but last night was too loud and brutish.

          Like many of rhe savvy fans, I headed for the club de minuit to hear pianist Christian Sands trio whip the audience into a frenzy with his performance. The drummer Jerome James was terrific and a star in the making but Sands was incredible. Elements of Garner in his playing alongside a hip funkiness worthy of Silver at his finest. The drummer was ferocious and the trio a polar opposite to the current vogue-- much despised byou my Canadian friend earlier. I loved this trip who played with abandon and werelated truly loved by their audience. It was a more contemporary take on the kind of jazz trio from the 50,'s. An honest and hard swinging set that would have impressed Bluesnik. A highlight so far along with the Brazilian trio.

          Comment

          • Serial_Apologist
            Full Member
            • Dec 2010
            • 37857

            #6
            Originally posted by Ian Thumwood View Post
            a checked combination that would have been too much even for Rupert.
            You'd probably get chucked out if you went Bear to a festival, unless there's a nudist stage...

            Keep the reports a-comin, Ian, if you can hear us over Sands' drummer!

            Chilled beer:

            Comment

            • Ian Thumwood
              Full Member
              • Dec 2010
              • 4243

              #7
              Caught a big band from St Etienne this lunchtime and they performed the Ellington Nutcracker Suite. Quite strange hearing this as I think it is a massive improvement on the original. Not his most celebrated work but certainly a case of making a silly purse out of a sow,'s ear. Interesting to witness the orchestration whigh haso some surprising touches. The set finished with a Gordon Jenkins arrangement of a Bach Invention. No grumbles aboutility that set. Hearing Ellingtons music played love is a fascinating experience.

              Just caught a band of lecturers from Lyon Conservatoire playe a gardener bop.set including Oliver Nelsons Hoe Down.

              Ron Carter performing later this evening.

              Not heard too much on the grapevine about the Glasper set last night. Felt that there was just too much electronic gear on stage.

              Comment

              • Ian Thumwood
                Full Member
                • Dec 2010
                • 4243

                #8
                Sniffy review alert.

                Alerts gig of two halves tonight. First up was the Trio of Ron Carter, pianist Donald Vega and guitarist Russell Malone. The music was sometimes introspective with no playing to the gallery. However it was totally compelling in the group interplay. Included obscure tunes by Pettiford and Goodman'so Soft Winds. I thought Malone was superb with a great tone and excellent taste. Loved their set. True music making.

                If we are on the subject of awful performanceso and snifty reviews then appropriate to add Avishai Cohen' name to the mix especially is mentioning awful bass playing. I was a reluctant admirer of Cohen's acoustic work but he has now turned in to a rubbish version of Sting. Latest group.is a pop band complete with vocals. No jazz content either. The originals consIst of vamps over 1,2 or 4 chords athe most. What is happening to contemporary jazz?

                Missed the funk group in the voluntary tonight but had enough of vamping over one chord. African music tomorrow so more one chord stuff. Will go to the museum but the football might have a greater appeal than some of rhe African stuff.

                Comment

                • Ian Thumwood
                  Full Member
                  • Dec 2010
                  • 4243

                  #9
                  I was in Lyon yesterday pursuing another interest which is history. Most of my time was spent in a museum so missed the free gigs at the Cyble stage.

                  The evening gig was an all African line up. EthIonian legend Mulatu Astake underwhelmed despite a line up of Alexander Hawkins, Byron Wallen and John Edwards. Six tunes all based on one chord and a sense of musicians easting their talent. Very poor.

                  Next up was Rokia Traore which was far more traditional with no jazz element but still.all one chord stuff.

                  Much better was Youssou Ndour who was more pop orientated but with a really tight band behind him. I very much enjoyed his set which was more song based and very entertaining.


                  The after hours gig featured the British group Ruby Rushton but I was too tired to stay for more than a couple of numbers. A nice blend of funky keyboards and flute.

                  I

                  Comment

                  • Serial_Apologist
                    Full Member
                    • Dec 2010
                    • 37857

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Ian Thumwood View Post
                    I was in Lyon yesterday pursuing another interest which is history. Most of my time was spent in a museum so missed the free gigs at the Cyble stage.

                    The evening gig was an all African line up. EthIonian legend Mulatu Astake underwhelmed despite a line up of Alexander Hawkins, Byron Wallen and John Edwards. Six tunes all based on one chord and a sense of musicians easting their talent. Very poor.

                    Next up was Rokia Traore which was far more traditional with no jazz element but still.all one chord stuff.

                    Much better was Youssou Ndour who was more pop orientated but with a really tight band behind him. I very much enjoyed his set which was more song based and very entertaining.


                    The after hours gig featured the British group Ruby Rushton but I was too tired to stay for more than a couple of numbers. A nice blend of funky keyboards and flute.

                    I
                    Apparently there was some football somewhere today.

                    If it's anything like as hot as here where you are, stay Ian

                    Comment

                    • Ian Thumwood
                      Full Member
                      • Dec 2010
                      • 4243

                      #11
                      Market day today and of course went to watch the England match as well.

                      Caught a bass and Piano duo with a singer this morning who performed a set of pop songs inclouding Sting, The Eagles, Radio head (very good version of Creep) and even Bruno Mars.

                      Lunchtime gig featured festival regulars Swing System who consist of 14 singers 0lus rhythm. Although amateurs they constantly impress with excellent arrangements of both standards and originalsee byou Quincy Jones.

                      Off to see a mixture of hip hop and jazz tonight before the serious stuff then kicks in.

                      Comment

                      • Ian Thumwood
                        Full Member
                        • Dec 2010
                        • 4243

                        #12
                        Saturday night was dedicated to hip hop but the fact the ticket sales were down by 5000 was suggestive this was not the draw that was expected. Tank and the Bangas were wretched and unmusical but Most Def was at least orientated towards jazz and featured the Hypnotic Brass. A couple of French rappers then joined the proceedings and that signalled time go. Didnt stay for the 3rd set .

                        Oddly, an earlier rap set in the scene de Cybele with a brass ensemble plus napoleon Maddox was brilliant. Maddox is well known for his association with the likes of Hamid Drake. The music had energy and punch. No grumbles aboutility this jazz and rap combination . The band was called Big Fat.

                        Comment

                        • Ian Thumwood
                          Full Member
                          • Dec 2010
                          • 4243

                          #13
                          Sunday was largely spent outside the town as I wanted to go birdwatching.


                          At tea time I caught another Brazilian piano trio called Caixo Cubo. I quite liked their music which included a rendition of Gismonti s Frevo. More orthodox than the band I caught last week.



                          The evening gig started off with Hermeto Pascoal. I had not heard any of the musicians but the music lived up to its progressive reputation but mixing wierd time signatures and stop / start approach. A version of Round Midnight played on a kettle would have upset purists but the set felt like Brazilian Willem Breuker. I enjoyed his set whichas included sims catchy themes amongst the madness.

                          I expected Gilberto Gil to be a disappointment afterwards. His live reworking of his album Refavela was peppered with sufficient great tunes to leave you smiling afterwards. This was a really good jazz informed pop act.

                          Comment

                          • Ian Thumwood
                            Full Member
                            • Dec 2010
                            • 4243

                            #14
                            First up for me today was the Trio led by Armel Dupes who offered a more electric kind of EST. Thankfully this ostinato based piano trio is less prevalent this year. A few people I have met in the past week have been very critical of this stuff and I felt this trio did lititle to allay my reservations. The bass used a lot of sound effects and the result was boring. Not real jazz .

                            Comment

                            • Ian Thumwood
                              Full Member
                              • Dec 2010
                              • 4243

                              #15
                              Stand out gig at Cybele for me was this afternoons set by singer Sarah Lancman backed by Italian pianist Giovanni Mirbassi.

                              All the material was self penned and had a food deal of intelligence about it. No covers or standards and all originals. Her voice sounds like Roberta Gambicini but the material is more like Norma Winstone. She has been touted by Quincy Jones but it doesn't take much to realise that she is a major talent. She is staggeringly brilliant. Her voice is incredible and her music is extremely good. I think she will be a huge star in jazz and she is simply the best new discovery this week for me. Better than most of the headkine stuff this year. met her afterwards when she was selling records and have to admit that she was really good fun too . Very likeable indeed.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X