Newport 2012 August on NPR

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Newport Coverage

[Serial_Apologist]

Newport Coverage

No British acts, then.

[Ian Thumwood]

SA

Hope you don't mind me being a bit fiesty but I must admit that I am really surprised by your comment as I thought that the line up was hugely impressive and demonstrative of just how great the current scene is. A very parochial response!! It is staggering just how good that line up is with a broad spectrum of jazz catered for that represents everything that is of interest in the music. In fact, I wouldn't know who to single out - Akinmusire, Hollenbeck, Parlato, Argue and Moran represent what is vibrant with the music produced by a younger generation whilst the older musicians such as Metheny, Frisell, Reeves, Dejohnette, Douglas, Coleman and Lovano are of an amazingly high calibre. The music ranges from singers (as diverse as Ellington, Reeves, Tedeschi / Trucks, and Parlato), Latin, Post-bop as well as big bands such as Maria Schneider or the brilliant Nighthawks who performe repertoire from 20's and 30's. T If you want saxophone "heroes", don't think there are many players around who are as exciting as Miguel Zenon or James Carter - both of whom are capable to ripping the scene apart. he one thing that is missing is anything remotely modish. Even Avishai Cohen would surprise you - his current trio was called back for 4 encores at Vienne and proved to be this year's festival's most successful gig for a discerning audience. In conclusion, this is effectively a classic line up and of the same stature during the festival's alleged heyday in the late 50's and early 60's.

Whilst I do admit a lot of jazz from GB and Europe, I would be intrigued what British acts you would envisage matching the artists on that roster? I can't think of one current British group I would rather see than any of these groups. In a way, this echoes my earlier thread about the poor state of a lot of the new European jazz. There are some terrific players in the UK, plenty of whom I would consider to be my idols, yet Calum's post only seems to emphasize to me the gulf between what is happening over this side of the Atlantic and in the cauldron of NYC.

I'm fortunate enough to have heard most of these musicians perform live and in a good few instances (Metheny, Akinmusire, Coleman, Cohen ,Ravi Coltrane, Bad Plus and Dianne Reeves) within the last 6 months. In my opinion, this is an exceptional line up and it will be interesting to see in the London JF can match this in November. Evidence, if any is needed, that the jazz scene in 2012 is probably the strongest it has ever been since the mid-sixties and perhaps a relief for festival organisers who can now appreciate that there is a cadre of musicians capable of attracting a younger, savvy audience without the need to either rope in the usual octagenarians or the flash-in-the -pan kind of groups like EST who dominated the festival scene in the early 2000's.

Totally baffled by your lukewarm enthusiasm


Cheers

Ian

[charles t]

Gentlemen...while 'auditing' your exchange, brought to mind this recent review of a new book by Ted Gioia, a musician and jazz academic over here...Hopefully of interest to you both!

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-ted-gioia-20120722,0,5538433.story

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

hi chas, you read it? ... i found Gioia's West Coast book pretty turgid, just a long list of recording dates and gigs really .

[Serial_Apologist]

A very parochial response!!

No, a very parochial response would by definition have been "No British acts, then"

Whilst I do admit a lot of jazz from GB and Europe, I would be intrigued what British acts you would envisage matching the artists on that roster?

Here's one we'll be by-passing Stratford to see tonight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIcVTXcj_7o

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

way to go

[charles t]

hi chas, you read it? ... i found Gioia's West Coast book pretty turgid, just a long list of recording dates and gigs really .

Calum: (1) Probably will, if can stretch the Almighty Dollar, Calum.

I agree, re: your Jazz West Coast book observation. Many more h I p treatises on this subject to be found.

Re: Gioia - his The Imperfect Art - Reflections on Jazz and Modern Culture (Oxford Univ, Press 1988) - opening up my copy and turning to random page:

"During this same period Coltrane changed styles more frequently than some saxophonists change reeds."

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

i might look for an digital offfer on his works then Chas since the Lowly £, like the Mighty $. is looked for more than found ...


and i have been reading a dragon and dungeon series for days now with no prospect of escape {Game of Thrones] following the tortuous plot is like a sugar addiction ....

[charles t]

i might look for an digital offfer on his works then Chas since the Lowly £, like the Mighty $. is looked for more than found ...


and i have been reading a dragon and dungeon series for days now with no prospect of escape {Game of Thrones] following the tortuous plot is like a sugar addiction ....

Calum: A classmate of mine at The Institute of Design in Chicago (ne: Bauhaus) was an Oak Park Illinois close friend of the game's originator - Gary Gygax. (Of course, he would attempt to explain all about Dungeons & Dragons, but (as was my usual) was well behind the requisite learning-curve).

" wiki: Ernest Gary Gygax (play /ˈɡaɪɡæks/ GY-gaks; July 27, 1938 – March 4, 2008) was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) with Dave Arneson. Gygax has been described as the father of Dungeons & Dragons."

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

well he started a whole genre along with the fiction writers

the series i am reading is the one on HBO i think



A Game of Thrones is the first book in A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of high fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin

this is a government health warning this series is bad for you do not start it

[handsomefortune]

here's that link to newport jazz fest serial apologist! (maybe bookmark it, for after proms and live jazz)?

(presumably hear from you in a month or so then ....ime a couple of days on that site feels like 5 mins)!

[Serial_Apologist]

here's that link to newport jazz fest serial apologist! (maybe bookmark it, for after proms and live jazz)?

(presumably hear from you in a month or so then ....ime a couple of days on that site feels like 5 mins)!

Got it now - thanks HSF.