Wynton Marsalis and The Lincoln Jazz Orchestra at the Walt Disney Concert Hall
by jazzcat on Feb.20, 2008, under News
There are iconic figures in jazz and when you think of them,
most have ascended to a higher source.
That is why it is so important for each generation to pass on the torch
so that the flame and passion for this music never dies. Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, under the tutelage
of a family dedicated to the preservation and exploration of this music has
emerged as the “appointed one” to speak, play, read, re-create the music at the
highest level.
He employs a group of youthful like minds that serve to
represent the tradition as well. Dressed
like Wall Street, these cats walked on the stage and are ready to do
business. The mergers, acquisitions and
negotiations take place with the stage as their boardroom, the music as their
commodity and the audience as the major stockholders.
Wynton puts the trumpet to his lips and the first sounds
that we hear are those that represent his home, the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans. The implications are subtle and tremendous as
he plays the Duke Ellington classic “Creole Love Call”. Love is definitely a key in the vocabulary of
the music and he definitely shows that as he and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
embody the heart and soul of an entire night devoted to the king Duke Ellington
and his music.
The dedication to the classics are evident as Wynton and the
band run through a beautiful version of “Satin Doll” with Walter Blandley Jr.
featured in this traditionally arranged piece.
Wynton does not conduct his orchestras from the front of the bandstand.
His chair is in the trumpet section in the rear, which puts the focus on the
sound as an entire entity and not a “star” and his band.
“Prelude to a Kiss”
featuring Sherman Irby on alto, is sounding so lovely as he delivers the warm
sultry tone that the classic calls for.
Love is definitely a theme and the romance of the days of old are every
so prevalent. Bodies are swaying, hands
of couples are caressing and it is beautiful how music can take us back in time
to slow dancing and those old feelings of love.
“Moon over Cuba” another tune arranged by Duke and written
by one of his band members emphasizes joy, happiness and the poignantly
energetic dance of life with solos by Elliot Mason on trombone and Carlos
Hernandez on bass. The clarinet implies
the festive mood, the percussion provides the attitude and the trumpet and
trombone solos serenade the three ladies: “Lady of Lavender Mist”, “Lady
Mac” and of course the most popular diva herself the “Sophisticated
Lady”. Duke loved all of these ladies each with their own sass, style and
flair; a trilogy of estrogen influenced sweetness! Victor Goines featured on
Clarinet with the first lady, Marcus Printup on trumpet with the second and Joe
Temperly on baritone with the third.
“Old Man Blues” a Duke piece from a movie called “Check and
Double Check”, a fast paced super old school swing with all of the character,
lyrical humor, hustle and bustle of an old black and white film. Mutes, plungers
and hats are the tools used as essential elements that make those horns sing
and swing. Duke wrote a piece for Coolie Williams called “Concerto for Cootie”
featuring trumpet player Ryan Kisor who demonstrates through his technical
facility how that plunger is actually used and singing those phrases.
“Self Portrait of the Bean”, Duke’s tribute is his fine
compadre Coleman Hawkins expresses so eloquently the passion and tender emotion
of the man though a tone and tempo that suggest nothing but love for the man
and his uniquely wonderful sound; classical music if I have ever heard it. “The Perfume Suite”, a stridish romp set off
by a piano and bass duo and joined in by the percussion of finger snaps, foot
slides, toe taps and hand claps which lead to more of the same by the entire
audience which, I must say, is at capacity tonight here at the Walt Disney
Concert Hall.
On his solo, Wynton turns around and faces the orchestra
seats that visually only see the rear of the performance and serenades their
presence; a thoughtful and kind gesture to personally include everyone in the
music. The cats proceed with a wonderful
rendition of “Most Indigo” a 1940’s 78 B
side of a record that included “Warm
Valley” and “The Flaming
Sword”. Ted Nash, a multi-instrumentalist
plays his version of Duke’s “Sultry Sunset” and what would a set of Duke
Classics be without a swinging version of “In a Mellow Tone”.
Joe Temperly, who played with Dukes original orchestra,
remembers “The Queen Suite” for Buckingham Palace and the tour of England as
well as he lays down some spiritual mysticism on bass clarinet which is the
loveliest resonation looming in the hall.
The final piece for the evening was Duke’s “Rocking in the
Rhythm”, and of course this orchestra rocked their version as hard as the
original! They all came back to close the performance with an encore of “Braggin’ in Brass’
That’s it for another tribute to tradition, don’t miss the
opportunity to listen, hear and experience Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln
Center Jazz Orchestra.
LeRoy Downs
