The SF Jazz Collective 2008 at Royce Hall
by jazzcat on Apr.04, 2008, under News
Eight of the finest players in the music grace the stage
here tonight at Royce Hall. The San Francisco Jazz Collective Organization must
be commended for their honor, respect and true dedication to upholding and advancing
the integrity of jazz music. There always seems to have to be a hero for jazz
music; someone, something or some group to keep the light shining so that
America and the world still know that we will always be here to represent
innovation, change and creativity on this earth. Although the members of the
group have changed many times in its five-year existence, the degree of quality
on the highest level has never been compromised.
Renee Rosnes and Miguel Zenon remain to be the original
members of the Collective with Eric Harland and Matt Penman joining in the
second year. Just recently a shift has taken place and four new members have
arrived on the scene. Bobby Hutcherson, Nicholas Payton, Joshua Redman and
Andre Hayward will surely be missed but, at the same time the excitement of
Stefon Harris, Dave Douglas, Joe Lovano and Robin Eubanks offer to be an
extraordinarily delightful twist in sound dimensions and dynamics. As the
players change, so changes the music but, only in terms of individual tone,
phrasing and personality, never in terms of excellence!
Click picture above for interview
Miguel Zenon takes the first solo for the evening and his
clean and crisp embrasure melts over the percussive foundation like smooth and
creamy Kahlua on sparkling rocks. I just had an interview with Miguel and we
talked about the Collective, his approach to the music, his native San Juan
Puerto Rico sound as well as his brand new album “Awake” released on April 1st
of this year; a young gifted genius, who finds himself quite well in the
mental, musical, mathematical equation of this organization quite easily. He
speaks with the audience and lays down the mission of the Collective.
Dave Douglas replaces Nic at night on trumpet. I have heard
so much from and about this cat however this is my first experience listening
live. I have programmed several of his discs when on the radio so I am somewhat
familiar with his sound and creative abilities. He has got the fire and
harmonizes quite well with the front line, blowing lovely spring breezes of
warm and cool pastels. Stefon is such a vibrant, passionate and colorful
technician always offering a new dynamic with grandiose themes, shades,
textures and cool applications.
Click picture above for Stefon Harris interview
Each member of the Collective as you know, writes and
arranges compositions for the group to perform. All are exquisite and have
their personal flavors yet you feel the teamwork in the music with the symmetry
of sound. There is no one spokesperson for the band and at certain times during
the performance, different members will get up and share some knowledge on a
few of the compositions as well as introduce upcoming pieces either written by
the honoree or another member of the Collective.
Click picture of Joshua Redman for interview
I was at the performance in San Francisco when Joshua Redman
passed the baton to Joe Lovano. In an interview with Josh, I used the word
torch and he specifically mentioned that this was not a torch in the sense of
handing down something to continue on by any means. He used to play with Joe
many, many moons ago, has much respect and has gained some knowledge from the
endeavors and his replacement is a fitting selection to continue the mission of
the music.
Click picture for interview with Robin Eubanks
Dave Douglas gets on the mic to give love to Joe for the
wonderful arrangement and to introduce the newest member of the band trombonist
Robin Eubanks with his original piece “Breakthrough”. It is a great surprise to
see Robin Eubanks in the trombone seat. This chair has been swinging with
different cats every since the inception of the band and each time it has been
filled with one of the young majors of the bone business with truth, justice
and excellence prevailing every time! Robin takes the lower register and rises
to the occasion while mixing, matching, weaving and blending through the brass
section marvelously!
One of the amazing abilities with an octet is its
flexibility to morph into a trio, quartet, sextet or whatever combination it
wants instantly between or even during a composition. During a seamless transition, Joe so smoothly
romanticizes a luscious ballad as the octet turns into quartet, with Renee,
Matt and Eric in the rhythm, and then the rest of the band come back to take
the bridge armed with color and exploding with fire!
This season the Collective celebrates and gives homage to
another living master of jazz music, the one and only Wayne Shorter. The man
whose deep depths of thought, imagination and super natural ability to
transcribe the spirit of life’s visual images and experiences into soul moving
emotive rhythms and melodies divided by perplexion to the summation of space
and simplicity to the third power. The
SF Organization has been impeccable in its selection of Coltrane, Monk,
Ornette, Herbie and now Wayne to make sincere statements about their stand for
excellence with regard to this art form. With their vision, directive and power
of the audible spotlight, this music has the opportunity to reach outside the
walls of the knowing and into the million minds of mediocrity and possibly tug
on the chain; and then there was light!
Click picture for interview with Eric Harland
I am almost speechless when it comes to describing my main
man Eric Harland. This cat doesn’t create a feeling he is the feeling. He lives
the music and his expansive sound is the bridge to the global historic
futuristic rhythm that is unifying the spirit of the music. Stefon said that
the band doesn’t work at the music but they play at the music. It is created
with excellent minds having fun at toying with audible realities to spin
inspiration to provoke emotion. Be free from the control, feel it and let it
take you there!
Purchase the Music!
Matt Penman is the resident vintner of the band. He calls
his brand of wine “MAIDENS FOOT” and I am sure that the same degree of talent
that goes into making a great bottle of vino is present when it comes to his
composing musical treasures. His piece
features Stefon and really explores a variety of time meters as well as changes
and sensitivity of sound, small and large.
Renee remains to be the magnificent master of the melody,
the driving force, the storyteller, the peacemaker, the power, the Shaman of
the music! She arranged a couple of Wayne tunes, “Deanna”, written for the
lovely daughter of Flora Purim and Airto Moriera and “Footprints”, a Wayne
Shorter standard. Think of lush rolling clouds of precious sunshine as the wind
breezes past the lips of blooming flowers and you will start to feel the
picture. Matt Pennman’s solo plays like a safari transporting the music through
the “Footprints” of distant lands. The story, the journey, the music!
Life is all about capturing moments in time and storing
those experiences and elations to be called up in future memories that freeze
time as a picture and an emotion. A peek that can take us back for a moment and
provide us with the hope of happiness and joy that we once lived through the
music. You have to have something to pass on to the next generation. If you
wish to have a lavishly music experience on high, this is it! The SF
Collective, see it, experience it and pass it on!
LeRoy Downs