Finally I am facing the stage here at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. I have visited the Disney Concert Hall on many occasions and I always seem to be seated behind the stage but tonight, I have a full frontal!
It is the Christmas holiday season and the stage is garnished with big beautiful poinsettias. The Los Angeles Philharmonic looks mighty dapper sporting their finest in all black. The hall is packed in anticipation of the wonderful sounds of the season sung by none other than the high and mighty priestess of jazz music herself, Miss Dianne Reeves! She will once again be joined by the conductor William Henry Curry for another dynamic performance backed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
The LA Phil starts out with two pieces, “A Christmas Festival (Anderson) and Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” Waltz and Finale from Act II as well as Ellington/Strayhorn and Tyzinko’s “The Nutcracker Suite: Pianist Britte Brigade". The sound is big and dynamic. I can only imagine what will happen when Dianne Reeves hits the stage!
Peter Martin, Ruben Rogers and Greg Hutchinson waltz on the stage to play Ellington and Strayhorn's version of the Nutcracker and the dynamics of the audience change. Just add one drop of jazz and it controls the whole pot. Swinging? Most definitely! The applause was a little louder and certainly more heart felt. That, my friends, is the power of jazz music!
The LA Phil exits the stage leaving only the trio joined by Romero Lubambo. The lights dim and the gorgeous Dianne Reeves enters dawning a winter wonderland of white that shines, shimmers and twinkles like the snowflakes of the season. Her instrument is strong, clear and as lovely as ever! The sweetness of the quartet joined with the soulful and perfectly soothing voice of Dianne Reeves is one of the best gifts that Father Christmas could ever bring.
“Christmas Time is Here” is already one of my favorite holiday pieces and Peter just puts the frosting all over it. Dianne impresses upon the audience that our own individual stories are what weave the fabric of our lives and that they need to be told. That is one of her favorite things to do, just sit around with family and listen to the stories.
“Home for the Holidays” literally has so much meaning for Dianne this year because for the first time in a long time, this is exactly what she gets to do. Instead of being on the road performing all over the world in other countries, she will be at home with family this season and after tonight’s performance, she is looking forward to some much needed R & R. She says that she can sing but, she can really cook. I am certainly a believer! She also expresses her love and concern for those who can’t be home with their families this season.
The weather outside may be frightening where you are but, here in
Ruben Rogers is always a delight to watch and hear. His personality is all up in his playing. Fun, warm, efficient, confident and right on the mark! Greg Hutchinson is an equally outstanding performer to behold as well. Greg has been the drummer for many a jazz diva and provides just the right flavor to kick it up a notch or two. The two together with Peter Martin and the lovely guitar serenades of Romero Lubambo make for the best in holiday music. Improvising and developing new creations on stage and in an instant, specially designing lyrics for tonight’s audience, each of these major talents express themselves in solos that capture the spirit and the energy of the holidays.
Always holding on to tradition but, making sure to keep in touch with the songs and phrases of today, Dianne incorporates many delicacies for all genres to understand, love and appreciate. I would imagine that her youthful counterparts may be partly responsible for this. There is such melodic and rhythmic beauty when you hear her word vibrantly enchant the microphone and fill the air. Dianne swims through octaves like a gold medalist, the audience will take home with them this holiday, the sounds of Christmas jazz expressed with love, peace and light!
LeRoy Downs
