Randal Kline, the executive director of the non-profit organization known as “SF Jazz” steps out on stage to greet the audience at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. As he has done for each of the performances that I have seen of the SF Jazz Collective, Randal runs down a little about the mission of the organization. SF Jazz stands for the growth and celebration of the music and the audience as an ever-changing live art form.
As we continue to experience jazz in 2005 and beyond, it is essential to respect and explore the polar opposite sides of the jazz spectrum. Their similarities, their differences and the essence that is the deoxyribonucleic acid that holds the structure of the spectrum together through the vortex of time.
Jazz music is similar to human cell division because each time you collaborate with another player, a new bond is formed consisting of one part of each player. That bond spreads, replicates, separates, mutates and transforms with every musical exchange and interaction. Can you imagine the potential wealth of knowledge that each musician has living within them?
Now flash to the SF Collective: Joshua Redman, Bobby Hutcherson, Miguel Zenon, Nicholas Payton, Renee Rosnes, Issac Smith, Eric Harland and Matt Pennman. These cats are like the superheros of jazz that have combined their musical powers and created a dynamic entity that represents a monolithic point in the spectrum. A point that is important to witness and experience now because even though you may not be playing an instrument, your audible participation allows you to take a piece of the strand with you for your future benefit and enhancement as well.
I am always very excited to see this band of master musicians because of their dedication to the music, their choice of legends to represent and their collaborative efforts that are the results of historic replicating musical bonds!
The snap snap snap of Joshua’s fingers kick off the first tune in a “Moments Notice” Last year it was Ornette and this year it is the music of the Trane! One of the things that I say to people when they start talking to me about jazz is, “Quick, name 3 of your favorite jazz musicians in 5 second GO! One, two, three, four, five, STOP!” You would be amazed what some people come up with. For me, this usually separates the pseudos out instantly and I can decide on which hemisphere to have a jazz conversation on or not to have it at all. But, if you ask this question to the SF Collective, the answer would be an impressive Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock. A conversation that I could engage in for hours!
On Naima, Bobby’s beautiful melody resonates throughout the entire concert hall. This is a musician who is loved by all and all of that love, heart and compassion for sound is present behind each mallet stroke. You hear this gorgeous, continuous, emotionally moving, hedonistic tone that sustains forever in a garden of happiness!
The wide influence of John Coltrane’s music is practically synonymous with the word jazz. Joshua is always the eloquent spokesman for the group and he speaks between pieces about some of that influence, spiritual implications and the beautiful complexities that Coltrane compositions provide.
“Africa” seems to be a common theme for my main man “E”(Eric Harland). Every time he plays a tune with the word “Africa” in it, he just transcends the music and places you right in the heart of the motherland. Weather he is playing with the Collective, Charles Lloyd or Mc Coy Tyner, Eric’s sensibilities and natural versatility just spill out all over his drum kit. He must have the elders hovering above with smiles and plenty of nods of approval. A Cartier, a Rolex, a Brightling with the durability of a Timex. Tick, Tick, Tack! He is truly a gifted individual. I got a kick out of watching Bobby sit back and watch Eric get down. In his smiles of elation, you could see that Bobby’s lovely blessings opened the door to the drum master hall of fame and that there was an empty chair with Eric’s name on it. What an honor!
For those of you who have not yet grasped or experienced the beauty of John Cotrane music fear not! This is Trane beautified and you will be lavished with long tone love. The front line horn section has a dynamic sound full of four-part luster. Of course the sound at the Disney has to be on of the most pristine that there is. I tell you what; if you ever visit the Hollywood Bowl or the Walt Disney Concert Hall, try one of their brownies. The music taste just like that!
The one cat that I am not so familiar with is bass player Matt Pennman. He is from Austria and Matt holds up the bottom extremely well on a bed of well placed creativity, especially on a tune that he wrote called “Sega Games”. Renee, of course, is dreamy. She is so fluid with chord progressions that take off in all of the right directions. She is a regular musical Mapquest herself.
Part of the mission of the SF Jazz Collective, as you may recall, is exploration. Each player has taken their own compositions and bestowed it upon the Collective for the group to add their collaborative flavor. Tonight we heard original pieces from Matt, Miguel, Nicholas, Bobby and Joshua.
Isaac Smith really gets to stretch out on a few of these compositions. It is so great to have one of Los Angeles’s fine players representing the future of the music. The trombone is such a beautifully sounding instrument and Isaac cuts his quarter of horn pie extremely well. I hear Isaacs humor in his playing as well which is delightful to recognize.
Nicholas is like the cream that sits on top of a tasty drink! His tone is pure, clean and lovely as that starburst blasts it’s twinkle on the rim of his shinny trumpet. His piece “Scrambled Eggs” was based on the changes to Chick Corea’s “Humpty Dumpty” Only this was Humpty with some ear rings, Armani shades, a Kangol worn backwards and the fall off the wall only improved his cool ass stroll!
“2&2” had a funky, hip creative phrasing that pauses in a silence which creates it’s own sound and then flourishes with colors of melodic love and conversations that speak with so much passion in their statements. This is just a small look into the creative brain of Miguel Zenon!
Matt’s opening bass solo was spotlighted on Joshua’s “Half Full”. Miguel’s flute soured over the most interesting mix of sound. I think that out of all of the original compositions that we heard that night, Joshua’s piece had everyone in the band contributing a significant portion and it sounded like this piece was written especially for each of these particular musicians. He certainly possesses that Ellington like quality.
They continued to play “Cresent” and came back onstage for an Encore, performing a composition by Bobby called, “Song for Peggy”. Next year it will be the music of Herbie Hancock and in May of this year, a new SF Jazz Collective 3 disc set will be released. Don’t ask questions, do the right thing and just buy it. It’s your life!
