The Monterey Jazz Festival is celebrating its 48^th year of providing the best jazz music on the west coast.  MCI is a major sponsor and for the last 21 years they have contributed over $2,500,000 to the jazz education program here at the festival.

 

I was the host on the Bill Berry Night Club Stage again this year and the line-up was incredible.  Donny McCasslin, hometown boy from Santa Cruz, opened up Friday night with the fire and passion that this music offers.  He got the crowd to feel the energy. 

In the Starbucks Coffeehouse Gallery, Russell Malone and Benny Green displayed speed, beauty and technical prowess as their duo delighted. 

Carla coaxed cognitive creations with her band Carla Bley and the Lost Chords.  Music that can be appreciated the best in this festival environment. Here in Monterey, people listen and with open ears, they can concentrate, enjoy and truly understand their own personal relationship between themselves and the music.  Swinging "Mr. Mysterioso" like Monk with a cool-ass dip in his stride and a little bottle of magic elixir.

John Handy just finished up a set on the main stage and is now over at the Night Club to get down.  The sound engineers were trying to get the sound perfect, but John was ready to roll.  When a cat has burned with Charles Mingus back in the day and says he is ready to play, then that is what you do.  You can’t hold back the fire.  He invited Steve Miller on stage and they proceeded with a mix of all blues and C.C. Rider.  Steve Miller called out another blues and they proceeded to swing in that direction.  Carlos Reyes, the bass player, seconds as a violinist and thirds as a harpist, so you know that the music is going to be entertaining.  The pianist seconds as a bassist and even John Handy hops off of his horn and tinkles with the piano.  “Nature Boy” was gorgeous.

Saturday night the singers were on the Night Club Stage.  All three of which sing in tones I adore.  Sheila Jordan, inspired by a Parker solo, warmed up the house with a tribute to the great Oscar Brown Jr.  The low, rich lustrous tone that commands power with facilities that soar at the silkiest 90-degree angle until he touches the sky, Andy Bey, was a top-notch winner amongst the crowd.  “Brother Can You Spare a Dime” and “Midnight Sun” were divine, but “River Man” was soulfully immersing.  Claudia Acuña puts the F in fine singer.  Her voice hugs your body with big arms of warm, honest, precious love.  So fresh and so sincere and a smile that can make your worst day dissolve into thin air.  Poetically, she recites the lyrics of her songs in English and proceeds to serenade us in her native Chilean vernacular. Interestingly enough, each of the three singers chose an Abbey Lincoln tune for their performance.  You know I love Abbey Lincoln, so anyone who performs one of her tunes I have the utmost respect for. "The Music is the Magic of a Secret World".

Over at the Starbucks Coffeehouse Gallery, something really special happened.  Joey Calderazzo has always been a burner.  He, along with Eric Revis and Jeff “Tain” Watts, were taking the place to new heights.  But there, on stage, I witnessed a beautiful gesture that shows the love and kinship that musicians have for each other.  Joey has played with Michael Brecker for the past twenty years or so.  As you all know, Michael is hospitalized with Mylodesplastic Syndrome.  This is a rare, debilitating form of cancer that affects the bone marrow.  Joey called Michael in the hospital from the stage on his cell phone while the audience watched the personal exchanges that took place.  He said, “Hey, man.  I’m on stage in Monterey” and the crowd roared.  He left the phone on and placed it on the piano while he proceeded to play a tune that he wrote for Michael.  We all felt very, very blessed to be a part of such a special and beautiful moment.  Thanks, Joey.

Over at the Garden Stage, Ledisi was soul singing and telling everyone how happy she was to sing on the big stage with Larry Carlton.  She also has family in New Orleans and took some time to ask the crowd to do what they can to help Katrina’s children.

On Sunday afternoon, sweet, soulful, funky and super-fine Clairdee rocked the crowd at the Garden Stage.  She and husband Ken French put together a host of characters that delighted the crowd with tunes from Ira and George to the great Betty Carter.

 
Being the Master of Ceremonies is big fun even when you don’t know the band personally, great when you do but, when one of your boys are about to perform, the feeling is fantastic!

Christian McBride has not only been a dominating force in this business with talent that parallels the best in jazz but, he is one of the most likable, loveable, caring and uplifting cats there is. He made everyone in the Night Club feel like they are chillin’ at his crib with their feet up! Chris with Ron Blake, Patrice Rushen, and DJ logic do the damn thing in a continuous, non-stop, high-energy funky ass undeniable groove. The sauce spread thick over a sea of smiling head bobbers. Christian switching from acoustic to electric, Patrice switching from Piano to Synthesizer with Ron interjecting tenor love over hard hitting DJ Logic beats bringing the dance back into the groove of the music. Christian snaps his finger one time and the whole audience falls right in line with a synchronized thunderous clap. That’s when you know you got ‘em!

Brandford’s set on the main stage was lovely. Each member of his band is an extremely competent composer and the group played each others songs. An array of creative cognitive emotional experiences sum up innovation at it’s best. Something that Branford has always believed in which has led him to Marsalis Music, a record company that puts creativity and expression before the almighty $$!

John Scofield has played with so many people and in each situation, the pieces of the puzzle fit perfectly. Tonight he is in a trio setting with Bill Steward on drums and Steve Swallow on bass. Straight Ahead at 90 miles per melodic hour. Bill is playing all in between the lines at lightning speed. Steve is running electric lyricism on the bass. The pedal effects on John’s guitar warp you in to all kinds of different kaleidoscopic existences but, no matter where the ride takes you, you always end up on solid!

Denny Zeitlin and his trio closed the festival on Sunday night in the Star Buck Coffee Gallery with Buster Williams on bass and Matt Wilson on drums. They opened up with all kinds of beautiful tunes that the proceeded to make their own. Denny makes use of all eighty-eight and delivers an array of tickles and splashes to wet the appetite of people like me who prefer a platter of complexion in titanic proportions!

Buster is such a pro. His aura emanates confidence in the cool and even toned manner in which he plans his attack. Matt uses the energy from his two counterparts and combines it with his own to put out the fire with gasoline!

Needless to say the festival was and always is quite extraordinary. I hope to see you in 2006!

 Enjoy the pics!!

Monterey Jazz Festival Slide Show

LeRoy Downs