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I have visited the Ford Amphitheater on many occasions and have always commented on the stars twinkling in the beautiful night sky in the cozy and intimate surroundings of the Amphitheater. Tonight is the same however; the brightest stars were not in the sky but, radiating their brilliance directly from the stage.

 

Local jazz icon James Janisse is on hand once again as host to welcome lovers of the music to the John Anson Ford Theater. Carmen Lundy has once again pulled off an amazing feat for her celebration of “Jazz and the New Songbook”. She has amassed not only an audience that is caring and supportive, but has also managed to travel and play with a cast of all-star leaders in their own right. These cats have made and continue to be on the forefront of the music. Robert Hurst, Bobby Watson, Steve Turre, Terri Lyne Carrington, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Robert Glasper, Anthony Wonsey, Sekou Bunch, Curtis Lundy, Mayra Casales, Phil Upchurch,  Regina Carter, Krystal Davis, harp player Lori Andrews and new kid on the block Greg Diaz on trumpet.

 

She opened up the performance with a beautiful solo piano rendition of “America” that was sung with such compassion for humanity I wish all Americans could have heard it. Perhaps it would bring more peace and love into their hearts. That followed by “Everything is going to be Alright” seem to signify a call to the spiritual allegiance of a greater power for hope and to protect us in such troubling times.

 

I don’t think I have ever seen a performance with three bass players, two drummers, two pianists, violin, harp, alto, trumpet, trombone and conch shells, percussion, and a back up singer. Carmen could have booked her own jazz festival with these performers, but instead, they have all combined their efforts to support “Jazz and the New Songbook”, the new CD and DVD project produced by Elizabeth Oei of Afrasia Productions with all original music written by Carmen Lundy.

 

These creations were so fresh that most of the music played this evening has never been performed in public. The ink on one of the pieces is still wet and had just been written; instant gratification at its finest from thought to pen to stage within twenty four hours. How satisfying it must be to have a thought one moment and be on stage with some of the finest musicians in the world the next making your dreams reality.

 

The musicians all played together and in different configurations depending on the composition of the piece. With so many instruments and all of them backing up a vocalist, there is only so much harmonic room within the framework of a piece for each of them to collectively play. The solos in the performances really allowed the signatures players to unfold. 

 

Carmen sings of love and tonight, she is surrounded by it. If “Is it Love” is perhaps the song and question, the answer is a definite yes indeed! The band is big but, I would not go as far as to call it a big band. From the Latin percussive flavor of Mayra Casales, the smooth full sound of Steve Turre’s trombone, the warmth of Bobby Watson’s alto, the rich deep breadth of Robert Hurst’s bass, the electrifying sound of Robert Glasper’s  Fender Rhodes comps to the soaring crisp precise notes of Regina Carter’s violin, the night of music is in for surprises at any turn. Steve Turre and Regina Carter were featured on a piece that had no choice but to swing with both Robert Glasper and Robert Hurst adding their color to the composition. Phil Upchurch pulled out one of his tunes, made famous by the George Benson back in the day on the album "Breezin", and the audience cheered with smiles of memorable moments as the musicians were able to stretch.

 

Carmen’s voice is calm, cool and collected and with every breath she encompasses that posture, poise and style of a true Diva! Her good friend Geri Allen has been commissioned to write a piece about the historic incidents and tragedies surrounding “911”. She asked Carmen to sing on that recording with her. Carmen, inspired herself by the music, decided to perform the piece tonight only this time, she was going to make use of Lori Andrews, even thought the original piece did not call for a harp. When she called Geri to ask her if it was okay perform the composition with a harpist, Geri replied that she was performing the piece in New York, at the same time as Carmen’s performance, with a harpist! Serendipitous!

 

She is an artist in the true sense of the word in that her talents don’t just stop at singing and composing. She paints wonderful portraits and even some self portraits which are here at the Ford on display and yes, “the love is for sale”!

 

So pick up a copy of the CD/DVD “Jazz and the New Songbook”. It was recorded live at the Madrid Theater in Canoga Park, California and features many of the same players on tonight’s performance.

Enjoy!

 

LeRoy Downs