Slide Show
I have for the longest time had an indifference to the word “Big Band”. The music in the twenties and thirties did not always turn me on and when the sound is simple, repetitive and easy to anticipate, I am the first to snooze. I have learned that for me to enjoy a big band the best, the first thing you must do is find out whose big band it is. The leader and his philosophy about the music will give you some indication as to which way the band will swing and how hard. Second, if you can get some indication as to who some of the members of the band are, there is a pretty good chance that if these are the cats that already resonate a sound that syncs with your soul, your are going to dig the music.
When you say the name “Isaac Smith” and “Big Band” in the
same sentence, there is no question as to where you should be when the
performance starts! I have seen Isaac Smith in several different capacities but
never leading he own ensemble. He has been on stage in
We sat and talked for awhile about the music, the business of the music, how interesting it is that the dollars don’t’ always follow the right talent, pursuing music dreams and strategies and what love has got to do with it. Dedication, commitment and love play such a huge part of why creative people are driven to do what they do. Taking the ideas that God has blessed us with and sharing those with the world is a selfless feat to which the universe pays great rewards; most of the time in payments of love and appreciation and ever so often there are some monetary associations attached.
Tonight at the Jazz Bakery is one of those nights of love and you have never seen so many musicians on this stage at one time before. Isaac skipped doing it big and went straight to doing it huge! Six trombones, five saxophones, five trumpets, two bass players, two drummers, two percussionist, on vibraphone player and one pianist calls for some extraordinary conducting, arranging, writing and playing skills all of which Mr. Smith proceeds to grace us with.
What ordinary people do not seem to realize is that you can’t just go anywhere to hear good big music. It is not like putting together a quartet and rehearsing, recording or performing, this takes a lot of coordination, the music has to be right, and time is an expensive major factor to consider. From what I have heard from a few of these cats tonight is that everyone knows and respects Isaac as a musician so they all really want to play with him.
The sound tonight is phenomenal, rich and full of brass and percussion from the motherland. “Alleluia”, a new song written to and for the Lord above has all of theses beautiful players come together, screaming, burning and producing some of the sweetest harmonies that free music can produce. Whenever it is done like this, you must not pass up on an opportunity to nourish you soul with something that is so pure it is like being present for the birth of a new child. The circumstances surrounding the music are spiritual by nature but exude the emotions of all the chaos of life before bringing it back to a place of peace; from creation to cremation with a life that speaks presence and meaning.
These combination of sounds do not come together everyday. You have to be lucky to be present to hear and feel the music on you body. This music is and should be different every time, every set, every night. It all starts out with a dream; an idea that transforms into a passion and the end result is a blessing.
Isaac composes music for a special someone and the spirit of
Dan Weinstein and Kamasi Washington come back with the
larger ensemble and contribute a few compositions as well. They will all be back
at the Jazz Bakery January 21, 2008
Click Picture above for all upcoming performances!
so do no miss out! The Isaac Smith Big
Band with a whole ton of incredible players!!!
LeRoy Downs
