I have been to LACMA several times for jazz performances. On
any given Friday during the summer, you can always experience three sets of
great music out in an open courtyard filled with many of LA’s lovers of jazz.
But, today the plan was to motor west just one block to discover a venue that I
did not know existed before this performance. LACMA West, located in the upper
level of the former Macy’s department store on the corner of Wilshire and
Fairfax. Today’s acclaimed guest is not one who I see in
Kenny is not that old although introduced this afternoon as the greatest living jazz legend. That greatness is always represented in the mastery of his playing that makes his mind, the music and the piano one beautifully melodic instrument! The Da Camera Society is an organization that supports mostly chamber music and they prefer to hold their venues in historic sites around the city. Their mission is to bring the highest quality chamber music to their members in environments that the chamber music was originally written for. Each season they present to their members a few jazz performances always staying true to their mission of the utmost quality! Kenny Barron certainly falls right in line when it comes to top notch players. He has performed over the years in many different configurations but, for this performance he will be accompanying himself.
Kenny usually does not start off a performance with a ballad but in honor of a gentleman he met that lived to 100 years old, he proceeded to play “Memories of You” by Eubie Blake. The members and subscribers of The Da Camera Society know how to listen and appreciate a performance. When listening to solo piano, silence is necessary to have all of the intricate details and nuances that a wonderful pianist like Kenny can bring to the music.
“For Heaven’s Sake” was written by a composer that Kenny had
the pleasure of meeting at one of his performances at the Blue Note in
Miles made the tune “When Lights are Low”, famous with his version of the wrong bridge. Kenny actually discovered this when asked by Benny Carter, the composer, if he knew the piece. Of course listening to the most popular version for so many years, Kenny proceeded to perform the piece and Benny told him, when he reached the bridge, that this is not how he originally wrote the tune. The version Kenny plays for us features the bridge that was actually intended in the composition.
Listening to solo piano is quite different without the rest of the swing. Kenny is so prominent and even though the bass and drums are a faint part of your imagination, they still cerebrally occupy some musical space. I would imagine that Kenny hears the other 2/3 of the swing as well as he walks through these classic yet wonderful compositions.
“Lullaby” is an original composition and you can hear some
of the subtle differences in Kenny’s more modern compositions as to their
feeling and the way that they are arranged; still emanating feelings of romance
only in a modern day twentieth century kind of way. Twentieth because the feelings are derived
from a distinguished old school player who studied the classics in an era that
differs from the sound that you might get from the younger piano players of
today. “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most” many times sung so beautifully
by vocalists, is played with light and lovely colors as another ballad bestowed
upon this intimate crowd here at LACMA West. “I am confessing that I love you”
with its stridish textures mixed in with a note or two reminiscent of the one
and Theonlyus! The great sound of Kenny Barron is such a treat and we certainly
hope we get to hear much more from Kenny on the West coast!
LeRoy Downs
