Coastal Jazz: Day Three

by Brad Winter

Globe Unity Orchestra

Globe Unity / Schlippenbach Trio and more

Good times always seem to fly by so quickly. As I write this we’ve already put three days of festival to bed. And what a time we’ve had. With so many great choices there has probably been no two schedules which are exactly alike. And happily the opportunity to continue to pursue these individual paths carries on throughout the week and on to Sunday the 4th.

My passion’s run to the left of center, non-mainstream improvisers and the good folks of Coastal Jazz have, as always, provided many opportunities to satisfy that proclivity. A brief recount of some favourite moments follows.

Saturday afternoon’s gig at CBC Studio 700 was a wild and wooly meeting of four top-notch players. German bass-clarinetist Rudi Mahall and trumpeter Axel Doerner re-united with Vancouver’s Torsten Mueller and Dylan van ders Schyff for two sets of brilliant musical conversation. I saw them last year at Ironworks (Rudi and Axel were in town with the fabulous Monk’s Casino band) and that first quartet confab resulted in a fine concert. I feel that this year’s meeting was somewhat superior because there was more variety in the interaction of all the principals involved. They were closer to the ideal of a truly improvised quartet in that all individuals were equal in importance to influencing the direction/s that the music followed. Working as a quartet and in tasty duo settings they were not merely flying along in a frenetic fashion but really got into some deep and varied places musically. To say that each player is a monster would be an understatement and solos by all amply demonstrated that fact. This is an ensemble that would be wonderful to see nurtured further yet as the group dynamics and possibilities are awesome.

Later that evening, at the Roundhouse, the audience was treated to one of the truly great improvising trios in history. The Schlippenbach Trio features three of the founding fathers of the European version of that genre. Alexander von Schlippenbach, Evan Parker and Paul Lovens were not only present in the earliest days of the movement they were among a handful of those who were the very foundation of this crucial and exciting step in jazz. Although I’ve been a great fan of the trio and each of its principals for many years this was my first opportunity to experience them (as a group) in a live concert. And, in my opinion, that is really the only true way to experience the full measure of any music. The Roundhouse was a rather large space in which to see them. I’d have preferred to see them in a bit more intimate setting but can understand the need to feature a group of this stature in a venue capable of accommodating a good sized audience. And of course, that (minor) criticism was immediately rendered moot after the first notes hit the air. Here you have three guys, who’ve been working together for well over four decades, each of whom is an absolutely equal contributor to the direction of the music. And what music. Audacious, assured and marvelously inventive. The group’s rapport and incredible dynamics were of the highest level and the results held the audience spell-bound. For my money there is no better, more accomplished, trio on the planet. I feel extremely fortunate to have finally gotten the chance to have witnessed these three masters in this most individual and important setting.

The next night von Schlippenbach was back at the same venue to present two generous sets with the marvelous Globe Unity Orchestra. Now in it’s 45th year of existence this international juggernaut is filled to the brim with talent and is the pinnacle of a large improvising ensemble. The group features two outstanding drummers, with Paul Lovens now joined by yet another first generation improv master, the ever inventive Paul Lytton. Lined up between these bookends is one of the greatest large horn sections around today. I won’t list all the names here (readers should do their homework and take a hard look at the festival program and website) but note should be made that, in addition to Evan Parker a couple of important early Euro-masters were on hand as well. It’s always a pleasure to witness the enthusiastic bravura of trombonist Johannes Bauer and it was a rare treat to get to hear the deep soulful tenor sax master Gerd Dudek. Rudi Mahall and Axel Doerner have been important contributors to this ensemble for a number of years as well. The line-up featured two tenor saxes, an alto, bass clarinet, two trumpets and two trombones and as one might expect, this sort of collective was capable of much volume and bombast. But the results were rarely as simple or direct as that. With the awesome talent assembled here there was an abundance of nuance and beauty underlying even the densest most bombastic moments. And these full-throated forays were interlaced freely with solos, duos and many spur of the moment alliances among the assembly. The results were absolutely stunning and beautiful to behold. This was the orchestra’s first appearance in Vancouver and only the third time ever touring North America and was a watershed event in the 25 year history of the festival. There is no way I could overstate the importance of this presentation and I am mightily impressed by the heroic efforts involved to make this essential event a reality.

Earlier in the day Evan Parker and Paul Lovens hooked up with Torsten Mueller for two super sets at the Performance Works. I really enjoyed the chance to see these three revered master voices work it out in free fashion together. I have seen each with one of the others previously but this was the first meeting of all three in a trio together and I’ve been anxiously waiting to see this collective. I can assure you that I was not disappointed. I’ll admit that, with my familiarity of the principals involved, there really wasn’t so very much that was truly new in their individual approaches this afternoon. But the fruits of this amalgam were very satisfying and in the end resulted in a fresh setting for all involved.

So, after three days I’m feeling very fine indeed. Not satiated, mind you, but already happily filled with a hand-full of memorable and moving experiences. The four gigs I have highlighted here are by no means the only fine events I’ve had the privilege and pleasure to witness thus far. And that leads to a point that I’d like to emphasize. This year’s TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival offers up a mind-boggling array of top level jazz/music presentations and no one person will be capable of doing more than tasting a small percentage of that which is available. Whether one’s tastes lead, like my own, to the improvised and outer spheres or are firmly grounded in the tradition I’m sure that there is more than enough on the schedule to keep you crazy happy with choices and challenges. I for one am extremely impressed, with my experiences over the last three days. And I’m happier still that there are seven more days left to continue to immerse myself in this stunning celebration of the art of jazz. A heartfelt thank-you to all the staff and volunteers of the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society for all of their dedication and hard work in making this beautiful happening a reality.

I really must wrap this little blog offering up now as there is more music beckoning even as I write. As that great philosopher Groucho Marx said: “Hello I must be going.” See you around the festival.

JUNE 27... Posted by Ken Pickering

Photos of the Weekend

Paul Lovens / Torsten Muller / Evan Parker @
Performance Works - June 27, 2010
(photo: Christine Fedina)

Barry Guy / Maya Homburger @ Studio 700
(photo: Christine Fedina)

Gastown - Steam Clock Stage - June 27, 2010
(photo: Angela Earl)

Gastown - Maple Tree Square - June 27, 2010
(photo: Chris Cameron)

Doran - Stucky - Studer - Tacuma play Jimi Hendrix
Gastown - June 27, 2010

Doran-Stucky-Studer-Tacuma play Hendrix
in Gastown
(photo: Ken Pickering)

Paul Lovens / Globe Unity - Roundhouse - June 27, 2010

Anti-Pop Consortium - Commodore - June 27, 2010
(photo: Max Harland)

Pack AD - Commodore - June 27, 2010
(photo: Max Harland)

Chick Corea - Centre - June 27, 2010

Gordon Grdina Trio w,
Fredrik Ljungkvist.jpg

Gord Grdina Trio with Fredrik Ljungkvist
Ironworks - June 27, 2010

It's Bob Bell (legendary record shop cat for almost 40 years..
plays a mean guitar too) lobby of Roundhouse for Globe Unity
June 27, 2010
(photo: Ken Pickering)