June 17, 2011
Music is the Healing Force of the Universe – Albert Ayler
I must say, a lot has happened in our fair city since my last posting a few days back. The Canucks lost game 7 (a great run by the best and most skilled magical team in the history of Vancouver) of the Stanley Cup final. Before the game even ended, a riot was perpetrated by a number of extreme agitators that were intent on lighting a powder keg that was actually 100’s of young drunk testosterone fueled dummy idiots all too willing to join in the “excitement” to “make history” – unfortunately that set the stage for a major riot that seemed destined to happen win or lose. It was a sad and shameful day for the city of Vancouver – and the reality was that the City, after inviting 100,000 people to the live sites downtown had not gathered any intelligence (that would indicate a potential public disturbance) and was not at all prepared for this horrific outcome that made headlines around the world from Sweden to New Zealand and beyond. The positive outcome in this BS is that a spontaneous clean up crew of 100’s of folks was organized through social media that served to show the true spirit of the city of Vancouver (one of the world’s most livable cities, so they say) – but of course this will be local and not international news. Enough with the violence already, that’s not the way Vancouver rolls.
So – let’s talk music - we’re on the short run up to the jazz festival (with a week to go before we hit on June 24th) and we believe that culture / music is going to play a very important role in the healing process for all Vancouverites. It’s time to feel the love!
Our street closure for Gastown Jazz Weekend (25, 26) and the free programs at David Lam Park Jazz Weekend (July 2, 3) and at Granville Island on Canada Day are wonderfully diverse family friendly events that have always been among the most popular and well loved of the festival. Let’s feel good together and have a good old- fashioned jazz fest party that will bring people together and lift our collective spirits. Music is the healing force of the universe!
In Gastown you’ll hear two of Canada’s finest jazz pianists, Montreal’s Francois Bourassa and Vancouver’s Sharon Minemoto. I’m also really looking forward to the return of hometown hero, saxophonist Seamus Blake guesting with Jacek Kochan.
On Canada Day we’ve got some of my favourite musicians with the Peggy Lee Band, Cat Toren, Torsten Muller’s Distant Relatives (featuring John Butcher) and the first time meeting of fire breathing saxophonists Mats Gustafsson and Colin Stetson.
At David Lam Park don’t miss our High School Jazz Intensive – a wonderful big band that will be in training all week under the helm of Chicago’s (AACM co-president) Nicole Mitchell. Other highlights are sure to be Gordon Grdina’s middle-eastern juggernaut Haram, the Afro-Cuban sounds of festival fave Wil Campa, Japanese avant saxophonist Kazutoki Umezu’s Kiki Band and the modern gypsy jazz sounds of Gypsophilia from Halifax.
Now on to the Innovation Series:
I first became aware of the intense brash free jazz saxophonist Peter Brötzmann (during high school) in the late 60’s on the first Globe Unity album and subsequently on a groundbreaking album called “Nipples”. Then I was lucky enough to hear him at length in Berlin (Total Music Meeting) in 1972 with Han Bennink, Fred van Hove and Albert Mangelsdorff (and bought all the FMP albums). I actually do remember thinking, wow, Albert Ayler is one powerful musician, but this German guy is taking that idea and some of those concepts to another place. It was completely free and it was intense – “punk intense”. Hearing Brötz live was a revelation and one of the most important “free jazz” touchstones of that era for myself and for many others. He hasn’t stopped and continues to be a vital force with inspired playing that is as strong and intense as ever in more contexts that I care to count. I think it’s fair to say that the life’s work of Peter Brötzmann (and he’s a wonderful visual artist as well) laid the groundwork and was influential for many “out” saxophonists of younger generations including Mats Gustafsson and Ken Vandermark. It’s no coincidence that both of these players are included in his Chicago Tentet. Although I’ve been fortunate to hear him on many occasions with many projects around the world, it’s also fair to say that he hasn’t appeared in Vancouver anywhere near often enough (w. Bennink in duo, with Chicago Tentet, w. Marilyn Crispell and Hamid Drake, Die Like a Dog to name a few), so it is most certainly a special occasion – it’s a must - Peter Brötzmann Full Blast (with Marino Pliakis – electric bass and Michael Wertmüller – drums. Be aware that they will be very very loud! This one’s for fans that love loud intense music and Brötz will take no prisoners.
(2 concerts – 7pm / 9pm)
The road from Brötz naturally leads to Mats Gustafsson and The Thing. Mr. Gustafsson has been a friend since our first introduction through John Corbett in the early 90’s. In the intervening 20 years MG has developed into one of the most notorious saxophonists on the planet – working with artists as diverse as Sonic Youth, the Ex, Barry Guy’s New Orchestra, Sonore, P.B. Chicago Tentet and special projects on a regular basis. In 2009 Mats and Francois Houle headed up our musical “Ice Hockey” project. As we’ve noted before, Mats is a major hockey fan and supporter (of the Canucks) and an important reason that our “Swedish” connection has blossomed over the past decade or more. He’s received accolades all over the world – including a cover story for Wire magazine and Mats is also the recent winner of the important and much coveted Nordic Music Prize. He’ll be touring with Gordon Grdina’s Trio leading up to his festival performances – culminating in a number of gigs in Vancouver with Grdina (Nordic Sextet), Colin Stetson (an important first meeting) and The Thing.
The Thing is a most powerful trio - had to keep them and Brötz a week apart (insurance doesn’t cover that kind of fire) – almost too much of a good thing! (sorry – bad pun). A Norwegian rhythm section that features heavyweights Ingebrigt Häker-Flaten and Paal Nilssen-Love (shared with Atomic) is tough and strong, one of the major kick ass tandems in today’s music. The Thing is a quintessential bruising punk/jazz band (with repertoire that takes in PJ Harvey, Joe McPhee, Don Cherry, White Stripes and more) that can cleanse your soul - everything I said about Full Blast also applies to The Thing. If the Canucks had taken Mats’ advice to listen to some old Brötzmann records and just play – they might have hoisted the Stanley Cup on Wednesday. Monster mash.
(2 concerts – 7pm / 9pm)
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