June 30, 2014
by: Ken Pickering - Artistic Director / Co-Founder
twitter: ken_pickering
photography: Chris Cameron unless otherwise noted.
Today's post is a selective photo journal (and a few choice words) of our final weekend - with some great (and not so great - mine) shots by Chris Cameron and John Orysik from the David Lam Park Jazz Weekend, Ironworks and Performance Works.
This was the final show last night - following Human Feel - UK pianist Alexander Hawkins, Francois Houle and Harris Eisenstadt at the Ironworks Sunday night. It was their first concert - after one rehearsal - they brought out a book of tunes that included originals by each member - some Steve Lacy and more. Harris and Alex have been playing together for years (intercontinental quartet with Taylor Ho Bynum and Dominic Lash) - Harris and Francois began working together at my suggestion for Francois' 5 + 1 project - tour and Songlines disc. However Francois had never met Alexander. Simply put - they nailed it to the wall. This is a new trio and they should keep this thing going. Super heavy!
They also perform at Performance Works on Canada Day - so don't miss that show! (photo kp)
Hard to believe that the festival is nearly over - however there is still MORE music to be heard. Today (Monday) at Performance Works you can hear Montreal's Trio Jérôme Beaulieu at 1:30pm (2 sets) and tomorrow is our annual Canada Day jazz celebration at Granville Island with music on four stages - notably at PWorks with Cat Toren, Michel Edelin (Paris), The Westerlies (a brass quartet NYC - don't miss their great Songlines debut of Wayne Horvitz tunes), another shot at this unbelievable new trio with Alexander Hawkins (UK), Harris Eisenstadt (NYC) and Francois Houle, plust Quatuor André Lachance and the Mike Allen Quartet - the festivities begin at noon and continue to 11pm!
This dude is one of biggest fans - we call him Big Dave (from Eugene, Oregon) and you can find him at all the hippest jazz / improv shows - Roundhouse, Ironworks, Performance Works. Big Dave is extremely knowledgeable and supportive of the music, both local and international - this man has been visiting the festival for years. It was great to see him stand up and implore us to support our local musicians because they're world class! He knows lots of the musicians and they all (and we) love Big Dave! (photo kp)
Whenever I think of Big Dave - Torsten Müller comes immediately to mind. This version of Distant Relatives with Big Dave's favourite singer - UK's Phil Minton, Dylan van der Schyff - drums and our two new Vancouverites (not really - it just seems like it) here all of June on a great residency program supported by the Swedish Arts Grant Committee - allowed us to engage with Lisa Ullén - piano and Mats Åleklint - trombone, monster musicians both. The sound was superb and the hook up between Minton and Åleklint amazed. One of the tastiest DR gigs yet! Great sound in the room too! (photo kp)
David's Angels - with David Carlsson, Sofie Norling, Michala and Maggi. Wonderful art songs - Nordic style - you might remember Maggi from Ingrid Jensen's band a few years back. I discovered this quartet on CD and then was lucky to hear a gorgeous showcase in Bremen at Jazz Ahead in 2013 that convinced me that they must come to Vancouver. We helped them tour some of the Canadian festivals. This was one of John's favourite shows ... very cool! Super nice people too .. we certainly had fun hanging out a the Ironworks bar on Saturday night. Sofie Norling is a singer to watch for!
We were also treated to a great piano performance from Jon Ballantyne solo - so great to hear this supremely talented, underrated Canadian pianist (based in NYC) on his program of originals, plus Freedom Jazz Dance (Eddie Harris) and Shade of Jade (Joe Henderson) and another great set from French pianist Baptiste Trotignon with tenor saxophonist Mark Turner exhibiting a sweet tone and great control of the upper register. Both shows at the Roundhouse.
Harris Eisenstadt's Golden State subbed in Michael Moore (ICP Orchestra) on clarinet for Nicole Mitchell to great effect along with the awesome Mark Dresser - bass, Sara Schoenbeck - bassoon in support of their recent Songlines album. Not too many improvising bassoonists on the scene that I know about (I do remember Karen Borca) - watching Sara stretch on that unwieldy instrument is a sight and sound to behold. A very unusual chamber jazz ensemble - I really dig this group. Destroy Vancouver followed with Nate Wooley solo and DJ Olive. Nate's solo was a showcase for some extreme extended techniques - totally out. He's also a member of Eisenstadt's Canada Day band in a slightly more conventional jazz oriented context. Quite a night at the Ironworks. Great to team up with VIVO Media Arts.
Tigran - Shadow Theater Trio with Armenian (piano, keys) Tigran Hamasayan presiding roared at Performance Works - his first appearance (and not the last we hope) at the festival. An intense captivating performance. From piece to piece his touch ranged from super heavy to very delicate. A new kind of fusion.
Sunna Gunnlaugs Trio from Iceland sounded great in the Roundhouse - another pianist with a beautiful touch on the piano - lots of nice feedback on their set. Her recent album Distilled has been spinning constantly in our household.
Chicago cellist (AACM) and TD HSJI leader/conductor Tomeka Reid - here performing with Michel Edelin and Dylan van der Schyff (not in photo).
The TD High School Jazz Intensive was a great success under the helm of Tomeka Reid (and the support of Bob Rebagliati and Flora Ware) - the kids were challenged to go beyond standard big band repertoire and managed to pull of a Sun Ra tune and Anthony Braxton's - Composition # 134 - not an easy feat - before relaxing into some deep funk grooves.
Flora Ware (coordinator of HSJI, Bob Rebagliati, myself, the legendary Dal Richards and our new festival executive director Mike Forrester.
Human Feel are Chris Speed, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Andrew D'Angelo and Jim Black. This bands roots go back (with us) 25 years. Chris and Jim are from Seattle - around 25 years ago I received a call from Chris telling me they were performing at a small gallery in Gastown (this we pre Glass Slipper etc) and that I should come on down. So I did (along with another 2/3 folks) and the rest is history. At that time they were all completely unknown and in the interim they've all gone on to establish international careers as band leaders and collaborators around the world. Both Jim and Chris cut their teeth in Tim Berne's Blood Count in NYC in the 90's. Human Feel rarely gets back together, but this time they did - and we're happy to have them close out the 10th day of the festival at the Ironworks. This was a show I absolutely had to catch - (meaning I had to miss a fantastic Cassandra show) in order to keep the cosmos aligned. Felt like a full circle. When I arrived - it was like - thank gawd you're here dude! What a night.
This is French flutist Michel Edelin - playing with cellist Tomeka Reid and drummer Dylan van der Schyff for the first time yesterday at the Roundhouse. On Canada day Michel teams up with bassist Clyde Reed and Dylan at Performance Works.
Finally a selfie by Francois Houle, with me and Alexander Hawkins - our grins tell you all you need to know. We wrapped out Ironworks pretty late last night. Hope that Franky's in good shape for recording Lisa Ullén today!
That's it for today - off to Performance Works and a house gig with Phil Minton and Torsten Müller this afternoon and then some rest to get in shape for another long day of great tunes at PerformanceWorks and other GI venues on Canada Day! Its not over until its over - see you there!
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