May-19th-2006, 03:38 PM
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#1
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Most Loved JC User 2009®
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 39,755
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Joe Lovano tonight
I'll be catching Joe Lovano tonight at the Max Fisher Center. He'll be appearing with both his quartet and with the Wayne State University jazz band. Looking forward to it, my first live show in several months. If any of you Detroiters are attending the show, keep an eye out for me. I'll be the angry drunk guy.
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May-19th-2006, 03:47 PM
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#2
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6 dim
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Toronto
Posts: 449
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Speaking of Detroit guys, I saw Barry Harris, Hank Jones, along with Jimmy Slyde, Charles McPherson, Earl May and Leroy Williams last night in Toronto. Barry loves to remind us what a hot bed of jazz that is Detroit.
Tonight, Jim Hall, Dave Holland, John Handy with a tribute to Don Thompson.
If anybody's there I'll be the sentimental drunk guy.
Enjoy the show Larry.
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May-19th-2006, 03:49 PM
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#3
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Imagine All The People
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,930
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Sounds like fun to me, Larry, enjoy!
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May-19th-2006, 08:49 PM
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#4
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Happy 50th, Alaska!
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 16,985
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Hope it's great fun, Larry. Please let us know your impressions when you get a chance.
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May-19th-2006, 11:11 PM
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#5
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Most Loved JC User 2009®
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 39,755
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Had an awesome time! I'll post more later.
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May-22nd-2006, 03:47 PM
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#6
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Most Loved JC User 2009®
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 39,755
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It was a really nice show. Lovano came out with his quartet for the first of two sets. They played a mix of standards and originals. The group was James Weidman on piano, Esperanza Spalding on bass and Francesco Mela on drums. Weidman was nice enough, but Spalding and Mela were dynamite together. Mela looks about 16 years old behind the kit. He doesn't have conventional bebop chops, his approach is more angular. Not a lot of smooth, rolling phrases, but more syncopated, almost choppy attacks. He reminded me of early Tony. He was the fire in the group for sure.
Spalding, I didn't even know was a part of the band. I thought she was a girlfriend of one of the band members, or maybe a supermodel who stumbled into a jazz venue by accident. She's in her early 20s and is a really impressive bassist. She swings hard and seems to have complete control of the instrument. She could play the hell out of a walking line and has chops minus the ego. She's stunningly beautiful, too, which will help her career out for all the wrong reasons.
The highlight of the first set for me was a rendition of Ornette's Lonely Woman. The melody wouldn't arrive from Lovano's horn until halfway through the tune. It was a long piece, starting with assorted percussion and whistles from Mela and a rubato bass part from Esperanza. It developed in an "out" swell of sound that actually had me thinking it was Psalm by Trane for a while. When Lovano revealed the tune's identity, they were already burning pretty hot. A very free interpretation of the tune and a satisfying one.
The second set featured Lovano with the Wayne State University big band. He accompanied them as a guest soloist and the band sounded inspired. A realy impressive reading of Thad Jones' Three And One (Lovano seemed to be paying tribute to Thad, either because of his own association with him, or because of the Detroit venue, or possibly both). Not an easy piece! But they pulled it off. The thrill the kids were experiencing sharing a stage with a player of Lovano's stature couldn't be concealed. They looked mesmerized by his presence and couldn't stop looking over at him to see if their performance was being met with approval. Joe seemed very supportive and shouted out encouragement throughout the night.
The show was at the Allesee Rehearsal Hall. What a gorgeous place to hear live music. Maple floors and great acoustics. And my scotch was the size of Rhode Island. Very nice, can't wait to go back, which I will.
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May-22nd-2006, 04:28 PM
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#7
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Happy 50th, Alaska!
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 16,985
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Nice review, Larry. Sounds like a grand evening.
Your comments with respect to Esperanza Spalding intrigued me sufficiently to learn a bit more about this youngster. She's only 21 years of age and is also a singer and composer. She also has a debut album out as a leader . . . Junjo. Pianist Aruan Ortiz and drummer Francisco Mela are the other trio members.
She is the 2005 recipient of the prestigious Boston Jazz Society scholarship for outstanding musicianship.
She's also been the bassist with the Ray Charles big band, among other projects.
Here's a link to her website, if you're interested in learning more.
Wow!
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May-23rd-2006, 06:06 AM
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#8
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Registered Eater
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Monroe, Connecticut and/or Newfane, Vermont
Posts: 5,725
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I've seen Mr. Lovano several times. Just love the way he turns songs inside out.............
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August-28th-2008, 08:01 PM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 5,939
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anyone hear the new one with the WDR big band?
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August-28th-2008, 08:27 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,645
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shrugs
anyone hear the new one with the WDR big band?
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It's quite wonderful!
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August-28th-2008, 08:32 PM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 5,939
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hasn't the WDR big band recorded with a lot of folks?
I may have even heard a few recordings and forgotten about it.
So much music....
looking forward to hearing some new Lovano, thanks for the word on it.
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August-28th-2008, 08:32 PM
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#12
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Void Where Prohibited
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 1,248
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I am not a fan of it.... but string projects rarely excite me.
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