GUELPH JAZZ FESTIVAL 2009

[Frisco]

Wow, I'm just noticing that this didn;t even get a mention prior to the event.
I got in just in time to catch a few performances but two of them will go down as quite memorable.

David Murray and Milford Graves Duo. During the performance it was revealed that these two artists played together only twice. On the great cd "Real Deal" (DIW 1992) and again in a quartet setting in the 90's. They obviously reveled in the moment, playing at an extremely high level of spirit, telepathy, and intensity. From screaming cries of joy and sorrow to whispers of wind and swinging sounds of freedom, David and Milford delighted a packed house in the small amphitheater inside of the River Run Center. David mostly on tenor sax with two pieces on bass clarinet and an ad hoc reading of "Flowers for Albert". Milford on the traps with sticks and with mallets and a small sampling of his unique vocalizings that included his "drum dance" across the stage for just a few minutes. A fantastic improvised set that brought the crowd to its feet howling and chanting for more.

Joelle Leandre has performed in Guelph and also at festivals in NYC in a number of fine duo settings. But this was my first time to hear Joelle unaccompanied. Her heart, her soul, her artistic mastery just shone brightly during an afternoon set at the acoustically perfect Guelph Youth Music Center. It was Joelle's birthday and she played brilliantly. Giving both verbal and musical nods to Peter Kowald, William Parker, and others, Joelle employed her extremely large vocabulary of sound and technique. It was hard to imagine a finer performance possible. Beautiful stuff!

I caught a few other nice sets including a rousing trio of Marilyn Crispell/Fred Anderson/Hamid Drake, about half of a nice Monk set from Jean Derome's Evidence Sextet, part of a raucous WSQ + bass & drums "Hendrix" set, and a very crystal, laid back set of improv from the Geggie Project with marilyn Crispell.