First posted on Mark Is Cranky:
Man, I just hate it when something cool is going on and I allow it to pass by (good thing I don't live in New York City, there's just too much passing through every night).
This weekend the JVC Jazz Festival comes to Newport, Rhode Island with a crazy-great lineup. Spreak over the Jazz, Pavilion and Guitar stages:
Saturday, August 13th:
- Wynton Marsalis Quintet
- Charles Lloyd Quartet with Geri Allen, Reuben Rogers & Eric Harland
- Patricia Barber
- Medeski, Martin & Wood
- Jon Faddis Quartet "Gillespiana" with David Hazeltine, Kiyoshi Kitagawa & Dion Parson
- Saxophone Summit featuring Dave Liebman & Joe Lovano with Phil Markowitz, Cecil McBee & Billy Hart
- McCoy Tyner Trio with special guests Ravi Coltrane & Terell Stafford
- TRIO! Stanley Clarke ,Bela Fleck & Jean-Luc Ponty
- Carla Bley & Lost Chords with Steve Swallow, Andy Shepherd & Billy Drummond
- T.S. Monk Sextet with Winston Byrd, Dave Jackson, Bob Porcelli, Helen Sung, Willie Williams and introducing Rachael Price
- The Newport All-Stars featuring Howard Alden & Warren Vache
- Kurt Rosenwinkel Group with Mark Turner, Aaron Goldberg, Joe Martin & Eric Harland
- Mark Whitfield Trio featuring Donald Edwards & Reuben Rogers
- Romero
Good gawd, I'm justabout exhausted thinking about it. Much of Wynton's large ensemble work hasn't 'stuck' with me, but he's one helluva trumpet player. I've never had the opportunity to see Charles Lloyd (you should give his Jumping In The Creek a listen)or Geri Allen. Patricia Barber is stylish piano player and vocalist. Medeski, Martin & Wood have a sound all their own. Jon Faddis plays the hell out of his horn. Liebman and Lovano on the same stage? Wow. Carla Bley, she's one of my favorites. A great composer who manages to toss around her talent AND humor. The Pavilion stage is just chock full with T.S Monk, Stanley Clark, Jean-Luc Ponty and Bela Fleck and the great, great McCoy Tyner.
Ah, and then we get over to the guitar stage. There is going to be some serious blowing with the likes of Howard Alden, Mark Whitfield and Kurt Rosenwinkel.
Phew! If that first day wasn't enough, Sunday definitely one-ups it:
Article comments
1 - godoggo
The Charles Lloyd stuff I'm mostly familiar with is the '60s quartet with DeJohnnette, Jarrett, and McBee. They were huge for a jazz band in their time, since they appealed to a lot of psychedelic rock fans, but they've been oddly forgotten, especially considering the subsequent individual fame of most of the members. Really a great group.
2 - Mark Saleski
yea, when i'm in the mood for it, Forest Flower is a nice & spacey sort of jazz thing.
3 - fredericcolas
Just got back from Newport and the weather was great all throughout..And the lineup was amazing. I will share with you what I heard and saw firsthand.
The guitar stage featured a very talented artist from outside of the Jazz circles: Romero. This Argentinian born guitarist accompanied by a multi-talented percussionist from Columbia gave the crowd in attendance a great show. There is nothing more impressive than to hear such beauty come out of such simple instruments! Just like the Buena Vista Social Club before them, these two artists remind us all that poverty does not restrict your talent but rather unleashes your imagination and that talent trumps the kind of electronic shenanigans that other music styles are so fond of. With an album entitled Duende, you will guess that his music has more flamenco than it was jazz, but it was still a treat to listen to him. He was followed by one of my personal favorites, Mark Whitfield..If you do not have his 7th Ave Stroll album yet, go get it! Mark is intense on stage and is a great guitarist. Russel Malone's duo with Benny Green was very subtle and the mutual respect was obvious. At times you felt like you were at a jazz club. It reminded me of Wes Montgomery or Joe Pass stuff..
McCoy Tyner and Co gave an inspired and very heated performance on the Dunkin Donuts stage that drew thunderous applause. Terell Stafford's performance at the trumpet was no doubt to credit for that incredible athmosphere..This was in striking contrast to last year's appearance by McCoy Tyner on the main stage. Unfortunately, I got there at the end of their set..The crowd was so dense, it felt like the organizers might have made a mistake not to schedule him on the main stage. But then again, the setting was more conducive to this type of performance. They were followed by Matt Wilson's Arts & Craft. Matt Wilson is living proof that jazz needs musicians from all walks of life to continue to grow. He's a humorous MC/ drummer, but when it comes to playing, there is no doubt that he can write & play jazz pieces! Hank Jones followed with Joe Lovano and Lewis Nash for a great performance that was taped for Blue Note Records.
Among the notable performances on the main stage, I would have to mention Roy Haynes's birthday celebration which included no less that 5 outstanding guests: Gary Burton, Chick Corea, Joshua Redman, Chris McBride and last but not least Pat Metheny. Pat's sound is simply amazing in concert! It livens up the whole experience.. Wynton Marsalis and his quartet gave a good solid performance before that, that was perhaps too professional and you sometimes wished Wynton would lighten up a little and interact more..Joshua Redman's performance on the JVC stage was energertic and very creative. Among my few disappointments were Patricia Barber's performance which I am not sure deserved to be on the main stage..I was also slightly disappointed with Don Byron's performance at the Pavillion stage..
Finally, what a difference a year makes! Michael Brecker who was in full form last year, blowing his sax with Roy Haynes and others, was absent of this year's celebration for health reasons, as it was determined that he needs a bone marrow transfer and the initial search for a compatible donor among his relatives turned out negative. Also, Percy Heath from the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet who, last year had played for us with his two other brothers, no longer is..We'll miss him.
4 - Mark Saleski
man oh man, i saw a review of this in the globe...the surprise appearance of Metheny would have been great to see (maybe even just to see all of that hair stuffed under a baseball cap).
i wish i'd written more about Matt Wilson, a truly talented drummer. i saw him once at the Regattabar when he was playing with the Either Orchestra. amazing and funny at the same time.
5 - Joe DeRenzo
If you'd like to see pix of the Roy Hayes Birthday Jam from the Newport Jazz Festival 2005, log on to http://www.joederenzo.com/blog02.html
6 - Mark Saleski
thanks joe. man, that pic of Metheny in the baseball cap is...well, something.
7 - Gustavo
Does anyone know where I can buy a DVD of the JVC Jazz Festivel at Newport 2007?
8 - Kambo
Does anyone know how or where I can get a CD or DVD of the 2005 JVC Jazz Fest (especially Saturday's Newport concert lineup)? It was fantastic, especially
•Jon Faddis Quartet "Gillespiana"
•McCoy Tyner Trio with Ravi Coltrane
•TRIO! Stanley Clarke ,Bela Fleck & Jean-Luc Ponty
•T.S. Monk