Jazz Tracks, a Cross-Country Roundup by Marc Ch?nard Tuesday, October 22, 2002
With the summer drawing to a close and festival fever
finally subsiding, it is time to look forward to some autumnal musical
activities. Notwithstanding the steady stream of recordings being released these
days, both new and old, there are plenty of live acts slated around the country,
and the following list of events only scratches the surface.
 Guelph--For almost a decade, Guelph has been home to
one of Canada''s more innovative musical events. Now in its ninth edition, the
Guelph Jazz Festival (GJF) is set to go from September 4 to 8. Beyond its
program of about 30 concerts, this music-friendly event with a definite edge
includes a three-day colloquium and workshops that enable scholars and
performers to share their insights with the general public. Unlike any other
festival in the country, the GJF fulfills an educational mission as well, thus
putting it in a class of its own. Headliners this year include the formidable
all-American rhythm team of William Parker (bass) and Hamid Drake
(drums) appearing in various settings, the new music guitarist par
excellence Fred Frith with his Maybe Monday Trio, British saxophonist
Trevor Watts'' multi-kulti Moire Music Orchestra, the Hassidic New Wave
from New York, and much, much more. Info at www.guelphjazzfestival.com or by phone at
519-763-4952.
Toronto--Slightly east of the city, the town of Port
Hope actually hosts the last of the summer''s jazz events, aka the Port Hope
All Canadian Jazz Festival, from September 20 to 22. As its name says, the
program is national in scope, with an emphasis on mainstream jazz. Toronto band
leader Rob McConnell with his tentet and Montreal vocalist Ranee Lee
head the bill. Info at www.allcanadianjazz.com.
In the Queen city itself, there is more mainstream fare to
be heard at its two main nightspots, the Top of the Senator (416-367-7517) and
the Montreal Bistro (416-363-0179). While both venues have brought in name acts
from the States in the past, their programs will be more focused on local and
Canadian talent for the upcoming season. And finally, American pianist Fred
Hersch will be in town on October 4 at Walter Hall (University of Toronto)
for a solo concert.
Vancouver--Home to one of the most noteworthy jazz
festivals on the continent--or anywhere on the planet for that matter--British
Columbia''s metropolis also sports one of the more dynamic local scenes around.
Thanks to the encouragement and promotion of the festival''s organizing body, the
Coastal Jazz and Blues Society, Vancouver''s jazz lovers and musicians
have something to look forward to year round. True to its form, the CJBS already
has its main shows lined up for the months to come, starting with three events
on tap for the latter part of September, the first being the quartet of
Norwegian bassist Sigurd Ulveseth (19), the second Toronto guitarist
Tim Postgate''s Some Stories (20) and lastly, fellow Torontonian and
pianist David Braid with his All Star Sextet (28), including saxman
Mike Murley. From the local scene, the Ornette Coleman tribute band To Be
Ornette to Be will perform on October 17, preceded by the Trio Safa on October
9, a group that blends Western and traditional Persian music. Also passing
through are three American bands, drummer Bobby Previte''s Bump (October
25), bassist Mark Helias'' threesome Open Loose (October 30), and the
Herbie Nichols Project (November 1). From distant Norway, once again, the trio
of free improvising saxophonist Frode Gjerstad will play on October 18,
and Dutch violist Ig Henneman encounters the Toronto/Montreal duo Queen
Mab (Marilyn Lerner, piano, Lori Freedman, clarinets) on November
9. For times and places, call 604-872-5200 or check in at
www.coastaljazz.com.
On and off the record
No sooner than the first seasonal chill appears so does the
Holiday Season, at least in store windows. In the music business, of course,
this brings on the usual deluge of CD releases. Yet, in a time when the majors
are drastically cutting back on new productions and banking mostly on reissues,
small and medium sized independent labels are more than making up for the
shortfall. There are many items to watch for on the new issues front, and some
interesting repackaging of older material as well.
- On ECM: Dave Holland Big Band, What Goes
Around; Keith Jarrett, Always Let Me Go (2 CDs); and Rarum
Series, individual CDs of selected pieces by ten artists on the
label, including Jarrett, Holland, Metheny, Surman, and Gismonti, graced by
their own liner notes.
-
On RCA Bluebird: Dave Douglas, El Trilogy
(music for two dance pieces by two ensembles and a combination of
both groups for a third one).
-
On Marsalis Music: Branford Marsalis,
Footsteps of our Fathers (including new renditions of
the "Freedom Suite" by Sonny Rollins and Coltrane''s "A Love
Supreme").
-
On Sketch Records (France): Steve Lacy with Mal Waldron and
Jean-Jacques Avenel.
-
On Justin Time: Hugh Ragin, Feel the
Sunshine
-
On Effendi Records (Canada): Fran?ois Th?berge 5
with Lee Konitz plays the Music of Lee Konitz.
Reissues
-
John Coltrane, A Love Supreme
(Complete Recordings series)--with a couple of
alternate takes of the first movement from a recently unearthed session with
Archie Shepp, plus a live Classic Quartet version from France in
1965.
-
Herbie Hancock, box set (Columbia Legacy)--featuring
both his acoustic period (discs 1, 2) and electric period (discs 3, 4).
Unissued material from the VSOP Quintet.
-
Thelonious Monk, Live at Newport
1963-1965 (Columbia Legacy)--1965 concert not previously
issued.
For further listings of upcoming releases, look through this
very extensive website:
home.att.net/~lankina/jazz/newjazzreleases.html
On the international scene
Instituted in Denmark in 1990, the Jazz Par Prize is
the world''s most prestigious award granted to a jazz musician. Selected from a
shortlist of candidates chosen by an international jury, the winner is awarded a
cash prize of US$ 35,000 (!) and an opportunity to perform a series of concerts
with Danish musicians and to record his or her own music for commercial release.
Joining the list of past winners--David Murray, Lee Konitz, Gerri Allen, Tommy
Flanagan--is the American pianist Andrew Hill, one of jazz''s true
originals and a largely under-recognized composer. He will travel to Denmark in
April of next year to receive his prize and perform. You are urged to check out
his brand-new release on Palmetto Records, Andrew Hill Sextet +11 A Beautiful
Day. *
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