Many happy returns

It might be 12 years late, but I finally saw Herbie Hancock here in Canberra. I missed him last time. Twelve years, but the band is little changed: Herbie, Lionel Loueke, Vinne Colaiuta, James Genus (was Nathan East). Herbie is 79 but you wouldn't know it. This was authentic, power-charged music with references to his history, some great solos and driving rock-strength grooves. Herbie played Korg Kronos and a fabulously forcefully-miced grand piano and a Roland keytar. it looked like Lionel played guitar but the solos sounded like synth (I had to look twice at his first solo) with perhaps traditional guitar sounds coming through quietly in chordal acompaniment. Nary a pick passed his fingers: this was all fingered chords and single notes. James was busy, bassy and a little bass-endy and lost in the mix (at least from where I sat) until he took to soloing where his sound was eminently bell-like clear, playing mostly finger style, but also thumbs or classical-like finger style. Then Vinnie, solid and strong, not overly polyrhythmic if more adventurous in solos (two) which featured some incredibly challenging ostinatos an stabs from the band. Lionel did several solos with loops, richly complex, and accompanied by his voice in harmonised. Herbie did vocoder voice, too, that strangley otherworldly vocal sound. James blew out everyone with another stunning looped solo and his other was no work of slouch. Various tunes form Herbie's history appeared for a line or two through the concert, then diffused into grooves, perhaps to reappear and diffuse again. The Headhunters era featured, but there were others too, better recognised by others of the jazzer family who attended. But it was a full house and there aren't so many jazzers in Canberra, so there were lots of unknown faces with a few jazz regulars amongst the crowds. They were all impressed. Two promised to burn their instruments next day (hopefully the instruments have survived). Suffice to say, this was a lesson in strength and power, complexity and familiarity, richly arranged but still open and fresh. A blast.

Herbie Hancock (keys, vocals) played the Canberra Theatre with Lionel Loueke (guitar, vocals), James Genus (bass) and Vinnie Colauita (drums).

Young lions

Terence Blanchard was one of the young guns and a member of the Jazz Messengers. He, too, played at Jazz Showcase sometime in the ‘80s and this, too, was a return to Chicago for him. That was well received. Terence and the band were well received. There was plenty of virtuosic display on show; actually, tons of virtuosic display. For this show, Terence’s offsiders included Lionel Loueke and Ravi Coltrane and the rhythm section was led by Fabian Almazan whom I missed at Village Vanguard in the last week or so. Fabian was getting rave reviews. But that was something different, with string quartet and other. This show had the flair and confidence and virtuosity and neatness of CTI or perhaps Miles strutting the stage. They played long tunes; their solos were long and incredibly capable; the tunes were neat but more a vehicle for the individuality of the blow; the solos took off with verve and incredible ability. Maybe they took off too quickly for comfort or blew with inconceivable intensity. Certainly Terence bent over with his intensity. Ravi was less the showman but did some of the same. The drummer worked and sweated. I felt Lionel build more gently into his fingerpicking that seemed almost incredible with its long intervals between thumb and fingers. Fabian, too, developed more slowly and seemed to my ears to seek out a more inventive improvisation. They were excellent players, all. I’m sure they knew it; Terence seemed to know it. He’s not quite the young gun anymore and he’s probably hotter than then; at his peak. He’s certainly hot, bending and strolling and blowing fabulous lines with a thickset tone to die for. But still I was left wanting. Much ado? These are obviously great players, I remind myself. That’s what I took from this: great players. The audience loved it, but it left me wanting more. A bit too much sound and fury for me.

Terence Blanchard (trumpet) played with Ravi Coltrane (soprano, tenor saxes), Brice Winston (tenor), Lionel Loueke (guitar), Fabian Almazan (piano), Joshua Crumbly (bass) and Kendrick Scott (drums) at the Chicago Jazz Festival.

Let’s hear it again for Bird

“If it doesn’t have dissonance, it’s got to have swing” So said Joe at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in Harlem. It’s a free festival on the last weekend of August, running Saturday and Sunday afternoons. I could get the most of the Saturday session (although not the Sunday session with Kenny Barron, Cindy Blackmore Santana and others). It was in Marcus Garvey Park. Joe is of Italian descent, Brooklyn born, lives in Queens. I was taken aback when he mentioned Norman Connors (his album Love from the Sun is one of my formative albums; it’s not well known, not even available on CD when I looked). I was in awe of his access to jazz but otherwise we shared much. Joe’s comment was in the context of Lionel Loueke playing a form of world music, fingerpicked, sounding plucky like classical guitar, strangely out of place in this lineup. Certainly a long way and possibly unrelated to Bird. He was playing with an Italian mandolin bassist (fast and funky playing, but lacking any complexity in tone) and a drummer. A bit later, following an exciting drum solo, he said “this is more like it” and I concurred. The Wallace Rooney Orchestra was coming up last, but I couldn’t stay. The first acts had been Kris Bowers (piano) quartet with guest Chris Turner (vocals). Nice piano solos and a powerful, punchy solo from Tyshawn Sorey (drums). It was a day for drums. The next band was the Crash Trio led by 25-yo Chilean Melissa Aldana (tenor), last year’s winner of the Thelonious Monk competition. This was a modern trio set, reminiscent of the sixties (she mentioned Sonny Rollins) although playing her original compositions. Competent soloing, fast and with nice clean tone, if a little heavy on scales and practice routines. Her offsiders were Pablo Menares (bass) and Francisco Mela (drums). Again, lots of drum solos but more softly spoken than the other two drummers. This was an outing for listeners and musos alike. Nice to see a (French) horn player arriving with his wife. Apparently this is an outing for musos and their families in Harlem.

Lionel Loueke (guitar) led his trio. Melissa Aldana’s Crash Trio had Pablo Menares (bass) and Francisco Mela (drums). The Chris Bowers (piano) Quartet performed with guest Chris Turner (vocals). The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival was staged free in Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem.

Herbie Hancock - add your comments below

I'm out of town and I've bagged the quinella. Herbie H is the second international gig to hit Canberra this month, and I've missed them both. Herbie Hancock played with Vinnie Colauita (drums), Nathan East (bass) and Lionel Loueke (guitar). Again, I invite your comments. Over to you. Add your comments below this CJ Blog post.