Éric Seguin give us his comments on great jazz concerts at the 30th Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
One of our CDJazz reviewers, Éric Seguin give us his comments on these great concerts in this section devoted to the 30th Festival International de Jazz de Montréal!
Éric Seguin
The Bad Plus
Baptiste Trotignon Quintet
Wayne Shorter Quartet
Gerald Clayton Trio
Kenny Werner Quintet
Hiromi Sonicbloom
Ornette Coleman Quartet
Renaud Garcia-Fons Duo avec Jean-Louis Matinier à l’accordéon
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Tuesday June 30, 2009
The Bad Plus at l'Astral
For it's second opening night, l'Astral hosted the american trio The Bad Plus. Some groups stand out on stage and The Bad PlusEthan Iverson doesn't caress the piano with soft gentleness and with the tip of his fingers, he pounds it with energy...same with drummer David King. They are not afraid of clashing sounds and their audacity is omnipresent. Their repertory is eclectic, switching from original compositions (those of bassist Reid Anderson are quite convincing) to classic pop-rock, the trio, joined by singer Wendy Lewis in the 2nd part, is not afraid to explore the music of Nirvana, U2, the Bee Gees as well as Pink Floyd. The Bad Plus is a UFO in the world of jazz, a group with a unique attitude. The opposition in between the two shaved heads, on one side pianist Ethan Iverson, with a smile as big as a garage door, and the other, David King, his illuminated look, all over his drums is one of the secrets of this unique blend that creates The Bad Plus. One has to see to believe! is one of them.
To see our two part interview with The Bad Plus - part1 part 2
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Wednesday July 1st, 2009
Baptiste Trotignon Quintet at the Gesù — Centre de créativité
Having seen him in 2007 at the Chapelle historique Bon-Pasteur, I was reminded of a discreet player, inspired and precise but lacking a little somethingé...Last night that changed, (Wed July 1st) Baptiste Trotignon with his supergroup quintet gave festival-goes a night they won't forget. Share, Trotignon's last album, on the Sunnyside label with Mark Turner, Eric Harland, Tom Harrell, Otis Brown III et Matt Penman, is a turning point in his career bringing him to new musical heights. Trotignon's playing has gained in fluidity, strenght and a lot of finesse. What stands out with brio is the quality of his compositions, the power of his melodies, and their accessibility. His concert started with works from his last album Share followed by five new compositions. greatly rendered, that we're impatient to hear on a CD. In the meantime, get Share, just out in Canada. And Share it with your friends!
to see the two-part (in french) interview with Baptiste Trotignon part 1 part 2
to see a concert clip, click here
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Friday, July 3rd 2009
Wayne Shorter at the Théâtre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts
From the Jazz Messengers, to Weather Report with Joe Zawinul, and with his passage with Miles Davis and quintet, Wayne Shorter has had quite a career. True living legend, the one who eventually replaced John Coltrane with Miles Davis is back in Montréal with his own quartet. In 2000, 14 years after his Weather Report departure and 4 years after the tragic death of his wife in a airplane accident, Wayne is leading his own band. John Patitucci on bass, Danilo Perez on the piano and Brian Blade on drums, the music of the quartet is definitly looking towards the futur, proof being that Beyond the Sound Barrier, their latest album, as the title suggests, is their musical goal. Last night (Friday, July 3rd) at the Théâtre Maisonneuve, Wayne Shorter got the concert hall vibrating to his energy. Explosive, Brian Blade, in a few rounds, knocked-out the listenerds. Followed by a long improvised suite, this concert, not an easy listen for the first-time jazz lover, will be one of the strong moments of the 30th FIJM. Remplacing Danilo Perez, virtuoso pianist Geoff Keezer blended in great with the band as his agressive and powerful playing was in constant dialogue with Blade's and Patitucci's riffs and licks. Lyricism, exhuberance and exaltation...three simple words for all those thousand of notes...
to see a clip of the concert, click here
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Saturday July 4, 2009
Gerald Clayton Trio at L'Astral (Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan)
Son of bassist John Clayton, the 26 year-old Gerald Clayton, presented his trio at last night at l'Astral. With Joe Sanders on bass and Justin Brown on drums, you could say this band stands out. Jazz bands are rarely composed of three rastas, and with one in a suit ! Over and above that element, the band's unity is also musical. The trio knows each other and have been playing together since high school. Like Aaron Parks, Gerald Clayton is part of the emerging jazz scene. This talented pianist has a sensitive touch, knows how to swing with a style that reminds us of Oscar Peterson. Keep your eyes on this young pianist's career. Out July 1st on Artistshare.com, the trio's first CD wasn't available on the Festival site. As we witnessed with Marc Cary, talent just isn't enough to stand out in the talented crowd of current young jazz musicians, you also need a good label to make it. Gerald Clayton has got a great set of cards in his hands to make it. Download a free track from his new album on Artistshare.com
to see a clip of the concert, click here
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Sunday July 5, 2009
Kenny Werner Quintet with Scott Colley, David Sanchez, Randy Brecker and Antonio Sanchez at the Théâtre Jean-Duceppe of
Place des Arts
In quintet, Kenny Werner gave us acoustic sounds as opposed to the electronic sounds of his last project as leader : Lawn Chair Society. Surrounded by high-caliber musicians : Antonio Sanchez on drums, ex-Pat Metheny Group ; a sax player with out-of-this world solos, David Sanchez; rock-solid trumpeteer Randy Brecker and Scott Colley on bass. Kenny Werner is a colorful and all-around nice guy possessing some dark humor yet extremely sensitive. If his in-studio work is a bit more adventurous, his on-stage is discreet but without any concessions and limits to his playing. A highly technical and surprising pianist, great improvisor, Kenny Werner innovates and creates as he breathes and even if his musical identity doesn't jump out first hand, that's because he absorbs styles and influences in a astonishing way.
to see a clip of the concert, click here
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Wednesday July 8, 2009
Hiromi Sonicbloom at the Gesù — Centre de créativité
An amazing number of notes were played last night in between 10:30pm and 0:30am (Wednesday July 8th) at the Gesù . The culprit : young (30 years old!) japanese pianist Hiromi Uehara. True phenomena of the jazz world, Hiromi is not unknow by the Quebec public whom she visits regurlaly. To define her music is not an easy task, as she switches from jazz, prog-rock, funk and even classical. Exciting personality with a explosive playing technique, Hiromi burns up the stage with her amazing solos, often in response to Dave Fiuczynski with his double-neck guitar who likes to make it cry and moan. We were touched by Place to be, from her last CD, played in the encore. The night's climax : George Gershwin's I Got Rhythm in solo. We won't forget her explosive take on Duke Ellington's Caravan. The Gesù's piano worked up a sweat and we hope it gets a few days of rest.
to see a clip of the concert, click here
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Thursday July 9, 2009
Ornette Coleman Quartet at the Théâtre Maisonneuve - PdA
Ornette Coleman deserves the Miles Davis Award, without a doubt. The passage of this veteran (79 years old) in the jazz scene has had a major impact like no other. The musical audacity that Ornette has had all along his carreer is an example to generations of musicians to come. I personally have no affinity with his music that irritates my sensitve ears. Granted, there were moments of musical extasy in the chaos of the concert, but there were too seldom and far apart. Apart from a brief visit in the world of Bach, I was skeptical about the rest of the concert that knocked me out. The music of Ornette Coleman is an illustrative music, like the soundtrack of film on acid. You have to see him at least once in your life to grasp (or not grasp at all!) the meaning of his music. The artist will always friends and detractors, but will never leave anybody indifferent.
to see a clip of the concert, click here
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Friday July 10, 2009
Renaud Garcia-Fons Duo with Jean-Louis Matinier on the accordeon at the Gesù — Centre de créativité
For his second concert at the 30th FIJM, Renaud Garcia-Fons welcomes the accordeonist Jean-Louis Matinier. From pizzicato to arco, Renaud Garcia-Fons is a master of the doublebass, mastering all techniques. His virtuosity as well as his ability to create the sound of the violon, the guitar, the bassoon and even the doublebass with his doublebass serves the fine quality of his music. His influences are many, from Argentina to Spain, from jazz to tango and flamenco. Jean-Louis Matinier, albeit less spectacular than his collegue, is a nice discovery. Richard Galliano, Daniel Mille and Gotan Project have given new popularity to this multi-faceted instrument that we hope will generate interest with jazzmen. This flamboyant duo remains one of the strong moments of the festival, proof that you can do a lot with less.
to see a clip of Renaud Garcia-Fons in solo Thursday July 9, click here
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