For me, the fest started on Friday, March 12th and I returned on Thursday, March 18th.
On Friday March 12, there were 2 big shows to kick off the fest:
Brian Culbertson , was at the Sovereign Center, followed by a late Acoustic Alchemy show at the Lincoln Plaza. Jason Miles' Maximum Grooves opened for Culbertson, so the show ran over and the 10:30 AA show was held for an 11:10 PM start time.
It was a great show for AA , despite their internal clocks being 5 hours ahead of East Coast time. Greg Carmichael (nylon string guitar), Miles Gilderdale (steel string & electric guitars), Eddie M (sax), Greg Grainger (drums), Frank Felix (bass), Fred White (keys).
Set List for AA was: The Last Flamenco, Angel of the South, No Messin, The Beautiful Game, Urban Cowboy, Wish You Were Near, Jubilation, Turn The Stars On, Milo, Red Dust & Spanish Lace, Lazeez. Encore: Flamoco Loco
It's no secret that I'm a big fan of AA. This was their last time with this set list - we will have different tunes for the Summer, and as many times as I've heard this set, there's always something that engages me. I think I will always become overwhelmed by the Last Flamenco & RD & SL, Mr C's guitar is that wonderful. I also love the funkiness of Milo, proof that mellow is not necessarily what you think it will be. But the Funkmeister General/Eddie M combo is hard to beat as well as the fun in Flamoco Loco. I would challenge anyone to sit still during Fred's solo in No Messin' or Eddie's entrance on Wish You Were Near.
We went back on Thursday, March 18 and saw the All-Star Jam which featured Chuck Loeb, Rick Braun, Jimmy Sommers, Rayford Griffin, Freddie Ravel, Gerald Veasley, Chieli Minucci, Jeff Kashiwa, Joe McBride, & Kenny Blake. Their jam theme was Miles, Monk & Motown! It was great listening and watching the interaction between these wonderful musicians. It was my first time hearing Joe McBride live and he just blew me away with his playing and his vocalizations, I think he has a 3 octave vocal range.
On friday, we saw 3 shows : Jimmy Sommers, Richard Elliot and Rick Braun, and Special EFX w/Chieli Minucci and Jeff Kashiwa as a special guest.
The Jimmy Sommers show was plagued by the sound in the room, and perhaps I should have expected it, I've heard Mindi Abair and Jeff K in the room. It's the hotel lounge and just not set up well for a ticketed event. Nevertheless, it was interesting to hear Jimmy and his band.
Next up was Richard Elliot and Rick Braun at the Sovereign Center . There was apparently a misprint in the program, and the show started at 7:30 vs 7:00 PM
Richard Elliot was up first, with Dave (drums) & Ron (keys) Reinhart, Dwight Sills (guitar) and Ronnie Garrett (bass)- it was a fast paced show, and featured these tunes: Crush,In the Groove, Still Sweet on You, Corner Pocket, Who, Ain't Nothing like the Real Thing, Ricochet, Sly, When a Man Loves a Woman. Encore: Shotgun
After about a 40 minute intermission, Rick Braun took the stage with Rayford Griifin (drums), Randy Jacobs (guitar), Jimmy Roberts (sax), Mitch Forman (keys) and Andre Berry (bass). Set List: Zona Rosa, RSVP, Notorious, Cadillac Slim, Emma's Song, Kisses in the Rain, Stereo, and??
Unfortunately, we had to leave in order to get back to the Sheraton for the start of Special EFX! But I was told that there was Grazin in the Grass and Shake it up, with the fans dancing on stage & Rick holding little Emma in one arm while playing the trumpet. Richard Elliot joined Rick on stage for RSVP, which was terrific.
Special EFX w/Chieli and special guest Jeff Kashiwa was fantastic! Joining them was Brian Dunn (drums), dancing Jay Rowe (keys), Phillip Hamilton (percussion & vocalizations), Jerry Brooks (bass).
I was mesmerized by the combination of Chieli & Jeff K. With the vocalizations and Chieli's guitar, it defined world music for me. I was so drawn in that I forgot to keep track of the set! I think it was Beginnings, Speak to me, Bodybeat, followed by a couple from Jeff- Bump & Peace of Mind (new tunes), then Cause We've Ended As Lovers, Jeff -A Quiet Goodbye, Kickin It Hard, Jeff - Hyde Park, Cruise Control and Dreams.
The stage lighting blew out on Cruise Control! They were prepared to play Dreams with no lighting, and brought the house lights up! However, the lights came back on in the nick of time.
Chieli arranged a "sneak attack" for Kickin It Hard - a world music intro with Phillip vocalizing, with elements of the tune emerging and finally the full blown tune. Re: bump - I think I heard it last year as an encore to Jeff's set, it was more of a jam, but really emerged this year as a tune - and it funks out as you would expect. Both Bump & Peace of Mind are not yet recorded, so let's hope that Jeff includes them on the next CD.
By that time I was pretty worn out. But we had 2 more shows on Saturday, Doc Powell & Hiroshima .
I would be the first to say that I really don't know Doc Powell's music well at all. So I didn't attempt to take notes, but focused on listening and watching.
He is engaging, warm and draws you right in. His stories about the tunes or where he was in his life when he wrote it - just add to the show. Plus, he spoke of playing with Luther and I just thought it so sweet & proper that he wore a tie to the gig! He is so old school & respectful that he just won me over. Doc referred to his old classic, Gibson, hollow body as "Miss Thang" and told the story of how he bought the guitar and hid it from his mother, who didn't approve of his music. He played an acoustic guitar which he descibed as "temperamental" in comparison to Miss Thang who doesn't get jealous.
For me, Hiroshima was the dessert of the festival. Their music is so lush and I have been a great admirer of June Kuramoto for many years. I told June that all weekend, people were mistaking me for her and that I should have signed autographs! She just laughed and smiled, but I wanted her to know that people were anticipating the show that much.
June Kuramoto (koto, samisen), Danny Kuramoto (shakuhachi, sax, flute, keys), Danny Yamamoto (drums), Kimo Cornwall (Keys), Dean Cortez (bass), Terry Steele (vocals, keys) and Michael Sasaski (guitar). Sorry but I missed the name of the Taiko player (talking drums).
Manzanur, Eternal Phoenix, Turning Point,The Door is Open, Shaka Fonk, Believe, All That You Need, Seven Rivers, Prayer for Peace.
All in all, an inspiration for me, hearing the Japanese instruments infused with Jazz & Funk. Watching Dan Kuramoto beaming during June's koto solo was joy! Terry Steele is the most engaging vocal presence that I have heard in a long time. Michael Sasaki blew me away because he was my guitar hero from the band "Cold Blood". I had the opportunity to tell him, and he was so happy to meet fans from those days that he took our picture with his camera phone.
After saying our good byes to LibraLady, gwenn & MyGirlSunday, I reluctantly returned home to piles of laundry & grocery shopping here in CT! It's taken me a couple of days to pull this together, and as I think of things, I'll try to post. In the meantime, I'm sure everyone else will add their impressions of a wonderful jazz festival.
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