DAY 4
Ok. Now we’re getting into manageable territory. Two shows and maybe a jam per day. Hey, a girl’s gotta work. You know I’d be out jazzing myself silly all day if I could. (You SAW what happened Sunday…)
DIANNE REEVES
Once you get past the astonishing – and I really truly mean that, probably more than most times I’ve ever said it so I’ll say it again – ASTONISHING gift of talent Dianne Reeves possesses, well… ok, you can never get past it. It’s just looming so large and present in practically every syllable, moan, scat or hum out of her mouth. I can’t say that I’ve ever been in the presence of such gift and technique. I’m still shaking my head at it. The downfall is that it’s tough to tear your attention away from the stunning grasp over and display of her technique – it’s like you’re always looking for what she’s gonna wow you with next, cause she keeps doing it. I heard bits of influence here and there: a little Nina, Ella, whole lotta Sarah. I got a little lost in one song, a searing torch blues about moving on from a love gone wrong. Reeves threw so much passion and raw guts into it, it would seem impossible to be unaffected by it, and even though I was still aware of her vocal prowess, it didn’t overwhelm this one. Yep, head still shaking. Wow, what a powerhouse.
JAM SESSION @ O’Doul’s
Tonight’s session turned into a big party, with many of the visiting musicians hanging around the bar or hitting the stage at some point. Again, specifics are blurry, but I recall a buzz in the room because something was happening here, and it was good to be a part of the hang. Spotted in the room: all members of Atomic, Christine Jensen, Ig Henneman. Trumpeter Ingrid Jensen - who I want to nickname Ingrid ‘Elevator’ Jensen because of how she bends at the knees and sorta slides up and down from a standing to a semi-seated position as she plays - had been on stage a few moments when I forced myself to leave round about midnight.
GENERAL FEST NOTES
SEMI-NAKED DANCING MAN
I forgot to mention in Sunday’s lengthy report that I was pleased to find alive and well the semi-naked dancing bald man who stands in the streets at Gastown (don’t recall seeing him anywhere else, actually…) and twirls, sometimes with a shirt torn into strips swirling around him. He’s added vocals to his act, fyi.
TOM SIDDALL
I’ve really missed seeing Tom Siddall seated in centre, front row at shows in his usual reserved seat, snapping photos to give to musicians, and shuffling along a pretty good clip, all things considered, and always wanting to share a little of his experience or knowledge about a musician. Even though I really didn’t know him at all, I miss his presence. I’m sure others do, too.
DIANNE REEVES
Once you get past the astonishing – and I really truly mean that, probably more than most times I’ve ever said it so I’ll say it again – ASTONISHING gift of talent Dianne Reeves possesses, well… ok, you can never get past it. It’s just looming so large and present in practically every syllable, moan, scat or hum out of her mouth. I can’t say that I’ve ever been in the presence of such gift and technique. I’m still shaking my head at it. The downfall is that it’s tough to tear your attention away from the stunning grasp over and display of her technique – it’s like you’re always looking for what she’s gonna wow you with next, cause she keeps doing it. I heard bits of influence here and there: a little Nina, Ella, whole lotta Sarah. I got a little lost in one song, a searing torch blues about moving on from a love gone wrong. Reeves threw so much passion and raw guts into it, it would seem impossible to be unaffected by it, and even though I was still aware of her vocal prowess, it didn’t overwhelm this one. Yep, head still shaking. Wow, what a powerhouse.
JAM SESSION @ O’Doul’s
Tonight’s session turned into a big party, with many of the visiting musicians hanging around the bar or hitting the stage at some point. Again, specifics are blurry, but I recall a buzz in the room because something was happening here, and it was good to be a part of the hang. Spotted in the room: all members of Atomic, Christine Jensen, Ig Henneman. Trumpeter Ingrid Jensen - who I want to nickname Ingrid ‘Elevator’ Jensen because of how she bends at the knees and sorta slides up and down from a standing to a semi-seated position as she plays - had been on stage a few moments when I forced myself to leave round about midnight.
GENERAL FEST NOTES
SEMI-NAKED DANCING MAN
I forgot to mention in Sunday’s lengthy report that I was pleased to find alive and well the semi-naked dancing bald man who stands in the streets at Gastown (don’t recall seeing him anywhere else, actually…) and twirls, sometimes with a shirt torn into strips swirling around him. He’s added vocals to his act, fyi.
TOM SIDDALL
I’ve really missed seeing Tom Siddall seated in centre, front row at shows in his usual reserved seat, snapping photos to give to musicians, and shuffling along a pretty good clip, all things considered, and always wanting to share a little of his experience or knowledge about a musician. Even though I really didn’t know him at all, I miss his presence. I’m sure others do, too.
3 Comments:
Semi-naked dancing man you refer to is no doubt "performance artist" Peter Reid who's been doing this around town for decades.
I didn't know Tom real well, but I often used Danny Parker and Ridley Vinson on gigs. They were tight with Tom, who was always, always at any performance one or both of them were involved in.
For me, this was a bittersweet year because it's the first time I've ever played a Vancouver fest gig without my father in attendance (he died in March). Ron "jazz junkie" Woolams also passed last fall, and it was very strange and sad not to see his wooly grey head out there in the crowd.
S-NDM has always been a festival favourite of mine. I hear he shows his versatility at more private functions where he seamlessly transforms into Fully-Naked Dancing Man.
Post a Comment
<< Home