Number 9 2002 Vancouver International Jazz Festival Diary
Day 4 Monday, June 24, 2002
Started the day at Performance Works with pianist Chris Gestrin’s new project, "Stillpoint", which, if you’re familiar with his previous trio recordings, is something of a departure off into the atmosphere of "anything’s possible". No matter what variety of music Gestrin is playing, the core of his musical personality is unshakeable and shines through in his very finely developed talent, love and respect for both the music and the musicians he plays with. It all makes Gestrin a strong leader and an in-demand band member and session player he manages to deliver consistently excellent quality — dependable, for sure — but always very interesting. Sounds really impressive, doesn’t he? So get out there and hear him. And if that ain’t enough for you, his "Stillpoint" group includes Brad Turner (trumpet, electronics); Jon Bentley (saxes, electronics); André Lachance (bass); Dylan van der Schyff (drums, percussion, electronics); and Pepe Danza (percussion). Still not convinced? (What’s wrong with ya!) Ok, try this: Really trippy sound explorations that, eyes closed, take you away to jungles and unpopulated sparkly surfaces of distant moons and any far-off imaginables that your very own mind is capable of (hey, it’s interactive people, you can’t expect the music or musicians to do it all for you, now), while still maintaining strong musical sensibilities and that unmistakable elegance that permeates the Chris Gestrin sound. All this is to say I wish like hell I’d seen the entire gig this day, but work called. Work! Ugh. How dare it interfere with the necessity of music? Heard the last 30 minutes or so, and just as I was beginning my own mental journey into the hopeful unknown, these musicians whom I’ve heard in numerous other settings and now another blessedly wonderful new one had to bring it back down to earth and heed the unfortunate constrictions of reality and time. (Gestrin’s Stillpoint CD just released on Songlines I think it’s obvious here that I highly recommend picking one up asap.)
Completely different mood and atmosphere in same venue later that night; enjoyable in other ways. Crash, long a fun fave did the funky stuff up very right this night, with some of the usual suspects (the fabulous Jerry Cook, tenor sax; Cory Weeds, alto sax/flute; Raphael Geronimo, percussion; Brad Ferguson, bass) and some who will hopefully become usual suspects: Jamie Havorka, trumpet/flugelhorn; Chris Gestrin, piano/keyboards (see, I told you); Tim Porter, guitar; and the inimitable Bernie Arai on drums. Talk about a knockout band! The amped-up front section was absolutely deadly, firing off a multitude of solos alternating between burning and blistering. Cook and Weeds were in the fine form listeners have come to expect from the co-leaders of this very solid group, and, enhancing the proceedings beyond belief were the jaw-dropping horn antics of Havorka with spectacular range and pretty major chops. Like the audience member who shouted, ‘Who’s the little guy on the trumpet?’ (referring to his lack of ego, not his actually quite tall stature), I was befuddled trying to figure out how I could’ve missed this incredible player around town, but discovered he’d been working abroad awhile. Looking forward to hearing more. Throwing in the undeniable musicianship and funkiness of Gestrin and Arai (whose funkiness factor shot from unknown to ‘wowzer’ pretty quickly) was just the right thing to do, dammit. Question now is, what’s to become of Crash? Or maybe it’s more like who’s to become Crash? So, that’s it. Yep, a two-gig day. I know, I can hardly believe it myself. No worries. Back to reality tomorrow. Meantime, here’s the first installment of…
‘What the Best Thing You’ve Seen So Far?’
with Bill Clark Trumpeter
Ron Samworth/Dylan van der Schyff/Fredrik Lundin Performance Works, Friday, June 21, 2002 Midnight (do forgive a bit of paraphrasing here Bill’s a fast talker or maybe I’m just a slow note-taker…) “I was in the mood for that kind of thing. It was slow to develop and no one was putting anything in your face. I liked the use of electronics, when horn players plug into stuff it’s cool. Fredrik had a really nice handle on the electronics. I want to especially mention Dylan van der Schyff’s trumpet playing and have to mention that I’m one of his main influences.”
Bill Clark’s got many gigs left for you to catch:
NOW Orchestra w/ Marilyn Crispell Thursday, June 27
Van East Cultural Centre
Burrows/Clark/Taylor Trio Saturday, June 29 Granville
Island Market Stage
Primal Orbit Saturday, June 29 Roundhouse David Lam
Park
Talking Pictures Sunday, June 30 Roundhouse Performance
Centre
Meta4 Sunday, June 30 Roundhouse David Lam Park
Diary Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11
Got your own opinion on what went down? Visit the Jazz Forum.
Diary Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11
Writer/Photographer Josephine Ochej is a regular contributor to The Jazz Review, the Westender and Coda Magazine.