Reports on the death of jazz may be greatly exaggerated.
Last evening I attended a concert I'd looked forward to for a couple of months since learning about it. Our symphony orchestra promotes a sub-set of concerts featuring jazz. I'm not sure how many symphonic music fans also appreciate jazz but I happen to be one. The program was also promoted by our local (college) jazz FM station.
The title was "Kind of Blue -- In Concert". The six musicians were led by local trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos. Bios for the others identified many well know artists they'ed each played with but I was not familiar with these particular artists. Perhaps the best known was Roy McCurdy, the 82 year old (but still spritely) drummer who I should have remembered. They opened with three tunes Miles was well known for, "Bye-bye Blackbird", "'Round Midnight", and "Milestones", then took a break. When they returned they played the KOB album numbers in sequence. Each was of course recognizable but, being jazz, was interpreted individually.
But what pleased me as much as the music was the fact the 2,200 seat hall was sold out! Not only was it full but the applause reinforced the fact the audience knew the music. I found the evening stimulating and encouraging.
Last evening I attended a concert I'd looked forward to for a couple of months since learning about it. Our symphony orchestra promotes a sub-set of concerts featuring jazz. I'm not sure how many symphonic music fans also appreciate jazz but I happen to be one. The program was also promoted by our local (college) jazz FM station.
The title was "Kind of Blue -- In Concert". The six musicians were led by local trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos. Bios for the others identified many well know artists they'ed each played with but I was not familiar with these particular artists. Perhaps the best known was Roy McCurdy, the 82 year old (but still spritely) drummer who I should have remembered. They opened with three tunes Miles was well known for, "Bye-bye Blackbird", "'Round Midnight", and "Milestones", then took a break. When they returned they played the KOB album numbers in sequence. Each was of course recognizable but, being jazz, was interpreted individually.
But what pleased me as much as the music was the fact the 2,200 seat hall was sold out! Not only was it full but the applause reinforced the fact the audience knew the music. I found the evening stimulating and encouraging.
