August 7, 2007

Telluride Jazz Festival Review and Photos - Day 2 - 8/4/07

In the misting rain and temp in the high 50’s, I arrive for the 2^nd day at the beginning of the set of the Esperanza Spalding Trio and what a way to begin the afternoon.

Esperanza Spalding is a wonder at the upright bass and with Leo Genovese on the piano and Lynden Rochelle on the drums, they formed one of the tightest threesome’s I have witnessed in some time. I had seen about ½ of her set on the previous night at the Sheridan Opera House, so I knew what to expect but she and the guys brought it up another level to blow away the rain for a while.

**Esperanza Spalding and Lyndon Rochelle**

She performed a variety of musical styles from jazz to hip-hop and just her voice alone would win awards, but the effortless way she plays the bass just blew me away. Even as young as she is, she had great praise for a lady of the past, Nina Simone, with a fantastic rendition of “Wild As The Wind” and finishing the set with “Body and Soul” that has been sung by a variety of artists such as Billie Holliday and Ella Fitzgerald.

**Leo Genovese, Esperanza and Lyndon**

At 22 years old, Esperanza is the youngest faculty member at the Berklee School of Music, which has graduates of the pedigree of John Scofield, Branford Marsalis and Quincy Jones. Even though she has accomplished a lot in a span of two decades, there is no limit to what she could do and would not be surprised to see her name among the jazz greats one day.

**Esperanza and Lyndon**

I meandered around the festival grounds during the Giacomo Gates set, who was backed by the Eric Gunnison Trio. He was part singer and part historian as he started off each song with background on who wrote and performed the tune. His music ranged anywhere from Max Roach, Duke Ellington, Theolonius Monk and back to the days of the Ink Spots. I can’t say I was moved by his singing style, but at least my education of the jazz world was expanded.

**Giacomo Gates with the Eric Gunnison Trio**

The skies had cleared by the time the Roy Hargrove Quintet landed on stage and judging by reactions of people who had caught his set the night before at the Micheal Palm Theater, I needed to stay in one place rather than wandering aimlessly. I am glad I did.

**Justin Robinson and Roy Hargrove**

Roy was found by Wynton Marsalis at the Booker T. Washington School for the Visual and Perforning Arts in Dallas. Wynton invited him to sit in with him at the Caravan of Dreams in Fort Worth, a great venue no longer in existance and sorely missed by me. After more sit-ins with Dizzy Gillespie and Herbie Hancock, he moved up to Boston, then NYC to continue his education both formally in school and informally in various clubs. Now with two Grammy Awards under his belt, he has come of age since his days playing in the DFW area.

With Justin Robinson on the sax, they take center stage and hold court on how to make the best out of your brass instruments. Alternating solos as well as playing together on center stage, Roy and Justin makes me realize what it would have been like to listen to Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker back in the day.

Montez Coleman playing the drums with a constant smile on his face, Danton Boller on the bass working the hell out the neck and Gerald Payton on piano, sweet sounds continued to emit from the stage from funk to Cuban and just jazz.

**Justin, Montez Coleman and Roy**

Roy gave each of the gentlemen their own time to shine, as he stood off to the side with his eyes closed as if in a trance, bobbing his head to the beat and occasionally breaking out in a dance step or a wide grin. He changed trumpets halfway through the set and went into a duo with Gerald on piano with some soft jazz tones.

I was within earshot of a lady who said "Listening to Roy Hargrove was an experience somewhere between an orgasm and an answer to a prayer”…… I don’t think I can top that analogy.

**Roy Hargrove on flugelhorn**

Last up for the day was the Trio Beyond, which consisted of John Scofield on guitar, Jack DeJohnette on drums and Larry Goldings on keyboard. I haven’t seen this chapter of John Scofield’s many musical looks, so I just sit back and enjoy.

**Larry Goldings, Jack DeJohnette and John Scofield**

John and Jack played in Miles Davis’ band and Larry Goldings resume includes work with Pat Matheny and Michael Brecker among others. Since they received a Grammy nomination for their album, Trio Beyond – Saudades, I expected a heavyweight show and I was not disappointed.

**Jack DeJohnette and John Scofield**

They played a variety of songs from their own material to such musicicans such as Woody Shaw, Larry Young , Ornette Coleman and John McLaughlin. For a group that does not play together very often, these professionals had no trouble seeing eye-to-eye on the stage and the crowd showed their appreciation. From Scofield’s ferocious licks on the guitar, Larry’s relentless stroking of the keys and Jack’s calm and collected presence behind the array of skins and brass, this was a great way to head off into the sunset.

**Larry, Jack and John**

I head into town for a quick bite and was hoping for a late night listening to more music, but drinking a little too much alcohol in the thin air made me realize that retreating back to my tent was a better option. But with a day of Esperanza and Roy and finished off with Scofield, how much better could the night have been…..