August 9, 2007

Telluride Jazz Festival Review and Photos - Day 3 - 8/5/07

The 3^rd day starts off with a few showers but slows down by the time Roberta Gambarini takes the stage.

Roberta, who was backed by the Eric Gunnison Trio, tries to brighten the day with “Sunny Side Of The Street” by Louis Armstrong. She moves on from there with “Lover, Come Back To Me” that has been recorded by Nat King Cole and Billy Holliday among others and then asks for a vote from the crowd whether they wanted a country or a jazz song. The vote swayed on the country side and that was my cue to turn around and grab my first drink of the day.

**Roberta Gambarini with Eric Gunnison Trio**

But Roberta did a great job with “Crazy” by Willie Nelson so I guess should not be so judgemental with the C&W crowd…… but I finished my drink anyway. She ends with another Nat King Cole classic, “The Very Thought Of You” with her doing a fair impersonation of a trumpet player in mid-song. Very talented lady with a great voice and a nice start to the day.

Next up was the Steve Turre Quintet, who has never showed up on my radar to my recollection. A trombone player with immense talent, I was just as impressed with the quality of his band members. Steve is known as well for his playing of the conch shells, which I certainly have no past memory of anybody doing.

**Steve Turre Quintet**

**Steve on the "shell"**

The rain is pouring down by the time the Bill Frisell Trio graces the stage and continues through most of his set. I honestly did not pay much attention as I was talking amongst the other festival goers, but I guess as a good sign toward the end of his set a rainbow appears not far from grounds as the clouds break, so maybe the rain will finally go away for a while.

**Bill Frisell Trio in the rain**

**Rainbow**

Soulive closed the last day of the festival, a soul-funk band based out of the northeast that was a last minute replacement for Auturo Sandoval, who cancelled about 3 weeks ago. One of the main reasons I came to the festival was to see Auturo so I was a bit bummed out when I found out. But I also have been wanting to see Soulive for a while now so I will roll with the punches.

**Eric Krasno and Neal Evans of Soulive**

They come out with passion as Neal Evans working the keyboards feverishly and the dancing is in full force in front of the stage. With a new album “No Place Like Soul” released just days before, it was clear they wanted to show with the addition of Toussaint this fest was going to end in grand fashion.

**Alan Evans, Toussaint, Eric and Neal**

After Alan, Eric and Neal warmed up the crowd into a frenzy, Toussaint appeared to continue the jam bouncing off the mountains. He sang several songs off the recent album including "Mary", but saved some of the best for last.

At last year’s show for the fest, they walked around 10 minutes before the set and came up with "Waterfall", inspired obviously by the rushing water in the following video.

I thought this was the end of the set, so I grab my backpack and head to the campground but I continued to hear them for another 15 minutes as I get ready to hit the town for some dinner. Great way to end the festival and a solid replacement for Auturo….

I spend the next couple of hours at Las Montanas, grubbing out, drinking wine and listening to members of the Telluride Student All Stars Jazz Ensemble and Arizona Jazz Academy Sextet interact on stage with the Roy Hargrove Quintet. Now I thought that is a great way to end my time in Telluride… But wait…..

I walk past the Fly Me to the Moon on my way to the campground and find a band is in town called Groovesect. The flyer claimed they were the #1 funk band in New Orleans so I had to see these guys as I highly doubt that. But after listening to them for about 30 minutes I have to give them two thumbs up. The Meters they are not, but they have their own style so I look forward to seeing them again. Roy Hargrove and Montez Coleman even came down for a short while to sit in…. Now that is the way to end my stay in Telluride….But wait….

I am coming back next month for the Telluride Blues and Brew Festival….Sweet!!!!