It isn’t every day that you hear a jazz giant live! Especially when you don’t live in a huge metropolitan area. In the past 3 weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to hear Dave Liebman, Chris Botti with Geoff Keezer, and Ellis and Delfeayo Marsalis. In April, in Boise, ID! Since Gene Harris died (he lived in Boise for 30 years!) you don’t often hear jazz giants here, and so it’s been an incredible 3 weeks for jazz in Idaho!
It was amazing to hear Dave Liebman’s stories about playing with Miles Davis. He an amazing saxophonist, but he’s definitely not “easy listening.” His music challenges the listener, and his playing demands that you pay attention. It isn’t jazz for casual listeners, but it’s very rewarding for those accustomed to post-bop and modern jazz. His technical facility is brilliant, but not everyone will connect with his music. I loved seeing his show at the Gene Harris Jazz Festival several weeks ago. He played with a great big band made up mostly of festival clinicians and college professors.
Chris Botti is a much more accessible player, and he plays to huge audiences all over the world. His shows are a mix of jazz, rock, and classical, and he is able to appeal to broad audiences with this formula. I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I’ve heard him (inaccurately) described as the “Kenny G of the trumpet.” However, I was VERY impressed. His band is incredible! I don’t think it’s a problem when jazz groups are commercially successful as long as they are able to keep the integrity of the music. Chris Botti’s band does accessible, recognizable songs that are palatable to casual listeners, and the level of musicianship is extremely high in his band. I was very pleasantly surprised! Chris Botti is the real deal.
Last night I was playing piano in the hotel lobby at the Riverside Hotel in Boise right outside the Sapphire Room where the Marsalis group played. We played for two hours before their concert started. I got to briefly meet Ellis Marsalis, which was a real treat! The first solo I EVER transcribed was an Ellis Marsalis solo when I was in 9th or 10th grade. He’s 80 years young and still at it! I also went to a performance/clinic that they gave for free at Boise State University today
Ellis Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Reginald Veal, and Marvin “Smitty” Smith at Boise State University
As much as I enjoyed Dave Liebman, and Chris Botti, my favorite group of the month was hearing Ellis and Delfeayo Marsalis with Reginald Veal and Marvin “Smitty” Smith. This is a pretty traditional group (in my mind that’s a good thing!), and they have an amazing grasp on the New Orleans musical heritage. It’s not about chops, even though they all have great technical facility. It’s just fun music! It reminds me of when I first started playing jazz. I’m feeling very inspired right now! The Marsalis concert was so incredible!
When you get a chance to hear a jazz giant, go! There’s generally a good reason why so many other people find their music so compelling. Most of us can attribute our love of jazz to a particular record or experience, hearing a particular artist. Ellis Marsalis was one of my first inspirations in the music, and meeting him/hearing him play was a real highlight! It reminds me of why we play this music in the first place; we play jazz because we love it!