A Stellar Night Of Jazz...

 ...one month ago was the last post to this little blog.  Let's blow the dust off with yet another performing arts review!

I was privileged to be at the Sheldon last night for a performance by the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by the ubiquitous and irrepressible force of jazz nature, Wynton Marsalis.  The concert was for the Sheldon's annual Gala fundraiser and for $500 I could have partaken in dinner, dancing, VIP parking, and other benefits but I chose a $65 seat in the balcony.  Dead center, front row of the balcony, thank you very much.  I took advantage of a Metrotix pre-sale for this event last month and luckily, the Metrotix computer smiled on me.  When I say 'balcony,' it helps to point out that the Sheldon is a small concert hall and a balcony seat still puts one in a very good viewing position.

As I said, Wynton Marsalis leads the JALC Orchestra as their musical director and emcee.  He handles both jobs with great aplomb, as evidenced by the group's live show.  The Orchestra is made up of some of the best and brightest jazz players on the New York City jazz scene.  Marsalis noted that he'd known some of the members since they were teenaged music students of his (at Juilliard, I think).

They did an all-Count Basie set of music, save for an opening set of kiddie nursery rhymes, a Mr. Rogers number (I Like To Take My Time) and Kermit the Frog (It's Not Easy Being Green).  Trombonist Vincent Gardiner showed off his vocal chops on the latter number.  All were creatively arranged by the various band members.

The Basie material swung effortlessly, as the band has been performing it in recent concerts this year.  Marsalis noted that Basie music is divided into "Old Testament and New Testament," depending on whether the classic or new edition of the Basie band performed it.  The band was relaxed yet professional throughout the show and all the solos were top-notch.

The encore was positively sublime - the band's senior (read: oldest) member (the most soulful thing to ever come out of Scotland, according to Wynton Marsalis) played the bass clarinet(!) on a duet with the young pianist on Duke Ellington's "A Single Petal Of A Rose" - whoever was operating the stage lights chose to bathe the duo in an amber spotlight...chills!

 

One lasting impression I took from the night was of the expert musicianship of the players.  Several of them "doubled" on other instruments than their chosen one, i.e. the saxophone players also played a flute, clarinet, or piccolo whenever the music called for it.  The saxophone is a hard enough instrument to learn, but to tackle the other reed instruments is really admirable.  My jazz fan's hat is off to them.