RSS
In today’s America, it’s not always easy to find quality live jazz. I’m talkin’ real jazz here, baby, not the elevator-jive version that passes so often for “jazz” these days. Greater Fort Lauderdale has a few spots where you can catch some good solo jazz musicians or small combos, including Timpano’s on Las Olas. But America’s most important musical contribution is not widely available in live performances around most of the US of A. Lots of other countries, yes, but not here.
That’s why jazz lovers should be grateful for a monthly series of concerts at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art. Called Jazz Impressions, the shows are sponsored by a group known as South Florida Jazz. Believe me, there’s nothing jive about this jazz, unless someone is working jump-and-jive licks into their sax solo or something. This is genuine jazz as it’s supposed to be played, offered up by top jazz musicians. Often, the evening’s headliner is a major name in the jazz world, such as Gary Burton or Larry Coryell.
So it’s with regret that I have to admit I missed this last weekend’s concert. I had planned to go and wanted to go but, as we all love to say, “something came up.” Ah well … My loss. The program featured Silvano Monasterios, a Venezuelan-born pianist and composer, along with virtuoso bassist Mark Egan and drummer Paul Wertico, a seven-time Grammy winner from Chicago. Sounds good, eh? I bet it was!
That said, I have to add that I’ve attended a number of the Jazz Impressions shows over the past couple of years and each one has been different from the others and always excellent. I’ve never been disappointed in the performances. The most recent concert I caught was just last month, with singer Roseanna Vitro, considered a cultural ambassador who performs concerts all over the world. She was superb and so was her trio.
Tickets are very reasonable by today’s standards, only $30 per. The shows are divided into two sets and everyone seems to leave feeling they got more than their money’s worth. Plus, there’s a new twist before the music starts, if you’re interested. This year, South Florida Jazz is giving the audience a “Meet the Musician” segment, allowing jazz fans to ask the performers some questions. It’s a great way to interact with these amazing players and to better understand the jazz you’re about to hear.
There are two more shows before the series takes a short summer hiatus. Next up, the Javon Jackson Quartet, with hot tenor saxaphonist Javon Jackson kicking up some cutting edge jazz. That’s on May 20. The season’s final show is a big one, indeed featuring jazz giant Larry Coryell, a guitarist who helped pioneer the rock-jazz fusion movement. Coryell has recorded some 70 albums and will turn up the volume at the Museum of Art on June 17. All shows in the series start at 8 p.m., with the “Meet the Musicians” segments beginning at 7:30.
There – I’ve told you about it. Now I won’t feel so guilty for missing this Saturday’s show. If you enjoy jazz, or are just learning to enjoy it, you really should give this concert series a go. This isn’t no jive I’m tellin’ ya now, man. Just the real lowdown about some very real jazz right here in Fort Lauderdale.
That’s why jazz lovers should be grateful for a monthly series of concerts at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art. Called Jazz Impressions, the shows are sponsored by a group known as South Florida Jazz. Believe me, there’s nothing jive about this jazz, unless someone is working jump-and-jive licks into their sax solo or something. This is genuine jazz as it’s supposed to be played, offered up by top jazz musicians. Often, the evening’s headliner is a major name in the jazz world, such as Gary Burton or Larry Coryell.
So it’s with regret that I have to admit I missed this last weekend’s concert. I had planned to go and wanted to go but, as we all love to say, “something came up.” Ah well … My loss. The program featured Silvano Monasterios, a Venezuelan-born pianist and composer, along with virtuoso bassist Mark Egan and drummer Paul Wertico, a seven-time Grammy winner from Chicago. Sounds good, eh? I bet it was!
That said, I have to add that I’ve attended a number of the Jazz Impressions shows over the past couple of years and each one has been different from the others and always excellent. I’ve never been disappointed in the performances. The most recent concert I caught was just last month, with singer Roseanna Vitro, considered a cultural ambassador who performs concerts all over the world. She was superb and so was her trio.
Tickets are very reasonable by today’s standards, only $30 per. The shows are divided into two sets and everyone seems to leave feeling they got more than their money’s worth. Plus, there’s a new twist before the music starts, if you’re interested. This year, South Florida Jazz is giving the audience a “Meet the Musician” segment, allowing jazz fans to ask the performers some questions. It’s a great way to interact with these amazing players and to better understand the jazz you’re about to hear.
There are two more shows before the series takes a short summer hiatus. Next up, the Javon Jackson Quartet, with hot tenor saxaphonist Javon Jackson kicking up some cutting edge jazz. That’s on May 20. The season’s final show is a big one, indeed featuring jazz giant Larry Coryell, a guitarist who helped pioneer the rock-jazz fusion movement. Coryell has recorded some 70 albums and will turn up the volume at the Museum of Art on June 17. All shows in the series start at 8 p.m., with the “Meet the Musicians” segments beginning at 7:30.
There – I’ve told you about it. Now I won’t feel so guilty for missing this Saturday’s show. If you enjoy jazz, or are just learning to enjoy it, you really should give this concert series a go. This isn’t no jive I’m tellin’ ya now, man. Just the real lowdown about some very real jazz right here in Fort Lauderdale.
posted by LauderBLOGGER at 12:15 PM
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home