Gig review: Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2011
I first attended the Melbourne International Jazz Festival in 2007 and was blown away by not only the music but by the organisation of the festival and by Melbourne itself. A loose plan developed between Maree and I to move here sometime. In late 2010 the opertunity presented itself to pack our records, cds, photos, book and other paraphernalia in boxes and make the move across the Tasman. So the 2011 Melbourne International Jazz Festival is the first one I've attended as a resident of the city. Unfortunately due to work commitments Maree found herself in the Far East unable to attend but I did not let the side down. In all I went to 11 festival gigs (and 1 gig at Uptown Jazz Cafe due to the Lee Konitz gig being cancelled). A tiring but fantastic week of mind blowing music. And I must say it was a pleasure to host Kim Prisk and PJ Koopman at separate times during the festival. Leaving PJ in charge of my vinyl collection and hi-fi gave me some nerves I must admit. Perhaps next year I can recoup some of the festival ticket costs by charging Bed and Breakfast to NZ jazz fans?
OK - Here's a brief summary to make you jealous....
Saturday 4 June 2011 - 3:00pm - Opening Celebration Concert
Held in the sunning surroundings of Federation Square the concert featured Cairo Club Orchestra, Korean Bae Il Dong with Simon Barker and Scott Tinkler and Sun Ra Arkestra. Kim sampled a pinot noir and I had a couple of cool lagers to kick the festival off.
Saturday 4 June 2011 – 8pm - Aaron Goldberg Trio (USA) - Australian Premiere & Festival Exclusive - Bennetts Lane Jazz Club
Aaron Goldburg stunning on piano but Reuben Rogers on bass was phenomenal. Perhaps the individual highlight of the festival for me.
Sunday 5 June 2011 - 6:00pm - Jim Black’s AlasNoAxis (USA) and Chiri (Korea/AUS) - Australian Premiere – Upstairs Forum
A gig I was really looking forward to. I am a great fan of drummer Jim Black and the band did not disappoint. Power jazz. The project Chiri brings together Korean singer Bae Il Dong with Oz drummer Simon Barker and Oz trumpeter Scott Tinkler. Powerful and, errrr, interesting is the call on this one.
Sunday 5 June 2011 - 6:00pm – Sun Ra Arkestra – Forum
Surreal. Astonishing. Unmissable. This band should be witnessed at least once. We had a taster at the opening concert however this was the full on 2 ½ hour extravaganza. As crazy as the antics on stage may be, these musicians can play. A brilliant gig.
Tuesday 7 June 2011 - 6:00pm - Ari Hoenig with Jamie Oehlers (USA/AUS) and
Vijay Iyer - Solo (USA) - Forum
Another gig I was really excited about. I love “power jazz” and Ari drummer Hoenig supplies this with enthusiasm. A great band featuring Oehlers on tenor and Sam Anning on bass. I have many releases by Vijay Iyer and it was a pleasure to witness solo piano from Iyer. “Darn That Dream” a highlight of this 1 hour set.
8:00pm - Tim O'Dwyer Trio (AUS/Germany/Singapore) - Bennetts Lane Jazz Club
Back at Bennetts Lane for this gig. I was unsure what to expect not having heard of saxophonist O’Dwyer before. This was a stunning gig. “Power Jazz” once again in a great setting at Bennetts. A trio has to be good to hold an audience for 2 hours and this band did that.
Wednesday 8 June 2011 - 8:00pm - Vijay Iyer & Rudresh Mahanthapa‘Raw Materials’ and Jason Moran & The Bandwagon (USA) - Australian Premiere
I went along to the free gig at lunchtime in Federation Square. The evening gig was a double bill. First off Vijay Iyer again with his saxophonist partner. This gig was the technical highlight of the festival. Amazing duet playing that demonstrates what happens when two brilliant musicians have been making music together for more than a decade. It took me a while to get into the Jason Moran gig. I thought I sensed and air of arrogance about him. But he’s a stunning player. Fantastic rhythm section of course, well this is Jason Moran, they wouldn’t be crap would they?
Thursday 9 June 2011 - 8:30pm – Uptown Jazz Café – Mark Hannaford Quartet
Kim’s last night at the festival was marred by the fact that the Lee Konitz / Kurt Rossenwinkle gig was cancelled. So Kim and I went off and had a nice meal and then headed to Brunswick Street to the Uptown Jazz Café. My second favourite venue in Melbourne did not disappoint with a great young trio. All in all, not too much of a disappointment to the evening.
Friday 10 June 2011 - 6:00pm - Tim Berne's Los Totopos - Australian Premiere & Festival Exclusive and Jason Moran, Scott Tinkler & Simon Barker (USA/AUS) - World Premiere & Festival Exclusive
Possibly the best lineup tonight of the festival. The other options being Ron Carter or Faust. I was full of flu but decided I had to see Tim Burn’s Los Totopos. I have been a fan of Burns since I saw him here a few years ago with Nels Cline and Jim Black. “Power Jazz” once again from Burn’s new project. The second half of this show was Moran with Barker and Tinkler. Moran taking more of a back seat on this one however the band were as one. Fantastic interplay by 3 musicians that had only worked together a few times in the past. Brilliant music.
Sunday 12 June 2011 – 7:45pm Dave Brubeck: In His Own Sweet Way Movie
It was a close call – either this movie or Mark Isaacs band at Bennetts Lane. I chose this movie. It’s great. Every jazz fan and student should see it. Jazz history.
Sunday 12 June 2011 – 11pm Tim Berne's Los Totopos
Last gig of the festival for me and I had to see this band again in the intimate settings of Bennetts Lane. The band was smoking as was the crowd. A great way to finish the festival.
Monday 13 June 2011 – 3:30pm Mark Robinson’s House
Callum, Cam and Jimmy came round to my place late on Monday afternoon to listen to booming loud jazz on my hi-fi. PJ dished out the beers and chips and pizza. Fun times. We ended the evening by watching the Clint Eastwood directed “Bird”. Not a great inspirational film for young jazz musicians perhaps? One of the guys said “what a sad film”. Too true.
Roll on 2012…………….