A mish mash!

Our trek to the Festival started out all wrong.  As we discussed whether to walk or drive I decided to copy all of the document files (My Documents) from Carol’s computer onto a back up external drive the reason is a whole other story.  It went far faster than I expected and when I checked, the entire My Pictures folder was not on the external drive.  It also had vanished from the computer!  Yeah we have backups up to January, but there have been backup problems and time gets in the way and . . . The computer is now at Microworx for restoration. 

We drove!  our first stop was Rochester Contemporary (in the midst of the Festival area) for a private party put on by City Newspaper to thank advertisers and others associated with the paper.  We decided to walk over to Xerox Auditorium where Rochester/Roland All-Star Accordion Jam! was on.  We figured it was different enough to be worth a listen.  Start with false advertising.  Joseph Natoli took the stage and spent 30 minutes demonstrating the various tricks an accordion mashed up with a synthesizer could do.  There was a bass, drum kit and another accordion on stage, but no evidence of performers.  I know what the instrument sounds like and can appreciate it.  I know what a synthesizer can do and can enjoy it.  But I came for Jazz and got what amounted to a sales pitch.  Onward!  I have no idea or interest in what might have taken place in the last half of the hour.

We walked into Christ Church where John Taylor was playing solo on the piano and stayed for the rest of the set.  We hustled on over to Lutheran Church for the Nordic Jazz Eivind Opsvik Overseas was doing unnatural things with a guitar, bass etc.  It resulted in some interesting music.  The reviewer in the Democrat and Chronicle described the the departure after the first number as Lemmings, we breasted the tide and found good seats and stayed for two numbers.  We left at this point because Hackensaw Boys were performing at Abilene the Americana venue.  Our interest was aroused because they are from Charlottesville, VA where our son Dan and his family live and participate in the music scene.  I called him to get his opinion of the group, which was very high, but he was a bit surprised that they were performing at a Jazz Festival and that we were going to hear them. 

We heard the last three numbers of their first set and really enjoyed them.  I must go out and get a hubcap and two number 10 cans for my percussion outfit now.  The real miracle is that I can still hear this morning. 

Where was I? oh yes out on the street between Harro East and Abilene and getting hungry by now.  We headed for jazz Street (Gibbs Street in case you forgot) and the vendors where the chill wind and feeling of rain was keeping the crowds down a bit.  This made buying some food easier and we sat on the curb and ate while the line for Steve Turre Quartet in Kilbourn Hall grew and grew behind us.  For some reason we didn’t get in the line, but went over to the Big Tent to hear Das Contras a Scottish Quartet who really put out some great sound.  We waited through the half hour break and listened to the beginning of their second set.  During the second number a very drunk woman from the audience clambered up on stage and threw her arms around the neck of each of the musicians in turn.  It was amazing that they were able to keep on playing without a missed beat, including the drummer who played through an extended, rousing, conclusion with her hanging on his neck.  Security finally arrived to guide her back stage and hopefully to recovery.

We had not yet had enough so we walked over to Kilbourn for Steve Turre Quartet (see above).  There is a wonderful review of the performance in the D&C and I agree with Jeff Spivak entirely on this one.  Turre concluded his final number at 11:15 and then was headed back out to do another when we left in total exhaustion. 

OMG I just counted up the venues and see we made it to 6 of them and that doesn’t count the entertainment at the party and we started on the street late.  By my count we have listened to 28 groups so far and there are still three nights to go. 

I may update this post later with a plan for tonight, although if you compare my plan for last night with the actual you will see we can’t even count on starting where we plan.