ONE MORE DAY!

Keyboards and vocalists was our theme last night. We actually only went to 4 shows. Got in line at 3:15 to get wristbands for 4 by Monk by 4 at Kilbourn. Got back in line at 5:00 to wait for our choice of seats at 5:30, not sure this wristband thing really saves us any line time.  Read Ron Netsky’s review in City Newspaper (and also Tessa Souter and Ariel Pocock). I have loved Monk’s music since I first heard it many years ago. This was like candy for both of us and having four fine pianists trade off at two keyboards in just about any combination you can imagine just took it over the top. I have to admit we left before the grand finale with all four on stage trading piano benches, so we could move on to Hatch Recital Hall for Ariel Pocock. As Ron noted it was most unusual to have a live microphone used in performance there. We really enjoyed her performance, again. She has a lot of subtle shading in her voice and I love her piano playing as well. We stayed for the encore.

We moved out onto the street where I hit the Blackend Chicken again. I like it and the line was short which was important as we had to wade through the growing crowd for Caravan Palace on the Chestnut Street Stage to get to Tessa Souter at Xerox Aud. We missed the intro so I don’t know if this was her 3rd or 4th appearance at Jazz Fest, I do know we have heard her a couple of times in the past. Loved her take on Chopin’s Prelude in E minor which she wrote lyrics to and shifted to G major(?). We ran before the end because we wanted to get in to Max at 10 for. . .

Ronnie Foster Organ Trio. Made it in time for the introduction. I must admit he was an unknown to us, but featuring the Hammond B-3 Organ will usually draw us in for a listen. We listened and we stayed, and we stayed. He finally wrapped at 11:20 or so and no one wanted it to be over. His call and response with the audience near the end just took the whole thing over the top. I don’t usually care for this gimmick, but in this venue with these performers it really worked for us.

We headed back to the apartment full of good music and not able to absorb another note until tonight, Day 9. Current plan is to get wristbands for Max to hear Cynthia Sayer, 4 string jazz banjo and then run over to Harro for the beginning of the Majestics performance at 5:30. Following Max we will trundle across the street to Hatch for Benny Green piano solo (what else at Hatch?). Take a breath and find something to eat before running down East Ave to the Little for International Orange. Starting to huff a bit we head all the way back up East to cross over to the Big Tent to let Bonerama carry us out of the Fest on our way to the closing Jam.