Last night went from the sublime to the awful back to the sublime. We got in line early to await the performance of Tommy Smith and Peter Johnstone in Hatch Hall. We met old friends, mostly Jazz Fest line friends and had an enjoyable hour wait in the sun on Main Street. The performers are two members of Scottish National jazz Orchestra (SNJO) which had performed the night before and part of which were performing at the same time – more about that later. Here is Ron Netsky’s review of that performance. I totally agree, both Carol and I were entranced by the entire performance. I remember a similar use of the piano with saxophone from 2 years ago when we took our grandson Avi to a sax workshop during the festival, and later saw the effect used in concert at the Lyric.

We floated out of the hall to get dinner while waiting for Patti LaBelle in Eastman Theater main stage. There was lots of excitement and most of the crowd were clearly not Club Pass holders. I looked at the stage and started to worry about what was to come. It was full of more “stuff” than necessary to back up a fine singer. My fears were justified as LaBelle took the stage. She can barely move anymore and whoever setup the sound seemed intent on masking anything other than her impossibly wonderful high notes in loud muddy bass. I like strong bass that makes me rattle, but in this case it was just mud. I tried turning my hearing aids off, I tried linking into the theater’s excellent hearing loop, I looked at Carol and the next time the audience got to its feet in response to even louder bass and shrieks from Patti we clambered over the people between us and the aisle leaving our excellent seats and too much money for the street. See DeBlase  for his take. Carol says that was not the Patti LaBelle she remembers from the ’80s.

We skipped the crowd in front of the Jazz Street Stage (Bonerama – again) by taking the alley through to Swan to get to Christ Church to hear Empirical, Sax, Vibraphone, Bass and Drums. For a change this group worked well with the sound in the cavernous stone chamber of the church. We enjoyed the balance of their set and got to chatting with Jazz Street friends, the lady of the couple is our former dental hygienist, and we were forced to take the back door out of the church which put us on Lawn Street just across from Montage without having to fight the crowds by the Chestnut Street Stage.

Here was a sextet from the SNJO minus one. The pianist was busy playing at Hatch, so they found a local sit in – Bill Dobbins! It seemed a reasonable substitution 🙂 When we got there it was SRO so we stood. The show was listed as an Art Blakey tribute and it was great to hear an hour of straight jazz standards well played and clearly enjoyed both by the performers and the audience. 

I walked Carol home and I went on to the jam session. Sat with Jacob again and had most of a beer while listening to more straight jazz standards. The highlight was the sax player from LaBelle’s group who really let loose. Clearly there were fine musicians in the group, I just get angry watching choreographed up, down, side to side march around the stage shit. Can you tell I really disliked that performance?

Today’s Plan: Stefon Harris & Blackout at Kilbourn; Jostien Gulbrandsen at Lutheran Church; Scott Robinson Quartet at Max. There are others on the list for tonight but as always it depends on how we feel about the venue we are in and the word from others we talk to.

Look to see you on “The Street” or in your responses to the post.