No plan stands confrontation with reality, not even a plan for one night of Jazz. As planned we started with Kenny Werner Trio in Kilbourn. We were transfixed and never got up to cross the street for Michael Weiss Trio in Max. We stopped for food, me on the Street, Rob’s Kabobs,  and Carol brought her food from home. Next stop was Glory House and Under the Surface. We did not last through the first number! I think we must have seen this group years ago, maybe with a different name. The vocalist started with some weird noises and the percussionist had more bells and doodads to make noise with than I can classify. We left and moved on to unplanned Champian Fulton playing solo at Hatch Recital Hall. She was as wonderful as with her group the night before. So glad we heard her again.

We left before the end to get  to Theater at Innovation Sq Where Ravi Coltrane and his trio were already blowing the walls out. Yes, he is the son of that Coltrane. He took his music from the standards, and went beyond. The drummer was superb both in accompanying Coltrane and in his solos. We stayed through the encore before bolting to go ??? The plan was Ranky Tanky at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom, but on the way out the Gracis strongly suggested Martin Taylor at Montage. We sort of decided to head for Michael Weiss Trio at Max, but as we were walking over we passed Montage and decided to here some guitar. The place was packed, SRO, so we stood in the back waiting for seating. After 30 minutes it became clear no one was leaving so reluctantly we headed home since we had been to five performances and we were tired. 

Tonight’s picks were Carol’s work. I’ve just spent 30 minutes and the creation of a new spreadsheet to figure out how to get to the five venues we want to go to. Michael Weiss is at Hatch at 5:45 then off to the Temple for Lisa Fischer vocalist at 7. From there we are going to Melissa Aldana Quartet for some more sax at Kilbourn at 9. Wrapping with Dan Wilson at Kilbourn at 10. If we can fit it in there is Bill Warfield’s Hell’s Kitchen Funk in the Big Tent. I haven’t got a clue when we might get to eat.  I suspect we might have to let go of Lisa Fischer to catch some air.

Watch this space tomorrow to see how it actually works.

We almost stuck to the plan. First stop was Tiberi & Garzone at Montage. We expected a line up so we got there about 5 for doors to open at 5:30. there was one couple inline when we arrived. The line grew, but never filled the hall until after the doors opened and the performers were about to come on stage. Two fine old sax players, a snoozer. We left after 30 minutes – Carol had to wake me up. With 30 minutes before Robin McKelle in the Temple Theater, which is large, we stopped at Ludwigs on Jazz Street for a quick meal. It was better than most Truck food. 

Robin McKelle did not disappoint. She has a fine voice and her trio were also wonderful. The audio was a bit overdriven and her words were muddied by too much reverb. I turned my hearing aids way done. Part of the sound was the hall and part of it was the insistence of musicians, or their sound people, to amplify beyond the needs of the performer and the audience. This is hardly a new complaint . 

Speaking of overdriven sound levels, as we traversed Parcel Five, the performance center for the free headliners, we felt the pain before we got there. The stage faces the former Sibley Building and the reverb off the building just added to effect of very loud noise with very little music to it. We passed through there a couple of times, out of necessity but I won’t count those “concerts” as attended – Devon Allman Project + Dirty Dozen Brass band. I guess it was special for the soon to be hard of hearing.

We made it to the Theater at Innovation Square for Champian Fulton Trio. What a wonderful difference. The sound was just right and her voice was wonderful straight Jazz and her piano playing was thrilling. The drummer and bassist provided great support and also fine solos. This was a most enjoyable concert and the best of the night. We chose to make it the closer for us and head home, once more through Allman et al. 

Tonight’s plan is already blurry. we  plan to get in line for Kenny Werner Trio in Kilbourn OR Michael Weiss Trio in Max (or both). Under the Surface in Glory House (former Lutheran Church). Ravi Coltrane (yes, his son) in The Theater at Innovation Square and a wrap with Rank Tanky at Hyatt Ballroom, unless we choose Michael Weis at Max based on word on the street. It’s a sort of a plan, we’ll see how it goes. I know Michael Weiss is on there twice, we would like to hear his group but when is the problem. Watch tomorrow to see what we actually do.

As you might expect the plan fell apart almost from the first scheduled performance. Note “scheduled.” Giveton Gelin and his quartet were 15 minutes late getting started because of bad weather in NYC causing their flight to be delayed/cancelled. They drove in from NYC and arrived a bit late for sound check. As we entered Max, 30 minutes before the program we noted the bassist alone on stage noodling. Also the drummer was setting up his kit as we watched. Marc Iacona, Producer, came on stage to tell us that they would be late because of flight delays.

It was worth the wait, Giveton is a masterful trumpet player and composer and his quartet, were superb. Each was featured in most numbers, but the transitions were gradual. In each piece Giveton opened with the lead and then drifted off and left the stage to the group who were in constant communication with each other and Giveton.

We were ready to stay for more but already were late for Tessa Souter who it turned out was even later and we decided to get a sandwich at Java Joe and head to Theater at Innovation Square. We arrived with time to spare and found seats next to Linda and Ken Graci after stopping to talk with Steve Jacobs. We had seen the Gracis on the street before the first show. we were here to hear California Guitar Trio. They entered with a flat top guitar, an arch top F hole guitar and a Chapman Stick (I had heard of it but never seen it in performance). We were wowed by the music and the performance. The music ranged from Classical to straight jazz (Ellington’s Caravan) with a pause for “Ghost Riders in the Sky” along the way. We will go to hear them again given the opportunity.

We moved on as the evening grew chillier to Montage where singer Shayna Steele and her quartet were poised to bring down the house and raise the heat. We ended up with seats one row back from the stage. These are not  really preferred since they in direct line with A/C blast and with at least one of the speakers. I turned my hearing aids down as far as they would go. If I’d had a container for them I might have just removed them. Shayna had energy to spare and a voice that is both beautifully controlled and very powerful. Her drummer and keyboard worked really hard to balance her singing and the guitar and base were not holding back either. 

This was only the third performance for us and it was a night. We got off to a great start with three wonderful sets.

Tonight we are starting with Tiberi & Garzon where we left off last night at Montage. Then Robin Mckelle at Temple Theater. From there to Champian Fulton Trio at Theater at Innovation Square and finishing up with Kind Folk at the Wilder. I may have to eat before it all gets going. Watch for tomorrow’s post.

I am so excited for Rochester International Jazz Fest to be back after two years off for that infection that I am starting to write about it a day early. We have our Club Passes and are ready to go.

Carol and I have had the app with all the programming for a couple of days now and so far we still can’t agree on where to go Friday night for the first shows. As with most of our plans what follows is an outline of what we are thinking right now, Saturday Morning I’ll write up a review of what we actually did. 

We are planning on opening this years Jazz Fest with Giveton Galin at Max at 6:15; Tessa Souter at Glory house (formerly Lutheran Church) at 7:30; California Guitar Trio at Theater at Innovation Square (formerly Xerox Square) 8:30; The Cookers at Kilbourn Hall at 9 (that may not work) Shayna Steele at Montage Music hall at 10. Of course there will be the Jam Session at the Hyatt a block from our apartment.

We may find time for some street food after Giveton Galin. We are looking forward to meeting ‘waiting line friends from past years and hearing some music that it new to us although Tessa Souter has been here most every year I can remember.