Hiromi (left) and Kenny Werner

Counting to 25

JazzFest celebrates a quarter-century of great music

The Victoria Jazz Society is just about to launch their 25th edition of JazzFest and there’s a lot more jazz on offer than in previous years. No, there are no household names this year—no Sonny Rollins, no Wynton Marsalis—just lots of solid players in just about any stream of jazz you want to dip your toes into or just jump into at the deep end of.

Hiromi is a favorite of commercial jazz radio. Enticement? Warning? Depends on your taste. The lady can really play the piano, but is content to hide her light under a few bushels of jazz-fusion clichés. (Guitarheads take note though; her band features fusion legend Dave Fiuczynski.) If you need even more guitar, this time with a tango feel, check out Al di Meola, of Return to Forever fame, and his World Sinfonia 09. Those who like their commercial jazz with a bit more grit shouldn’t miss first-call sideman David Sanborn. But real traditionalists will be better served by drummer Jimmy Cobb’s crack So What Band, as they recreate the classic sounds of Miles Davis’ 1959 Kind of Blue album, still the best-selling jazz record of all time. Cobb is the last man standing from those original sessions which changed the face of modern jazz.

Jazz vocalists are a bit thin on the ground in this year’s festival; a tad surprising given artistic director Darryl Mar’s weakness for vocal talent. But the preternaturally hip Kurt Elling always gives off enough energy for a whole room full of singers. And then there’s 15 year old Nikki Yanofsky, who has all the vocal tricks and treats of her idol Ella Fitzgerald down flat, though she still sounds like a kid. A few more years ought to tell if she can develop her own sound, but at least you can say you saw her when.

On the more adventurous side, pianist Kenny Werner returns, this time with a quintet featuring Randy Brecker and David Sanchez. And three shows at Open Space should open a lot of ears. Michael Snow is known mostly as a visual artist but he’s worked in jazz since the 1950s. Expect a free jazz explosion of piano, guitar and electronics. Violinist Jason Kao Hwang’s Edge explores the boundary between composition and improvisation with an Eastern flavour. And then there’s my personal pick-to-click, Monk’s Casino, a project of German pianist Alex von Schlippenbach who has arranged the great bop iconoclast’s tunes in every conceivable jazz style from New Orleans to completely free.

But those are all concert performances, and isn’t jazz better accompanied by liquid refreshments? So for the jazz club experience, head down to Hermann’s where another Victoria musical institution, CFUV, is also celebrating 25 years of existence by co-sponsoring a great line-up of (mostly) Canadian jazz acts. Choose from the infectious street beat of the recently re-formed Shuffle Demons, the Juno-winning bassist Brandi Disterheft’s update on the jazz tradition, virtuoso pianist John Stetch’s blend of modern jazz with the music of his Ukranian heritage or the subtle textures of bassist Simon Fisk’s introspective trio featuring Chris Gestrin, one of this country’s most interesting young pianists.

Or go for the Latin fire of either frequent JazzFest visitor Roberto Occhipinti and his band of Cuban ex-pats or guitarist Luis Mario Ochoa’s Quintet featuring the amazing Hilario Duran on piano. Or maybe you’d prefer the souljazz of Winnipegers Larry Roy and Steve Kirby. Then there are a couple of fine imports; Amsterdam-based gypsy-swing guitarist Robin Nolan—no stranger to these parts—and Coltraneish sax player Jean-Christophe Béney who splits his time between Paris and Montreal. See you there. M

----------
JazzFest
June 26-July 5
Various venues and prices
250-388-4423
jazzvictoria.ca