DO NOT MISS THIS GUY.
As a veteran of many excellent Jazz concerts (I saw Dizzy
before he died, Gary Burton w/ Chick Corea, Bobby Hutcherson,
etc., etc...) I can safely say that the Charlie Hunter Quartet
ranks right up there with the best.
Though they appeared to be dealing with various technical problems,
(like sound men with attitudes), the musicians all took things in
stride and played excellent music with excellent grooves.
The man himself is a sight to see. Some of the best music was made
during his solos. It was effectively a duet...only he and the drummer
were playing, and yet, because he plays Bass and Guitar at the same
time, the sound was full and rich, and the energy imparted by the
dexterity his style requires was very infectious, and soon won over
the audience (many of whom, I think, had no idea who C.H. was).
The quartet listened to each other intensely, picking up each other's
licks and pushing each other to incredible builds and heights during
each solo. The Alto player was especially adept at taking the music
to a certain point from which it seemed impossible to climb higher, and
then he would do just that.
In the middle of some solos, C.H. would laugh out loud, or scream;
seemingly, because the music felt so good it just pushed him to it.
He also brought along a three-stooges-soundtrack sounding whistle
that he blew to punctuate breaks in a few places.
The funniest point in the evening, however, came when the Roscoe
smoke machine was turned on (yes, you read that right). The
quartet stopped playing, mid song, and stared at it for a moment,
in utter amazement. Without missing a beat, Charlie grabbed the
microphone, and referenced Spinal Tap, saying, in a near perfect
british accent, "...and then a great whopping stone henge was lowered
on to the stage," to the applause of the crowd. The smoke operator
got the point and wasn't heard from again. Charlie counted off and
the band picked up, without conversation, exactly where they had
left off.
All in all, Elson and I saw 8 of the 9 bands that played the fest,
and each brought something unique to the venue. It was a great
time.
Any other listees make it there?
Mike
Michael Faulkner--------pyramus@wavenet.com
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