Missed Julius Hemphill Sextet but got there just in time for Ray
Barretto and the New World Spirit. The MC related a story of the
legendary Blue Note percussionist as a teenager being invited on stage
with Charlie Parker. The set of course the Afro-Caribbean jazz/salsa
promoted by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. To close Ray asked the
audience to indulge him a little: he then went about telling how his son
had come home from school one day to say that he should like to join the
school band. Alto sax indeed. A year and a half later, Bird is now Chris
Barretto's mentor. So he's up on stage playing a Bird number with his
dad. 12 years old if you please! The audience cheering him on madly. As
I looked around I saw an awful lot of old jazz heads just smiling and
nodding like they knew the message was being passed on. A bit special.
Next up was Etta Jones Quartet. never heard her before. 70 years old but
with a voice that somewhat belies her age. Some rather lovely takes of
Someone to Watch Over Me, Lady Be Good, I Thought About You and
Wonderful World, which fairly bought a tear to the eye. She was joined
on stage by jazz violinist Claude Williams - a youthful 90 years old.
Rays of sunlight were spearing through the trees to the shady spot I was
sitting in and it all seemed rather magical.
Short tribute to Paul Robeson followed, the musical part of which was a
beautiful piano arrangement of I think one of Robeson's favourite songs
played by Cyrus Chestnut.
A bunch of jazz greets were floating around in the audience I think.
Milt Jackson had flown in from Japan to be there. Respect.
Finally, and I hope some other listees were there to enjoy it, Lou
Donaldson Quartet featuring on Hammond the good doctor Lonnie Smith
(sporting a very natty yellow turban). Lots of funky stuff but also
straight ahead jazz. I was supposed to meet someone at 6.30 in SoHo but
couldn't really tear myself away. In the end I stayed till about 6.40.
Did I miss too much?
The event was taped and will be broadcast on PLR I believe in October.
I'm sure the Lou Donaldson will be of particular interest here. So keep
and eye on your PLR listings.
The Festival takes place the last weekend in August every year in
Tompkins Square Park. Its free would you believe. Get yourselves down
there next year because like I say this really was something a bit
special.
Jim
[timeout - I looked around for ya. Hope you made it!]
[Nick - lets hear happy tales from the Carnival]
[J, Steve - cricket please]