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Los Angeles Jazz Scene
JAZZ AROUND TOWN - October 2009
THE 2009 SWEET & HOT MUSIC FESTIVAL
JAZZ AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL
Diana Krall was featured before huge crowds on two weekend nights at the Hollywood Bowl. The L.A. Philharmonic
was cast as the warmup act but, despite the colorful talking of conductor Benjamin Wallfisch, the music they
performed was not all that exciting. “Malaguena” paled next to what one would have heard from Stan Kenton, and
“Danzon No. 2” needed a screaming trumpet section.
Diana Krall was heard with her quartet (guitarist Anthony Wilson, bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Jeff Hamilton)
plus the orchestra conducted by Alan Broadbent. The music was fun if predictable including an uptempo “I Love
Being Here With You,” a sensual “Do It Again,” and some sleepy ballads from her new CD. Quite intriguing was an
unaccompanied version of “P.S. I Love You.” Diana Krall should think seriously of recording a solo album like that
in the future (or perhaps a big band set) because she is in danger of getting in a rut.
The following Wednesday featured three big bands. Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band put on a well conceived
program. “Hit The Ground Running” featured some blazing alto from Eric Marienthal, “Sama De Gringo” was a
joyous Latin strut, and “Rhapsody In Blue” was given an inventive reworking with a lot of tempo changes and
dazzling moments. Particularly eerie was “Yesterdays” which featured Art Tatum's solo as played by a modern
player piano with accompaniment by the big band.
The Roy Hargrove Big Band was clearly not in the same class. The musicians were great and the soloists
(including trumpeter Hargrove and altoist Justin Robinson) were excellent, but the arrangements were routine and
the originals tended to be forgettable. Unlike Gordon Goodwin, Roy Hargrove said almost nothing to the audience.
Much better was the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Star Big Band, which was also directed by Hargrove rather than
Slide Hampton who was absent. Tenors Jimmy Heath and James Moody and trumpeters Claudio Roditi and Greg
Gisbert were among the key soloists. Roberta Gambarini, who had sung two songs earlier with Hargrove's band,
sounded more comfortable in this setting, displaying clear tones on a colorful arrangement of “'Round Midnight”
and trading scatting with Moody and Hargrove on “”Blue N' Boogie.” But isn't it time that a singer of her stature
break away from these cameo appearances and get a full set of her own?
A week later was Chick Corea Night at the Hollywood Bowl. Guitarist John Scofield was the warmup act, performing
gospel tunes with his Piety Band. The New Orleans group, which featured John Cleary on vocals and keyboards,
had spirit, making the songs (which included “Motherless Child” and “Something's Got A Hold With Me”) funky and
bluish, but a little went a long way.
It was all forgotten when Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White started their set with “500
Miles High” and “Captain Marvel.” The great violinist Jean-Luc Ponty (where has he been in the past decade?), on
“Armando's Rhumba” and “Renaissance,” showed that he is still one of the greatest ever on his instrument. When
guitarist Bill Connors replaced Ponty for “Senor Mouse,” it was a reunion of the first electric version of Return To
Forever, but no one mentioned it. Connors sounded nervous at first but got stronger as the night went on. Clearly
he has not played this type of music in quite a few years, but it was good to see him again. Chaka Khan, who had
recorded with the rhythm section on the Echoes Of An Era album in the 1980, did her best but sounded out of
place and screechy on the high notes. On “I Love You Porgy,” surprise guest Stevie Wonder played harmonica,
and sang with Khan, easily stealing the show. After Khan sang an r&b song and exited, Wonder returned for a truly
great moment. On “Spain,” Wonder was on electric piano, Corea on acoustic piano, and they were joined by Ponty,
Connors, Clarke and White. The two keyboardists traded off with Wonder holding his own, showing that he could
play very good jazz piano if he wanted to.