The 33rd Annual North Sea Jazz Fest wrapped up a couple weeks ago, and the stunningly strong line-up boasted literally dozens of incredible performances.
As a way of getting digging into the flood of music, this Stormy Monday we’ll give a listen to some of Miles Davis’s best and brightest alumni, all of whom are the giant figures in modern jazz.
First up is a very oddly orchestral but lyrical and fun piece from Wayne Shorter with Imani Winds, who spent most of the summer on the road together. Next is Herbie Hancock covering one of Wayne’s best known songs, Footprints, which they both made famous back in the day with the Quintet and which remains a staple in Herbie’s many and varied projects. This one has a pretty incredible bass intro from Mr. Dave Holland, along with some fine work from guitarist Lionel Loueke- if you’re not hip to him yet, it’s time to learn.
I’m dropping in something almost entirely unrelated too, Diana Krall doing what she does best, a standard, a gorgeous take on Let’s Face the Music– a bit more mainstream than we usually swing around here, but the lady knows just what she’s doing. We close out this week with Ron Crater’s quartet featuring pianist Stephen Scott for a sprawling medley into Seven Steps to Heaven. Most of the medley melodies come from Scott, but there is ample room here from both solos and interactions, and percussionist Rolando Morales-Matos is a real stand out. His djembe solo is worth the download alone. Enjoy!
Also don’t forget the Jerry Garcia Band set we put up on Friday, and while we’re mourning great guitarists, here’s a bonus show, a smoking’ soundboard of WSP in the spring of 97, Mikey at his finest…
Widespread Panic
04/29/97 Rochester Auditorium, Rochester, NYMP3s: Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3, Pt. 4,
Set 1: C. Brown, Glory > Weight Of The World, Dyin’ Man > Galleon > Diner > Jam > Send Your Mind, Jack, Chilly Water,
Set 2: Let’s Get Down To Business, Radio Child > Can’t Get High, Burned Faceless, Happy > Hatfield > I Walk On Guilded Splinters > Drums > Pilgrims > No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature
Encore: The Take Out > Porch Song
