Jazz & Concert Review: 62ND MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL 2019

OH, WHAT A WEEKEND!

A good friend who invited me to join him at this year’s Monterey Jazz Festival bailed at the last minute, citing that the line-up just wasn’t that exciting. Since he was to be the planner, and this was my first MJF, I felt a little awkward as to choosing which of the almost 130 performances over two days and three nights, at what time, and at which of the eight stages spread around the twenty-acre Monterey County Fairgrounds. He recommended that I run breathlessly from act to act, making sure to get a taste of every single set. Well, inadvertently, that pretty much happened to me, the difference being that when I was breathless from the enchantment of a specific act, I stayed put.

Luciana Souza
Jazzmeia Horn

With a friendly, supportive crowd that had a great rapport with the artists in the grounds venues, amazing food choices (grilled artichoke; fried alligator; flash-fried Brussels sprouts), lovely vendors, and a helluva lot of great jazz, even the chilly weather didn’t dampen spirits. I also couldn’t help but notice many mixed-race couples, proving that jazz is often ahead of its time. I’m sorry my friend missed a spectacular weekend. Writer Andrew Gilbert was very influential at MJF101 on Friday; his recommendations proved to be spot on, and the festival was far easier to navigate than I had imagined.

Abe Rábade and his furious fingerwork

It was the unexpected and unknown that truly enthralled, while some of the headliners at The Arena — the huge outdoor space — actually disappointed. The latter is no fault of Artistic Director Tim Jackson who — along with the curated stars and up-and-comers — ensured that we were slathered in the thrill of discovery, from many young students and more women musicians to acts that should be better-known than they are now. There were also a few who are on the cutting edge of being jazz’s next big thing.

Abe Rábade gives tribute to Angela Davis in the house.
Davis hosted The Life & Legacy of Dexter Gordon with Maxine Gordon.

One of those is Matt Stubbs, clarinetist of The Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors. Faculty tenor saxophonist and Stubbs’ mentor, the illustrious George Garzone, led his sextet of international graduate students from the Berklee Global Jazz Institute into orbit and blew me away at two sets: the first at the outdoor Garden Stage on Friday leaned toward mid-century (originals by Garzone and American standards), the second at the indoor Pacific Jazz Café more avant-garde. The players all had jazz in their soul, and for the most part offered supremely sensitive, highly emotional, and truly inventive work, especially Noam Tanzer from Israel on bass, Ilya Blazh from Russia on drums, and Faris Ishaq from Palestine on Arabian flute (if the three countries they’re from heard these cats, we’d be one step closer to peace!). Some in the troupe are destined for far greater things musically, but Mr. Stubbs has arrived. The diversity of wailing, the exuberant expression, tones both rich and airy. To paraphrase Monk: Writing about his playing is like dancing about architecture. You know it when you hear it. (And I heard other visitors mention Stubbs all weekend.) His solo in “I’ll Remember April” was a significant moment at the fest.

Noam Tanzer, bass; Matt Stubbs, clarinet; The Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors Faris Ishaq, Arabic flute; Milena Casado, flugelhorn; George Garzone, tenor sax
The Berklee Global Jazz AmbassadorsFaris Ishaq, Milena Casado, George Garzone, Matt Stubbs, Noam Tanzer, Ilya Blazh,
Anastassiya Petrova (obscured): The Berklee Global Jazz AmbassadorsIlya Blazh, Drummer, Berklee Global Band Ambassadors

Never underestimate the power of high school and college performers at MJF. The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra (NGJO), the Festival’s yearly high school all-star big band, was well-represented. Chosen by MJF (21 students are selected through online auditions), the band performed flawlessly. Another find for me was saxophonist Ben Flocks. Only 30, is already developing a reputation as one of today’s leading saxophonists. He’s a ten year veteran of the NYC scene. He is a storyteller with consummate phrasing as well as a keen sense of timing and dynamics. and the ever-pleasing Gerald Clayton did an awesome job with his quartet.

Piano Conversation with Kenny Barron, Gerald Clayton and James Francies,
hosted by Don WasGerald Clayton at the Piano

I was really looking forward to the real, polychromatic, mind-altering fusion of jazz, rock and hip-hop of Tank and the Bangas — a true New Orleans blend — but the sound wasn’t audience friendly, drowning out the back-up vocalists and making lyrics practically impenetrable. As such, even with their joyous energy, this felt like mere party music, difficult to connect with and, frankly, out-of-place at the festival. Also from N’awlins was more partying from SambaDá, a hip-hop jazz fusion, heavy on Brazilian rhythms: with dancers dressed as Mardi Gras Indians, but for true intelligent party music, look no further than the Huntertones. Their high energy, horn-driven sound featured genre bending composition and unconventional covers. You really felt the celebration of music. Speaking of which, it was the Brazilian Jazz that rocked the festival. This was handily the new sound for jazz.

SambaDá

Monterey Jazz Festival selects a Showcase Artist to perform multiple times at the Festival, to display the various aspects of their artistry. Christian McBride. who assembled his first Situation at the 2005 MJF, is a powerhouse of versatility. His combo included powerhouse vocalist Alyson Williams, turntablist DJ Logic and tenor saxophonist Ron Blake. He also debuted Roy Anthony: The Fearless One in memory of Roy Hargrove, performed by his Big Band at The Arena.

This festival was a huge winner. I recommend it for newbies as well as seasoned veterans of jazz. Oh, and for my friend who missed it!

photos by Jeff Crandall and Tony Frankel

Christian McBride Big Band
Christian McBride

Lineup for the 62nd Monterey Jazz Festival, September 27-29, 2019

Friday, September 27
ARENA:
Jimmy Lyons Stage: Allison Miller & Derrick Hodge Present Soul on Soul: A Tribute to Mary Lou Williams; Kenny Barron & Dave Holland Trio; Diana Krall

GROUNDS:
Garden Stage: Allison Au Quartet; SambaDá; Gerald Clayton Quartet; Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors with special guest George Garzone
Dizzy’s Den: Chris Potter Circuits Trio with James Francies & Eric Harland; Christian McBride Situation with Patrice Rushen
Night Club: Connie Han Trio; Bria Skonberg; Donna Grantis
Pacific Jazz Café: MJF 101 with Andrew Gilbert & Pamela Espeland; DJ Mister; Taylor McFerrin
North Coast Brewing Co. Education Stage: California Jazz Conservatory Blue Ensemble; Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Combo; California Jazz Conservatory Faculty Ensemble; Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo
Yamaha Courtyard Stage: Eddie and Kanoa Mendenhall (two sets); Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Combo (two sets)
Blue Note at Sea Tent: Piano Conversation with Kenny Barron, Gerald Clayton and James Francies, hosted by Don Was; Remembering Mary Lou Williams with Allison Miller, Shamie Royston, Carmen Staaf and Jean Baylor
Jazz Theater: Simulcasts from the Arena, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
Pacific Jazz Café Exhibit: Blue Note Records at 80: Perspectives (All weekend)

Kenny Barron

Saturday, September 28
ARENA:
Jimmy Lyons Stage: Larkin Poe; Cha Wa; Tank and the Bangas; Christian McBride Big Band (MJF Commission debut); Eliane Elias; Chris Botti

GROUNDS:
Garden Stage: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram; Larkin Poe; Cha Wa; Huntertones; Steve Bernstein’s
MTO West
Dizzy’s Den: Natalie Cressman & Ian Faquini; Pamela Rose & Terrence Brewer; Derrick Hodge presents Color of Noize; Derrick Hodge Band; Kenny Barron & Dave Holland Duo; Christian McBride Big Band
Night Club: Hamilton High School Jazz Ensemble A; Tucson Jazz Institute Concord Combo; SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra; the Commanders Jazz Ensemble; Luciana Souza; Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom; Michael Mayo; Yellowjackets with special guest Luciana Souza
Pacific Jazz Café: Columbia University Jazz Combo; Conversation with & Dave Holland, hosted by Willard Jenkins; Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors with special guest George Garzone; Ben Flocks and Mask of the Muse; Sasha Berliner; Roberta Gambarini and Jeb Patton
North Coast Brewing Co. Education Stage: San Jose Jazz U19 Combo; Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo; Zion Dyson; Next Generation Jazz Orchestra; Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Alumni Jam; Columbia University Jazz Combo; CCCN Jazz Orchestra
Yamaha Courtyard Stage: Eddie and Kanoa Mendenhall (two sets); Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo (two sets)
Blue Note at Sea Tent: Don Was & Joe Harley in Conversation; Blue Note Listening Session with Don Was; Jazz Cruise Programs: Blue Note at Sea & The Jazz Cruise; Conversation with Chris Botti and Don Was; Blue Note Records: Beyond The Notes Discussion and Q&A with Don Was and Derrick Hodge; signings with Don Was and Derrick Hodge
Jazz Theater: Simulcasts from the Arena; Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes

Chris Botti and Band

Sunday, September 29
ARENA:
Jimmy Lyons Stage: Next Generation Jazz Orchestra with Allison Miller & Derrick Hodge; Pacific Mambo Orchestra; Candy Dulfer; Jazzmeia Horn; Double Vision Revisited featuring Bob James, David Sanborn & Marcus Miller with guests Billy Kilson & Larry Braggs; Snarky Puppy

GROUNDS:
Garden Stage: California State University, Long Beach Pacific Standard Time; CCCN Jazz Orchestra; Electric Squeezebox Orchestra; Barrio Barouche; Leyla McCalla; Ambrose Akinmusire
Dizzy’s Den: Kenny Stahl Group; Abe Rábade Trio; Jenny Scheinman & Allison Miller’s Parlour Game; Antonio Sánchez & Migration; Jazzmeia Horn
Night Club: MJF High School Honor Vocal Ensemble; Folsom High School Jazz Choir I; Valencia High School Two N’ Four; Northgate High School Jazz Band I; Rio Americano High School AM Jazz Ensemble; Downey High School Jazz Band I; MJF Monterey County High School All-Star Band; Amina Claudine Myers; Doug Carn West Coast Organ Group; Mike LeDonne’s Groover Quartet
Pacific Jazz Café: DownBeat Blindfold Test with Antonio Sánchez, hosted by Dan Ouellette; The Life & Legacy of Dexter Gordon with Maxine Gordon, hosted by Angela Davis; Marcus Shelby Quintet; Tammy L. Hall & Ruth Davies
North Coast Brewing Co. Education Stage: YOSAL Bucket Band; Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band; Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo; Pacific Jazz Ambassadors; Keshav Batish & EKTA
Yamaha Courtyard Stage: Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo; Eddie and Kanoa Mendenhall (two sets)
Blue Note at Sea Tent: Blue Note Listening Session with Don Was; Masterclass with Derrick Hodge; Conversation with Don Was and Ambrose Akinmusire; CD Signing with Ambrose Akinmusire; Double Vision Revisited: A Conversation with Marcus Miller, David Sanborn and Bob James, hosted by Don Was; Jazz Cruise Programs: Blue Note at Sea & The Jazz Cruise/Blue Note at Sea Cabin Drawing
Jazz Theater: Simulcasts from the Arena, Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band