Sponsored by
Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
Review Harrogate International Centre. THE most high-profile – and hyped – figure in jazz returned to the Harrogate International Festival on Sunday evening, two years after his debut there, and once again brought a near-capacity crowd to its feet. Andrew Vine
Marsalis is an extraordinary trumpeter, whose mature style encompasses all the major innovations on his instrument, and the band he leads could fairly claim to be the best in the world. It boasts a roster of fine soloists, crack ensemble work and the ability to recreate the sounds of the big bands of the past.
And yet the performances of both leader and band on Sunday were ever so slightly disappointing. Only intermittently did the orchestra fire on all cylinders, and summon up the shouting exuberance of the greatest big bands, and Marsalis himself rationed his own playing, only really opening up on the closing number and the encore, a Creole-flavoured original composition called Big Fat Hen from his latest CD.
The virtues and vices of the jazz repertory orchestra, of which the LCJO is the world's leading example, were on display. The virtues of performances of jazz classics like Blues in Hoss' Flat, and two movements from Duke Ellington's Black, Brown and Beige were note-perfect re-creations and polished playing, but the principal vice was the air of hushed reverence for the originals that hung over them.
That said, there were many bright moments to savour.
The band hit its stride on an adventurous arrangement of Ornette Coleman's Ramblin', backed singer Jennifer Sanon with verve, especially on Billie Holiday's Fine and Mellow, and there were good solo spots from trumpeter Marcus Printup, veteran baritone saxophonist Joe Temperley and altoist Ted Nash.
So, not a performance from the LCJO to match that of two years ago at Harrogate, but one that was richly enjoyable in its own right.
Harrogate International Festival continues until August 6. Box office: 01423 537230.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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