Thomas Rees is swept away by glamour, history and stand out performances from Jason Moran, Avishai Cohen, Justin Kauflin, Lorenz Kellhuber, and D’Angelo’s band of jazz heavyweights at this year’s Montreux Jazz Festival There’s something otherworldly about Montreux.
It’s been a scant 18 months since Ant Law played this venue to a handful of rapt guitar enthusiasts, and the intervening time has been fruitfully employed; he’s published a book, released an album (Zero Sum World) with pianist du jour Ivo Neame that’s on display in the Whirlwind catalogue alongside the latter’s own release, and can list Tim Garland, Jason Rebello and Trio HSK among recent collaborators.
Each visit there are switcheroos at the goliath Montreal Jazz Festival, this year in its 36th incarnation.
A meeting of the world’s greatest rhythm section, two progressive soloists and a producer raises the prospect of a night of instrumental groove glory.
Although the concert hall experience is a major part of any contemporary jazz festival worth its salt there is a lot to be said for the sessions that pepper the smaller venues in a given city.
This year’s edition of Bari in Jazz marked a transition of the festival from being held mainly in Bari to a more regionally inclusive festival that moved from town to town making use of the fabulous locations that are available in these ancient Italian towns.
“Yes… central heating.
“Yes… central heating.
A packed venue, atmospheric lighting, crystal clear sound and the kind of old school stagecraft that would have Tony Bennett nodding in approval.
His highest profile work so far may have been with Phronesis and Kairos 4Tet, but the packed house for this tour-opening launch for his new album, Strata, suggests pianist Ivo Neame’s time as leader has come.
