VIX Sound+Light+Motion

The piano trio is where my friend Paul Plimley really lives. Yes, I can interest him in electronics; and he does play guitar, vibes and percussion — but he really lives his most joyous moments with bass and drums.

The trio with Barry Guy, Paul Plimley and Lucas Niggli was one of my personal highlights from the 2010 Vancouver International Jazz Festival. They reached the highest levels of improvisation in ensemble performance where they meshed into a texture of beauty and complexity that shone with emotion.

Lucas Niggli is a Swiss drummer who plays with style and delicate strength. He stretches the boundaries of percussion while playing in the pocket for the band. This balancing act displays the greatness of a drummer; too much steady time keeping and the innovative spark fades, too much of stretching one’s own personal boundaries and the connection with the ensemble is lost.

The photos show the level of communication and emotion present in the Ironworks as each of these expert musicians wholeheartedly joined their considerable individual talents into a cohesive whole.

Barry Guy (below) is a bass player living in Switzerland, who plays with Lucas often. This evening of music allowed him to display many extended techniques and timbres. He played with intelligence, skill and unrepentant emotion. His composition, Fixed, Fragmented, Fluid; had been played as one of the festival opening works in a larger ensemble that included this trio. That was structured improv, but this was free and he was able to fly with his fingers and bow with authority.

There was a Canadian pianist who completed the trio named Paul Plimley. I must admit to being biased when I write about Paul, but I have seen him play in Vancouver many times, and grace the stage of the Ironworks with other trios. This was one of the best performances I have ever witnessed from the maestro. The combination of Barry Guy and Lucas Niggli challenged, supported, encouraged and battled with Paul in the most delightful way possible. There was always a spirit of fun and several times the joy crackled in the air like electricity.

I was a photographer that evening, soundless and motionless focusing on the light and motion as I was transported by the music.

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There are other photos of a larger ensemble concert featuring these three musicians taken by Chris Cameron posted on the Coastal Jazz website here.

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My first trip to NYC ever — so everyone — tell me

WHAT SHOULD I DO IN NYC?

I am making a list – unfortunately I am just going to miss some of the best events I have found. I am posting them anyway. I wish I had known about the gamelan performance!

I will also visit Providence, RI for a day or so at the end of August 30-31. I will miss the bonfires on Aug 29th.

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Lincoln Centre Out-of-Doors Festival

Kronos Quartet with Gamelan Galak Tika; Friday 13 August 2010 at 6:00pm;Broadway Plaza; New York; August 13; 6:00: Gamelan Galak Tika: Kecak workshop and Belaganjur (marching gamelan)
Broadway Plaza; Fri August 13; 7:30; Kronos Quartet with Gamelan Galak Tika; Kenge Kenge; Damrosch Park Bandshell

Larry Harlow’s La Raza Latina, A Salsa Suite (New York Premiere) Conducted by Larry Harlow, starring Rubén Blades, with guest vocalist Adonis Puentes + Bobby Sanabria Big Band; Saturday, August 14 at 7:30; Damrosch Park Bandshell

‘In Other People’s Skins’ Interactive, Multimedia Exhibition to be Displayed at Cathedral of St. John the Divine – The exhibition is free and open to the public. It will be on view at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine through August 31, 2010. For more information, please visit www.stjohndivine.org.

Solo dance performances by international butoh artists. Dance by Mari Osani. Dates: 28 & 29 August; Time: 8 p.m.; Cost: $18 for adults; $15 for NYBK students, students with valid ID and seniors. + LECTURES/INTERVIEWS 24 August at 7:30 pm: Mari Osanai interview with Ximena Garnica. CAVE | 58 GRAND STREET, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11211 | 347.838.4677 | info@caveartspace.org |

Summer Stage

The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival :

McCOY TYNER, JASON MORAN AND THE BANDWAGON, THE JD ALLEN TRIO and REVIVE DA LIVE: CHARLIE PARKER REVISTED; Part of the NYC Revolutions series

Marcus Garvey Park, Manhattan
Saturday, August 28
3:00 – 7:00 p.m.

JIMMY SCOTT, VIJAY IYER, THE COOKERS and CATHERINE RUSSELL

Tompkins Square Park, Manhattan
Sunday, August 29
3:00 – 7:00 p.m.

HERE 145 Sixth Ave. (enter on Dominick Street one block south of Spring), NY, NY 10013 – check back

Meer Festival, Sunday afternoon from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm for lakeside music at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center in Central Park’s beautiful northern end. August 29: Cocomama (Cuban Salsa) + September 5: Sounds of Deliverance (Gospel)

Jazzmobile, a concert in a park every day in summer

MoMA is open late every Thursday in July and August, with live music presented in two sets, at 5:30 and 7:00 p.m., in the Sculpture Garden.
MoMA PS1′s historic Warm Up music series begins July 3 and will take place every Saturday through September 4, from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Hudson River Park’s Pier 84 (44th Street), the perfect site for you to take in a sunset and the sounds of an eclectic mix of bands that perform everything from bluegrass and Americana to jazz, cumbia and funk. Concerts begin at 6pm. Get directions to Pier 84.

Other Dimensions in Music – Monday, September 6, 2010  at 8:00pm - All Ages with Daniel Carter-reeds, Roy Campbell-trumpet, William Parker-bass, Charles Down-drums and

Fay Victor -voice.  The Local 269 (map) 269 E. Houston @ Suffolk Street.

Harvestworks, 596 Broadway, Suite 602, (between Houston and Prince Streets in SoHo) New York, NY 10012

[Sep 11] KonicLab/Barcelona: Gesture Following with Max/MSP

The Official Guide to NYC

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My last shift as Crew Chief for the Ironworks is this Saturday, July 3 — come down and see two great shows: The Brad Turner Quartet at 8pm and The Michael Zilber  Group at 11pm.

This time has been very busy for me and I have not been keeping up with my news posts. After the festival I will post photos, but as always, Chris Cameron documents the festival with precision and grace. His selected photos can be found on the Coastal Jazz website and the most current ones are here. This is the 25th anniversary of the festival and of Chris as the official photographer — his work has preserved “the decisive moment” (Henri Cartier-Bresson) of many festival performances. Cameron’s body of work is an enduring legacy that captures the emotions that resonate long after the vibrations in the air have stilled.

The highlights of the festival for me so far are: Fixed Fragmented Fluid, featuring a large ensemble under the direction of Barry Guy; Paul Plimley with Barry Guy and Lucas Niggli; The Mario Pavone Trio with Tony Malaby and Gerald Cleaver and the Unity Globe Orchestra.

I have heard and been inspired by many of these shows. I loved the energy of Hiromi and Stanley Clarke; John Scofield spoke to my blues heritage with his Piety Band; Mike Stern mellowed out and got ambient;  outstanding moments of great playing at each one of my Ironworks shifts will be discussed in future posts.

Today and Sunday the music is open to the public with free concerts at the Roundhouse Community Centre Complex. I don’t want to miss any more of the music. Later!

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