INTERNATIONAL JAZZ GALA DAY – Sunday 30 April – Festival Theatre
With James Morrison
Review by Geoff Jenke
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESC0) officially designated April 30th as International Jazz Day in 2011. Havana in Cuba is this year’s designated host city and while they had Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock playing, we here in Adelaide were not short on International talent at our Gala.
James Morrison hosted the evening, as well as playing in the show. The evening opened with a world premier of Possibilities for Trumpet & Orchestra in three movements. This was written for James Morrison by Grammy Award winning composer and band leader Gordon Goodwin and performed with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. American Gordon Goodwin has amassed twenty one Grammy nominations during his career and is the most decorated big band leader in the 21st century. It was a bit hard to imagine an orchestra playing with a four piece jazz band, but Goodwin managed to fuse the two together superbly. Not only did Goodwin conduct the piece, but also played piano during the third movement. Morrison, highly regarded in the jazz world did not disappoint with some great trumpet solos.
Next up Bruce Hancock and Julian Ferraretto, came out and played piano and violin for the audience. At times they played together and at other times performing incredible solos.
The final song of the first set (“Set is what we call it in the jazz world, not first half” Morrison told us) was the song “There is No Greater Love” with Morrison on trumpet and Goodwin on sax. At times they were playing with the orchestra and at other times with just the jazz band. Then all would join in for some wonderful moments of music. It also gave each member of the 4 piece jazz band a chance to display their skills with a short solo each.
The orchestra packed up in the interval and Set Two gave us the Big Band. This band consisted of pupils from the James Morrison Academy of Music in Mount Gambier and also pupils from a similar academy in New York, the Juilliard School of Music. They started with a new song called “Sipping on a Shark” before doing “In Transit”. The world of jazz has a secure future if these young people are anything to go by.
Even more pupils came on stage, filling out the Big Band to, well, a Bigger Band. At times there were over 25 people on stage. Trumpeter Mat Jodrell, joined the band to perform his magic. Matt was born in Australia but at the age of 16 was playing Carnegie Hall and has been living in New York for the last 8 years. He joined Gordon Goodwin in a delightful rendition of Blues in a Bucket.
Goodwin’s famous tune, Cannonball Run was next and it was obvious from the smiles on stage, the performers were having as much fun as the audience.
Adelaide born guitarist James Muller gave us some magnificent blues and jazz guitar playing. James has worked and recorded with James Morrison as well as many other legendary jazz greats. Morrison told us James Muller is held in high regard by rock/jazz fusion legend John McLaughlin. It was easy to see why.
The final guest for the evening was vocalist Darren Percival. The song James had chosen for him to sing was a surprise choice in Waltzing Matilda. This was done as an entertaining blues/jazz fusion and infectiously enjoyable. The band and Darren then slipped into the highlight of the evening, Our Love Is Here to Stay giving Darren the chance to showcase his powerful voice.
The audience were not going to let the band go without an encore and all the guests turned out on stage, raising the number to 30 people playing. During the song, Let the Good times Roll, everyone had the chance of a short solo.
Confession time! I am not a jazz fan with rock being my forte. However I really enjoyed the evening and the talent on display at the gala. I most certainly will be investigating some of these people’s work after seeing them.
Morrison is trying to secure Adelaide as the next world wide host city for International Jazz Day. Apparently there is some interest in this happening. Part of his ais argument is “have a look at what we’re doing in Adelaide (this year) and we’re not even the designated city.”
Let’s hope he pulls it off.
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