At the Lutheran Church Friday night,
Finland’s Sun Trio seemed caught between the past and future of jazz. When
trumpeter Jorma Kalevi Louhivuori played his instrument traditionally he had
exceptional range, from melodic to abstract, and from gorgeous to guttural.
Simply put, the man had incredible chops. But, about half the time, he insisted
on adding electronics to the mix, using pedals to distort and loop and another
devise to harmonize. Sometimes he’d put the trumpet to his side but it was
still playing.
The best moment of the
concert came on a ballad when Louhivuori, and his
superb bassist (Antti Lötjönen) and
drummer (Olavi Louhivuori),
gradually worked their way into such an other-worldly sound that it left the
reality of the trumpet, bass, and drums behind. Ironically they didn’t need any
of the electronics to work that magic.
Over at Christ Church,
the British band Partisans played its unique brand of punk jazz. At least
that’s what it seemed like to me as rock-oriented guitarist Phil Robson dueled
with hard bop saxophonist Julian Siegel. They were both excellent players (as
were bassist Thaddeus Kelly and drummer Gene Calderazzo)
but the sound left a lot to be desired.
When Partisans got deep
into an evocative piece like “Swamp,” which conjured up the sounds of a swamp
heightened to nightmare proportions, the cavernous room echoed and muddied the
instruments. The church is perfect for acoustic music; electric guitars just
don’t work well there.
Earlier in the evening I
caught Holophonor, seven young musicians from the Thelonious Monk Institute, at Max of Eastman Place.
Trumpeter Mike Cottone, a Rochesterian
and Eastman School of Music Graduate, seemed to be the leader, at least in his
hometown.
Every one of the band
members took fine solos. Especially strong were Miro
Sprague on piano and Diego Urbano playing with four
mallets on the vibraphone. Jonathan Pinson anchored the band well on drums.
On Cottone’s
tune, “The Puncher,” saxophonist Josh Johnson, trombonist Eric Miller and Cottone played some complex unison runs effortlessly.
Bassist Dave Robaire’s “Misconception,” a bluesy tune
that veered in unexpected directions, was my favorite of their compositions,
recalling — appropriately enough — the work of Thelonious
Monk.
A few audience members
may have been disappointed that no one in the group was actually playing a holophonor. Originating on the TV series “Futurama,” a holophonor is a 31st-century
musical instrument combining an oboe and a holographic projector. I wasn’t
disappointed; I’m just happy to finally have that picture phone I saw on “The Jetsons.”
Saturday night I’m
looking forward to hearing the Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet at Kilbourn Hall, the Sunna Gunnlaugs
Trio at the Lutheran Church, and John Escrett at Christ
Church.
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 1, 2014.
