Jazz Fest, Day 7: Frank reviews Joey DeFrancesco, Buddy Guy, pops in at Party in the Park for Lucinda Williams, and then back to Jazz Fest for Selwyn Birchwood

The
bobbing head with the van dyke be-bopping behind the B3 was its
reigning king, Joey DeFrancesco. DeFranceso spent the better part of
an hour wringing the instrument out as if it were a washcloth.

With
an abbreviated yet capable crew — guitar and drums — the cat
slathered and slaughtered with exuberant execution and deadly
dynamics. While winding a song down into the depths of a lower
register conclusion, I swore I could make out words; he made the
goddamn thing talk. And he plays the trumpet beautifully a la Mr.
Baker. Who knew? That was a pleasant surprise.

I
caught just the beginning of blues legend Buddy Guy’s set as the
evening’s most excellent offerings had me torn between two lovers,
feeling like a fool. The polka-dotted Mr. Guy painted Kodak Hall’s
walls blue with his brilliant Strato-twang.

But
alas, I had to agitate some gravel and split off the grid to check
out Lucinda Williams at Party in the Park. Williams was hot and on
top of her game as she drawled her bluesy American over the shag laid
down by her awesome band.

The
audience, well over 4,000, was filled with sing-along diehards as
Williams plucked out hits, new songs — watch for one called
“Protection,” that sucker rocks — and Neil Young’s “Rockin’
in the Free World.” And as I wiggled my toes in the grass, I didn’t
miss the old site at all.

Return
to Jazz Fest and Abilene’s asphalt jungle. Selwyn Birchwood brought
the Tampa heat and had the crowd out of its seat. These cats were
funkier than a porta-potty at a chili cook off. But they also brought
the classic swing with tunes like Louis Jordan’s “Caledonia.”

Music
was electric and in the air all over town tonight. C’mon sluggo, it
can be like this every night. Dirt Daubers tomorrow night. Duck…

This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 1, 2014.