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SF Jazz Collective and Sarah ChangUCSBs Arts & Lectures
Hosts Major Concerts in Jazz and Classical
Thursday, February 25, 2010
SF JAZZ COLLECTIVE: Of the thankfully continuing sagas in the
otherwise precarious current state ofjazz, one of the most
inspiring goes by the idealistic-sounding moniker of SF Jazz
Collective, an offshoot Randall Klines San Francisco Jazz Festival.
There have been other all-star groups connected to
hostingmothership jazz festivals, including road-worthy all-star
confabs sent out under the aegis of George Wein
Newport fest and the Monterey festival, both of which have
stopped in Santa Barbara before, but with akind of slap-dash,
thrown-together quality.
But SF Jazz Collective, founded in 2004 and featuring
educational, touring, and recording aspects, is
something else againa brave new model of a festival-sponsored
project with a more cohesive identityand with clear creative
objectives. This little big band features top players, and
commissions fresh chart
each season on the theme of particular legacy-worthy composers
including John Coltrane, WayneShorter, and this years subject,
Horace Silver. Santa Barbara jazz audiences have had the pleasure
andprivilege of following the story as it has progressed during
several years, from the early, Joshua Redman-directed incarnation
up through next Tuesdays return to town, at Campbell Hall. It
promises to be one of handful of truly potent jazz concerts in town
this year.
Two years back, the collective reached its zenith in terms of
personnel when it was stocked with some ofthe greatest jazz players
alive on their respective instruments. A powerful 2008 concert at
the LoberoTheatre, in the Wayne Shorter tribute season, brought to
town, on one stage for one show, the stellar likes tenor saxist Joe
Lovano, trumpeter Dave Douglas, trombonist Robin Eubanks, and
vibist Stefon Harris.
This years group is another talent-fortified aggregate, with
members from the past and into the future.Longstanding members alto
saxist Miguel Zenn, drummer Eric Harland, and bassist Matt Penman
are stilin place, and Eubanks and Harris remain, but the tenor sax
and trumpet chairs now go to Mark Turner andAvishai Cohen,
respectively. Back in the rhythm section, the wowing
pianist-deserving-greater-recognitioEdward Simon has taken that
spot (for a tasty offering of the Venezuelan master Simons own
artistry,
check out his fine new album, Poesia, on the Italian CamJazz
label).
ALWAYS IN SEASON: Korean-American violin virtuoso Sarah Chang,
who started out as a dazzlingyoung prodigy and now has matured into
one of the more luminous violinists on the world stage, has
passethrough Santa Barbara before, including a memorable debut
recital at Campbell Hall in 2007. HearingChang, now at the ripe age
of 29, always makes for a great reason to get out of the house and
realize theunique experience of live classical music.
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From the comforts of your own home stereo, you can soak up the
measured musicality of Changs latestrecording, a clean-burning,
moving interpretation of Vivaldis Four Seasons, with the Orpheus
Chamber
Orchestra, on EMI. Friday night at Campbell Hall, the violinist
accompanied by pianist Andrew vonOeyenwill take on a program of
Brahms, Franck, and, for contemporary musics sake, Americancomposer
Christopher Theofanidiss Fantasy. High expectations should be amply
rewarded.
BLUES IN THE COMPOUND: For some of the finest and most reliable,
genuine blues music hereabout
blues fans know to head over to Earl Warren Showgrounds once a
month or so, for the venerable SantaBarbara Blues Society concerts
in Warren Hall.
Consider this Saturdays show, featuring the rollicking and saucy
Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, anotherinstallment of
hot-night-out celebrations of the blues harp in town. Last year,
the startlingly good harpplayer Rod Piazza stirred up the joint,
returning to town recently for the Blues Harmonica Blowout atSOhO,
alongside comrades Kim Wilson and project ringleader Mark Hummel.
At the moment, Estrinsband, riding high on its debut album, Twisted
(Alligator), is up for the Band of the Year award from theBlues
Foundations Blues Music Awards. Dancing is very much allowed, and
coaxed from what happensonstage.
(Got e? [email protected].)
