Monterey Jazz Festival
Monterey 2009: Parting Thoughts
The 52nd annual Monterey Jazz Festival has come to a successful conclusion. Once again, the festival organizers have brought together fantastic music and a warm community atmosphere for an experience that will be remembered for years to come. [more] »
Monterey 2009: Jason Moran – “Feedback”
The Monterey Jazz Festival's annual commission for new original work often yields something unexpected and memorable. But perhaps never has there been a festival commision as unusual as "Feedback," the 20-minute piece premiered by pianist Jason Moran at the start of Sunday night's Arena program. [more] »
Monterey 2009: Buffalo Collision
The Monterey Jazz Festival took an abrupt turn into the avant-garde when Buffalo Collision, a unique combination of two advanced strains of freeform jazz, took the Garden Stage for the space between Sunday's afternoon and evening programs. [more] »
Monterey 2009: Alfredo Rodriguez Trio
From the start of his late afternoon set at the Monterey Jazz Festival's Garden Stage, Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez made it clear that his was music for serious listening. Opening with a piece that slowly coalesced from misty dispersion into a sinister pulse, Rodriguez played short phrases, then extrapolated them up and down the keyboard, repeating or embroidering, pounding away at single chords and describing intricate designs, allowing each only a brief moment of flight before moving on to the next idea. [more] »
Monterey 2009: Terrence Brewer Trio
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the 52nd annual Monterey Jazz Festival, Bay Area guitarist Terrence Brewer brought good vibes to the crowded Coffe House Gallery, filling the room with warmth, verve and soul as he paid tribute to the legacy of guitar icon Wes Montgomery. [more] »
Monterey 2009: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
It is traditional to end a big event with a fireworks display, and there were plenty of pyrotechnics on hand as Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra closed out the Saturday Arena show at the 52nd annual Monterey Jazz Festival. [more] »
Monterey 2009: Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet
The Monterey Jazz Festival was a Northern California homecoming for Ambrose Akinmusire, who blazed into the spotlight by winning the Thelonious Monk Institute's trumpet competition in 2007. Akinmusire has spent the intervening years establishing his name as a vanguard player on the New York scene, and he brought a powerhouse quintet to the festival's "Night Club" room on Saturday night. [more] »
Monterey 2009: Erskine/Pasqua Trio
In the dark, tightly packed confines of the Monterey Jazz Festival's "Coffee House Gallery" venue, the trio of drummer Peter Erskine, pianist Alan Pasqua and bassist Darek Oles gave a fine demonstration of the axiom that sometimes less is more. [more] »
