Zakir Hussain at SF Jazz

Last month I attended my first performance at the new SF Jazz Center Robert N. Miner auditorium.  Bob was a dear friend of mine, and he loved jazz.  While a very private guy, I think he would have thought it pretty cool to be remembered this way.  Is is a beautiful and intimate hall.  I'll write more about the first concert,which was Dave Holland's Prism, in my next post.  Last night's concert was Zakir Hussain, and it was amazing.  Zakir is perhaps the most accomplished musician of any genre currently living (as was Ravi Shankar).  Staggering technique, a great listener, a deep spirituality, and a sense of humor and showmanship allow him to chaarm and amaze even those unfamiliar with Indian classical music.  The purpose of this concert was to introduce young musicians to the west that Zakir believes are the leaders of the future.  Rakesh Chaurasia (the nephew of Hariprasad  Chaurasia, who I saw perform an amazing concert with Ravi and Ali Akbar Khan at Berkeley Community many years ago) on bansuri  (bamboo flutes) Niladri Kumar on sitar, and Ganesh Rajagopalan on violin.  As Zakir stated, it is an unusual instrumentation for Indian classical music.  Each instrument was featured in a raga.  They would start with the traditional alap, and then expand and build tension and tempo.  There was a distinct western edge to some of the themes, and occasionally a music cue would trigger a rehearsed unison band line, ala Weather Report or late 60's Miles.  And like Miles, it was obvious that Zakir was there to listen to his young players.  Often with eyes closed and hands folded in his lap for the alaps.  And then, with the flick of a wrist, a world of explosive percussion would wash over the audience.  Aficionados and novices alike are stunned by his virtuosity.  He reminds us that  time and polyrythyms are infinite.  As Charles Mingus said, he plays around the core of the beat, without ever having to state it.  Niladri hit harmonics and double stops (which aren't used in Indian music) and bent notes in western blues and rock scales, as well as the traditional rags.  The second set took on an even more overt western tinge, with quotes from Smoke On The Water, and the theme to The Good, The Bad, and Thge Ugly (which even Zakir quoted).  These players have mastered their music, and feel free to incorporate other musics within the framework of their art.  Just as jazz and rock and roll have influenced young flamencos, and of course Indian music has influenced rock and roll, and jazz, for over 50 years.  Bravo Zakir!

October 17 2011

Genius is a word used too often.  But the SF Jazz Festival the last two weeks has indeed presented genius.  By my definition, a genius changes the way we perceive a discipline.  Einstein, Picasso, Charlie Parker.  October 1 at the Paramount the young genius Esperanza Spaulding and her Chamber Music Society played. The next night Wayne Shorter and his quartet were at Herbst.  Then Ravi Shankar on October 7 at Davies.  Now 91, I've had the privilge of seeing Ravi for over 40 years.  With his daughter Anoushka a recent mom and not on this tour, I was afraid age might finally catch up with him.  It hasn't; he's still the finest musician in the world, of any genre.  And last night, McCoy Tyner, who I've also had the privilege of seeing since my teens, played Herbst with the fabulous Chris Potter on tenor.

Number 66 March 10, 2011

I've had the privilege of seeing some of the greatest performers for many years over their careers.  I've been going to see Ravi Shankar and B.B. King for over 40 years, and Eric Clapton for over 30 years.  B.B. played the Fox in Oakland February 24, and Eric was at the HP Pavillion March 2.  I was struck by the realization that although B.B. is in advanced years, and plays sitting down now, his act has been consistant throughout his career.  There is banter with the audience, a song for thre ladies, a song for the guys, an excellent band with a jazzy back up guitar player, and of course B.B.'s wonderful playing.  It's a style of entertainment that goes back to vaudeville. In the old days, B.B. would put his hands on his hips, wag his fingers at the audience, and mime both sides of a boy/girl argument.  And of course, there is that tone, identifiable with one note.  Just as B.B. acknowledges Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt as influences, B.B. has influenced everyone who has come after him.  Which brings me to Eric. His singing is probably at its most relaxed  now, and without the wonderful Doyle Bramhall and Derek Trucks, who have been with him the last few years, there is more room just to hear Eric's fluid, beautiful playing.  And my, Willie Weeks and Steve Gadd are marvelous.  Gadd has played with everyone from Steely Dan to Jim Hall and all the CTI artists.  With Eric, he is simply the best drummer in the world - simple, and perfect.  I'll get to see Ravi, and Anoushka, in May

Number 45 June 4, 2010

Tuesday I saw the great Pat Martino at Yohi's SF. Pat is a living master of the music; one of the musicians like McCoy Tyner , Jeff Beck, Ravi Shankar, Ornette Coleman, and a few others that I see whenever I can.  This gig featured Tony Monaco on Hammond B3, and Jason Brown on drums.  Pat's website is a wonderful resource for guitarists.  Like all great musicians, I believe Pat can touch people who don't normally listen to this kind of music.  From the stage he told an anecdote about introducing Les Paul (at whose house he was boarding) to Wes Montgomery between his sets when Pat was 17 or so.  Wes told Les that he was one of his two biggest heroes, along with Charlie Christian.  After his gig, he went back to Wes's club, and Pat, Wes, Les, and George Benson and Grant Green all went out to breakfast at 4 AM!

Number 22 November 7, 2009

My engineer/producer Cookie Marenco mentioned to Butch Morris the other week that I go to more concerts than anyone she knows. I have been blessed with seeing all kinds of amazing performances since childhood. From musicals to opera to jazz to blues at The Fillmore West. I subscribe to SF Jazz Festival, The SF Opera, and Cal Performances, among others. The Bay Area is an amazingly rich place for performance art; rivaling New York. This year’s SF Jazz Fall season is exceptional. Thursday the 29th was Ravi and Anushka Shankar. I’ve been going to Ravi concerts for over 40 years, and have seen him many times. He is the ultimate musician to me, and Anushka is well on the way. At age 89, his energy and speed have been in a bit of a decline, but this was the best I have seen him in many years. It was one of the top 3 performances I’ve ever seen, and one of the other two was also Ravi. Later that evening I got to see the paintings of Krisztina Lazar. I think she is brilliant, and I realized one of her paintings would make a great cover for The Valence Project. You can check out her art and design projects at www.transcendentbird.com

Gregory James