[Dixielandjazz] Monterey jazz Festival

[billsharp]

Just returned from a weekend at the Monterey Jazz Festival where the 
weather and scenery was both picture-postcard perfect.  Bet a lot of 
people sent  those " Perfect/beautiful weekend  - -wish you were here" 
postcards to friends. .  . . or maybe the the ones that say "I'm here, 
wish you were perfect/beautiful".

Any way you slice it, the Monterey people put on a terrific festival, 
and you can see the results of a lot of hard work., with stellar bands 
chosen - - -   there was not  a schlock band in the bunch.  The only 
thing which ruined several sets was the lack of any sound technicians 
at any of the sites.  The organizers apparently simply placed mics on 
stage, set all levels the same , and walked away.  At least that's the 
impression that the people in our group got from the audio quality of 
bands the first day, and we left several sets where fine bands were 
playing, simply because of the sound mix. . .twas like seeing the queen 
dressed in homeless apparel. . . shocking.

  As bands began wising up to the the situation and began monitoring 
their own sound more carefully, the sound quality began improving 
dramatically, and by about about a quarter way through the festival 
began sounding like their true selves - -  marvelous, simply marvelous.

Mighty Aphrodite is to continuing to notch up their performance level 
at each festival at which they appear.  Whereas they initially appeared 
as a novelty/cute band with fairly decent musical skills for being so 
young, they are now just a hair's-breadth from becoming classified as 
true musical professionals... The grand thing about them is that you 
know that each one of them is musically challenging themselves to 
improve  by not "playing safe"  when they solo - - they "go for it" 
especially Bria (trumpet) with the others catching on to that notion 
quickly.  Both the trombone and clarinet player are ramping up for the 
big time.  (And P.S., they're ALL  still very novelty/ cute)  :))

They had a substitute piano player, merely 22 years old who had an 
incredible touch, and played solos well-worth listening to.  If she's 
only subbing and you need a might fine piano player, I'd say "Get her". 
  [ I almost said "Grab her", but realized the sinister implications.]

Their bassit and drummer both provide a continuous driving force that 
any lead player in the world would feel comfortable standing in front 
of.

There's another band on the horizon that you absolutely must hear, 
organized by Brady McCay, named Parlor Jam.  She has assembled a staff 
of musicians who, each individually, are exceptionally talented, and 
each one adds that spark of energy you like to present see in any band. 
  That sum total of energy glues your ears to whatever they are doing.  
Their hugely diverse selection of songs by itself keeps you so very 
interested in seeing what tempo/beat/style that will choose for the 
next song.

One of the things most interesting to me, being a trumpet player, is 
the "new" sound coming from Parlor Jam Chuck Bond's trumpet.  He is 
creating a sound unique to just himself in the same way that Dan 
Barret's sound is so uniquely special  on trombone.  I asked him about 
it and he said yes, that's exactly what he's trying to do.

Bond is not the same person who drove Titan Hot Five to the top of the 
charts.  Actually, he IS the same person, but he is reinventing the 
sound he's producing . . . He seems to be trying to caress and give you 
a brightly polished and highly-refined sound that makes you lean 
forward to catch what he's doing.  When he's done with a solo, the 
words "Please don't stop. Play more" enters your mind. His final " 
unique sound"  that he says he is is the middle of creating is 
something that I am certain that others will soon be trying to copy.  I 
know that I will . .

Parlor Jam did a song titled "Won't You Smile On Me Tonight", which was 
so haunting and lyrical that it moved me almost to tears by its sheer 
beauty and  because of the wonderful way it was performed. . the reason 
that Brady performs it which such personal feeling is that, so it turns 
out,  she wrote it.  When you see them, ask for the song. . . this has 
the potential  for becoming her signature piece.

They said that it's been recorded, but not put onto a CD yet. Keep an 
eye on Brady's website and snag it as soon as it comes out - -though I 
have no idea when that will be .. . .  I also have no idea whose parlor 
they've been jamming in, but they can jam in mine any day. They are a 
force to be reckoned with.

If you're a festival promoter, I suggest you get your arse in gear and 
snag 'em. . . . When the word gets out,  they will soon be drawing the 
large audiences. .  . and that is my fearless prediction!

This past weekend's Monterey Festival was a "WOW!!" festival.    I was 
there - - - wish you were beautiful.