[Dixielandjazz] Support live jazz!

[Marek Boym]

No, I have not been to any jazz performances since 29 March.
But on 27-29 March I attended listmate Tamas' Bohem Ragtime & Jazz Festival
in Kecskemet, Hungary.  My third - and the best so far!
The Bohem Ragtime & Jazz Band celebrates its 30's anniversary this year and
must be among the best playing anywhere.  Tamas doesn't look old enough to
have led a band that long, but there's no arguing with facts. To me, a
little orchestral ragtime goes a long way, so the ragtime pieces were not
among my favourites, but on jazzier numbers the Bohems sound hot,swinging
and inspired.  And has several first class soloists: Tamas Itzes on both
piano and violin, Atilla Korb on trombone, trumpet and piano, József Torok
on string and brass bass, and the ubiquitous Zoltan Matrai on various
reeds.  He is another world class musician, who could excel in any band
worldwide.
In addition to his own band, Tamas came up with a fantastic lineup: the
Alderighis (Paolo and his wife Stephanie Trick) on piano, the Echoes of
Swing (Chris Hopkins on alto sax(!), Colin T. Dawson on trumpet, Bernd
Lhotzky on piano and Oliver Mewes on drums), and the International All
Stars led by Atilla Korb (Malo Mazurie - trumpet, Korb on his various
instruments, Evan Arntzen - reeds,  David Blenkhorn electric guitar,
Sebastien Girardot - bass and Guillaume Nouvaux - drums).
Musicians hark from all over: Hungary, Germany, England, Australia and
North America (Arntzen was labelled Canada/US), although the English Colin
Dawson resides and plays in Germany, and this, I believe, also goes for the
Aussie Blenkhorn.
The programme was extremely interesting.  It started with the Bohems,
followed after an intermission by the Echoes of Swing, on the second day
there was a piano show with Trick, Alderighi, Lhotzky and Chris Hopkins,
who is best known as a pianist and has a wonderful CD on Arbors (so does
Lhotzky).  On the last day I complained to management that one pianist
failed to show up, to which management (Tamas) replied "I'll play a number
today."  The there was "duo special," partners being selected by lot.  A
lovely show.  In the evening it was Paolo Alderighi with Stephanie Trick,
who gave an astounding performance.  I sometimes complain about too much
clowning on stage - not here; although they were extremely funny,
ostensibly blocking each other's access to the keyboard, for example, it
never for a second affected  their playing!  They played on two pianos, one
piano - four hands, and each solo.  Paolo also told us about his trick to
trick Trick away from the only piano they have at home.  The Bohems do not
refrain from clowning, either, but again - it does not affect their
playing.  I have taped most of what I heard, and I can tell there was
clowning only by the bursts of laughter.
And the musical programme was variegated, with many not so commonly played
tunes.  Bernd Lhotzky of the Echoes of Swing told the audience about a
rehearsal at Hopkins' house, at the end of which the musicians asked
Hopkins to bring wine from his cellar.  He came back, Lhotzky said in a
dramatic voice, carrying a five litre bottle of absinthe,all of which was
an introduction to the next tune - "Delirium."  A lovely tune, but when did
any of you last hear it live?  The Bohems, too, played tunes off the beaten
track, but they have been together for many years and have developed a
tremendous repertoire.
The first and second days ended with jam sessions, but most participants
were the festival musicians.  On both evenings there was a trombonist who
did not play at the festival, and on the first one - another very young
trombone player (he participated in jam sessions at the previous Bohem
festivals I  attended).  The last day ended with a grand finale, with all
hands on stage.
Something about the conditions: Due to renovations at the Cultural Centre,
the festival was moved to the Four Points by Sheraton.  The rooms were very
good, staff friendly, but the conference hall where the concerts took place
left a lot to be desired.  The acoustic were hardly great, the floor was
straight, so that the stage was not very visible from farther rows, so that
they had to put a screen in the middle, and seating was on regular chairs.
Kudos to Tamas and the sound people for having the amplification set in
such a manner as to make the music clearly audible everywhere in the room,
but not too loud!
Musically, as I have already mentioned, it was the best - yet - of those I
have attended (I definitely do not exclude the possibility of attending
additional Bohem festivals).
Cheers