My previous two reports focused on the introduction of a lesser-known side of the New York JVC Jazz Festival. In my final report, I want to cover the performances of Craig Harris (tb,vo), the Ravi Coltrane quartet, and Groove Collective at “Celebrate Brooklyn!”, an outdoor event that is a mainstay of the New York summer calendar.
Prospect Park
Take the subway southbound from downtown Manhattan for about half an hour, and you will find, lying across the East River, the melting pot community of Brooklyn. At Prospect Park, the largest park in the neighborhood and an urban oasis for the locals, a large-scale event called Celebrate Brooklyn! is organized annually between mid-June and mid-August, featuring a diverse array of fun-filled events, including music, film, theater and dance, all for just a three-dollar donation. For a few years now, the JVC Jazz Festival has hosted exciting jazz concerts on a weekend night during the month of June, contributing its energy to Celebrate Brooklyn!, which marks its 29th anniversary this year. Slightly different from the ones that you see in Manhattan’s formal concert halls, these music events allow you to experience an intermingling of the local community in a relaxed, intimate environment.
Craig Harris (tb,vo)
While it was still light at 7 o’clock on a Friday evening, the three-feature live concert began. Craig Harris (tb,vo) appeared as the first performer of the night. Harris is known as a major figure in the avant-garde movement from the loft-jazz era in the ‘70s, displaying a total command of the expansive vocabulary of African-American musical expression. Opening with a challenging composition in the avant-garde tradition, he was joined by The Nation of Imagination, a lively soul music unit featuring promising jazz singer Carla Cook. The audience gave him a rousing ovation as the master performer came out with both a trombone solo and a stunning vocal performance.
Ravi Coltrane(ts,ss)
Ravi Coltrane (ts,ss) is the son of John Coltrane (ts,ss), a major innovator and spiritual pillar of jazz in the ‘60s. Now at 41, Ravi Coltrane is considered a late-blooming artist whose talent has been honed to perfection over a long period of time. In January 2007, Alice Coltrane (p,org,harp), his mother and the last key member of the John Coltrane quintet, passed away. Despite the impact of such a loss, his music career has decidedly taken off, and the spiritual sense in his music portrays his own distinctive style, while at the same time successfully assuming his parents’ mantle.Currently a resident of the state of New Jersey, Ravi Coltrane used to live close to Prospect Park. Up on the stage in the park, many of his local friends and acquaintances, such as his son’s school friends and their parents, called out to him enthusiastically. Such playful banter aside, his performance was intense and serious. The gripping solo exchange between one of today's brightest young drummers, E.J. Strickland, and himself brought to mind the intense exchanges between John Coltrane and Elvin Jones (ds). It was then followed by “Jagadishwar” a tribute to his late mother, and closed with “Giant Steps” a song by John Coltrane, representative of his early work. It was a moment when Ravi Coltrane could proudly secure his proper voice amongst an audience of his own.
Groove Collective
Formed in New York in 1994, Groove Collective is a band deeply influenced by acid jazz (funky ‘club’ jazz originating from clubs in the U.K.). With a Grammy nomination for their latest album "People People Music Music" this year, the band continues to strive towards refining their artistic style. The band is in high demand during the summer festival season for their unique arrangements combining elements of jazz, funk, Latin music, and hip hop. The music strikes a universal chord with audiences, transforming the outdoor stage into a massive dance hall. The band started with a Latin-inspired song, a tribute to the late Tito Puente (per), known as "The King of Latin Music." The driving rhythms were punctuated by the upbeat horns of Jay Rodriguez (ts, fl) and Curtis Folks (tb). Loud cheers arose from old friends in the audience when drummer Genji Siraisi announced: “I grew up in this neighborhood!”
As this three-hour concert featuring three distinctive music groups drew to a close, Ravi Coltrane once again took the stage, making way for a huge horn session.
This sizzling summer concert was brought to a close to thunderous applause. Up in the sky the full moon lit the streets for fans making their way home, basking in the afterglow of a special night. New York’s hot summer season has just begun.
(June 22nd, 2007 at Prospect Park Bandshell, Brooklyn, NY)
Links
Celebrate Brooklyn! http://www.celebratebrooklyn.org/
Craig Harris http://www.craigsharris.com/
Ravi Coltrane http://www.ravicoltrane.com/
Groove Collective http://www.groovecollective.com
 |
 |
