JAZZ FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE: 39th DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL 2018 words by Calvin Neal, photos by Calvin Neal & Greg Lewis

OPENING NIGHT

Terri Lyne Carrington/Esperanza Spalding; Tribute To Geri Allen, “Open On All Sides” (creative music side of Geri)

Esperanza Spalding – bass

Terri Lyne Carrington - drums

Kris Davis – piano

Ravi Coltrane – saxophones

David McMurray – flute

Carrington, Spalding and pianist Kris Davis began the set with some fiery trio play in a set wholly comprised of Geri Allen compositions. Then, the trio was joined by saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and David McMurray on flute plus tap artist Maurice Chestnut (performed in Europe with Geri Allen as tap soloist) Spalding was bouncy, energetic and absolutely fierce during the tribute. With sunglasses keeping the glare of the evening sun out of her eyes, Carrington was the epitome me of cool. And boy did she jam! Pianist Davis was a revelation and more than did justice to the Allen compositions. McMurray played beautiful in and out flute and Coltrane, who is a dead ringer for his father, (and also much underrated) shone very bright. A marvelous way to kickoff DJF 2018.

David McMurray, Esperanza Spalding, Ravi Coltrane

David McMurray

David McMurray, Esperanza Spalding, Ravi Coltrane, Terri Lyne Carrington

A brief interlude from Mack Avenue Records artists the Julian Lage Trio

Julian Lage Trio

lead to a rousing session from this year’s Artist-In-Residence, Chick Corea Along with DJF mainstay bassist John Patitucci and longtime Corea collaborator, drummer Dave Weckl, the performed as The Akoustic Band. At 77, Corea looked youthful and healthy and as nimble fingered as ever. Patitucci may be the best jazz bassist in the business right now (in my humble estimation) and on this night he did not disappoint. His solos were strong and definitive. And he is also a wizard with the bow. The propulsive Weckl sounded as if he could have played all night. Through an array of Akoustic Band music , old and new, Chick and friends sounded as fresh as the did on the 1989 album named for the band.

Chick Corea

DAY 2

Straight Ahead – Carhartt Amphitheatre

Regina Carter – violin

Alina Moor – piano

Marion Hayden – bass

Gayelynn McKinney – drums

Kymberli Wright – vocals

Yancyy – saxophone

The 25^th reunion of Straight Ahead was all we expected and more. The core of Straight Ahead, violinist Regina Carter, pianist Alina Moor, bassist Marion Hayden and Gayelynn McKinney on drums were in rare form. Their 50-minute set was a treasure trove of the groups long list of compositions. Joined for one tune by Detroiters, vocalist Kymberli Wright and saxophonist Yancyy, with amazing scat vocalese from Ms. Wright. Carter displayed her world class skills and rocked the house. Moor, with her inside/outside playing, added to the weekend of outstanding pianists (see Kris Davis in Opening Night article), while Hayden and McKinney, as always, keeping the groove.

Alina Moor

Marion Hayden

Regina Carter, Gayelynn McKinney

Regina Carter, Marion Hayden, Kymberli Wright

Louis Hayes Quintet – Carhartt Amphitheatre

Louis Hayes – drums

Abraham Burton – tenor sax

Steve Nelson – vibes

David Bryant – piano

Dezron Douglas – bass

Though Dr. Lonnie Smith and his trio were scheduled for the time slot, Louis Hayes and his quintet were more than worthy alternates. Hayes at 81, is still one of the hardest driving drummers around. Accompanied by Abraham Burton on tenor sax, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, David Bryant on piano and on bass, Dezron Douglas. The set was entitled “Serenade for Horace”, Hayes’ tribute to his mentor and former bandleader the legendary Horace Silver. Throughout the 50-minute set, Hayes and company helped me believe that my beloved hard bop is not dead. Veteran vibist and educator Nelson, longtime member bassist Dave Holland’s groups, was fiery and original. Abraham Burton was a welcome voice with his own hard bop voice. The boyish looking Bryant was just another of the magnificent pianists heard during this festival. Douglas, on up-tempo and slower, held it down with his thumping bassline. Expecting Dr. Lonnie Smith and instead seeing Louis Hayes was like wanting a Play Station and getting an Xbox, fantastic either way.

Louis Hayes Quintet

Abraham Burton

Louis Hayes

Steve Nelson

David Bryant

Dezron Douglas

DAY 3

Hubtones: Freddie Hubbard 80^th Birthday Celebration – JP Morgan Chase Main Stage

Randy Brecker – trumpet

Nicolas Payton – trumpet

David Weiss – trumpet

Jeremy Pelt – trumpet

The 80^th birthday celebration for the late, great trumpeter Freddie Hubbard entitled Hubtones, was absolutely amazing. Four of the top trumpeters in jazz, the highly decorated Nicholas Payton, Randy Brecker, who during his illustrious career has been a member of Blood, Sweat and Tears and both the Horace Silver Quintet and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the young firebrand Jeremy Pelt and David Weiss, who recorded with Hubbard on his final session.

Nicholas Payton

Randy Brecker

Jeremy Pelt

Jeremy Pelt, Randy Brecker, Nicholas Payton

David Weiss

Roy McCurdy

Asaba Trio – Absopure Waterfront Stage

Hirofumi Asaba – guitar

Yuhei Honkawa – bass

Toshihiro Fujita – drums

This year’s representative of the Yokohama Jazz Promenade was the winner of its Grand Prix competition, The Asaba Trio. Lead by guitarist Hirofumi Asaba, the trio, bassist Yuhei Honkawa and drummer Toshihiro Fujita were, as previous Yokohama winners, tremendous. Asaba, who’s style pays tribute to Barney Kessel, was a nimble finger magician. “Sweet and Lovely, “In Your Own Special Way” and “Asaba Blues” were standouts. Honkawa reminded of the bassists of legend like Oscar Pettiford, as he mouthed every thump of his bass, it was great! And drummer was a cool, unassuming dynamo.