[styhorporry]

I have a few things to say about the last few posts, but it will have to wait for another time. I will say this though... you can call whatever music whatever you want... labels are not interesting to me. But some music calls for certain ettiquite. Tradition, if you will, dictates this ettiquite and that is partially what elevates some music to trancendant levels (like the Wayne Shorter Quartet's unbelievable show last night), and relegates other music to being, for better or for worse, whatever it is. All music requires decisions to be made... to create the illusion of spontenaeity in jazz, these decisions must be made so quickly they must be relegated to the subconcious part of the brain so as to sound natural, organic and honest. So why is that every decision that Wayne's band chose to make last night was the right decision? Why is it that ANY decision they made to take the music in ANY direction WOULD have been the right one? Impossible to say, but it's a testament to the musicianship of this incredible band that it ends up sounding that way. That musicianship... that all-encompassing sense of history combined with a sense of purpose and intent... make that music great. Tradition. Every thing they played last night came from somewhere and that was recognized and embraced unapoligetically. Some musicians lack that concept, lack that purpose and that honesty. They are afraid to embrace tradition, to embrace history for fear that it will lessen the originality of their own voice. These are the bands I would like to see less of at the festival. I will not mention who I have seen that I think lacks the essential qualities of musicianship that make them appropriate for a "jazz" festival. I WILL hasten to say that it's NOT Chris Gestrin's "Stillpoint" though, as that music was so mindnumbingly beautiful, I could hardly speak afterwards. Way to go Chris, you held your own warming up for one of the great masters of music of all time with music that was heartfelt, honest, and simply beautiful.

[apodildNoli]

Morgan, I know Kesley is from Montreal as I too met him at Banff last year (at the Big Band Workshop with Maria Schneider) I didn't mean to lump him in with the LA cats. I was just giving some random thoughts about who I'd want to see.

Along the Brookmeyer lines, him with Jim Hall would be cool, but I'd kill to see him with the New Art Orchestra, but funds probably wouldn't let it happen. While I'm on the Big Band tangent (which I do often) the UMO Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider Orchestra or the Village Vanguard would be great.... not that they tour often or are likely.

I'll end with a random Brookmeyer thought I'll sign off with something he said about Faddis at a Clark Terry tribute concert.

"Faddis could take some lessons -- his deportment on stage was rude and childish and, without the high notes, he'd be playing 3rd trumpet somewhere. Grow up, kid! There's REAL musicians around. "

Right or wrong, it's fun to read!

[apodildNoli]

I'd have to start with a trombone player, any trombone player! I'm not too picky, but the last one I can remember headlining was JJ (in '93??) and he was OPENING the concert. Other ones have come and gone since (Steve Turre and Robin Eubanks with Dave Holland) but I would love to see Andy Martin play.... or Jiggs.... or Brookmeyer (with or without big band)

Morgan, I'll second the Grant/Jefferson Quintet. I'm a sucker for those LA guys or the Bill Holman Band or Basie band (again.... and I know they aren't LA)

I'im sure if I put more effort into it the list would be longer...........

[Coellacag]

Sorry. The above rant is actually off topic from this thread. It is more of a response to a couple of ongoing themes that have kept popping up over the last few months. The old "if it's not bebop, why's it in the festival" theme.