On The Beat
Distilling Jazz
By Kerry Doole
Originally Published: 2006-05-14
THE ART OF JAZZ: Here is an exciting new development on the local (and national) jazz scene. Acclaimed multi-instrumentalist JANE BUNNETT, her trumpeter colleague LARRY CRAMER and two other jazz enthusiasts have created an organization to boost awareness and knowledge of jazz, and it is unveiled this month via a five-day festival. May 17-21, at The Distillery District. In a recent interview with Tandem, Jane explained that Art of Jazz "is designed to support jazz musicians in terms of outreach for educational purposes. If someone is performing in town, they can also hold a clinic or speak to an audience. Our mandate is to build the educational component into performance." They're off to a great start with an adventurous and exciting program that includes tributes to two jazz greats, BARRY HARRIS and Toronto-based musician/composer DON THOMPSON. High-profile artists helping pay tribute to Don will include JOHN HANDY (the California saxophonist with whom Thomson played extensively early on), JIM HALL, and PHIL DWYER, while other events will feature the impressive likes of HANK JONES, SHEILA JORDAN, EDDIE HENDERSON, KENNY BARRON and New Orleans second line brass band THE SOUL REBELS. A tribute to hipster SLIM GAILLARD promises to be another highlight.
CLASSICAL CDS: It is always a challenge for record labels to repackage their classical catalogue in an appealing new way. The highly-respected Deutsche Grammophon label (distributed here via Universal Canada) shows how it should be done with their new Weekend Classics series. Some titles comprise works from one notable composer (including CHOPIN, GERSHWIN, BEETHOVEN, DEBUSSY, TCHAIKOVSKY, BACH, PUCCINI, RAVEL, MOZART, VIVALDI) while others are themed (baroque, adagios, piano). The selections feature such noted orchestras as THE LONDON PHILHARMONIC and SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY and famed conductors SEIJI OZAWA, CLAUDIO ABBADO, and LEONARD BERNSTEIN, so the performance level is high. Add in attractive packaging and you have discs well worth playing during the week as well.
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