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Chicago Tribune
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Review: Chicago Jazz Philharmonic's ‘Ellingtonia' a lively tribute to Duke
Partway through the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic's midday Saturday set, artistic director Orbert Davis made a sheepish admission. The band had just gotten back from the Havana International Jazz Festival in Cuba, and they'd meant to practice for this program abroad, he swears. Instead, they were too busy having fun. Sure enough, some slapdash elements came through in 'Ellingtonia,' the Philharmonic's two-hour-long Duke tribute. (Davis and the Philharmonic have made portrait concerts like these a signature staple over the years.) Some Ellington originals ran raggeder than others, while several others had to be cut for time. But having fun is something this band has down pat. The collective joie de vivre and virtuosity of the seven-piece ensemble, drawn from the fuller ranks of the Philharmonic, was more than enough to carry a lively — and nearly sold-out — matinee at Austin's Kehrein Center for the Arts. The band had hardly taken the stage before leaping into 'Jubilee Stomp,' its wiggly sax theme played in eye-popping unison by Davis, saxophonist Steve Eisen and violinist Zara Zaharieva. In 'Amad,' Davis pointed to both guitarist John Moulder and pianist Leandro López Várady to cue them for a double solo. Both musicians simultaneously played a nearly identical turn of phrase, then doubled over laughing at the realization. The first half of the program ended with a downtempo, almost psychedelic account of 'Caravan.' Moulder, also the arranger, streaked the orchestration with vibey electric guitar, including in his long solo at the tune's middle. Later, Davis's trumpet, Eisen's tenor, and Zaharieva's violin bobbed against each other in lapping close dissonances. 1 of The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic performs 'Ellingtonia,' a suite about jazz great Duke Ellington, during a performance at Kehrein Center for the Arts in Chicago's Austin neighborhood on Feb. 8, 2025. (Talia Sprague/for the Chicago Tribune) 'Ellingtonia's' many 'medleys' weren't so much medleys as songs grouped thematically on the program — like selections from Ellington's 'Far East Suite,' or his recorded Sacred Concerts from the 1960s. 'Mount Harissa' erupted with a breathtakingly brilliant tenor solo by Eisen, while Davis transplanted the alto melody in Billy Strayhorn's 'Isfahan' to a mournful flugelhorn. The band was joined by two singers on opposite sides of their careers: Bernard 'B. Lilly' Jr., an up-and-coming singer from Chicago's West Side, and Bobbi Wilsyn, a veteran of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and other city groups. Lilly joined the group for the relaxed swing of 'I'm Just A Lucky So-and-So' and 'I'm Beginning to See the Light,' his voice sugary and easily floating. Wilsyn took on the more austere selections from Ellington's Sacred Concerts, taking over from Zaharieva's atmosphere opening solo in 'Praise God' and ending 'Tell Me It's the Truth' in gospel-inspired pyrotechnics. A ballad 'medley' was curtailed for time, ending after Wilsyn's adroit, almost operatic rendition of 'Sophisticated Lady.' 'Let's end with something that'll get you really clapping,' Davis told the audience, then crowed the distinctive opening lick of 'Take the A Train' on his horn. The band joined in jauntily, ending with solo signoffs from every member. The concert's digital program book, accessible by QR code, included one page titled 'Artistic Statement.' On it was a portrait of Ellington, and a quotation, signed by Davis: 'America's greatest composer!' The Philharmonic more than made the argument.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jazz band prepares for Cuban festival performance
It's a big week for a Birmingham-based jazz band as its members prepare to perform at a festival in Cuba. Musicians Kate Luxmoore, Lekan Babalola, Tom Marsh and Jon Escoto Brown form the Sacred Funk Quartet which was founded more than 20 years ago. Being invited to perform at Havana International Jazz Festival on Thursday and Friday is a chance to share their music with different cultures, the band said. "This festival is really well-respected and it's not often you get an opportunity like this, it's a big deal for us," said Luxmoore. Havana Jazz Festival was founded in 1979 by Cuban musicians and featured more than 100 performances last year. Grammy award-winner and organiser of the event Chucho Valdés described the vibe of the music at the event as "if it ain't got that swing, it ain't Havana". Luxmoore will be returning to Havana after more than two decades and said she could not wait to connect with other musicians. "That's the joy and excitement in it, it means potential new collaborations and it will take us down an interesting road," she said. The festival means the band can "connect globally with others through music", Luxmoore added, which was a "fantastic feeling". Babalola said that travelling to Cuba would give the band an opportunity to see people who "live the same lifestyle using the same music". The band received funding from charitable funder PRS Foundation for the trip but did not secure enough for Marsh to attend. He said that while it was disappointing, he would be cheering them on from Birmingham. "I'm really wishing them all the best for this festival, it's so exciting, the opportunities this will give the band is unmatched," he said. The band has set up a JustGiving page to raise funds to cover accommodation and transport. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Jazz festival 'back to its very best' Station's photo exhibition has got some brass Havana International Jazz Festival PRS Foundation
BBC News
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Birmingham jazz band prepares for Cuban festival performance
It's a big week for a Birmingham-based jazz band as its members prepare to perform at a festival in Cuba. Musicians Kate Luxmoore, Lekan Babalola, Tom Marsh and Jon Escoto Brown form the Sacred Funk Quartet which was founded more than 20 years invited to perform at Havana International Jazz Festival on Thursday and Friday is a chance to share their music with different cultures, the band said."This festival is really well-respected and it's not often you get an opportunity like this, it's a big deal for us," said Luxmoore. Havana Jazz Festival was founded in 1979 by Cuban musicians and featured more than 100 performances last award-winner and organiser of the event Chucho Valdés described the vibe of the music at the event as "if it ain't got that swing, it ain't Havana". Luxmoore will be returning to Havana after more than two decades and said she could not wait to connect with other musicians."That's the joy and excitement in it, it means potential new collaborations and it will take us down an interesting road," she festival means the band can "connect globally with others through music", Luxmoore added, which was a "fantastic feeling".Babalola said that travelling to Cuba would give the band an opportunity to see people who "live the same lifestyle using the same music". The band received funding from charitable funder PRS Foundation for the trip but did not secure enough for Marsh to attend. He said that while it was disappointing, he would be cheering them on from Birmingham."I'm really wishing them all the best for this festival, it's so exciting, the opportunities this will give the band is unmatched," he band has set up a JustGiving page to raise funds to cover accommodation and transport. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
