Something for Everyone at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival

The 2007 Tanglewood Jazz Festival had the largest Friday night audience in the Festival's history.  Keith Elder, The Tanglewood Jazz Festival Manager, once again presented a roster of performers, and performances that at are at times exciting for their newness, and at other times as familiar as our worn LPs.

Maeve Gilchrist, who is a jazz harpist and recent graduate of Berklee College of Music, opened the press reception at the Festival.  Her infusion of traditional Celtic rhythms and vocalizations into improvisational jazz created a sound completely unique. Gilchrist's sound is a shot of Ella Fitzgerald with a Robert Burns chaser.

Hugh Masekela is as well known for his support of human rights as he is for his music.  A native of South Africa and early, constant, critic of Apartheid, Masekela has been performing for over 50 years.  On Friday evening, Masekela took a moment to remember and acknowledge the everyday people who give their lives in conflict, industry and in the name of "progress".  He dedicated his performance to the people of Darfur.  During his set Masekela played "Stimela (Coal Train)" a haunting ode to the mineworkers in South Africa.  The set also included "Bring Him Back Home (Nelson Mandela)" and his universal smash "Grazin' in the Grass".  

It must be hard to follow Masekela, but The Pancho Sanchez Latin Band made it seem easy.  The Band (almost a "Big Band") swings effortlessly between mambos, salsa and standards.  The band played old favorites and new tunes, including the title track of their new CD "Raise Your Hand", which had the, usually reserved,  Tanglewood audience on their feet.

On Saturday afternoon, the Jazz Café featured the talents of the Mina Agossi Trio.  Agossi, a French vocalist, is a fearless performer.  Her rendition of "Ain't Misbehavin" in staccato, nearly rap, fashion was brilliant.  Her Trio's performance of Jimi Hendrix's  "Voodoo Chile" was completely original.  As a performer, she is not afraid of silence; which can be both exciting and terrifying to witness.

Later that afternoon, at Seiji Ozawa Hall Marian McPartland hosted Renee Rosnes for a live recording of NPR's "Piano Jazz".  McPartland, has hosted "Piano Jazz" for 28 years, but confessed to Rosnes during Saturday's show that she didn't expect the program to last for more than a few months, and became the host, in part, to get her friends some work as guests on the program.

These two jazz pianists, each a representative of their generation, enjoy a comfortable  familiarity and mutual admiration.  Rosnes played most of the show with bass accompaniment.  McPartland took the occasional solo including "Stranger in My Dream", which she wrote.  The high points of the performance were when Rosnes and McPartland played piano duets; without mistake, Ms. McPartland would like you to know.

I attended only the first half of the 2007 Tanglewood Jazz Festival, which ends on Sunday night.  With a second half lineup as exciting and diverse as the first, I am certain that this will be another stellar year for the Festival.

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