“A GREAT NIGHT IN THE FILLMORE”

Benefit Concert for The California Jazz Foundation

John Handy, NEA Jazz Master 2010: Bobby Hutcherson, Tuck & Patti, Denny Zeitlin, The Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet, Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir

Hosted by Rita Moreno, Academy Award, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony winner, legendary singer, dancer, and actress

Master of Ceremonies: Chuy Varela (KCSM)

Sunday, February 21, 2010 7-10pm
Yoshi’s
1330 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
415.655.5600
$45 in advance / $50 at the door

VIP TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE! For $75 you can now purchase VIP tickets, receive VIP seating, and invitation to the VIP party and a free one-year membership with California Jazz Foundation. Please click the button below to buy VIP tickets now. If you want to purchase more than 1 ticket, you may adjust the quantity on the shopping cart page.

Sponsors: Sonoma Valley Jazz Society – Mesa Boogie – Napa Valley Jazz Society – Jazz Heritage Center – San Jose Jazz – JazzWest.com – Studio D Recording – The Recording Academy , SF Chapter – Whole Foods – Amoeba Music – Maria Maria – SIR, Studio Instrument Rentals -

For more information, please contact Roberta Donnay – rainforest@robertadonnay.com

For ticket information, http://www.californiajazzfoundation.org/bayarea.htm

McCoy Tyner – Piano
Bobby Hutcherson – Vibraphone
Cecil McBee – Bass
Jack DeJohnette – Drums

McCoy Tyner’s two week residency at Yoshi’s has become a local and favorite tradition. For the past 10 years, for two weeks, the legendary pianist has played with some of the best and brightest talent in the jazz world. This year was no different. The first week performance, for the most part, was enjoyable but there were moments when it just sounded like noise. They did not always blend well in their music. Tyner’s and Hutcherson’s performances were outstanding and they played well together but McBee’s and DeJohnette’s solo’s seemed to be abstract and not fit with the songs. DeJohnette’s solo’s were a little too long and too loud which also detracted from McBee’s solo’s. I am hoping that maybe I just came on an off night and these talented musicians grooved better on their other sets.

Week 2

McCoy Tyner – Piano
Christian McBride – Bass
Lewis Nash – Drums

I am still rocking in my seat from the second week performance. The grooves were tight and everyone seemed to enjoy playing together especially Tyner who was magnificent. I think I like seeing Tyner in a trio setting the best for it really allows him to cut loose on the piano as he did on this night with the trio and in his solos. This was my first time seeing Lewis Nash perform but it definitely will not be my last for he is an incredible drummer. His solos were efficient and yet took the music to a whole new level. On one song, he and Tyner did a call and response that was fantastic. I saw Christian McBride last summer at the Monterey Jazz Festival and he just amazing on the bass. His solos were also efficient and you can see the love he has for the music in his playing. McBride is definitely a shining star among the young jazz lions. I look forward to seeing him again when he comes to Yoshi’s in April. They both accompanied Tyner very well and audience responded with so much applause that the trio came out an encore performance.

Huun-Huur-Tu originates from the mountainous Russian Republic of Tuva, just north of Mongolia. Each is a master of multiphonics, the ability to produce two distinct pitches. Their sound and their music were definitely unique and filled the cathedral. They were very entertaining but their set ran a little long.

James Carter roared through his set with great tenacity. He made his horn speak, squawk, and growl and filled the room with a melodious but sometimes ear-piercing sound. The highlight of his performance was a powerful rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” intertwined with “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Later in his set, he was joined by Huun-Huur-Tu and they performed a couple of numbers together. Carter was challenged but blended brilliantly with Huun-Huur-Tu’s vocal sounds.

Saturday evening was the crowning night of the SF Jazz Festival for me for two great jazz legends of our time were performing at the Masonic Auditorium, Shirley Horn and Ahmad Jamal. Shirley’s set opened differently than it had in the past. George Mesterhazy replaced Shirley on the piano, Eddie Howard replaced the late Charles Ables on “the baas” (as Shirley would say) and her old faithful, Steve Williams was on the drums. They warmed up the crowd with an instrumental. Shirley was then wheeled on stage and greeted with a loud applause. Always graceful and glamorous, she looked wonderful as she opened with “All Or Nothing At All.” Despite not being at the piano (due to a foot amputation earlier this year), Shirley was still very much in charge and kept her trio under her spell. She flowed through such gems as “How Am I To Know”, “A Time For Love”, and “Come In From The Rain.” She gave a very playful and sensual rendition of “Fever.” The highlight of the evening was her poignant rendition of The Beatles’ classic, “Yesterday.” There was such a silence that fell over the room, you could hear her every breath. It was very moving. She closed with her signature song, “Here’s To Life” and as wonderful as she was, I look forward to the day when she is back at the helm of her Steinway piano.

I had the pleasure of seeing Ahmad Jamal perform last year at Yoshi’s so I knew we would be in for a treat. He commands his piano like no other and brings each note to life. He and his trio came on stage and Ahmad Jamal slowly walked to the piano. When he sat down and struck the keys, he came to life with such vibrant energy that he would jump up in the middle of a song. Idris Muhummad on drums and James Cammack on bass rounded out his trio. Ahmad’s exuberant performance included “In Search Of” and his classic “Ponciana.” I especially enjoyed how Ahmad and his trio would shift effortlessly through tempos depending on how many fingers he would hold up. It was truly a great performance.

“If you want to make money, you go play rock. If you play jazz, you’re playing for yourself.” – Ellis Marsalis

Sunday afternoon, we saw pianist Ellis Marsalis and vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson at the Herbst Theatre. This was a matinee so it was geared for families and children or kids at heart like me. They played a few songs together and then brought up kids from the audience to tryout the piano and vibraphone. I thought to myself that I would have been overjoyed to have an experience like that as a kid.

During the Q&A, Ellis, the patriarch of the Marsalis musical family, explained that he started playing when he was age 11. He also told us he did not play much music with his children when they were growing up. He believed in formal music education. Bobby started playing at 13. He explained how the different colored mallots provide different tones. He also explained the difference between the vibraphone and the xylophone. I had the opportunity to see Bobby play along side vibraphone legend Milt Jackson and young jazz lion Stefon Harris at the SF Jazz Fest in 1998. It was once in a lifetime performance between three generations of vibraphonists.