What Live Music Are You Listening To Tonight

[bart]

We had a terrific - invigorating said my wife - concert yesterday.
The venue, De Bijloke Gent, is quite special: it is an old abbey.




The concert hall is not exactly the cosiest jazz club, but it is a nice place to be, especially in the middle of the second row.




Branford Marsalis has a quartet since the 80s.
He's done a lot of other - very fine - stuff, for example with Sting, but he's at his best in small ensembles.




Marsalis is a refined sax player: he can be extremely subtle, supporting his musicians in a most delicate way.
But he can also be wonderfully fiery. He really brought a lot of us in trance!

[bart]

Kurt Elling is a smooth singer, almost a crooner at times, but he can do crazy stuff with his voice.
We all liked him 'playing the trombone' (with an empty glass!) when the band played Saint James Infirmary.




A special mention goes to the 22 year old drummer Justin Faulkner. Brilliant! Watch him, he'll become one of the great drummers.
Joey Calderazzo is a very good pianist, and a funny one. He likes to play with the public.
Eric Revis was replaced by a young bass player, we don't know why.

All in all, a very fine evening, and a joy to see Branford Marsalis in terrific shape at the age of 56.

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by bart

We had a terrific - invigorating said my wife - concert yesterday.

The venue, De Bijloke Gent, is quite special: it is an old abbey.

Wonderful! It's quite special what is being done with some old churches and abbeys in Europe - it's nice to see them being put to use like this instead of being abandoned when they are no longer supported for their original purpose. I stayed in a lovely old church in Maastricht a couple of years ago that had been converted to a hotel and restaurant.

[bart]

I agree with you Tony.
Better using them in a respectful way, than letting them fall into ruin.

[crwilli]

Kathy Mattea at the Sellersville Theater! She played a 2 hour acoustic set. Very, very nice evening.IMG_2399.JPG

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by crwilli

Kathy Mattea at the Sellersville Theater! She played a 2 hour acoustic set. Very, very nice evening.Attachment 50225

Sounds like a great show.

[radio times]

I lived it man. My only claim to non fame mind.

[crwilli]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

Sounds like a great show.

Yes it was. She was in fine voice and plays a mean guitar. However, her band mate, Bill Cooley is off the charts great on the guitar. Absolutely impeccable playing.

[aardvarkbark]

Flew up to Chicago to hear Murray Perahia at Symphony Center yesterday. Bach, Schubert, Beethoven. Lovely day to walk around Millennium Park prior to the performance.

Always good to listen to live, especially in a venue as wonderful as Orchestra Hall. Gear can be great, but it'll never match the ambiance, even if it does come close to matching the acoustic, of a great concert hall.

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by aardvarkbark

Flew up to Chicago to hear Murray Perahia at Symphony Center yesterday. Bach, Schubert, Beethoven. Lovely day to walk around Millennium Park prior to the performance.



Always good to listen to live, especially in a venue as wonderful as Orchestra Hall. Gear can be great, but it'll never match the ambiance, even if it does come close to matching the acoustic, of a great concert hall.

Congratulations and color me jealous, I'd love to see Perahia live.