A feast of jazz

Press, 8 March 1978, Page 6

A feast of jazz

By

NEVIN TOPP

Those who attended the Festival of Jazz concert in the Town Hall auditorium last evening were rewarded with a feast. It was like a seven-course Chinese meal — something in it for everyone. Big band' sound, jazz-rock. Dixieland,] be-pop, serious, light-hearted,] and all entertaining. The show opened with Bob Bradford’s Big Band, which, produced a mixture of styles from the pop “Jesus Christ : Superstar” theme, the slower, bluesy “Here’s That Rainy Day” by Stan Kenton, and the best, “Dark Orchid,” with its intricate tonal changes. The Doug Caldwell Trio turned in one of the best tunes of the night in a song done by Thad Jones called “A Child Is Born.” It was a beautifully moving piece, fea-

Ituring Caldwell on piano, and Jit deserved the applause it q’gOt. J It was then the turn of the J jazz singer, Malcolm McNeill [and a pianist, Dave Fraser. J McNeill again showed his J ability to interpret others’j jisongs in “On the "Sunny Side (of the Street,” and Randy! (Newman’s “I’ll Be Home.” [ ’I The jazz-rock quintet,! , (Night Musique opened the; Jsecond half, illustrating the . modern funky jazz associ- ’ ated with the Herbie Hancock Sextet, the Crusaders, j and perhaps Weather Report. I The highlight of the evenj ing came from Barrie (‘T’ve never done this in public be- , fore”) Brinson, when he ant nounced that the trio was go- , ing to attempt George Gershj win’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” i The attempt alone was ■■ worth applause, and although

I the bass player's amplifier tjwas not working, it was a [great effort. : Then came the turn of the 1; music of New Orleans in the ~ form of the Dixie All Stars, sj which earned wide applause, ’[and could have gained an en?[core if something special had /I not been saved until the end. ; Les Toots finished the . evening, also proving popusjlar, and the final course was • jam in the form of a session -in which musicians from - other groups joined Les Toots , for a number of variations . on “Herod’s Song,” from ■ Jesus Christ Superstar. : It did not matter that the • jam did not really come off; • what mattered was the at- • tempt was made. This spirit ■ of informality right through the evening showed that 5 Christchurch could do with I'more concerts of this kind.