NIGHT OF MUSICAL EXCELLENCE

In my lifetime, and probably in yours as well, I’ve been to many concerts or musical events that have left a lasting fingerprint on the soundtrack of my life. You know, those shows you will never forget because of the music. Not because of other things that happened at the concert, or the person you picked up or after-party you went to. No, its because of the music you experienced, the feelings it stirred in you and the joy you felt being part of that moment.

Its not a feeling you get accidentally. It was planned. It was created. It was done so by individuals or a group of individuals who have a certain gift, a certain talent. But what makes it all come together to produce those feelings is something all together quite remarkable.

On Thursday June 22, I had the privilege of experiencing such an event presented by world famous radio station 91.1 Jazz FM. It was a private concert put on to celebrate Canada’s 150th Birthday and held at one of the country’s premier high end audio and video boutiques, Bay Bloor Radio.

I think they must of called in all favours in choosing the musicians for the evening. This was truly a few of the brightest, most talented and world renowned jazz artists of our generation. I have no problem saying that. Because its true. There were two groups. The Mike Downes Quartet with Ted Quinlan (guitar), Robi Botos (piano/keys) and Larnell Lewis of Snarky Puppy fame on drums.

The second group was Rinse The Algorithm, lead by the hottest bass player on the planet, Rich Brown. Accompanying him were again Botos and Lewis with the addition of Luis Deniz on alto sax.

Lets just say that at the end of the evening all I could say was ‘Wow!’. And I could hear it and see it on the faces of the packed standing room only audience ‘Wow!’. On my way home ‘Wow!’. Lying in bed, not wanting to fall asleep, listening to the CDs I purchased from each group ‘Wow!’.

The most amazing thing, the part that made the experience stand out for me besides the display of virtuosity, the creative and inventive playing and the compositional excellence, was the amazing ability of these players to communicate musically. To read and anticipate each other. To converse without saying a word. To be in sync on the highest and most difficult of performance level. Yes other artist can and have done it but to witness it with artists such as this was memorizing and truly magically.

I am very grateful to both Jazz FM and Bay Bloor Radio for the opportunity to witness this totally satisfying evening of jazz and for what will become a long-lasting slice of musical memory to add to the soundtrack of my life.