Winnipeg Jazz festival 2007
Give the IPod a rest, live music can attest
NICK MACMAHON STAFF
We are all seekers of altered states. Some people do it through drugs, others with extreme sports. If you really want to expand your mind, jazz can take you down that rabbit hole. Mainstream media does its utmost to shield us from the depths of true jazz. They’ll throw us some scraps in the form of Michael Buble or Norah Jones and you can get some sleep: “I’ve got jazz covered on my IPod playlist.” Give me a break. They don’t even scratch the surface of jazz. Actually . . . scratching the surface is exactly what jazz is all about. I’ve seen jazz drummers scratch their cymbals making sounds fit for a horror movie soundtrack. Jazz, simply put, is freedom. Remove your shackles and check out the Winnipeg Jazz Festival.
The groove kicks off on June 22 and runs until July 2. The venues are concentrated in the Exchange, most within walking distance of each other. Jazz Winnipeg is the organization behind the festival and believe me, we’re in good hands. I sat down with Jeff Presslaff, a piano virtuoso and killer trombonist, who also happens to be one of the festival’s directors. “Jazz Winnipeg has its act way more together than it ever has. The logistics are running more smoothly. Everything is being done better.” An experienced musician who has toured, he explained, “Relative to other cities, the ticket isn’t that expensive.” Jeff Presslaff will be playing an affordable gig alongside guitarist extraordinaire, Tim Butler on the opening Friday. It’s a musical collaboration that has never taken place, which makes this festival unique as it gives local musicians the opportunity to collaborate with musicians that they normally wouldn’t play with during the year. $10 to $20 will get you into gigs like these. Come on, if you take to the drink, you’re likely to spend at least that on a typical Friday evening. There are even some visiting musicians in the same price range. Vijay Iyer, a more extreme, strictly instrumental pianist, has been generating a lot of buzz. Paul Nolin, Jazz Winnipeg’s executive producer, described him as “very out there . . . a challenging artist.” He also happens to be at the top of Presslaff’s list of “must-hears.”
If you’re willing to shell out a few more dollars you can expose yourself to festival headliners like Pink Martini. Nolin recommends them as a “great access point” for something more mainstream, combining world music and European sounds. Freddy Cole, younger brother of the late Nat King Cole, on the other hand, “is more of a traditionalist. A lot of people find getting into jazz is easiest with a vocalist.” To put him in perspective, he recently stole the show at an Oscar Peterson tribute concert at Carnegie Hall.
I find that artists who push the envelope tend to be the most rewarding, as I find myself most fulfilled when I allow myself to accept new sounds that evoke a varied array of emotions. We’re all guilty of complaining that not enough of our favorite artists come to Winnipeg. I see this as a blessing in disguise — it forces us to mine the talent of our own city. When you see some of the things that are happening in our own backyard, you’ll be wondering why you were so impressed with an in-your-face punk drummer or a guitarist playing a solo behind his head. Jazz cuts to the heart of music. The showmanship takes a backseat to the emotions being transmitted; the energy consumes you. That’s why you may feel the need to close your eyes, feel the groove, and commence head banging.
If you don’t feel invigorated and inspired to work an extra shift, come down to the free closing weekend shows in Old Market Square. Yes, there are beer gardens.
