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 Jon Faddis  Sarah Pedinotti  Christian Scott  Jim Snidero & Dave Calarco Reunion Trio |
THE TOP 5 CONCERTS (AND MORE) OF 2006 by J Hunter Since there's no way I can run down every great concert moment in a single column, I've decided to follow the Smokey Robinson model: Start with a few quick numbers, do a medley, and then finish with the BIG hits: BEST AD-LIB (Bronze Medal): Jon Faddis' smiling smackdown on a Lake George Jazz Weekend attendee who forgot to silence his cell phone: “I hope she's pretty…” BEST AD-LIB (Silver Medal): Sarah Pedinotti, after the storm that hit Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival as she sang “Rain-Colored Highway”: “I will never sing that song again… unless there's a drought.” BEST AD-LIB (Gold Medal): Kenny Rankin, as a police car approached with siren waling during Rankin's wonderful solo turn at The Linda: “I don't have a saxophone player in this band!” MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THESE: School's In: Skidmore Jazz Institute alums Christian Scott and Ryan Cohan came back to Saratoga - Scott on the Gazebo stage at Freihofer's Jazz Festival, Cohan at the Bernhard Theatre concert series… Dizzy would have been proud: It was the young players (Roy Hargrove, Justin Robinson) who stirred the drink when the Gillespie All-Stars played Troy Savings Bank… There were cars from Quebec in the traffic jam following Bela Fleck & the Flecktones' first visit to The Egg in over two years… Good things come in small clubs: Coalition of the Willing (featuring Charlie Hunter and the incredible Skerik) at Red Square, Jim Snidero with the Dave Calarco Reunion Trio at Justin's (George Muscatello pinch-hit for an ailing Chuck D'Aloia)… Space Jazz under the stars: Bill Frisell (with movies and animation) in Courtyard C at MASS MoCA, The Bad Plus and Screaming Headless Torsos at Fox Hollow Estates… You're As Young As You Feel Dept.: 71-year old Billy Taylor keeping pace with Winard Harper at Pittsfield City Jazz Festival, “77-and-a-half years old” Sheila Jordan at Lake George Jazz… And now, to honor Paul Shaffer, please rise as we give you… the Top 5 Capital Region Concerts of 2006! |
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 David Sanchez |
#5 - DAVID SANCHEZ QUARTET @ “JAZZ AT THE LAKE '06” SHEPARD PARK - LAKE GEORGE, NY It was only guitarist Lage Lund's second gig with the band, so this show should have been haphazard, at best; instead, we got ninety minutes of musical bliss, as Lund channeled John Abercrombie while Sanchez blew tenor sax with a confidence and an artistry that left us breathless. Here's hoping someone records this unit, and soon, because they defy all laws of musical gravity. |
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 Don Byron & Jack DeJohnette |
#4 - IVEY-DIVEY TRIO (Don Byron, Jack DeJohnette, Jason Moran) SWYER THEATRE @ THE EGG - ALBANY, NY DeJohnette didn't always play on the first tour for Ivey-Divey (Blue Note), Byron's tribute to Lester Young's legendary bass-free trio record. What a difference a drummer makes. Byron's reedwork was phenomenal, particularly when he applied clarinet to Joe Zawinul's epic meditation, “In A Silent Way.” |
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 Stefon Harris & Blackout |
#3 - STEFON HARRIS & BLACKOUT WILLIAMSTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL '62 CENTER FOR THEATRE & DANCE - WILLIAMSTOWN, MA Harris continued Williamstown's tradition of hot closing acts by bringing his electric band (featuring Marc Cary and Terreon Gully) to christen Williams College's beautiful new performance facility. As delightful as the Egg premiere of Harris' Ellington suite was, the power and the self-assurance of this show cannot be denied. |
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 Ben Allison |
#2 - BEN ALLISON QUARTET WAMC LINDA NORRIS AUDITORIUM - ALBANY, NY The only way to top their Kingston International Jazz Festival set back in July: Talk for a while. Gerald Cleaver was on drums this time as Allison, guitarist Steve Cardenas, and horn player Ron Horton electrified The Linda with an astounding show, and then sat down for a one-hour Q&A that was as satisfying as the music that had come before. |
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 MMW |
And the #1 Capital Region Concert of 2006… MEDESKI, MARTIN & WOOD HART THEATRE @ THE EGG - ALBANY, NY MMW proved they don't need samples and synthesizers to rock the house. Just ask the Jam Band devotees dancing in the aisles during this three-hour (almost) all-acoustic funkathon, which blended the usual amazing originals with sizzling covers of everyone from Ray Charles to P.J. Harvey. As always, your recollections may vary. List may be dangerous for anyone nursing a grudge against Miles for going electric. Do not operate heavy machinery while reading this list - you might hit somebody! Stay healthy and I'll see you in '07. Peace! |
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J HUNTER is a former announcer/producer for radio stations in the Capital Region and the Bay Area, including KSJS/San Jose (where he was Assistant Music Director/Jazz programming), Q104 WQBK/Albany, and WSSV/Saratoga. He has also written music and theatre reviews for the Glens Falls Chronicle. He currently resides in Clifton Park. |