Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
Flea Finds His Jazz Thing
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
Neither Charlie Haden (right) nor the inclusive Montreal Jazz Festival spared qualms about presenting a traditional country music set at Théâtre Maissonneuve Wednesday night, July 8; after all, Haden’s Ramblin’ Boy CD realized Grammy-winning crossover success. Nevertheless, there were walkouts on the show and a member of the audience shouted, “Crank it up!” during a particularly chaste moment in the music, only to be riposted by a fellow listener who insisted, “This is acoustic music!”
Haden’s bass was the mahogany anchor for a crack bluegrass septet that included some of Nashville’s finest, such as mandolinist Sam Bush and singer/banjoist Dan Kyminsky. But despite, or perhaps because of, their lack of professional slick, Haden seemed most proud when introducing his triplet daughters Rachel, Petra and Tanya, the latter featured on “He’s Gone Away.” Son Josh Haden received a hyped intro to a rendition of his beseeching “Spiritual,” which Haden Sr. reminded us was waxed by Johnny Cash. The bassist also prefaced “Old Joe Clark,” the equivalent of “Cherokee” in country jam sessions, with a reminder that he quoted the tune in his recorded solo on Ornette Coleman’s “Ramblin’” and that this riff was thence purloined by Brit punk eccentric Ian Dury for his hit “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll.”
Bill Frisell (top left) augmented his regular trio with bassist Tony Scherr and drummer Rudy Rolston, adding trumpeter Ron Miles for a concert at the packed Théâtre Jean-Duceppe. Miles has worked with the quixotic guitarist before, and his Don Cherry/Lester Bowie moments reminded how likely it is that these two musicians were an influence on Frisell himself. Though the group functioned well as a collective, it was Frisell the storyteller who guided the narrative, seguing from nourish omens to bouncy nursery rhymes, Monk-ish bop to West African kora music. When the vibe threatened to stay too dark, Frisell shed light with “What The World Needs Now” or “It’s Been A Long Time Coming,” ending with some looped distortion to highlight the gentle irony.
The demands for encores from Frisell were surpassed by those for Japanese pianist Hiromi (bottom left), who performed with Sonicboom—featuring guitarist Dave Fiuczynski (middle left), Brit bassist Tony Grey and dynamic Brazilian drummer Mauricio Zottarelli—at the intimate Gèsu. Though some of her fundamental frameworks for expression may have been over-familiar (“Softly As A Morning Sunrise,” “My Favorite Things” and “Caravan”), Hiromi and the band were unbelievably tight, witty and athletic. “I Got Rhythm” made sense as a solo vehicle for the pianist, since her powerful ambidextrous playing is highly percussive, recalling, along with Oscar Peterson, gregarious stylist Bobby Enriquez. Each member of Sonicboom is superbly creative in their own right; Fiuczynski, for example, scratched and tapped his double-neck guitar one minute, massaged it like a sitar the next. Yet it was the pianist’s final solo encore, dedicated with heartfelt gratitude to the rapturous Montreal audience, that had them eating out of the palm of her hand. —Michael Jackson
PHOTOS: MICHAEL JACKSON
“Cerebral and academic thought is a different way to approach music,” Flea says of his continuing dive into jazz. “I’ve always relied on emotion and intuition and physicality.”
Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
Cécile McLorin Salvant busts out Jelly Roll Morton’s “The Murder Ballad” at Big Ears, here with pianist Sullivan Fortner.
Apr 7, 2026 1:21 PM
There’s pluralism, then there’s PLURALISM! — and then there’s Big Ears. Thurston Moore, who participated in…
Each of the 25 JAMs has delivered a poster featuring a jazz legend that is sent out to schools across the nation. This year’s poster features Tony Bennett.
Mar 30, 2026 10:20 PM
Every April for the past quarter century, something remarkable has happened across the United States and far beyond.…
“We thought it’s important that Ronin has a new statement,” said Nik Bärtsch of his band’s latest album, Spin. “The sound is differently produced, so it reflects more of who we are.”
Apr 21, 2026 10:00 AM
Nik Bärtsch cuts an imposing figure on stage. He’s unmistakable with his soul patch, shaven head and black attire.…
Bollani demonstrates at the piano during a live Blindfold Test in Umbria, Italy, while writer Ashley Kahn, right, and translator Greg Burk look on.
Mar 24, 2026 11:42 AM
Raconteur, bon vivant and popular television host Stefano Bollani is also one of Italy’s best-known pianists, a rare…
