Posted: Monday, August 12, 2013 12:00 am
The weekend’s Richmond Jazz Festival, was in its fourth year, drove home the fact that Richmond has a world-class jazz event worth traveling for. And for many in attendance, having it right up the street was something worth celebrating.
As the crowd of music fans filtered in on Sunday for the second full day of the Richmond Jazz Festival, the overcast sky seemed secondary to the promise of the event’s packed schedule. It’s to the organizers’ credit that the festival continues to offer an agreeably varied lineup of artists with a unique contribution to a jazz-themed setting.
Richmond’s K.G. Experience started the day with an eye-opening set of driving funk with an invigorating edge. Neo-jazz violinist Maestro J, a returning artist from the 2012 festival, was an ebullient presence, constantly engaging the crowd while encouraging his band to shine during their solo moments. Love Logic, including members of Richmond bands Jazz Poet Society and The Good Guys, brought the rousing spirit of a ’70s touring funk band.
Terence Blanchard appeared before midafternoon with a set that could easily have been a festival closer. Fierce soloing by the Grammy-winning Blanchard was only one of the highlights, as his band’s performance was the epitome of ensemble playing. While each musician could have easily been singled out at any moment for their remarkable contribution, the reward was in how they combined to drive the compositions.
Over 40 years into her career, Dee Dee Bridgewater revealed just how powerful and singular an instrument her voice continues to be. A Tony winner for her ’70s stage role in “The Wiz,” she has performed with a number of major jazz figures over the years, and traces of all that experience come through in her rich, soaring vocals. Not all singers make a credible fit for a Thelonious Monk piece, but Bridgewater sang “Blue Monk” like she was present at its conception. With a startling range, her set practically defined “verve.”
Read more: http://www.timesdispatch.com/entertainment-life/music-movies-tv/music/music-review-richmond-jazz-festival/article_8d415f01-d1fe-5ea1-a869-1a0a42ccdf63.html
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