Jazz Stories

Micah and I visited Jack London Square to hear one of the most amazing big bands on the planet, Gordon Goodwin’s “Big Phat Band.” And we were joined by an enthusiastic crowd with a line stretching out the door. Big band nerds of planet, unite! The music was energetic, dazzling in complexity, and unfailingly tight. We especially liked the theme song from “The Incredibles”, which this band wrote and performed. Also a tribute to Looney Toons called “Hunting Wabbits.” ...

Walking into the newly remolded Guild in Menlo Park, we thought “we must know people here.” The crowd, how to put it? The crowd wore its age as well as we do. Petty Theft had a great reputation as a Tom Petty cover band, and they delivered. We had a lot of fun dancing to the endless string of greatest hits. It’s great to have a venue so near our house with music we enjoy. And yes, we did know people there – Audrey’s ex-husband Raphael and his wife Stephanie! ...

What a treat to see one of the world’s greatest bass players, Stanley Clarke, from the third row. Stanley famously founded Return to Forever with Chick Corea in the early 1970s and was Return to Forever was one of my introductions to Jazz in my youth. On this occasion, he was performing a tribute to Chick Corea with a band of amazing 20-something musicians. The set opened with the technically difficult Medieval Overture from 1976’s Romantic Warrior. They also played classics including 500 Miles High, No Mystery and Spain as well as Joe Henderson’s Black Narcissus. Sitting so close, I could appreciate just how long Stanley’s fingers are! ...

The historic 6th and I Synagogue provided a beautiful setting for a stunning set by Julian Lage and his trio, featuring bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Dave King. Words that come to mind to describe the music: virtuoso, intricate, emotive, warm, engaging. What we all noted after the set was how much fun the band was having, and we were having fun right along with them. Before the set, I snapped this photo of the wonderous dome above us. ...

On a visit with Jacob in Denver, we looked at the last minute for some live music and discovered that Charged Particles was playing in downtown Denver. They were playing music of Michael Brecker, who was one of the heros of jazz in my high school years. For example, check out this 1980 performance of Some Skunk Funk. Although Michael Brecker has passed away, his brother Randy joined the set on trumpet. And Tod Dickow was up to the task of Michael’s precise, high energy lines on tenor sax. We enjoyed a wonderful set with super talented musicians. Charged Particles has an album called Live at the Baked Potato on Spotify, if you want to check it out. ...