This was a thoroughly enjoyable show. The show started roughly ten minutes after its stated start time of 8 PM due to long lines at the box office. The first half was devoted to the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, which consisted of talented local artists, though of course I was hungering to see the famous tenors. The Ensemble began the evening by playing a Coltrane Suite to feature one of their own tenors -- Pat Mallinger. Between the second and third movements of the Coltrane Suite, the pedals fell off the piano. The pianist had to cope with this until the break!
I was less impressed with their jazz vocalist Bobbi Wilsyn and her version of 'Gigi'. On her second song, however, Johnny Griffin snuck out and joined her (apparently in a spontaneous move that surprised Jon Faddis, the Artistic Director of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble), which really improved that song. The first set ended with a fine version of 'Zoot,' featuring Rob Denty of the Ensemble.
There is no question that most of the audience would have preferred that the guest artists perform throughout the show -- or even turn the whole night over to Johnny Griffin -- but the second half more than lived up to expectations.
The second half of the show had many highlights. Eric Alexander was first, and he just tore up Sonny Stitt's “The Eternal Triangle”.
Franz Jackson came out next. The guy is almost 93!!! He did “Body and Soul”, but with just the rhythm section. Then he played and sang “Strutting with Some Barbecue”, which was amusing. He also did a third bluesy song. Faddis decided it was worth giving him the extra song, and why not?
Ira Sullivan did a rousing version of Horace Silver's “Nica's Dream” (with the whole ensemble). This version had strong Latin overtones.
Von Freeman did a compelling “Stella by Starlight” with just the rhythm section.
Johnny Griffin came out and did one of his own compositions called “When We Were One”. Although Griffin played well, there were definitely times he was overwhelmed by the ensemble. It would have to be adjusted to hear him better over the group (if it was to be released). So it was good, but it could have been a little better.
Finally, they brought all five guests out on stage. Joe Segal (of the Jazz Showcase) gave four of them (except Eric Alexander) lifetime achievement plaques, and all of them did “Jumpin' at the Woodside” with the whole ensemble. It was so amazing; I do hope that the concert is broadcast or comes out somehow. The five tenors just kept going down the line, taking a few bars each and passing the solo down. I believe the tenors went around two times each with 4 bar solos, then two times around with 2 bar solos, then maybe two or three more times with one bar solos. It was really something to hear. Clearly they didn't want the song to end, nor did the audience.
What a night! The concert did end around 10:40, and we headed out into the night.
Review by Eric Petersen
JazzReview.com
