Fantastic, I have been there, and it was wonderful. The http://www.northseajazz.nl/index.asp was full of interesting artists. I went only on Friday. I wanted to see Brad Meldhau, but he did not show up, unfortunately. Another guy took his place, and he was good, and he tried a lot of variations and combinations on standard themes, but it wasn't the same for me, as for a lot of people as well.
After that I went to the stage of ACT, a german label, I believe. http://www.actmusic.com/. There I saw Lars Danielsson, and he was very good, playing cello and double bass, with a lot of nice electronics. He was accompained by a piano player and a drummer.
John Scofield disappointed me. It did not seem like he was playing something nice. They also put him on a too small stage, it was too crowded and warm, but still; I felt people were clapping their hands only because his big name John Scofield was playing. A pity. Nevertheless he played a very nice version of Georgia, from Ray Charles - a lot of artist played a tribute to Ray.
Cassandra Wilson was far most the best act of the show. Too short, that hour and a quarter. She made us dream with her fantastic voice. Her band was impressive, even though I did not know all the names. Cassandra, sophisticated and simple, deep and powerful. I will surely go to a concert of her, if she will come nearby.
My last act was Dave Holland, playing with Jack Dejohnette, Herbie Hankcock and Chris Potter. Impressive act, but I was then tired, and some people in the audience were sleeping (they were playing difficult music, by the way). Dave has an incredible touch, but the one that surprised me the most was Herbie Hankcock, who was playing very sophisticatedly, quite a contrast with his more commercial music.
I am happy I was there - but in the other hand the complete program is not that good, in my taste. There is a lot of commercial stuff, a lot of pop, a lot of big seller; I will prefer a more explorative festival, and with a higher quality standard. No Jamie Cullum next year, please! No Joss Stone....
3 comments:
don't be so elitist, man. You cannot organise an explorative festival without big commercial hits. Commercialism provides the capital for 'explorative'music. Have you even visited the Carel Willink-hall?
Maybe you are right. My feeling remains that there were mostly big commercial hits, and too much of them, for my taste - especially on Saturday and Sunday.
And moreover Cassandra Wilson was overbooked, and I think she covered a lot of the explorative music, beeing successfull does not mean always closing compromises.
I visited the hall, and you are right, there were very nice things going on there. The fact is, I liked the festival.
You just have your obvious preferences. :) (ew, last year they had alicia keys)
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