A Summer Musical Fest of Some Sophistication
Before long, the warm days, loose agendas, and social gatherings for going to catch some live music in a nearby amphitheatre or packing the bags to hit the road for a weekend musical getaway will be upon us. Some consider the New Orleans Jazz Fest as the start for kicking off a season of national concert schedules that begin around early May and will last through the dread of summer hoping to offer some reprieve from the heat with weekend block parties and music galore. But why wait until next month to get in on the fun when in fact an incredible line up of festival music and concerts have already been under way since early March. One such event made it’s way through Savannah, GA recently.
Many think of the historic southern city of Savannah as a charming, moss covered place that sits on a river and beckons a yearly crowd for it’s annual St. Patty’s day parade. But there’s a lot more to be gained from what the town offers such as the recently hosted Savannah Music Fest that took place over an eventfully packed two and a half weeks from late March to April 5. In what’s considered the largest national music fest, it boasts of a concert lineup consisting of several nightly events at specific venues around town. This is considerably more orchestrated than a mash up of dozens of bands packing a couple of stages over the course of a three day weekend. Rather, a list of eight venues including two churches, one synagogue, three music theaters, an outdoor garden, and a performing arts center serve as the locations for the approximately 100 musicians that arrive to showcase their talent each year. The style that is mostly represented includes intelligent jazz, folk and international with a spattering of rebellious rock thrown in as well. Harrowing from various areas of the map, many of these artists claim urban communities like San Francisco, New Orleans, New York or Boston as their home where a local sophisticated appreciation allows them to collaborate amongst each other and perform regularly.
Here’s a description of some of the performers who were present this year:
Jump to Video Features Jason Marsalis is a gifted percussionist and one of the four brothers from the acclaimed Marsalis family of musicians renowned for their jazz. The others who often make performances to Savannah each year include Wynton, Branford, Delf, and their father Ellis whom all excel in playing the trumpet, sax, trombone and piano respectively. It was quoted by the Jazz Weekly in an interview recently with Jason that “having the last name Marsalis amounts to having the distinction of being a Kennedy in American politics.” So getting the chance to see any of these guys individually or playing in an ensemble together is a splendid opportunity to catch some of the best in the business. This year though Jason was the only of the family to perform. But he was there along with his touring band who have been working together for several years and striking a tonal balance of smooth jazz sounds mixed in with guests appearances from a variety of musicians on the guitars, violin, brass, and keys.
An esteemed classical pianist who got warm praise from those attending the music hall one night was the 42 year old Jeremy Denk. In a recent self published article in the New Yorker magazine, he discusses in fine detail the personal experiences he gained through his musical education and grasping the joy that comes only out of practiced frustration time and again. He has shown to posses a knack for capturing and augmenting the fundamental elements of piano scores by the likes of Bach, Litz, Beethoven, Chopin and Mozart. His recent article offered a glimpse into the musical ability and surpassed limititations that helped conjure an admirable appreciation for Denk. His training can partly be credited to a Hungarian teacher named Gregory Sebok who Denk had the chance of seeing in concert once in Santa Fe as Denk was finishing his senior year of high school. It wasn’t long after graduation that the young aspiring talent set himself to pursue tutelage under the guise of the Hungarian performer who was working as a professor at Indiana University. Behind the support of his parents and guided by years of piano playing ability, Denk moved to Indiana to seek an education under a prestigious teacher. After nearly completing his program he worked as a graduate assistant before moving to New York to find a way among many other highly accredited piano players from the likes of Julliard and other reputable music schools. He currently resides there when not traveling with various symphonies or by himself.
Bela Fleck has helped to enlighten some of the main stream audience to the excellence that’s to be discovered among the large circle of lesser known but gifted musicians. Many of his comrades are accustomed to playing shows like NY’s Lincoln Center, museum events or summer stage concerts. This variety of refined musicians are often booked to play shows for the an older generation of aficionados in a more classical and state of the art setting. But Bela Fleck has helped bridge the generational gap between this older, deep pocketed audience by bringing such traditional performances to the awareness of an energized younger fan base. Bela Fleck has made his rounds as a prominent banjo player who had once toured frequently with his band the Flecktones. His performances at places like Bonaroo, 1000 Lakes Music Fest, among a litany of other locations were a fixture for many years during the 90’s and early 2000’s . He has since ventured into collaborations with a trove of musicians from all over such as an African ensemble of woodwind and percussion musicians who I had the opportunity to see play together at a performing arts center in Atlanta several years ago. Bela Fleck plucks away at the banjo with superb rhythm and cadence, transcending bluegrass style into a meringue of compatible sound with his co performers who have often varied immensely. Unabashed by large group performances, Fleck frequently plays with a big ensemble of various people such as orchestra musicians on the bongos, horns, guitars and all in between. His strength as a musician is partly in his ability to never be drowned out in these large group performances but while neither coming across as overbearing particularly in the smaller settings.
Of a similar vein to instrumental experimentation but within a definitive southern rock style of guitar is Derek Trucks. He is best known for his prodigious display as a full time replacement in the Allman Brothers Band. Also collaborating with him recently is his music sensational wife Susan Tedeschi in the Tedeschi Trucks Band(TTB). Seeing the two of them play is a special thing as his perpetual riffs find space for her rhythmic guitar and vocals to shine through.
The country influenced song writer/guitarist Emmylou Harris has graced many a performances of popular touring acts alongside Bonnie Rait, Neil Young, Linda Rondstat, Dire Straits, The Band any many others during her thirty plus years on stage. During one of the premiere acts of this year’s festival, she was joined by songwriter Rodney Cromwell whose original songwriting has been adopted and collaborated by the likes of Jonny Cash, Bob Seger and more. Joining the two of them also was Richard Thompson during their night at the Jonny Mercer Theater where the three musicians graced the audience with prescient flair of guitar and vocals. Each wove their talent for specific melodies and style of attack in conjunction with the others to bring about a stellar performance lasting about two hours. Thompson’s ability is coveted despite being vaguely recognized in the mainstream as he was among those recently selected in Rolling Stones top 20 guitarists of all time.
The nearly house hold name, ‘Old Crow Medicine Show’ who have been making stops across college campuses for many years played one night at the festival. Their blue grassy sound has caught a wave of acclaim from many a young weekend bar crowd for whom they seem right at home to be playing for. Their undisputed big time hit that helped catapult their popularity was the rendering of a rarely if ever played Bob Dylan tune called 'Wagon Wheel'. You’d be amiss to step into a college fraternity party and not hear this song cycled through at least one time on the play list.
The non conformist, freak show blues artist Dr. John and his new band the Night Trippers traveled from their home of New Orleans to make a characteristic mysterious performance. His style fringes on haunting beats among the guitar and piano that he plays alongside his collective of other instrumental musicians on stage. Though now, old age and years of living a life of excessive consumption of all types of substances has got him far past his prime. A largely recognized song original song of his is ‘Walk on Gilded Splinters’ which has been popularized as regularly played by southern rock sensation Widespread Panic.
Bob Marley’s former reggae engine 'The Wailers' played a familiar setlist from many of the band’s favorite songs including Jamming, Stir it UP, Exodus, and One Love.
The Spanish Harlem Orchestra knows a lot about funk defying the traditional Hispanic sound into a catchy fast paced flair that will have the band members breaking a sweat while the crowd boogies to the chords of big acoustic, congas and stand up bass guitar. They represent a cultural image of a less glamorized fixture in New York’s musical tradition. Despite residing in the gentrifying neighborhood which their name describes, they often leave the city of Manhattan to persue a big touring schedule where they frequent various fests and concerts throughout Latin America.
Without naming the entirety of all of the two and a half weeks of performances which made a presence at this year’s 24th annual festival, one last group to pay mention to is 'Sea Wolf', an up and coming indie rock group comprised of five members including it‘s front man Alex Brown Church. They’ve been recognized for a period of several years by a loyal fan base around the group’s home base of LA as well as New York where Church attended college and throughout many other spots on the map with any kind of strong appreciation for folksy, transient musical depth.
The great thing about this festival is that for those who live nearby or are willing to take a several day vacation to quaint downtown Savannah, you can set your own course for what you want to see and pair the experience with many of the cultural amenities that the town has to offer like charming inns and delicious restaurants.
Get a sample for some of the music that folks had the chance to hear during the seventeen day run of concert performances.
Jason Marsalis and his Quintet Band
Jeremy Denk Practices his Craft
Dr. John from his Memorable Days
Emmalou Harris & Walter Cromwell Together
Old Crow Medicine Show Performs 'Wagon Wheel'
The Wailers Playing 'One Love'
A look at the Sound of Sea Wolf
Who knew Steve Martin plays the Banjo? along with Bella Fleck & others
The Married Musicians playing in their Tedeschi Trucks Band Live for Conan
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