Live Shows

While in NYC for the summer, I've been trying to check out as much of the scene as possible. I thought this would be a good place to vent about these shows.

Billy Hart Quartet: June 2nd, 2007 at the Village Vanguard w/ Mark Turner, Ben Street, and Ethan Iverson

This was the first show I saw in the city, the night after I arrived. The Vangaurd is definitely one of the best venues in which to see jazz in the city (if not one of the most expensive). Not only does it attract some of the best acts around, it doesn't get clogged up with too many mainstream acts like the Blue Note or Iridium. Also, the atmosphere and sound is great. This group is one of the hottest on the scene right now. From what I've heard, the group was formed collectively, but the younger members decided to name it after the veteran drummer. Iverson is mostly known for his work in The Bad Plus, and Street for his work with Kurt Rosenwinkel. Mark Turner is turning into a young veteran, having worked with artists such as Rosewinkel, Joshua Redman, Lee Konitz, John Pattitucci, James Moody and Ryan Kisor. Hart is definitely the true veteran in the group. He is one of those drummers that seems to turn up endlessly on albums old and new. It would be hard to name people in the business he hasn't worked with, but here is a short list of those he has: Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Stan Getz, John Scofield, Paul Bley, and Dave Holland. Hart's own albums have been solid efforts, but his most recent with this quartet is one of his most engaging. Their set began with an Iverson blues, Mellow B. The way the quartet manages to balance the tradition and contemporary playing is astounding. While you hear all that you would expect from a traditional blues, they are still managing to play as fresh and free as possible. Hart's rhythms are tight and loose at the same time. Street was especially on point. He displayed a fondness for vamps and his bass lines, like Hart's playing, were at once in the pocket and rhythmically free. Iverson and Turner were the chief soloists. Turner seems to be in constant study, his style ever-changing. His knowledge of the tradition is a basis for his incredibly modern harmony. Iverson, classically trained, never ceases to create a dramatic solo; he works particularly well interacting with Hart. The set was made up entirely of originals (some of which were based off standards, like Turner's new melody over "Giant Steps"), most of which were Hart's. The set's high point was definitely the first half, with the energy high. Slower tunes finished out the set, but not without a large amount of energy. The group interplay was the essence of the show. The quartet seems to connect on another level, and that's what makes this group one of the best on the scene.

7/10