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The Thirth Edition! Blue Note Festival
Young bands that move into a studio to recording their third album often do so in a cold sweat. Their debut has been extolled by the press, '"A promising newcomer; a revelation, our hope for the future of music" critics cheered. The follow-up album lived up to the high expectations, with a more professional production and a broader sound, thanks to more turntablists and a brass section.
This was the expected breakthrough. But what's next? What about this blasted third CD? An even bigger production? Invite a bunch of special guests? Put the bands logo on family-packages of cornflakes, lunchboxes and new action figures? Or fall back on a compilation of well-conceived quality-tracks and stubbornly find your own path. The third one is either a hit or an absolute outer.
The same goes for music festivals. The Blue Note Festival is presenting its third edition, and it didn't choose for the lunchboxes. Two times three days - preceded by an opening night with young Belgian talent and one of the world's leading musicians - the festival is presenting jazz in all its shapes and sizes. The festival is holding on to its, by now well-known, distinction between 'All That Jazz.' and 'All That Jazz?'.
The first three days, 'All That Jazz.' will bring you a cross-section of 'all things hip' in classical jazz. From the piano-trios of the young Jacky Terrasson and the tanned Ahmad Jamal, to the Big Band swing of Wynton Marsalis and the hard bop of his brother Branford. From the bop-for-the-millennium-guitar of Pat Martino to the orientalism of John McLaughlin. All if this larded with the top of the Belgian Jazz-scene.
The second weekend, 'All That Jazz?', will be, as it has been the past years, dedicated to the pelvis. With, amongst others, the hardcore funk of George Clinton and Meshell Ndegeocello, the soul of Angie Stone, The African vibe of Määk's Spirit and Zap Mama, and - exclusively - the one and only concert of the Belgian dancemeister Marc Moulin.
As they say, the third one is either a hit or an absolute outer. In our opinion it's a bulls eye.
Bart Cornand
Jazz-critic Focus Knack --http://www.bluenotefestival.com/ [Jul 2004]
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