RSS 2.0 FeedJanuary 27, 2010, Cover Stories, Jazz
Mark O'Connor's "Hot Swing" breathes new life into gypsy jazz
"Hot Swing" at the Folly Theatre coincided with the 100th birthday celebration of Django Reinhardt, who before passing away in 1953, helped shape the "gypsy jazz" sound.
Who would have guessed that it would take a Seattle-born maestro to truly capture the heart and soul of Romani guitarist Django Reinhardt's "gypsy music?" While on paper it might sound like an unusual notion, Mark O'Connor's two-hour "Hot Swing" performance at the Folly Theater was all the proof needed to transform any naysayers in the audience into Django loyalists - and perhaps just as importantly - O'Connor devotees. A jazz concert often creates an emotional connection between band and audience, but O'Connor accomplished a greater feat at his performance in Kansas City. What originally began as straight-laced, reserved group of patrons eventually morphed into a group of hooting-and-hollering, frenzied fans that begged for an encore. Not bad for a jazz show.
The enthusiastic response was par for the course for a man who once declared he would like to see "an American string revolution." The accomplished violinist and composer wears many hats these days - whether recording his piece "Americana Symphony" with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra or instructing at the annual String Camp sessions - but his recent appearance in Kansas City was driven by a specific mission. O'Connor's presentation "Hot Swing" paid homage to 1930's Roma guitarist Django Reinhardt and French violinist Stephane Grappelli, founders of the influential Quintette du Hot Club de France.
"Hot Swing" also coincided with the 100th birthday celebration of Reinhardt, who before passing away in 1953, helped shape the "gypsy jazz" sound. Oscillating between a traditional, down-home bluegrass session and jaw-dropping jazz virtuosity, "Hot Swing" was never plagued by stagnancy. O'Connor, a powerhouse fiddler who commanded the stage with each solo, was solidly backed by some of the finest jazz players on the contemporary music scene. Included in the lineup were upright bassist Gary Mazzaroppi, the guitar team of Matt Munisteri and Frank Vignola, and vocalist Heather Masse, who joined the instrumental quartet periodically throughout the two sets. Vignola, who in the past has shared the stage with everyone from Les Paul to Donald Fagan, narrowly overshadowed O'Connor with his mind-blowing proficiency at his instrument.
Reinhardt's musical legacy endured with O'Connor's takes on "Minor Swing," "Limehouse Blues," "Nuages" and "Mystery Pacific," which featured rhythmically intense moments of strumming from Vignola. The vocal numbers featuring Masse strayed briefly from the Django-themed evening, but traditional favorites such as "Fascinating Rhythm," "As Time Goes By" and "Misty" were still crowd pleasers. A singer who has appeared on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, Masse delivered a restrained, yet strong vocal performance accentuated by her ability to explore multiple octaves.
For as much attention placed on Reinhardt's musical catalog, one of the most moving moments of the evening arrived with a subject closer to home. Kansas City Star writer and Coda Jazz founder Steve Penn spoke briefly to the audience about Kansas City's own Claude "Fiddler" Williams, whose funeral/burial arrangements were financially aided by Penn's committee. The personal violin of Williams was then presented to O'Connor, who took the opportunity to play a composition he wrote about the late musician titled "Fiddler Going Home." O'Connor's Celtic-derived solo instrumental piece, which was the first song played on William's violin since his death, marked the most heartfelt moment of the evening. Given the fact that the two-hour "Hot Swing" performance was often driven by the lightning-speed hand movements of O'Connor and Vignola, the subdued "Fiddler Going Home" was a welcome supplement to the evening.
O'Connor closed the second set with his own high-energy original, "Pickles on the Elbow," a perfect crescendo for a multi-faceted night of music. While many of the songs on the setlist, including "Pickles on the Elbow," can be heard on O'Connor's album Hot Swing!, additional material from Reinhardt created a more introspective and timely aspect to the performance. Some might argue that the soloing was at times over the top and possibly a bit bombastic, but it's hard to be disappointed in musicians who are breathing new life into the jazz tradition - and awing audiences as a result.
REVIEW
Folly Jazz Series
Mark O'Connor "Hot Swing" Jazz Trio
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Folly Theatre
12th Street and Central
For tickets to other events, call 816-474-4444, or online at www.follytheater.org
Top photo by Jim McGuire
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