On August 20th 2010, I played the inaugural concert at the first edition of the Saveurs Jazz Festival in Segré, France. I arrived in Paris on the Tuesday before to chilly weather for a couple of days before Summer returned. It's lovely now.
My French Trio of drummer Benjamin Henocq and bassist Manu Marchés together with my guest the great saxophonist Sylvain Beuf played just before the other headliner, legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, who at 80 is still a commanding presence. Miles Davis once said that no one in jazz could deliver a melody better than Ahmad Jamal and Miles said that his method of accurately yet emotively stating the melody before the improvisation was greatly influenced by Jamal's playing. It was as a great a pleasure to sit and listen to Ahmad Jamal as it was to play the concert.
There was accuracy and precision in his playing along with passion and pronounced dynamics, from a subtle yet groovy whisper to thundering full sounding chords.
Mr. Jamal's concert, which went on after my band's concert, juxtaposed well with mine. Artistic Director and ace trumpeter Nicolas Folmer remarked that there was so much that was different and yet so much that was so similar in my playing and Ahmad Jamal's playing. He felt that my playing was a continuation of the legendary piano players and to place Jamal and me on the same bill made it a wonderful night of pianists and a wonderful way in the first concert in the first edition of the festival to set the tone and direction for future editions of this festival, which will be presented annually.
The moment that left me glowing was after I finished my soundcheck heading back to my dressing room. I saw Mr. Jamal sitting in the artist cafe. As I walked towards him to say hello, he got up from his seat, walked up to me, shook my hand and proceeded to tell me how much he enjoyed my work.
I thought he was just being courteous, then he actually told me where he heard my playing, knew who I had performed with and even named a YouTube video I am on and named some of the the musicians I was playing with on that video (with Ernie Watts, Randy Brecker, Richard Jackson, Shawn Kelley, Christy Smith and T'ang Quartet).
I was speechless for a moment before I thanked him for his kind words.He then gave me his email address while joking, "Deliver us Lord from Email...." and then proceeded to give me a big hug. In that moment, I learnt some valuable lessons on humility from Ahmad Jamal and also learnt how to powerfully encourage younger musicians.
Of course, I would not give empty praise to young musicians who are off the mark, but even for them I will be encouraging and tell them to not give up and keep at it. I will now make it a point to check out the other musicians on the same bill as I am on a show, especially young and upcoming ones who are already making a good effort to hone their craft.
Ahmad Jamal sounded so great at his own concert with my old acquaintance the drummer Herlin Riley and the rest of the band.
I am so lucky to live this particular life as a jazz musician especially when I think of how hard it can be. I am so grateful to get the sponsorship of EFG International and the support of the Composers & Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS) to play at the festival and my other gigs here in France.
After the Saveurs & Jazz Festival, I proceeded to play at one of Paris' leading jazz clubs, the Duc Des Lombards on 24th August, again with my French Trio and this time featuring trumpeter Nicolas Folmer. It was a great gig and an honor to play at the Duc, one of the top jazz clubs in Europe.
I returned home to Singapore to play at INK Bar, my favorite residency in years, to play all of October and the first 12 days of November. In September, I did a TV show in Beijing which will be aired to a potential audience of 300 million on CCTV 4 and 6 as well as Singapore Mediacorp's Channel 8.
On October 8th & 9th, I played my first ever Solo Recital concerts at Esplanade on the 8th & 9th. It was a most exhilarating experience but that is another story.
In November, I will take my trio of drummer Tamagoh and bassist Brian Benson to play at the London Jazz Festival, again with the support of EFG Bank, the NAC and COMPASS. Enroute to London we will play at Germany's oldest Jazz Club in Frankfurt, the Jazz Keller.
Following London I will play in Paris for the second time this year; at the The Swan Bar on the 17th of November with drummer Hidéhiko Kan and bassist Manu Marchés and 18th November at Chez Papa with legendary French bass player Pierre Boussaguet.
At 50 this year and having been a professional musician for 34 years, I am so blessed that I make a living playing the music I love with the people I love for the people who love me. What more can I ask for?
-------
Photos by Varian Monteiro
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment