THE SPRING QUARTET AT MASSEY HALL
On a cold winter’s night, I decided to catch what could be
the best concert that I have ever seen in years. The lineup: Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano,
Esperanza Spalding, and Leo Genovese, otherwise known as the Spring Quartet.
The entire night consisted of originals composed by everyone
in the band, which gives it a fresh vitality and progressiveness to the jazz
spirit. It ran the gamut from straight
ahead swing, post-bop, and even the avant-garde, done with such class, taste
and pizzazz.
Although Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano and Esperanza Spalding
are recognized jazz stars in their right, I have to take this time to pay
special attention to pianist Leo Genovese.
He could very well be (and mark my words), the next McCoy Tyner. His solos were so fiery, musical, and
passionate that I literally felt like I was in a church revival meeting where
the Spirit was moving like a hurricane.
If you don’t know what that is like, check out a black Pentecostal
church.
My only complaint is that this concert should have been
packed out to experience what I have experienced. Esperanza Spalding displayed why she
deserved the Best New Artist Grammy that she beat out Justin Bieber for 3 years
ago. But to play with a lot of empty
seats shows the sad state that creative music can’t attract a wider audience.
Again, the best concert of 2014. Period.
JACK DEJOHNETTE WEB SITE
ESPERANZA SPALDING WEB SITE
JOE LOVANO WEB SITE
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