In one of the most magical and most forward thinking places in
Toronto for live music, I decided to take in a concert of some of the most
unique music put together by a good old friend of mine. He would go by the name of David Virelles,
fellow Cuban and prodigee of Jane Bunnett.
I first met David at the IAJE conference in January of 2003. I even took a Barry Harris workshop with him
and when we saw the 50th anniversary of the “Quintet: Live At Massey Hall”, we hung out the night
away with greats such as Dave Holland, Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Roy Hargrove,
Kenny Garrett, and one of our main piano heroes, Herbie Hancock.
All of a sudden now, David moved to New York, and at a ripe young
age he is now backing up and recording with Chris Potter, Tomasz Stanko, Andrew
Cyrille and Ben Street to name a few. He got his training through the AACM
(Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) through legends such as
Muhal Richard Abrams and Henry Threadgill.
Through these experiences, he is fusing the elements of the avant-garde,
post-bop, contemporary classical, free jazz, and Afro-Cuban music into a
uniquely potent style that is really energetic, rapturous, and gets you in the
zone wanting more.
The performance was split into two sections. David Virelles played mostly solo piano some
short pieces and compositions with a few highlights from vocalist Roman Diaz
and a percussion instrument. From what
I gathered, one moment David would play with the sensitivity and the
romanticism of a Beethoven or a Chopin, but once he locks in a groove, he brings
a percussive element that is just as intense and fiery as a Cecil Taylor.
The actual world premiere performance, Gnosis, is a work that is a
fusion of classical elements mixed with avant-garde, Afro-Cuban jazz. It is a marriage made in heaven. One of the highlights of the movement was a
section in which David and the percussionist played a near 10 minute groove
that was so intense, rapturous, and spiritual that I had to literally get up
off my seat and start doing interpretive freestyle dance to the music,
communicating with the percussionist who was egging me on with his
rhythms. That alone was what David
really achieved that night. Gnosis,
which is Greek for “Spirit” (hence where you get the word Gnosticism) was just
like that. For me, it felt like a Pentecostal
church service that didn’t want to end.
In my honest opinion, David Virelles’ “Gnosis” could very well be
the best concert that I have ever been to in 2015, since it was art at its most
energetic, spiritual and classiest at its best.
OFFICIAL DAVID VIRELLES WEB SITE:
(David Virelles)
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