2008 Woodie Awards
Jazz Weekend a sweet success
Sonia Emmons
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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"This room is awesome," Branford Marsalis proclaimed when the curtain opened to a sold-out crowd at the PAC November 10. That evening, the hall was filled with jazz played by the Lawrence University Jazz Ensemble, followed by the distinguished Branford Marsalis Quartet.
The concert was a triumphant close to Jazz Celebration Weekend 2007, which began Friday, Nov. 9 with a concert featuring Patricia Barber in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel.
To begin the Friday evening concert, the talented Lawrence University Jazz Singers took the chapel stage under the direction of Lee Tomboulian. A number of students shone in their solos, scatting to the stars in songs such as "Sandu."
Barber and her quartet emerged into a darkened hall, which gave listeners the feeling of being in a nightclub, albeit one with cushioned seats and no smoke.
While all four players looked suave in black, Barber's shoeless feet were at times distracting. Yet even when perched up on the piano bench, they didn't hinder her rich voice or smooth piano playing.
Adding to Barber's piano and vocals were Neal Alger on guitar, Michael Arnapol playing bass, and Eric Montzka on drums. They jumped right into a song without words whose highlight was the cowbell's sharp clang.
Throughout the concert, Barber's voice doubled the melody in her right hand, while the quartet supported her with a stream of steady, energized sound. They played a satisfying song entitled "Hunger" from her newest album, "Mythologies," in which the words "never ever enough to eat" spun and somersaulted atop a winding tune played in unison by the four instruments.
Throughout the concert, Barber communicated with her quartet -- and the audience -- through conspicuous hand gestures and shouts of "Oh!" and "Shit!" when she struck a wrong note.
According to the program notes, "Barber's gone academic" -- just in time for her Lawrence debut.
Saturday evening's concert was an enjoyable blend of old and new. As Branford Marsalis acknowledged before the encore, "Yeah, we're getting older. And it's kind of cool."
The concert was a triumphant close to Jazz Celebration Weekend 2007, which began Friday, Nov. 9 with a concert featuring Patricia Barber in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel.
To begin the Friday evening concert, the talented Lawrence University Jazz Singers took the chapel stage under the direction of Lee Tomboulian. A number of students shone in their solos, scatting to the stars in songs such as "Sandu."
Barber and her quartet emerged into a darkened hall, which gave listeners the feeling of being in a nightclub, albeit one with cushioned seats and no smoke.
While all four players looked suave in black, Barber's shoeless feet were at times distracting. Yet even when perched up on the piano bench, they didn't hinder her rich voice or smooth piano playing.
Adding to Barber's piano and vocals were Neal Alger on guitar, Michael Arnapol playing bass, and Eric Montzka on drums. They jumped right into a song without words whose highlight was the cowbell's sharp clang.
Throughout the concert, Barber's voice doubled the melody in her right hand, while the quartet supported her with a stream of steady, energized sound. They played a satisfying song entitled "Hunger" from her newest album, "Mythologies," in which the words "never ever enough to eat" spun and somersaulted atop a winding tune played in unison by the four instruments.
Throughout the concert, Barber communicated with her quartet -- and the audience -- through conspicuous hand gestures and shouts of "Oh!" and "Shit!" when she struck a wrong note.
According to the program notes, "Barber's gone academic" -- just in time for her Lawrence debut.
Saturday evening's concert was an enjoyable blend of old and new. As Branford Marsalis acknowledged before the encore, "Yeah, we're getting older. And it's kind of cool."
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