(By Duncan Inglis) Almuñécar’s annual Jazz en la Costa Festival will be kicking off on the 17th of July. I’ve been around for 8 years and each time I am amazed at the quality and international reknown of the artists that come to visit our tiny town. As jazz musicians are generally an amorphous bunch owing to rock and pop’s more bombastic and commercial approach, here’s a casual yet concise guide to the stars of this year’s festival.
17th to the 24th of July
Sat 17th: Bobby Hutcherson & Cedar Walton Quartet
Sun 18th: Rubem Dantes Octeto with Chano Domínguez
Mon 19th: Christian Scott Quintet
Tue 20th: James Carter Quintet
Wed 21st: Madeleine Peyroux
Thu 22nd: Stanley Clark Band Hirom
Fri 23rd: Uri Caine Bedrock with Barbara Walke
Sat 24th: David Sanborn Trio with Joey DeFrancesco & Steve Gadd.
Bobby Hutcherson and Cedar Walton
Bobby Hutcherson, and pun intended, gives off a great vibe. One of the world’s foremost vibraphonists and marimba players, he was already playing with the greats while still only a teenager. The vibraphone wasn’t much in demand in jazz when he began, but owing to the influence of the great Milt Jackson and his own incredible passion, he made it practically indispensable. Hutcherson will be joined by pianist Cedar Walton, who has played with folks such as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane.
Rubem Dantas Octet with Chano Domínguez
The Brazillian Rubem Dantas, among other things, discovered the boom-slap sound of the cajón in Peru, and imported that sound to Spain and into flamenco where it has occupied an important place ever since. His percussion playing has revolutionized flamenco, and his many collaborations with stars such as Enrique Morente, Camarón de la Isla, Ketama, Chick Corea and Jorge Pardo have impressed countless. Chano Dominguez, from Cadiz, a heck of a nice bloke and a wonderful pianist, will guest- star in offering his own flamenco-jazz fusions.
Christian Scott Quintet
Music is lucky to have trumpetist Christian Scott as by the age of five he was already a talented visual artist; he soon proved himself to be an excellent athlete too; but owing to the influence of his famous uncle, saxophonist Donald Harrison, he was drawn to music, studied hard, and at the age of fifteen joined his uncle on stage. At twenty-seven years old, his “Yesterday You Said Tomorrow” is thought to be the best jazz album of 2010. He has also impressed the fashion world with his threads. A must-see.
James Carter Quintet
No saxophone of any type is safe around James Carter, who also dominates the clarinet and flute. Detroit-born, he rose to prominence in the 90s, playing alongside such fearsome luminaries as Wynton Marsalis and Lester Bowie. His sound ranges from the tenderest whisper to the throatiest growl. Critically acclaimed and with awards littering his career, Carter is one of the most original musicians around.
Madeleine Peyroux
Vocalist Madeleine Peyroux began in the streets and occasionally returns to them when recording and touring get too much. If, like me, you were too young to ever hear Billie Holiday, then Peyroux can give you a damned good lesson in the art of the sultry, whiskey-soaked voice. A good part of her charm stems from a naked honesty which makes plain the difference between a singer and a singer.
Stanley Clarke Band with Hiromi
Stanley Clarke, along with Jaco Pastorius, are the two bassists primarily responsible for that oft-derided beast, the modern bass solo. Clarke began making waves in 1971, not only for his steady rhythm but in his rise up the neck into melody and a new type of sound. With Chick Corea he formed Return to Forever, which recorded many albums and garnered international acclaim. And no jazz snob, he’s also worked with people like Jeff Beck, Ron Wood, and Stewart Copeland. This show will also feature the dazzling Japanese pianist, Hiromi.
Uri Caine Bedrock with Barbara Walker
Posssibly the hardest to describe of this summer’s offering, Uri Caine’s BedRock combines disco, house, hiphop, gospel, drum n’ bass, jazz, the kitchen sink—you name it, it’s in there somewhere—to form wonderfully playful improvisations that will spin you round and round. If you are looking for surprise and appreciate some changes in direction, this electronic groove band will lead you far from cliché.Singer Barabra Walker will complement the group with her stirring gospel style.
David Sanborn Trio with Joey Defrancesco & Steve Gadd
Remember the sax solo on David Bowie’s Young Americans? That’s David Sanborn, one of the most gifted saxophonists ever. He wasn’t much past his students days when a phone call from a friend lead to him joining the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, with whom he stayed 5 years and played with at Woodstock. Later came work with Stevie Wonder, the Rolling Stones, Bowie, Paul Simon, James Taylor, even some scoring for film. Grammy winner, musician par excellence, he will be joined in Majuelo park with organist Joey De Francesco and the awe-inspiring drummer, Steve Gadd.