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FYI… PHOTOS of the SHOW at the BOTTOM

This is my second time seeing the SF Jazz Collective.  Last time (Feb 2008) was a tour dedicated to Wayne Shorter.  This time, it was a McCoy Tyner-focused tour.  The same line-up as last year, except for this show we were missing Stefon Harris’ vibraphone playing.  Perhaps he wasn’t able to make it or isn’t in the touring version of the band this spring.  He’s on all of the promo photos.  Regardless, they likely wouldn’t have had room for him, as it was a packed stage at the Shedd with the seven members of this tour: Dave Douglas (on trumpet), Joe Lovano (on tenor sax), Miguel Zenon (on alto sax), Renee Rosnes (on piano), Robin Eubanks (on trombone), Matt Penman (on bass), and Eric Harland (on drums).

The show started promptly at 7:30pm, and the band hit the stage after a short introduction.  I’m getting spoiled with these Shedd shows: no opener, 90-120 minutes – – boom goes the dynamite, and then you’re done and home at a reasonable time (we even got home in time to watch 30 Rock; i.e.- the best show on network TV right now).

The band started in a way quite opposite to what I just told my wife… “oh, SF Jazz isn’t avant-garde, they’re much more poppy / groove-oriented.”  Well, I’d never heard McCoy Tyner, and the first song started out with a bunch of free jazz “noodling” that almost sounded like a warm-up.  I like this kinda of stuff (hey, I’m a big John Zorn fan)… but I looked over at my wife, and she had this look of, “oh, crap, this is gonna be a long night.”  Well, this noodling quickly turned into the swinging, groovy jazz fest that I came to know from the prior SFJC show and their CDs.  So, I think my wife had a good time despite the uncertain start. :)

(Robin, Dave, Matt, Joe)

Setlist:   [solos noted as best I remember… I likely forgot to note some of them]

• Fly with the Wind   –  by McCoy Tyner, arranged by RR
• Three Flowers  –  by McCoy Tyner, arranged by MP; solo: DD
• Yes We Can (Victory Dance)  –  by Robin Eubanks; solo(s): RE, DD, RR
• Sycamore  –  by Dave Douglas; solo(s): MP, JL, MZ, JL & MZ trade-off
• Jazz Free  –  by Joe Lovano; solo(s): basically everyone
• No Filter  –  by Miguel Zenon; solo(s): RE, MZ (was on fire)  (*fave of the night*)
• Encore: Concensus  –  by McCoy Tyner, arranged by EH; solo: DD

Oddly enough, they had a congo drum over to the right but never used it… well, other than for Miguel to rest his hands on occasion.  Oh well… they treated us to 90 minutes of some great, smokin’ jazz… so, 7 songs over 90 minutes – – you do the math.  The show was a wonderful treat, and I hope they keep this up in the coming years.

The Appropriate Linkage:

• SFJazz Collective
• Dave Douglas (trumpet)
• Dave Douglas on MySp
• Joe Lovano (tenor sax)
• Miguel Zenón (alto sax) – 2008 MacArthur Foundation Grant recipient
• Robin Eubanks (trombone)
• Renee Rosnes (piano)
• Matt Penman (bass)
• Eric Harland (drums)
• Stefon Harris (vibraphone – not at the show)
• McCoy Tyner (SFJC ’09 tributed artist)
• http://www.theshedd.org/

~Dan – np: Paul Brody’s Sadawi – Kabbalah Dream

SF JAZZ COLLECTIVE PHOTOS
all pictures (cc) 2009 Daniel Temmesfeld,
you may use freely under a creative commons attribution

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