Once connected to the La Villette Jazz Festival held in June, the
JVC Jazz Festival did the city a favor when it broke away several
years ago and rescheduled itself in October, ensuring that Paris
now has two major jazz festivals. The festival takes place in
assorted venues across town and this year focuses on the younger
stars of jazz. Prime among these is pianist Brad Mehldau. Whether interpreting standards or performing original compositions,
his playing is always meditative, lyrical, soulful and far-reaching,
and unlike so many belonging to his generation, Mehldau is always
willing to take a risk and stretch that little bit further. Not
only can he play, he can write too. His liner notes are always
interesting to read, mixing pithy throwaways, telling comments
and a wit that can be dry, acerbic or wacky. He will be with his
trio on October 29 at the Salle Pleyel (8pm, 120-290F) where he’ll
launch his latest CD, “Places” (Warner Bros), a collection of
original tunes dedicated to the cities he’s performed in, including
Paris and his hometown, Los Angeles.
Among the other young stars are saxophonist James Carter who has left behind his longtime quartet for his new electric
band, at the Bataclan, Oct 25 (8pm, 160F), and on the same bill,
the ever popular altoist, Kenny Garrett. Tenor star Joshua Redman also gets a look in with his quartet opening the festival on
Oct 23, supported by the remarkable pianist Kenny Werner, here in duo with Canadian trumpeter Kenny Wheeler (8pm, 170F).
Other venues include La Cigale, where you can catch French violin
star, Didier Lockwood, with young French guitarist Misja Fitzgerald Michel in support, Oct 28 (8pm, 150F). Those who find the festival’s
programming too straight should definitely check out the most
interesting concert of the week-long event: The Space Time All
Stars, a group put together by fabulous pianist Donald Brown and featuring saxophonist Billy Pierce, bass ace Essiet Essiet and conga giant, Miguel Anga Diez. The last time Brown played the JVC Festival at New Morning,
the famous club was packed to the rafters, and Brown, simply unable
to believe his eyes, kept peering with disbelief into the audience.
This time round he’s opening for drum legend and one of the leading
forces behind the New York loft movement of the 1970s, Ali Jackson, whose quartet features fine young pianist Carlos McKinney, Oct 26 (9pm, 130F).
One of the highlights of the festival is the opening of a new
jazz club, the Sunside. Formerly a restaurant above the well-known
basement club, the Sunset, the new space will be devoted to acoustic
jazz, while the Sunset will highlight electronic influences. The
Sunside gets off to a prestigious start with dynamite pianist
Jacky Terrasson and his trio featuring the inimitable percussionist Leon Parker, Oct 23-25 (8pm & 10pm, 120F). They are followed by another Blue
Note recording artist, singer Kurt Elling. Profiled in these pages three months ago, Elling had to cancel
his summer engagement, so now’s the time to catch one of the most
original vocalists on the scene today, Oct 26-28 (9pm, 150F).
Outside the Festival but deeply deserving a mention is an appearance
by one of New York’s best loved figures, pianist Joel Forrester. Forrester performed a total of 81 gigs at last summer’s Avignon
Festival, an amazing figure even for this indefatigable performer.
He will be at the sympa Marais jazz club, 7 Lézards, Oct 18 (9pm,
70F) before sitting in with alto great Steve Potts and his quartet
at their regular Wednesday night spot (50F). Don’t miss the fun.
Venues
Bataclan 50 bd Voltaire, 11e, M° Oberkampf, tel: 01 47 00 55 22
La Cigale 120 bd Rochechouart, 18e, M° Pigalle, tel: 01 49 25 81 75
New Morning 7-9 rue des Petites Ecuries, 10e, M° Château-d’Eau, tel: 01 45
23 51 41
Salle Pleyel 252 rue du faubourg St-Honoré, 8e, M° Ternes, tel: 01 45 61 53
00
7 Lézards 10 rue des Rosiers, 4e, M° St-Paul, tel: 01 48 87 08 97
Sunside 60 rue des Lombards, 1er, M° Châtelet, tel: 01 40 26 21 25
