Stephane Wrembel's take on tradition

As a genre, gypsy jazz is unusual. Not many other genres are dominated by one musician, in the way that Django Reinhardt defined the sound of gypsy jazz. Lead guitarists even frequently play Django's improvised solos, note for note.

Stephane Wrembel's guitar playing at the Flynn Space tonight certainly acknowledged Django's dominating presence in the genre, including reciting a couple of Django's solos. But he didn't stop there. Before the group even appeared on stage, the drum set in the corner hinted at some departures from the traditional stringed rhythm section. Nick Anderson's drumming with sticks, brushes and hands added an array of interesting textures, and rhythmic interplay with Wrembel. The material diverged in many directions - unusual time signatures, and rhythmic and harmonic ideas far beyond the traditional borders of gypsy jazz.

It certainly seemed like an appropriate 100th birthday tribute to an innovative musician.

#bdjf: "Liberace was killer!"

Of course, the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival has a Twitter feed and hashtag. You can follow the BDJF on Twitter at @DiscoverJazzVT. If you're a Twitter user, Tweet about the festival using the #BDJF hashtag (it's a good idea to include the Burlington hashtag as well, #BTV). You'll find the latest schedule changes, promotions, and news from the festival and can share your own thoughts and insights.

One of the great things about Twitter is you can share quotes, observations, and thoughts that are scribbled in the reporter's notebook but might not otherwise be the basis of a longer piece. To wit, during the Meet The Artist session with Allen Toussaint and Don Byron, Mr. Toussaint shared his thoughts on many of the great artists and producers he's worked with in his career. What did he have to say about the late, fabulous Liberace? "I loved Liberace. Liberace was killer!"

Most people remember Liberace for the opulence, the character, and the controversies. But with Toussaint, it's all about the music - and at the piano "Liberace was killer." To me, that was definitely Tweetworthy.

Meet The Artist: Allen Toussaint

Musician Allen Toussaint (left) and critic/writer Bob Blumenthal appear to be talking simultaneously but actually were carefully listening to each other as Allen Toussaint described a mentor of his, Ernest Penn, describing "stride" piano style as "tents in my left hand and butterflies in my right hand." To which Professor Longhair added the "Junker Blues" style and Fats Domino had his first hit with "The Fat Man."

Allen Toussaint knows his New Orleans history and has been intimately involved in creating & continuing it for over 50 years. After the discussion, the evening's concert covered a lot of ground but really shined when it got down to basics, like the sublime version of St. James Infirmary with space between the notes big enough to dance through. Perfect.

The Michael Chorney Sextet (actually a Septet and even an Octet when singer Miriam Bernardo joined in) opened for Allen Toussaint & The Bright Mississippi and provided a set of Sun Ra, Kurt Weill and originals that were clear, rhythmic and full of quiet texture.

Flickr'd Photos From BDJF

Some early shots from around town during the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival:

Jazz Soaks Into Our Soul

The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival is officially open and required equipment includes open ears, a generous heart and...an umbrella.

Big Joe Burrell's statue directs passerby to go forth and experience jazz:

























Project Organ Trio with Harrison Shulman on guitar, Tyler Mast on organ and drummer Dan Ryan at the Festival kick-off Thursday night:

The Big Joe Burrell plaque says it all:

Invisible Bass(ist)s

I was drawn to the center stage on Church Street last night by the sound of Bob Wagner's electric guitar. He was complemented by steady, sparse drumming, and the thick sound of Ray Paczkowski's organ. A solid bass line completed the sound, with occasional quick runs, although I couldn't see the bassist. Thinking that the bass player might be hidden behind the large organ and Leslie speaker cabinet setup, I walked around the stage. There was no bass player! Paczkowski was playing an impressive bass line on the organ with his left hand, even during his solos.

I had a similar experience at the Flynn: Arturo Sandoval scatted an extended imitation of a bass solo over a bebop medley of Cherokee, Hot House and Donna Lee. In the course of the solo, he mimed playing an electric bass, and then switched to a comic imitation of a bowed bass solo. Invisible bass certainly wasn't his only instrument - in addition to his blazing trumpet solos, he played timbales, piano, and keyboards!

Jazz... In A Very Vermont Way

Last night the 27th annual Burlington Discover Jazz Festival (#BDJF) kicked off with the opening reception at Halvorson's on Church St. There were quick remarks of welcome and thanks by Geeda Searfoorce - Associate Director of the Festival, Doreen Kraft - Executive Director of Burlington City Arts, Andrea Rogers - Executive Director of the Flynn Center, Tom Pelletier - president of Northfield Savings Bank, Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss, and Jeff Phillips - Chair of the BDJF Advisory Board. There were many thanks to the sponsors, volunteers, and staff who make the festival happen, including a standing ovation for Rogers, who is retiring from her role at the Flynn.

Regardless of the thanks, sentiments, and other remarks, every speaker agrees it's alllll about the music and, as with every music festival, someone's gotta go first. This year, the honor of unofficial opening act for the Festival went to local jazz band Project Organ Trio.

Like many of the groups, bands, trios, and projects playing 'round town at the festival, Project Organ Trio is an organic get together of local musicians. Drummer Dan Ryan is a regular at Radio Bean on Thursday nights with the Anthony Santor Group, organist Tyler Mast plays wit local band Bearquarium, and guitarist Harrison Shulman has hosted open jazz at Parima.

This is just the first of many BDJF gigs for the Project: you can hear them at Leunig's, American Flatbread, The Skinny Pancake, and Red Square, to name a few (for the full schedule, check the BDJF website or program in the 'Round Town section). You can even catch Tyler and Harrison, along with locals Craig Mitchell, Bryan McNamara, and others, as part of "Operation: Prince" a tribute performance at Club Metronome on Monday, 6/7, in honor the Purple One's birthday.

While Dan, Tyler, and Harrison have known each other and played together for years (and, in the case of Dan and Harrison, even been roommates), the incarnation as Project Organ Trio is very recent. I asked Harrison, since they're a new trio, how did they land the gig at the BDJF Opening Reception? He didn't really have an answer. He said it's sortof been a joke among the 3 of them - "how the heck did we get this gig, anyway?" As we tried to reconstruct the connections that led to Halvorson's - 'the BDJF needed a band for the reception, someone recommended us, so-and-so said 'yeah, they'd be great', some other stars aligned, and here we are' - we realized that it all came together, from one person to another, in a very Vermont way.

And that's true of the festival: local artists, community support, educational sessions, lots of free music, jazz in every corner of town, many experienced hands, lots of volunteers, prayers for good weather (and a determined spirit if the elements don't cooperate), residents, visitors, and even a shiny new statue to honor those who paved the way.

That is jazz... in a very Vermont way.

Opening Night At The 27th Annual BDJF

Robert Frost wrote, "Good fences make good neighbors."

Burlington mayor Bob Kiss offered a slightly different version of that thought, in tonight's opening reception for this year's Burlington Discover Jazz Festival: "Good streets plus good sidewalks make a good jazz festival."

He had been introduced as a champion of jazz, and while he didn't disagree with that description he also wanted to give a little perspective on the broader range of his mayoral responsibilities. It's not all fun and games. Tomorrow morning first thing he'll be working on securing funding for an upcoming street and sidewalk project in the city.

True enough, a mayor has to be able to perform in a lot of different roles. And the point was well taken: like a city, the Festival is also dependent on all of the underlying systems and structures that support it.

But on this night, it was just about the music.

Halvorson's hosted the reception, including a bluesy, searing opening set on the outdoor patio featuring Project Organ Trio. They simmered along nicely in a grooving musical complement to the sweet Lake Champlain Chocolates and the cured Vermont Smoked Meats making their way around the place on everyone's plates.

Where to go after an opening like this? Tomorrow night's fun continues with the Big Joe Burrell statue dedication at the top of Church Street at 4:30; Arturo Sandoval's show at the Flynn at 8; Sierra Leone's Refugee AllStars at the Fountain Stage (10:30) and the first of many nights of great music all around town.

Things are off to a very good start!

Jazz Fest Ticket Winners!

Congratulations to the winners of the tickets to the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival! The winners are:

• Melendy Comey of Shelburne
• Bruce Anderson of Brookfield
• Kaitlin Gregg of Burlington
• Louise Wright of Enosburg
• Beth Burgess of Montpelier
• Nancy Wilson of Bristol
• Carolyn Tesini of Charlotte

Thanks for participating in the drawing - enjoy the shows!

(picture of Sharon Jones & Dap-Kings courtesy www.discoverjazz.com)

Win Tickets To The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival!

VPR is giving away tickets to some of the hottest acts coming to this year's Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. Complete and submit this form to enter to win a pair of tickets to one of the following concerts:

Allen Toussaint - June 5
Arturo Sandoval - June 4
Sharon Jones - June 10
Jim Hall Quartet - June 11
Sonny Rollins - June 12
World Tent - June 12
Levon Helm - June 13

We'll choose 7 winners and they'll win the tickets in the order above - i.e. the first winner wins the Allen Toussaint tickets and the seventh winner gets the Levon Helm tickets. All these shows are in Burlington, VT: check the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival site for locations, directions, the complete schedule, and previews of concerts. Visit VPR.net for complete Contest Rules. The entry deadline is Wednesday, June 2 at noon!

Enter for your chance to win, and check back here on the VPR Jazz Fest Blog for more about the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival!

(Above photo courtesy of www.discoverjazz.com.)