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Live Reviews
Hong Kong International Jazz Festival, Days 4-6, September 28-30, 2011
Ian Patterson
Ian is dedicated to the promotion of jazz and all creative music all over the world, and to catching just a little piece of it for himself.Over a slow, insistent blues vamp, João's vocal/improvisation sung in the Shangana language of Maputo evoked a series of characters relating "can-you-believe-it?" stories. The spirit of her African ancestors was raised in a spellbinding improvisation which could be felt in the guts. João has a lot of the African storytelling tradition herself, and her song intros and asides were humorous and revealing at once. Another extremely delicate ballad, "Cair do Ceu"—this time sung in Portuguese—was achingly beautifully and would have brought tears to the eyes of a Triad executioner.
Coming up on days 7-8 of the Hong Kong International Jazz Festival: Nguyen Le's Saiyuki; Rusconi; SIU2; Poncho Sanchez' Latin Big Band featuring Terence Blanchard; Kurt Rosenwinkel Standards Trio; Freddy Cole, and more.
From left: Mário Laginha, Maria João
The concert finished with an up-tempo African-inspired song. Laginha delivered one of his most arresting solos of the evening, eclipsed however, by João's extraordinary improvisation which sounded like a cross between a snorting bull, an African celebration and an exorcism rolled into one. A standing ovation brought the pair back onto the stage and a bluesy rendition of "I've Grown Accustomed to His Face" felt more serenade than set closer. João and Laginha's unforgettable performance was an absolute highlight of the festival, and a feather in the cap of the festival programmers.
Photo Credits
Page 1, Emil VIklicky Trio: Stephen Cheung
Page 1, Hong Kong at night: Paul Augustin
Page 2, Dainius Pulauskas Group: Stephen Cheung
Page 3, Emil Viklicky, Cyril Zelenak: Stephen Cheung
Page 4, In The Country: Angel Yu; Maria João, Stephen Cheung
Page 5: Maria João/Mário Laginha: Angel Yu
All other photos: Ian Patterson
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