As far as some of the local bands, saxophonist Bart Wirtz played edgy, post-bop jazz with a fine band that included guest trumpeter Sean Jones Sean Jones
b.1978
trumpet . Jones, a player with monster chops, was a good foil for the exploratory style of Wirtz and the two had good interplay throughout. Yuri Honing Yuri Honing

sax, tenor , a popular Dutch saxophonist, played mostly slow, ethereal, ECM-style music in his 2010 set at North Sea. This year, his band was electric. The name Wired Paradise indicated maybe a little more fireworks. But the music was still laidback and his approach overly moody and serene. What was sampled of his set bore no excitement. In contrast, the Toon Roos Toon Roos
group also played some slow, delicate pieces, but there was more of a sense of exploring, searching and improvising to a theme with this group. Saxophonist Roos would, at times, play sparely, but was also probing. Guest drummer Peter Erskine Peter Erskine
b.1954
drums , a monster drummer with many major American bands over the years, was adept at providing fire or shifting into quiet, thoughtful musings.

An absolute delight was singer Rita Reys, known as Europe's First Lady of Jazz. She's in her 80s, and has been doing it a long time. It shows in all the good ways. She ran through many diamonds in the Great American Songbook and did so with fine style, accompanied by Pianist Peter Beets Peter Beets
b.1971
piano ' Trio. Reys' voice was obviously stronger when she was younger. But it doesn't matter. She has a sense of swing and knows how to use her voice to negotiate around what otherwise might be difficult passages. She has nice phrasing, a great feel for the music that only experience can bring and had wonderful stage charisma. Beets had considerable chops, reminiscent of Oscar Peterson Oscar Peterson
1925 - 2007
piano in approach and sense of swing. The trio was first-rate for that kind of music and was hand-in-glove with Reys.

Saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa Rudresh Mahanthappa
b.1971
sax, alto sat in for a couple numbers with the Codarts & Royal Conservatory Big Band from Holland, conducted by Ilja Reijngoud. They played two of his charts, and did so to perfection, as Mahanthappa's alto sax jumped in for screaming, scintillating solos. The music was invigorating. Before Mahanthappa's appearance, the band cooked through some other charts with enthusiasm and precision. There was a noteworthy soprano sax solo by Stephanie Francke.

Of course, with so many concert stages and so many bands, it was impossible to check everything out. Fun to try. Many superb bands were missed in favor of others. But at times, one can catch a few moments of music from this artist, and some of that, while moving about and moving on in this spectacular setting.

Some snippets:

Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire continued to push the exploratory nature of jazz. His group is always improvising and trying to achieve something different and unique each night, and he and saxophonist Walter Smith III Walter Smith III
b.1980
sax, tenor sounded great together, as they always seem to. Sound Prints, the quintet fronted by Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas, went at its music with the same spirit. The leaders saxophone and trumpet sparred back and forth, always with an edge, tossing daggers, prodded on by the free-flowing drumming of Joey Baron Joey Baron
b.1955
drums .

McCoy Tyner McCoy Tyner
b.1938
piano 's band featured Ravi Coltrane Ravi Coltrane
b.1965
sax, tenor on sax. It was rich music, including the always-captivating "Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit." Van Morrison, a renowned rocker from the United Kingdom who has lit up audiences for years, came on with a horn section and even played some alto sax himself. His voice still has the bluesy trademark and comes off well. Jazz fans remember his "Moondance," which is a jazzy tune from the 1970s. The arrangement was different but hip, featuring a lot of horn work.

Spectrum Road—bassist Jack Bruce Jack Bruce
b.1943
bass , keyboardist John Medeski John Medeski

keyboard , drummer Cindy Blackman Cindy Blackman
b.1959
drums Santana and guitarist Vernon Reid Vernon Reid
b.1958
guitar —spit out rock tinged with blues, but with some hot improvisations. Reid wailed on guitar and Bruce's voice was no worse for the wear over the years. Strong music.

Kurt Elling Kurt Elling
b.1967
vocal sang in a pared-down situation, with just guitarist Charlie Hunter Charlie Hunter

guitar, 8-string and drummer Derrek Phillips Derrek Phillips
. This project shows a different side of the man with the colossal vocal instrument. They covered a country and western tune, Steve Miller's "The Joker," and the standard "Save Your Love for Me." All were rendered dramatically and effectively, with Elling bending notes, delivering elongating phrases, and improvising with the phrasing. Hunter's guitar functioned well as the chording instrument and as a sharp, searing solo voice.

And, of course, Trombone Shorty raised the electricity level, wailing through his act that's part Las Vegas, part New Orleans and part no-holds barred party. There were a lot of fine solos in that package and people were sure to be smiling and dancing.

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