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Javier AQ Ortiz wrote on February 01, 2007 reportOn September 28, 2002 a date with Roy Haynes at the Broward Center for
the Performing Arts, hosted by South Floridas Gold Coast Jazz Society,
featured him alongside Kenny Garrett, Nicholas Payton, Dwayne Burno
and Dave Kikoski. Haynes, seen and heard on Birds Of A Feather-A
Tribute To Charlie Parker, showed chops and a half.
With such a line-up, as well as the theme and repertoire for the
concert, the drummers rare presentation in South Florida was expected
as a prospective unforgettable moment in the areas jazz lore. Haynes
manages as a musician, even in the ever-evolving threshold of advanced
age, to stay equitable to the projected musical tasks facing them with
equal skill, honored reputation, incisiveness, timeliness, and taste.
Having the piano idiosyncrasy of Kikoski, the endless bottom of Burno,
added to Garrett and Paytons distinguishing marks, fills the
imagination with deep and happy jazzy dreams. Most, albeit not all,
encompassed sundry fulfillments at various -somewhat constant- levels.
At times, however, the evenings performance felt analogous to a
stereotypical smoky jazz dive. During such moments, given the spacious
venue, the backend of the playing sounded smallish and timid given the
players at hand. Towards the end of the two set concert, it would seem
that both audience and players were anticipating the closing stages.
There were brief, albeit dragging segments at the end.
The jazz meat and potatoes, nonetheless, were served throughout the
rest of a memorable evening. The most enthusiastic response of the
night came upon a Payton divinely honed ballad treatment. Strongly
sweet, swinging, felt and expressed, his lines were timed just right,
filled with sayings of romance on the harmonic palette and rhythmic
melodious underpinnings, which clearly elicited the audiences
approval. Throughout the rest of the night, Payton had his moments
too, albeit his reputation in some quarters might very well be open to
critical interpretation. He and Garrett, as well as Haynes himself,
were the lighting rods of the evening. Garrett, no stranger to
recognition in the industry and the public, was excellent although his
capacity to address a true collective experience at a superior next
level was amiss. Haynes remains as driving, challenging and deep as
ever, and the audience seemed a bit perplexed by the distinctive piano
voice throughout the evening. Burnos anchoring, support and drive,
were quite notable nonetheless.
Charlie Parkers legacy and Hayness place within it were honored on
that evening.
Nuff said. Right?
