Japanese saxophonist/flutist Sadao Watanabe put on a particularly memorable show in his festival debut at Montreal’s Theatre Jean-Duceppe, backed by a five-piece band that traveled with him all the way from the Land of the Rising Sun. Watanabe’s set made a powerful emotional impact, touching on many jazz styles: swing, bossa nova, a bop burner, contemporary smooth, ancient African grooves, funk and joyous calypso.
Despite the obvious instrumental skill of each bandmember, this show had little to do with chops and everything to do with taste and artistic maturity. Watanabe closed the show on a note of direct intimacy, addressing the audience on alto sax from the edge of the stage, sans microphone, accompanied only by acoustic piano on a gorgeous Jobim ballad.
Other highlights from Thursday’s shows included a cute and light club set by Toronto-based singer Emilie-Claire Barlow backed by her drummerless trio; powerhouse pyrotechnics from Cuban-born piano hero Chucho Valdez; and a wild late-night ride in the intimate Salle de Gesu with provocative bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding’s quartet.
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