Frenchy’s Fracas

Our impressions of our first day at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Rotterdam:
[Hieronymus Fox - HF; Frenchy - F]

Clinic with Branford Marsalis
[HF]
Surprising, was expecting something with music, a performance, whatever. Turned out to be a Q&A session. Interesting to hear a musician’s mindset and motivations: depth, simplicity and feeling about jazz.
[F]
Damn hot in that room. Loved the down-to-earthness, funny guy!

Sergio Mendes
[HF]
A compromise between his old (true) stuff and his recent release. Best way to introduce his music to a large crowd. More substance than show.
[F]
Agreed, too bad that most people are corpselike and not really swinging to the music. Only when they played Mas Que Nada did some of the corpses start moving around a bit

Neville Brothers
[HF]
Old and seasoned warriors, authentic performers
[F]
Well.. not really impressive, just ok..

Bilal
[HF]
Crappy sound, ego show, seemed like Bilal thought he was the ultimate performer, Soul God.. Potential wasn’t used very well.
[F]
Crappy sound, check! Great voice, okay ego, okay performer, but not God’s gift to Soul

Tower of Power
[HF]
Blown away! Brilliant. Better singer than last time I saw them, adding more to the band than being annoying. Great encore.
[F]
1st time ever, excellent! 28 years in the business, that’s my age, goddammit! Incredible!

Omar
[HF]
Crappy sound, sore legs, good music, same old, same old.. Great DJ in the Yukon room.
[F]
Got used to the crappy sound, even sorer back ;o)

Leela James
[HF]
Second time around, better than the HMH show, video screens added to the charm and power of the performance.
[F]
Agreed.. tired of typing ;o)

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