Frenchy’s Fracas

General Info
Artist: The New Generation Big Band
Location: Melkweg, Amsterdam
When: 13 March 2007

Who?
Well, I didn’t know a lot about this band, but it sounded interesting so.. The band really is a big band: 12-man/woman brass section, percussionist, keyboards, drums and guitar. They mix up the big band sound of the different eras with blues, jazz and real R&B. They just released a new album, and this evening was the official launch.

The Show
The band took their time to warm up as a group; the first solos weren’t really that earth-shattering. I liked the way they tried to switch styles within songs, that’s quite a high watermark. My favorite song was their version of Al Jarreau’s Roof Garden.
Closing guest appearance from the talented Dutch hip-hop performers Pete Philly & Perquisite. Pete Philly has this energy that makes you pay attention; I’m guessing the guy has a reasonable chance of breaking through internationally.

Conclusion
Hmm, tough one: the band enjoyed their performance and that came across very well. During one song, they sussed the brass section and let the rest of the band play for a minute or so; that sounded much better than when the whole band was playing which is a point of concern if you’re a big band. Entertaining evening, nice venue.

Rating:

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Well, off to Amsterdam tomorrow for some Dutch Delights at the Melkweg - a CD presentation of the New Generation Big Band. An interesting mix of Big Band music with a guest performance from the excellent Pete Philly & Perquisite (myspace link, official site). So let’s see what happens!
BTW: seriously enjoying 4Hero’s new album, yum-yum!
UPDATE: here’s a little review..

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ehm.. I didn’t get to go to this gig, but Hieronymus Fox was so kind to send me his review..

Thanks to Frenchy’s back this was a solo trip.   I was very curious for the live gig of this legend, who became worldfamous through Gangstarr. This was one of the first hiphop acts combining raw street hip hop with bebop in the late eighties and nineties.

In the early nineties Guru released the first of the three Jazzmatazz albums. In this formula the hiphop bebop fusion was less raw and more jazzy/commercial. A large variety of artists starred on the albums: Donald Byrd, Me’Shell, Jamiroquai, Ronny Jordan, Bilal etc. 

Big ? for me was what to expect from this artist which hasn’t released an album for some years and has only been in the news recently because of the fact that Gangstarr is really really history now. Furthermore, how would the typical Jazzmatazz formula turn out live?

Fashionably late, the concert started with some Jazzmatazz classics. Guru looked fit and energetic. Line up: sax player, drummer, bass player, DJ, female vocalist, and a co-rapper (Solar).

To my humble opinion in a live Jazzmatazz performance, the music should have a prominent role. Unfortunately this was not the fact and both sax and vocalists volume was way too low. Combined with the co-rapper- formula (of which I am not a big fan) and several Gangstarr classics this was more a hiphop than Jazzmatazz gig… Furthermore nothing special was added to the Jazzmatazz songs. So they all sounded… flat.

In short (auch… pain in my heart) I can only conclude the Jazzmatazz formula and Guru are overdue in 2006. 

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Already the North Sea Jazz Festival mid-July, but there’s more..

• Pete Philly & Perquisite @ Waerdsetempel, Heerhugowaard (early July)
• Guru’s Jazzmatazz Live @ Melkweg, Amsterdam (mid September)
• Of(f) course, the Summer Carnival @ Rotterdam
• And the delightful eye candy fest: the Fast Forward Dance Parade @ Rotterdam

Got to find me a new camera soon!

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