Harper

            Winard Harper is drummer/band leader, and if his on-stage persona is indicative of his real personality, a pretty happy guy. His enthusiasm showed in both his playing and his stage banter. He has a flamboyant and unique drumming style. About half the time he looks like he’s about ready to fall off his stool because of all the body English. His arms don’t reflect an economy of movement; or maybe they do. It’s just an unusual, but graceful style. And it’s fun to watch. And listen to.

            As you’d expect of a band leader with this much talent, Harper has surrounded himself with top flight players. A real highlight is the newest member of the band, Jon Notar on piano. He had a chance to play several solos, and each was exciting, inventive and usually blues-saturated. Alioune Faye, from Senegal was another fun one to watch. He played a variety of African percussion instruments which were interesting in themselves, and the verve which he applied to the various drums added an extra layer of excitement.

            The band began and ended with Ellington tunes and threw in a couple more jazz standards among band originals and other lesser known tunes. Bobby Timmons’ Moanin’ was a highlight with the band swinging the blues hard. The second to last piece of the evening featured Harper on the Balaphon, an African version of a marimba. He played part of the piece as a duet with Faye on African talking drum yielding some of the most interesting and inventive sounds of the evening.

http://www.winardharper.com/

Set List

In a Sentimental Mood

Reflections

Untitled drum piece

Segment (Charlie Parker)

Morning Glow (Onaje Allan Gums)

Unidentified

Spiritual tune

Moanin’

Percussion piece with Balaphon and Talking Drum

Things Ain’t What They Used to Be

The Band

Winard Harper, drums

Ameen Saleem, bass

Alioune Faye, percussion

Jon Notar, piano

Lummie Spann, alto sax

Josh Evans, trumpet

Jones

            Whereas the Winard Harper Sextet is a swingin’ unit, the Sean Jones group is more cerebral, more straight ahead bebop. Of the four horn players I heard Saturday night, Jones was by far the best. He played with the most passion. He could visit the high register and maintain control. He could convey anguish, poignancy, joy, soulfulness and grace; all with a full and not piercing trumpet tone. He has the chops and the technique and the discretion to know when to put the hammer down and when to let up. And he’s not yet 30.

            Of course Jones brought along another crackerjack band. Here, again, the piano playing was a highlight. Zachi Curtis had a significantly different style than Notar in Harper’s band. Curtis seems to be more a disciple of people like McCoy Tyner with a perpetual flow of chords from the left hand while the right continually invented new melodies. Ali Jackson on the drums is much more subdued than Harper; at least visually. His playing was always interesting and he and Williams on bass laid down the steady bebop groove.

            Jones made a plea for peace and understanding throughout the world both verbally and with his playing. Songs like Divine Inspiration and BJ’s Tune were sometimes introspective, most times beautiful. And, as if to insure that everybody would know the cats can play, the band ended the night with a lick trading frenzy, a la Charlie Parker.

http://groups.imeem.com/hIArgPqW,sean_jones_group/

Set List

The Sluice

Divine Inspiration

Transitions

BJ’s Tune

Bird-like lick-trading sprint

The Band

Sean Jones, trumpet

Zachi Curtis, piano

Ben Williams, bass

Brian Hogan, alto sax

Ali Jackson, drums