The New Decay Does the Jazz Winnipeg Festival Part 1

So the 2007 edition of the Jazz Winnipeg Festival starts this Friday and it looks to be yet again chalk-full of must see events. It could be just me, but every year the Jazz Fest becomes that much better, creeping up (and even sometimes surpassing) in quality to the other big music fest in the Peg - The Folk Fest. In fact, I would so far as to say, based on artists alone, the Jazz Fest looks to be the music event of the summer (I don't know if I've ever been able to say that before). With so much to see, so much to do, how can a music-lover not get excited about this next week and a bit?

Anyways, here's the first part of my day-by-day breakdown of the fest (with part 2 coming on Monday).

Friday:
It's kind of funny, but the first day of the fest looks to be the weakest as the Performance Series features latino phenoms Pink Martini and vocal wizards Madrigaia at the Pantages Playhouse (not my cup of tea, but many absolutely eat this stuff up). John Lee Hooker Jr. opens up the blues series at the Windsor Hotel and The Glen Buhr Band takes on the Exchange Events Centre. My pick of the day though, has to be at the New Groove Series which sees James Hunter make his was back to the peg alongside Folk Fest favorite Jackie Greene. I don't know much about Hunter, but from what I hear, this show has a lot of promise.

Saturday:
On Saturday the fest really starts to heat up as long time Winnipeg Jazzer Ron Paley plays the the late nite series alongside the likes of Sophie Milman, Jodie Borle and Cold Front. For the New Groove Series, Champion makes his return to the peg after his successful show at the West End a couple months back (not to mention his hit single 'No Heaven'). But the day belongs to the Performance Series as two of the most excited Jazz groups playing today, the Joshua Redman Trio and The Bad Plus, take on the Burton Cummings Theatre. Redman is possibly the most important Saxophonist to break out in the last ten years. He's played with indie superstars Pat Metheny and Chick Corea, and he's successfully re-imagined what Bop can really sound like. The Bad Plus, on the other hand, are coming back to the Jazz Fest riding on the wave of the hype generated from their last performance at the festival as well as the praise for their latest album 'Prog' (which just so happens to be one of my current favorite albums). If the $35 ticket price seems a bit too steep (and even if it doesn't), then you should head on over to the U of M at 3:00pm for the Bad Plus' jazz lab series where they will lead a discussion on what exactly Jazz music is, how it has failed to live up to that standard, and what place it could have within the larger narrative of pop music.

Sunday:
I'm taking a sabbatical on this day, just to ensure my sanity later on in the week. But not because there isn't anything good to see. Sunday sees what is generally considered to be the headliners of the festival come to the Burton Cummings Theatre as Herbie Hancock performs alongside the Kenny Garret quartet. What can I say about Hancock that hasn't already been said. When your resume includes being a long time pianist for Miles Davis (recording on my two favorite albums of Davis' no less, Seven Steps to Heaven, and Bitches Brew), writing one of the most beautiful jazz standards ever with 'Maiden Voyage' as well as being a pioneer in electronic music with Headhunters, I think the title 'Jazz Legend' is more than worthy.

Monday:
Monday's key performance is at the New Groove Series yet again as Edmonton hip-hop extraordinaire Cadence Weapon plays the Pyramid along with Grand Analog and DJ Weezil. I've talked alot about CW on this blog, but have yet to get a chance to see him perform live. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited about this one.

Tuesday:
This is one of those days where you wished you could be at two places at once. The Hylozoists perform at the Pyramid along with Winnipeg's All of Your Friends. The Hylos have a strong reputation for being an amazing live band, and if their live show is anything like their debut album, La Fin Du Monde, I wouldn't be surprised. Unfortunately I'll have to wait to find out, as I'm spending the evening at the Exchange Events Centre as the Village Voice hyped Vijay Iyer performs with his quartet. When the Village Voice declares you as 'The most commanding pianist and composer to emerge in recent years" you can't take that lightly.