Jazz Festival interlude

A bit of a break from all the Fringe posting, though it isn't what I planned on posting...

I don't always get out to that much at the Toronto Jazz Fest, as the headliners don't grab my attention (and haven't for many years).  Indeed, at the moment, I've done more at the Luminato Festival (You See, Pearle Harbour Walks into a Bar, and then stumbling across a few outdoor art installations).

I did get a ticket to see the Jeremy Ledbetter Trio at the Rex last week (immediately before Pearle Harbour in fact), and I am just back from seeing Kokoroko at the Phoenix.  If I didn't have Fringe rehearsal, I probably would have gone to see Cassandra Wilson (despite her MAGA-leanings), but I didn't.  I did consider seeing Isaiah Collier at Hugh's Room, as well as Ibrahim Maalouf at Danforth Music Hall, but I didn't.  It's definitely just as well that I didn't get a ticket to that, as we switched our final rehearsal to Sat. at 8, so I would have had to miss it.

What I did do is head over to Yorkville and saw Irene Torres, backed by Eric St. Laurent on guitar.  I did get there about 10 minutes late, since I just did not want to leave until I had submitted this massive report to a client, as well as uploaded the Access Guide to our Fringe show.  (There was a lot of small stuff to do for Fringe, like getting some posters laminated and dropping them off at Fringe Central, but I have to go back on Monday because the artist lanyards weren't ready.  I am maybe 35% done putting our program together, so I need to finish that tonight, as well as just get the Equity stuff mailed off.  Sigh...)

I enjoyed the set, though it wasn't straight-ahead jazz, more of a South American groove.  I was also a bit distracted because I was trying to finish up Laura Graham's Rove, which is due back at Robarts (today in fact!).  I got ready to bike over to the Phoenix and found someone had stolen my bike light.  (As it happens, I had outsmarted myself by taking it off in advance, but I hadn't remembered this, and it did put me in a bit of a foul mood the rest of the evening...)

I made it over to Phoenix around 7:40 and got in line.  I've never been to Phoenix.  It was pretty much an even more bare-bones version of Lee's Palace, though I guess the dance floor is even bigger.  (And my goodness the security guards were handsy...)  It was pretty crowded even for the opening act, Witch Prophet, and there was nowhere to sit, as the very small number of seats up in the balcony had been snatched up ages ago.  I really don't like standing for concerts and it is generally making me less and less likely to go.  I was surprised that I was able to read inside up until the music started, and I finished Rove and started in on her Settler Education. 

I'll just cut to the chase and say I didn't care much for Kokoroko.  They were so vocal heavy and basically were playing a bunch of nu soul tracks.  They didn't even play that much off of Tuff Times Never Last, and I don't think they played anything from their latest release, a self-titled EP (which I do enjoy a fair bit, definitely more than Tuff Times).  I'm sure a large part of it was standing for 2 hours before they even came on (and the 30 minutes or so in Yorkville).  And it was even more cramped on the dance floor by this point.  I finally fled to the back where I was able to get some water and lean against the wall.  I guess I stuck it out another 25-30 minutes, but I still wasn't having a good time, and they still were basically playing nu soul, so I left.  It's incredibly rare I leave early from a concert, esp. when I paid for the ticket.  I'm struggling to remember the last time, though I guess my wife and I finally bailed on Stevie Wonder before his second or third encore...  So I certainly won't see them again.  And I am almost certainly never going to go to the Phoenix again either, unless it is a band I simply cannot pass up.

Had I had perfect fore-knowledge, I probably would have stayed in Yorkville and seen the Orbital Ensemble (and skipped Kokoroko).  Oh well.  There is a small chance I will see the Orbital Ensemble on the 30th after work at Sonic Boom, though it likely conflicts with my Fringe schedule.  In addition, they are opening for Tinariwen in Sept.  This is quite exciting, as I wasn't even aware they were coming back.  So I will just have to check my schedule (and clear it if at all possible) and go see them then.

In terms of the rest of the festival, there is a moderate chance I will see the Stuart Brignell Organ Trio at the rock in Yorkville at 5:45 tonight.  Then I'll come home and try to rest up a bit.  I was going to go swimming at Jimmie Simpson, but the pool is closed this week.  I guess I'll see if I can convince myself to get over to the gym for a bit, and I can go swimming on Sat. in Regent Park.  Now Virginia MacDonald is playing a free set at the Pilot tonight at 10:30, but I am not sure I am going to want to get back out for that.  I guess I'll see how I feel in a few hours and how much I manage to get done.

There isn't much that grabs my attention at the Jazz Fest on Sat., but Sun. after our tech time at Alumnae, I may try to see the Tak Arikushi Trio at 5 (@ 55 Bloor St. W), perhaps the Charley Rose Trio at 6:30 in Yorkville, and much less likely the percussionist Agneya at 8:30.  The Jen Lo will be playing a free set at the Pilot on Sun. at 10:30, and I'm more inclined to see that, but again it just be one too many things going on.

There is a Herbie Hancock show at Massey Hall in late July, which is sort of associated with the Jazz Fest.  I am leaning towards going, as he is really getting up there, but I haven't picked up any tickets.  And with that, I need to get back to work...