The Chicago Jazz Ensemble with Branford Marsalis live at the Harold Washington Library concert review by Jean Timmons and photos by John Broughton (original) (raw)

Lately Chicago has been the place to be for high class jazz: on April 9, Sonny Rollins was enthralling music lovers at Orchestra Hall, then on April 16, the impeccable Branford Marsalis joined Jon Faddis' Chicago Jazz Ensemble (CJE), and soon, on April 23, Joshua Redman is scheduled to play at Orchestra Hall. The gods are loving us in the windy city. Marsalis replaced James Moody as special guest of Jon Faddis, the cosmopolitan artistic director of the CJE, who obviously has friends in high places. And the band did not miss a beat. Although many came to pay tribute, in a sense, to a veteran musician in James Moody, it was a delightful development and any jazz aficionado could not have been disappointed.

The first part of a very full program (eight pieces) provided a fitting backdrop for the guest of the evening. It established a swinging mood with Faddis displaying his band members musical talents with many well-integrated solos from pianist Jeremy Kahn and trumpeters Art Hoyle and Pharez Whitted, to name a few. Embellishing and creating drama during this part, Faddis lifted his horn to add some well placed high note thrillers. The perky vocalist Bobbi Wilsyn swung, too, on three of the selections. In terms of structure, the band established one of the trends of the evening - stellar arrangements of well-known and little-known pieces. For example, highlights included "Don't Get Sassy" (Thad Jones), "Sorry 'Bout that Chief" (T. S. Galloway), "Ray's Idea" (Gil Fuller), "All About Ronnie" (William Russo), and "Route 66" (Frank Foster).

Immediately following the Intermission, Branford quietly took the stand, exuding confidence that was manifested not only in his manner but in the flow of his music. His is the cool of the archetypical jazz musician. The second part of the program followed the trend set in the first: the use of excellent charts, with the exception of the improvised duet between Branford and the band's drummer and art director Dana Hall. It began with a crowd pleaser by Horace Silver, arranged by John Clayton, "The Jody Grind," continued with Joe Henderson's "Recordame," arrangement by Michael Philip Mossman and ended with "Without a Song," arranged by Joe Henderson. The pacing, more than likely the coordinated efforts of Faddis and Marsalis, was just right, as reflected in the placement of the Leonard Bernstein's ballad "Lucky to Be Me," which Branford took on a lyrical ride, after the rigorous Branford/Hall duet.

Throughout Branford's set, Jon Faddis was content to bask in his glory. I looked forward to a Faddis solo during "Recordame," as recorded so many years ago in a quintet setting with Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson. But it wasn't to be. The musicians and I just set back and watched Branford Marsalis gracefully ride above us, bestowing blessings.