Taylor, others shine at Freedom Fest 2008
by Timothy Garrett
Freedom Fest organizer and jazz artist Hanah Jon Taylor describes jazz as “living music, a living art. It’s music of the day,” he says. “Inspirations of the now recognize the essence and urgency of continuing and immediate art forms.”
Taylor’s definition of jazz was certainly evident at the third annual Freedom Fest, an all-day jazz celebration held Feb. 22 in the lobby of the Overture Center.
By the time I found a seat, Jim Gailloreto’s Jazz String Quintet was playing on the stage. Three in the Quintet played violin, one was a cellist, and Gailloreto himself played alto saxophone. I could hear the improvised notes of the saxophone winding their way like a meandering river between the banks of the uplifting, steady, poignant sounds of the strings, which moved and stretched through time.
Gailloreto has a background in classical music, including a master’s degree in composition, which is the study of all the great composers. “I’m a jazz player who studied on the street,” Gailloreto says. “I’m self-taught, from listening to other players. [This Quintet] lets me be a composer and a jazz improviser. We have a lot of fun, and we enjoy it.”
Katherine Hughes, a violinist in the Quintet, says, “It feels good and better and better. Jim feels freer. It’s a harmonic language in a different way that opens our ears. Our rhythm has to be tight — and very solid. It’s beautiful — and amazing.”
Jill Kaeding, the Quintet’s cellist, says, “Sometimes I get to play the cello like a bass. It’s fun. To learn the jazz has been a great experience. He [Galloreto] writes to our strengths. It’s neat to have music written for you.”
Taylor and his jazz combo The Seekers then took the stage to present us with their visions of jazz music. Taylor played flute and saxophone. Backing him were Reggie Nicholson on drums, Tatsu Aoki on bass, and Jobic LeMasson on piano. First I heard chaos, but then they merged to create a flow of ideas from each individual on his instrument. Together they became one sound, and their music lifted and soared high up into space, to keep company with the visible moon.
Douglas Ewart and the Inventions was a nine-piece ensemble composed of two women on vocals, a bass, drums, a guitar, saxophones, a clarinet, and other wind instruments. The group offered one long set of music without a break, a set of very unusual sounds with a lot of room for experimentation. One could either appreciate it right away — or it could take a few minutes to get used to this odd mix of music, which reached down into the depths of the earth with its exotically deep sounds.
The Archie Shepp Quartet finished off the evening. The quartet includes Archie Shepp on saxophone, Steve McCraven on drums, Willie Pickens on piano, and Richard Davis on bass. Shepp’s sax notes roll out as easily as raindrops roll out of the sky — smooth, quick, and easy — and sometimes slow. Shepp’s jazz goes down like a cool drink of water on a hot summer’s day.
Throughout the evening, dancers from Overture’s Kanopy Dance Company — Robert Cleary, Georgia Corner, and Kerry Parker — improvised dance moves to the music on the balcony above the stage and the seating area.
Taylor did well with this year’s Freedom Fest. He brought together a wide range of different sounds and talented musicians and presented them in a matter of hours in the one-day event. Jazz fans came from as far away as Michigan to enjoy a rare Madison treat of unique jazz sounds.
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