[JPL] Sometimes, jazz is in the ear of the beholder

[Forrest Bryant]

Oh, man, that's awful.

But as much as I love Andy Bey, I 'm surprised anyone would book him  
as the second half of a double-bill. His music is so low-key and  
intimate, I can see why people who hadn't come specifically to see  
*him* might get fidgety if they'd already sat through a whole set,  
especially if that one had a livelier vibe. Bey is absolutely  
engrossing live, but I think you have to go in fresh. And even then,  
his sound is so individual, and requires so much attention to fully  
appreciate, that there are bound to be casual listeners who just don't  
get it.

[FB]

Forrest Dylan Bryant
-----
Freelance Jazz Journalist / fo at fojazz.com
Jazz Director, KZSU 90.1 FM / jazz at kzsu.stanford.edu
650-455-7812
-----

On Jul 3, 2008, at 10:42 AM, Dr. Jazz wrote:
>
>
> Thursday » July 3 » 2008
> Sometimes, jazz is in the ear of the beholder
> Letter
>
>
> Thursday, July 03, 2008
>
>
> John Coltrane once called Andy Bey his favourite jazz vocalist and,  
> according to Vancouver's Coastal Jazz & Blues Society, he is  
> arguably the best male vocalist working in jazz today.
>
> Apparently, these accolades were lost on the hundreds of people who  
> decided to walk out on Bey's June 28 performance at the Centre in  
> Vancouver for Performing Arts. The Andy Bey Trio was double-billed  
> with Monty Alexander and his trio for what was touted to be a  
> highlight of the 2008 Canada Trust Vancouver International Jazz  
> Festival.
>
> Alexander, the first act, received the kind of response one would  
> expect for a world-class performance, standing ovation and all.
>
> Bey had a tough act to follow. However, he displayed his unique  
> vocals, featuring a four-octave range and mesmerizing tonal  
> qualities that cannot be described in words. Also on display were  
> the expert musicianship of 68-year-old Bey on piano, Joe Martin on  
> bass and Vito Lesczak on drums.
>
> Following the trio's third piece, and then with increasing frequency  
> during pauses between numbers, dozens of people filed out. Judging  
> by a few subtle comments, this exodus -- unlike anything I have ever  
> seen -- did not go unnoticed by Bey.
>
> I find it incomprehensible that so many people would give him the  
> message, "You stink," by leaving. It demonstrates how uncultured  
> Vancouver jazz "lovers" really are.
>
> WALTER CICHA
>
> West Vancouver
>
> © The Vancouver Sun 2008
>
> -- 
> Dr. Jazz
> Dr. Jazz Operations
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>
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