It was crazy hot in Detroit today, but the streets and seats were still packed with happy festival fans who listened attentively when that was called for and danced in the aisles sometimes, too. A series of thunderstorms led to the evening acts being either cancelled or moved into the Marriott hotel. That didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits, though, as the music continued into the night while the lightning flashed outside. Here are my photos and tweets from Day 2. To get these in real time, follow me on Twitter at @jasondcrane and also follow the hashtag #DJF2011.
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Checking out vibraphonist Warren Wolf’s surging WOLFPAC. I could easily take this guy in a fight.”
“By the way, WOLFPAC is not, so far as I know, the name of Warren Wolf’s political action committee.”
“Getting a very ‘Keith Jarrett & Gary Burton’ feeling from this piano-vibes duo with Warren Wolf.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Just noticed Joe Locke in the wings watching Warren Wolf. #vibescommunity”
“Now a quartet ballad by Warren Wolf. By the way, the pianist is Lawrence Fields. Sorry if I misspelled his name.”
“Loving Warren Wolf’s ballad playing. Flowing like the Detroit River, which is just a few feet away.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Now listening the gorgeous symbiosis of vocalist Luciana Souza and guitarist Romero Lubambo playing ‘Dindi.'”
If I’m about to die by spontaneously combusting in the heat, I’m glad Luciana and Romero will be the last thing I hear.
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Souza and Romero are just overflowing with joy and mutual respect. God they’re good.”
“Romero Lubambo just said he loves Luciana Souza’s singing so much that she made him cry during their pre-gig rehearsal.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“I’d like to go through life with Souza and Rubambo walking next to me, playing”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“So much spontaneous cheering from this slowly roasting crowd. They’re in love with Luciana and Romero.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Curtis Fuller Sextet starting soon”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Curtis Fuller born in 1934 at Herman Keefer (sp?) in Detroit. Now receiving the Detroit Guardian award.”
“Good players in Curtis Fuller’s band. I’m just not a fan of the ‘everybody solos’ format in most cases. I know, I know.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Mike Ledonne, Nat Reeves, Carl Allen are Curtis Fuller’s rhythm section. Next tune: ‘Up Jumped Spring'”
“Curtis Fuller joined in the front line by Josh Bruno on trumpet/flugel and saxophonist Eric Alexander.”
SEGWAY SEGUE
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Soul Rebels crushing Stevie Wonder’s ‘Livin’ For The City.’ Now we’re talking.”
“I know I say this all the time, but somebody remind me why I don’t live in New Orleans.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Soul Rebels now crushing MJ’s ‘Rock With You.’ Damn.”
“Sousaphone.”
HOT CROWD
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Now Sean Jones, Orrin Evans, Obed Calvaire, Luques Curtis, Brian Hogans.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Haven’t seen Sean Jones in years and years. He sounds great and the band is really tight.”
“Tonight on this same stage: the Sun Ra Arkestra then Dave Holland. There’s a small (read: 100%) chance that I’ll be here.”
COUPLA GUYS
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
THE STORM
“Break time is over. Heading back to #DJF2011 for Sun Ra, Jason Moran and Dave Holland. It’s a tough job.”
“Wind is really picking up and I see there’s a severe thunderstorm warning for Detroit. 70% chance of rain. Hmmm…”
“And there’s the lightning and thunder. I do believe there’s another episode of Doctor Who in my immediate future.”
“From my hotel window I can see whitecaps on the Detroit River. And also, sadly, Ceasar’s casino in Windsor, ON.”
“Here’s that rainy, er, night. And I can no longer see most of Windsor from the window.”
“Wow. This is one hell of storm. I can see about 100 yards out my window. Just to the edge of the Detroit River.”
“According to the radar, looks like there’s quite a bit of rain still coming at us.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“No electricty on main stage, but the Arkestra is still playing.”
THAT’S ALL, FOLKS … OR IS IT?
“It’s official: Detroit Jazz Fest cancelled for rest of night.”
“Walked back to the hotel with Jason Moran and his kids. He asked me to tweet his disappointment at not getting to play for us.”
“ALERT! 1.Jason Moran 9:30pm 2.Dave Holland Octet 10:30pm 3.Deacon Jones Blues Revue 11:30pm. Volt Lounge, Marriott, 3rd fl.”
“No Jason Moran tonight. Dave Holland in 15 minutes. Moran ‘not feeling it,’ according to WEMU’s Linda Yohn.”
VIDEO FROM THE VOLT LOUNGE
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“My friends and I said we ain’t leaving Detroit until we play some music for you guys.” – Dave Holland. Hero.
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Lightning flashing outside, but the real storm is inside.”
“Gary Smulyan ripping the air with his bari sax. Now Steve Nelson rides the lightning.”
“Thank you, thunderstorm. People need life – and music – to take a left turn from time to time.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“The crowd is going apeshit for Dave Holland. Technically speaking.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Dave Holland is not fakin’ the funk. It may be in an odd meter, but it’s real.”
“Antonio Hart is making it happen with Dave Holland right now.”
“If James Brown had been born with one leg shorter than the other, this is the funk he would have made. #hollandstyle”
“Antonio Hart has this crowd in the palm of his hand.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Mass orgasm now happening in the Volt Lounge. Hide the children. #DJF2011 #toofar?”
“Nate Smith is the truth.”
“The Dave Holland Brass Band, Street Choir And Funk Machine.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Now a softer piece. Chris Potter’s ‘Sea of Marmara.'”
“Chris Potter exploring on soprano sax over the rhythm section.”
“There are people on the walkway outside the Volt Lounge windows, watching the show. It appears to be raining on them.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“This band has such a L A R G E sound. Very rich and deep.”
“Robin Eubanks soloing on ‘Ebb & Flow.’ I believe this piece is in 179/4. But I may have counted the beat wrong.”
“Chris Potter crushing a solo in about 19 different time signatures.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“These guys are terrible. Jazz sucks. Just ask the crowd of screaming people in this hotel bar.”
“Perhaps on Dave Holland’s planet, this is a common time signature. Or else he has eleven fingers?”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 2 |
“Ladies and gentlemen, the next mayor of the great city of Detroit … Dave Holland.”
“Lots of music still to come at Volt, but I’m going to end my night on the high of that Dave Holland show.”
