Applause exploded from the audience at Crowell Concert Hall on Friday, Oct. 26, during “Straight Ahead, Nuttin’ but the Truth,” a concert built around the concept of spontaneous improvisation and based on the infamous Great American Songbook and the Modern Jazz era. Performing artists included Giacomo Gates, one of Wesleyan’s private lessons teachers, along with a host of musicians who have played internationally, including Fred Simmons on piano and Jeff Fuller on bass.
The pieces were rich in variety and content, spanning different genres and including different levels of improvisation. The set started with John Coltrane’s “Bass Blues.” Lively and engaging, the performance of “Bass Blues” began by following set notation and progressively evolving into true improvisation, with musicians both soloing and playing in tandem. This style was echoed throughout the night in various degrees, from the true spontaneity shown in their delivery of Miles Davis’s “Milestones” to “Benny’s from Heaven,” which has been used in improvisation so many times that the original composer is unknown.
Giacomo, serving as both lead singer and narrator of musical history, presented stories surrounding famous jazz pieces. For example, he told the audience that while “Blue Skies” was being played at a venue, Bud Powell, a famous jazz musician of the era, walked in. The piece is now alternatively known as “In Walked Bud.”
Giacomo’s personal connection to the music he sang was particularly evident in the performance of Claudius Mault’s “Peace of Mind.” Originally instrumental, the version performed by the ensemble included lyrics written by Giacomo, a trend followed for the rest of the set. The mood of the night was aptly echoed in its lyrics: “Let’s relax, let’s take five, let’s put our feet up, let’s cool… let’s have peace of mind.” Also featuring Giacomo’s lyrics were Oliver Nelson’s “Stolen Moments,” performed third in the set and enhanced by Giacomo’s antics, including smooching noises after each mention of kissing.
The ensemble also reenacted previous improvisation in “Benny’s from Heaven,” a jazz standard; and George Gershwin’s “Lady Be Good,” with jazz legend Charlie Parker’s solo emerging intact. The performance progressed along these lines, ending with “Milestones” and Henry Nemo’s “’Tis Autumn,” a celebrated classic of the jazz era that received a famous recording by Nat King Cole.
In keeping with the spirited and personal nature of the performance, the audience, including a number of the performers’ music students, reacted favorably.
“I love the quality of his voice; it’s so full and hearty,” said Marika Tabilio ’09, who takes lessons with Giacomo. “It’s like the steak and potatoes of jazz music – so satisfying to listen to.”
“It was interesting to see my teachers in a professional setting and apply [their talents] professionally,” said Andrew Fogliano ’09, another student who had taken lessons with some of the performers. “It was educational as well as entertaining.”
Leave a Reply