The Pianobabbler's New York Tales- vol. 5: Unlustrous Stars
July 13 2009

Iridium Jazz Club- 51st Street & Broadway

Iridium is famous. It stands with the Blue Note and the Village Vanguard as a jazz landmark. All the names have played here. A gig at Iridium adds automatic bonus points to the jazz CV.

The Pianobabbler awaits his turn on stage here. But I digress.

We're here courtesy of a friend in the industry. He arranged for passes. Rather than a name, tonight there's a show at Iridium: The Music of Chick Corea. I'm not a big Chick Corea fan. I respect his work. Some of his compositions are wonderful. Spain and 500 Miles High, for example. But his is not the music or the piano sound the Pianobabbler goes to bed and wakes up with.

Still, one wants to keep an open mind and ears. The band is made up of the leader George Colligan, a fine if overall uninspiring pianist. Antonio Hart is playing tenor sax, and is absolutely superb (Hey Antonio- when the Pianobabbler gets the Iridium call, I hope you're free!)

Bass and drum are famous jazz names: Eddie Gomez and Cindy Blackman. Eddie has earned the handle "legendary" for being around so long, and having played with Bill Evans among others. He is not the bassist of the Pianobabbler's dreams. But many others have had those dreams. Far be it for the Pianobabbler to quarrel with them.

Cindy Blackman has earned a reputation as a first call drummer. She is a rare woman on the drum frontline. An African-American woman at that. She plays jazz. She also tours with rock guy Lenny Kravitz.

Well, I'm sorry. Sometimes the stars misalign. The luster of these luminaries was lost on the Pianobabbler. Eddie Gomez has great tone. But the sound, and his bass lines felt out of place. (There is a nasty recording of guitarist Martin Taylor screaming at Gomez for unprofessionalism floating around the Net. Once you've heard it, you can never hear him again in the same way.)

The bass bunkum may not have been Gomez' fault, however. Cindy Blackman was playing so hard, with such smashy, rocky abandon, it may have thrown out the bass. It sure threw off the music. I felt like throwing up my hands. And throwing in the towel.

It was Antonio Hart who saved the day. He brought energy, and good energy, to an otherwise imploding firmament. Bless you, Antonio.

The Pianobabbler does not listen to much jazz any more. It's data. It's what the Pianobabbler does. But some performances over the years have pulled the Pianobabbler out of his centre, into the music.

This, decidedly, was not one of them. Alas.

On the Pianobabbler's mind as he was looking for an Iridium exit strategy: Damn, my Toronto guys are good.

And, My turn up there.

But I digress.

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