This little but majestic ad hoc group that performed one memorable set at the 33rd annual San Diego Jazz Fest on November 30, 2014) had a talent for evoking celestial phenomena. Check out their MOONGLOW. Here, they make the very air turn blue. I don’t mean that in the older sense of the phrase — filling our ears with curses — but in imbuing the very atmosphere with a rocking blues performance.
BLUE AIR BLUES is a Skjelbred reduction: the first phrase of Sidney Bechet’s BLUES IN THE AIR, treated as a rich utterance in itself:
The noble participants, besides Ray at the piano, are Marc Caparone, cornet; Jim Buchmann, saxello, Katie Cavera, guitar; Beau Sample, string bass; Hal Smith, drums. They deserve many sets. Or a CD. Or their own concert.
May your happiness increase!
