The chance to see a legend like McCoy Tyner perform live is an exciting prospect for Taiwanese jazz fans, and perhaps even more so for musicians. The Taipei Times spoke with a few local jazz musicians, who gave their take on this year’s performers at the National Theater and Concert Hall’s 2008 Summer Jazz Party.
Kenny Garrett, who performs tomorrow night, “carries the [John] Coltrane spirit, but brings it to the alto sax,” says Tung Shuen-wen (董舜文), a teacher and saxophonist for Taipei combos JEG (這個爵士樂團) and the Rich Huang Jazz Band (黃瑞豐爵士樂團). Tung observes that Garrett is constantly looking for “new sounds,” which explains in part his interest in Asian music.
Pianist Hiromi Uehara, who performs this coming Thursday, displays a very physical approach to her instrument. She plays as “if she were trying to push [it] away,” says Tung.
Peng Yu-wen (彭郁雯), whose jazz fusion group Sizhukong (絲竹空) performs next week at the Experimental Theater (實驗劇場), agrees. “Her technique, her expression is very powerful … she sometimes sounds like a metal band,” she says. Peng, who also teaches jazz, notes that Uehara plays standards in a very “stylish” way, and admires the Japanese pianist’s “courage” in creating her compositions.
McCoy Tyner, who plays on Sept. 5, developed the “textbook” style of piano accompaniment for modern jazz during his time with the John Coltrane Quartet, says Tung. Tyner’s style is distinctive for his rhythmic style of playing. “He treats the piano as a drum set,” says Peng. And if you watch him carefully, says Tung, “you’ll notice that he’s a fast player, but you won’t feel the tempo.” Despite Tyner’s percussive style of playing, his sounds come out as a “melody line,” he said.
In addition to her personal touch, Dianne Reeves, who performs on Sept. 15, is a technically brilliant singer, says Tung. “She’s great at controlling her intonation. She can jump around her range, from high to low and [with precise pitch] … she sounds like a perfectly tuned instrument.”
But come performance time, don’t get caught up thinking about the musician’s styles and technical abilities. Tung’s advice? “Just get into the mood.”
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