The Surprise of Being-Live At Birdland
Cleveland Jazz Orchestra with Joe Lovano & Judi Silvano

Cleveland is well-known for the variety of music and musicians it houses and shares with the rest of the world. One of our own came home the Saturday night before Christmas to celebrate the release of a CD made from a concert in New York that featured the home-town jazz band in performance at Birdland, the legendary jazz house in the Big Apple.

Tenor sax whiz Joe Lovano actually played here at the Bop Stop with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra last November. It was such a smash hit that they then went to New York for four nights in July. If you weren’t able to be at any of these events, not to worry. Just pick up the CD titled The Surprise of Being and you’ll have a great majority of the music right there in your hand. You’ll play it over and over and over again, marveling at the virtuosity and originality on display.

The Surprise of Being suite was written and arranged by CJO bassist Dave Morgan. The two other cuts on the CD are Bougainvillea by Judi Silvano, the amazing vocalist, while Viva Caruso is by Mr. Lovano.

If for whatever reason, you’re not familiar with these two artists, Mr. Lovano’s technique is such that he can change the timbre of his instrument’s tone, so that sometimes it sounds like a barking baritone sax, and at others like the ‘velvet fog’ himself. Extraordinary. Judi Silvano has created her own sound, sort of a mixture of Bidu Sayal and Cleo Laine, with a touch of Ella Fitzgerald thrown in for good measure. She has an unbelievable range, with an incredible sense of pitch and rhythm.

Emperor Jones was the lead-off work, in which Mr. Lovano entered from off stage, as if leading a parade, even if he was the only movable musician, the CJO already being in place on the stage. Oh was more by way of being a quartet featuring Jack Schantz on trumpet with a long riff, Russell Schmidt on piano, Dave Morgan on bass and Nate Douds on drums. Along with Mr. Lovano, of course.

In Say It Over and Over Again, Mr. Douds gave a master class on the use of brushes to obtain various effects—sending shimmery and silvery sounds through the house. Different and nice.

Ms. Silvano then joined the group for her own composition, Bougainvillea, sending her amazing voice up and down and in and around the other instruments, sometimes in unison with them, sometimes in counterpoint.

Base Space (Bass Space?) began with an awesome extended solo from Dave Morgan and his wooden stand up bass, which was electrified for the occasion. It was virtuosic to the nth degree! A slightly oriental sound was accompanied by Ms. Silvano’s wordless melodies and a bit of a duel between Mr. Lovano on soprano sax and the trumpet of Jack Schantz. The ending was like the beginning—marvelous double bass playing.

Bird’s Eye View presented peppy piano sounds from Mr. Schmidt and the vibes of Ron Busch, along with the entire (I think) sax section playing in close harmony (think barbershop quartet) in a glorious be-bop style.

After intermission, we were treated to the music of the entire CD. Although there’s no way of knowing exactly how much each title has to do with the music it represents, there are some connections. The Surprise of Being is glorious big band sound; lots of brass with saxophone obbligato in a hard-driving, rhythmic piece.

The Looking Glass at first makes you think of rain pattering on a window. Ms. Silvano and Mr. Lovano engage in a musical duet, skittering around the musical horizon. If you close your eyes and just listen, it’s hard to tell which sound is her voice and which his saxophone. She does a more than credible imitation of exotic birds singing, too. And in the distance are chords from the brass section that echo a train whistle, off in the distance somewhere.

Mr. Douds turned off the snares for Marking Time, in which he engages in a duet with Mr. Lovano’s sax. Of course you couldn’t see this if you were only listening to the CD, but in person Mr. Lovano was doing a good bit of dancing while playing on this number. In total contrast to the other cuts, Moon Palace is slow and bluesy, but with a definite beat. It has a reminiscent aura about it, like telling a friend about a terrific event in your life—one you remember with great fondness.

Some Changes was just totally awesome, and the combined forces were really ‘cookin’ at the Bop Stop! But don’t worry, they cook just as well on the CD! Mike Lee had two separate solos on sax and John Klayman had one, in addition to the wizardry from Mr. Lovano, who changes timbre from foggy to clear in a head shake. Mr. Schantz took a turn on flugelhorn, with some neat thumping on the bass by Mr. Morgan, along with Mr. Douds on drums, with Mr. Busch’s vibraphone and Mr. Schmidt’s piano. This is truly the essence of great jazz! As they used to say, ‘the joint was jumpin!’

Blackwell's Message is not on this CD, but was an added bonus for those at the Bop Stop. Mr. Lovano wrote the piece in tribute to the late jazz drummer, Ed Blackwell, and switched to soprano sax for it. Mr. Schmidt strummed a few of the strings on the piano from inside it, before moving back to the keyboard again. It all made for some interesting and enjoyable sounds.

Mr. Lovano wrote Viva Caruso which begins with a Latin-influenced rhythm, and an infectious melody on the sax. Eventually, they all join in and take turns in the solo spotlight: Ms. Silvano, Mr. Busch, Mr. Schmidt, Mr. Douds and Mr. Morgan. It was a joyous evening, indeed!

For information about upcoming concerts or to purchase the CD The Surprise of Being call 440-942-9525 or visit the website: http://www.clevelandjazz.org.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net

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