Music Concert Review
Music provides one of the best escapades from reality hence why millions of people attend concerts. In this line, jazz concerts create some of the best sounds and after attending the ‘Wynton Marshalls Blue Note Jazz’ concert, my love for such music only increased. The concert was performed at the Lincoln Centre in the year 2015. The jazz tunes played in the concert were fascinating, spontaneous and beautiful. The performers played with passion and it was evident that they loved what they were doing. As such, the audience loved the concert since there were claps, shouts, and humming with the sounds. The combination of the instruments, the tunes, and dance movements made this concert a spectacular performance.
Like any other live performance, instruments used hugely contribute to the success of the event. In this case, the instruments used in performing the first song include saxophones, trombones, and trumpets. The first song incorporated a range of notes hence required the alto and tenor saxophones, 1 trombone, and 2 trumpets. The purpose of the instruments is to ensure that rhythm is created through different tunes. Moreover, the melody created led to the creation of a bebop classical fresh sound. One of the things that make concerts memorable is the thrill of the drums especially if they are powerful. The powerful drums in the second song made it remarkably interesting and memorable. The beat of the drums is essential since it helps in creating the rhythm required to build up to the chorus. More importantly, the drum beats to aid in the creation of tempo in each of the songs. As the third song was being played, horns were incorporated to also aid in the creation of rhythm. The tunes created from the horns, drums, and chords led to comping. Comping is a term used in Jazz to show the synchrony between the main conductor and instrument players. All in all, the purpose of the instruments is to help the audience connect with the performances.
The huge attendance of the concert is due to the conductor of the orchestra Wynton Marsalis. At the age of 58, Wynton is an accredited live jazz performer with numerous awards hence why he has a huge following both online and offline. Moreover, he is the only jazz performer who has won a Grammy award in classical and jazz music. In addition to the multiple awards won, another recognizable award is the Pulitzer Prize in classical and jazz music and received the National Medal of Arts in 2005 from President George Bush. With time, Wynton has acquired the name ‘improviser’ due to his improvisation skills to create the required melody from the different chords. As a conductor, his performances are always steady and complement what the soloists, drummers, and pianists do. This concert was no different and Wynton ensured the performance was electric and satisfactory. The director of the concert was Janet Fraser Crook, the producer was Dawn Payne and the songs performed were approximately 20 songs. As noted earlier, it was performed at the Lincoln Centre attributed to the late President Lincoln. Attending the concert thus leads to an individual visiting exotic Jazz centers and watching renowned jazz specialists perform.
A captivating moment was watching the excellent performance of the musicians and performers. I was fascinated by their passion and expression especially when playing the instruments. What stood out for me was mainly the bass mastery of the instruments and the versatility of the guitarist who created a rhythm with the pianist and drummers. In this case, there was a fantastic groove created while the drummer added excitement to the performance. Another aspect that stood out for me was playing single-note melodies that created the perfect harmony and the audience related well with the different songs played. As a performer, one needs to ensure the audience is engaging with the songs and Wynton occasionally asked them to stand up for some routine movements especially towards the end. I enjoyed these parts of the concert since such routines can accommodate people of all ages. During these sessions, there were audible chords, piano, and guitar performances. Through such, there was the creation of a warm full sound that made the melody stand out.
In conclusion, the success of a performance depends on the stakeholders knowing their roles during the concert. As evidenced above, the guitarist is expected to be versatile; the drummer coordinate with the pianists and other soloists (horns, trumpets) but more importantly, the conductor needs to ensure a smooth and steady melody progression throughout the concert. Additionally, there was the use of extended chord structures that created an unprecedented melodic and harmonious sound that created a beautiful atmosphere, serene environment infused with harmonious tempos and intricate melodies. The reaction from the crowd showed that we all enjoyed the concert and I would recommend the concert to anyone wishing to have unforgettable music experience.
Reference
Gimenez, R. (2016). Wynton Marsalis Plays Blue Note Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra 2015. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvOB8fmYGBU