Concert Reviews
What they're saying about MJS Concerts...
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by Bob Cook
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Oftentimes in my reports to you on jazz festivals I observe that "our music
is still out there if you know where to find it", and you're willing to drive a
few miles for it. Man, was it ever, on Sunday October 2nd in Madison. As the
first presentation in its Fall Concert Series, the Madison Jazz Society gave us
a knockout group of world-class jazz musicians, doing a tribute to the late
great clarinetist Benny Goodman. The exciting Allan Vache was on clarinet, the
solid Mark Shane on piano, the great Eddie Metz, Jr. at the drums, and the
wonderful Phil Flanigan on double bass. Talk about an aggregation of swingers.
Wow! Then, to add frosting, talented Terry Blaine was there to sing the great
songs associated with Goodman's girl vocalists such as Martha Tilton and Peggy
Lee. It was an especially exciting afternoon of really great music, and our
Catfish Jazz Society was well represented by Tom & Cindy Adams, Larry & Bernie
Guy, Ray & Muriel Voss, Bruce & Carolyn Thorburn, and Matt Craighead as well as
by Joan Cook & me. We all went for a drive to find "our" music, and were we all
ever glad that we did. It was a stupendous concert, and only $20.00 if you
bought your ticket in advance. It was held at MJS's new concert venue, the
Coliseum Bar near downtown Madison. It was a smoke free venue, with refreshing
drinks and nice food readily available at reasonable prices. Vache is one of the
top clarinetists in jazz today, and he admirably "played" the Goodman role. Mark
Shane is one of New York City's finest stride piano players. Eddie Metz Jr. is
arguably the very best jazz & swing drummer in the world. I had never before
heard Phil Flanigan live, but have heard him many times on countless recordings.
He was phenomenal on his big bass. He looks to be very young for the length of
time he's been on the scene, but that's because he headed to jazz "Mecca" in NYC
when he was yet a teenager, and actually played in Benny's band. He also was
with Scott Hamilton and Roy Eldridge, pretty good company for a young musician.
He is a great soloist on double bass, plus being solid in his time keeping
chores. During his beautiful feature presentation of "Stardust" you could have
heard a pin drop considering the rapt attention of the estimated 150 music
lovers in the audience. Then, there's Terry Blaine, the vocalist. She has a very
nice "way" with a song, and was a key member of the group. Best of all, she
recognized that she was working with four of the finest jazz players in the
world, and she let them shine. She did not try to act like these guys were her
back-up instrumentalists. In fact, there were three sets done between 2PM and
5PM, and she announced that the second set would be strictly instrumental. The
guys truly cooked then. I personally haven't enjoyed a concert as much as I did
this one since Ed Polcer and John Allred and the guys closed out the Afterglow
session of the Bix Fest. When there is music like that still around, the life of
a "jazz nut" can still be wonderful. Again, it's out there if you get busy and
find it.
(Reprinted with permission from November 2005 Catfish Jazz Society newsletter)
