Musical night champions rich musical genre
There’s something truly wonderful about a jazz player taking a solo. The player is in the moment: expressive, soulful, playful, communicative, humorous, passionate, daring. On Friday, Sept. 14, those of us present at the Guelph Jazz Festival (its 25th anniversary) witnessed all of the above within the spirit of a New Orleans-style street party.
The bands played to a crowd — which surrounded the performance space from all sides in Market Square — that seemed to be bursting with joy. People danced and cheered. Food and drink flowed. Family and friends gathered. And then, as the sun went down, the lights turned on and a beautiful night emerged.
The four bands, Heavyweights Brass Band, Samba Squad, Surefire Street Band, and The Shuffle Demons, played with camaraderie, energy, and good vibes. Every song seemed to be an expression of “what-a-great-time-to-be-alive.” It made you smile, move, and participate in the music. And like the best in live music, there was no invisible wall between the audience and the performers — all were on the same level (both physically street-level and both emotionally elevated). The party vibe was a back and forth conversation that brought everyone together into happy times.
The bands — each with their own sensibility, form, and configuration — called upon the moment of spontaneity with pure enthusiasm. They all played straight from the heart to the ears.
You could hear pure devotion coming from the players for the genre they love. You could hear history. You could hear subtleties. You could hear profession. You could hear grace. And like any form of music, all of these things and much more, came to form that human thing that makes us who we are. It’s like the air we breathe.
So, whether jazz is your favourite, or evolving to be favourite, or unbeknownst favourite musical genre, there is no denying what the power of a great performance, on a great night, at a great place, can do to put you in the moment and send you off on your way, happily.
And like a great trumpet, drum, or saxophone solo, the human soul comes through — and other souls respond.
Article by Adam Maue.
Feature photo by Sarah Hutchison.