Friends of the Festival
who will attend this concert:
Michel Bonin
from Vancouver
will attend this concert:
The gods of jazz criticism, in this case, the eurocentric but respected Penguin Guide, just a few years ago qualified Tord Gustavsen's a 'seriously underrated (trio)'. In the case of the 42-year old Norwegian, the programmers feature him on four consecutive nights, for a second time this decade under the Invitation Series. It seems to be a record of all times at the festival, at least for a world-class pianist (Please monsieur Ménard, correct me if I am wrong again!). Then on the final night, let me recommend his unusual duo with a collaborator, the vocalist Solveig Slettahjell. There will be 'spiritual airs' in case the American 'mass choir' of the Wednesday before has not quenched your taste for jazz in the more traditional, less secular mode of IRREVEREND JAMES AND THE CRITICAL MASS CHOIR. In case one questions why as many as half my selections feature keyboard artists, I confess I am biased, being a piano player myself based in Vancouver where one can hear me on those odd nights.