A truly super group, one of the most important of the last eight years:
- Ron Carter, bass;
- Herbie Hancock, piano;
- Brandford Marsalis, saxophones;
- Wynton Marsalis, trumpet;
- Tony Williams, drums.
Having acquired 15 years of experience with various groups, Dave Turner brings his own orchestra to the Fourth Montréal Festival. This group is of the "hardbop" school and ifs musicians like to play their own compositions as well as numbers by well-known bop artists. Dave Turner plays alto, soprano and tenor sax. He gained popularity playing with the Vic Vogel Big Band and at Concordia University where he is a teacher.
V.S.O.P.
In 1976, impresario Georges Wein asked pianist Herbie Hancock to participate in New York's "Newport Jazz Festival". True to form, Herbie decided to do something different and present a retrospect of his 15year career. He got together with Ron Carter, bass, Tony Williams, drums and Wayne Shorter, sax, all members of "Miles Davis Quintet" during the 60's. Their reunion caused quite a stir and their performance was dubbed "Very Special Onetime Performance" (V.S.O.P.).
They will participate in the Fourth Festival with two changes in their roster: Wayne Shorter will be repiaced at sax by Brandford Marsalis whose brother Wynton will foin the group on trumpet.
Detroit's own Ron Carter is considered today's best bass player. Before joining the "Miles Davis Quintet" in 1963, Ron Carter had recorded a fabulous album with Eric Dolphy, "Magic", and played with Cannonball Adderley. He was at the time the "most in demand" of the bass players. Five years ago, Ron Carter made the world sit on its musical ear when he switched to the cello for the album "Piccolo" with the group "Sphere".
Born in Chicago, Herbie Hancock was 11 when he made his debut as a concert pianist with the Chicago symphonic Orchestra. Happily, trumpet player Donald Byrd "discovered" him and hired him to play in his orchestra.
In 1963, Herbie Hancock cut his first album "Takin off" and "Watermelon Man" was his first "hit" number. The same year, he joined Miles Davis. In 1968, he wrote the score for the film "Blow-Up" and formed his first group. If had a mostly funky orientation and made the charts in 1973 with the album "Headhunters". Back in a more traditional groove, Herbie Hancock has just recorded an excellent double album titled "The Quartet".
The prodigy of the drums, Tony Williams first tasted fame at the age of 16 as a member of the "Miles Davis Quintet" in 1963. A year later, he put together "Lifetime", with John McLaughlin and Jack Bruce, the first rock-jazz band. An innovative artist, Tony Williams is presently preparing a new album.
Wynton and Brandford Marsalis, respectively trumpet and sax, were the star attraction of "Jazz Messengers", the Art Blakey group. Fascinated by their youth and their talent, Herbie Hancock produced their first album, released in 1982, same year winner of the "Best Album".
Much more could be said about the members of this group. Let's just say their music should be the icing on the cake for this year's edition of the Festival.