Jazz is big this season.
Jazz, Swing, Big Band Music. Is there something in the air in October and November? There are two concerts coming up in early November right here in Manchester that I bring to your attention. Symphony NH Jazz Quartet, City Lights and Blue Nights, Thursday November 6 at The Rex and the New Hampshire Jazz Orchestra Swingin’ to Victory, a big band salute Sunday November 9 at the Dana Center.
I asked Google’s Gemini AI to give me “10 reasons why November has many big band and Jazz events” … and it scrounged around for reasons to contrive the connection. The most valid were birthdays ranging from Jane Monheit (Nov 3) to Tommy Dorsey (Nov 19th), the American holiday Thanksgiving (tied to American Culture) and a whole lot of gobbledygook about the weather. It also offered to “transform my blank page int a beautifully formatted document with images, tables and more.”
Since AI, lacking human sensibilities, falls short and misses current and future looking analytical and human warmth, I reached out to local experts. Deanna Hoying of Symphony NH explained that “there’s something very cozy about music from the great American songbook.” Warren O’Reilly from The Rex Theatre immediately offered facts about the large number of Jazz bands and musicians in and around Manchester specifically and New Hampshire in general. It’s not an accident. Our Quality of Life and easy affordable access make a difference and it’s all here, within minutes.
My favorite Jazz lesson – recorded 65 years ago October 21, 1960 remains vibrant
Last week, my friend Terry and I sat down to discuss “My Favorite Things.” Not the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein version from the 1959 musical “The Sound of Music,” but a variation on that theme recorded by John Coltrane 65 years ago.
Everything I needed to understand jazz can be found in that particular Coltrane quartet performance. Recorded on October 21, 1960 at Atlantic Studios in New York City, the producer was jazz obsessed Nesuhi Ertegun. He and his brother Ahmet Ertegun were the driving force behind jazz and rock music at Atlantic and Warner records. Nesuhi Ertegun’s main interest was initially New Orleans jazz. So was mine. I was 12 years old when my parents took me to Preservation Hall and I was mesmerized by the play of sound as each of the different instruments passed around the melody. I loved the spirit of New Orleans Jazz.
As I dug deeper into jazz, I came upon this particular recording. Coltrane, known for tenor and soprano sax only played soprano for this piece backed by McCoy Tyner on piano, Steve Davis on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. If you know the words to the Rodgers and Hammerstein tune, you’ll sit on pins and needles or join in the wild ride while waiting for the final verse as the haunting refrain “favorite things, favorite things” blocks and tackles every trip fantastic down side alley solos. The very truth of jazz – structure and variation – is showcased in the performance of this familiar Broadway musical tune.
Jazz and Big Band Music
CJ Poole, events director of the New Hampshire Jazz Orchestra, talked about the seasonal atmosphere and audience appeal. Colder weather, for many, leads to thoughts of warm, cozy, indoor activities. It becomes central to our thinking about events. Poole expanded on how late autumn serves as a real time “launch pad for holiday programming, high energy listening and dancing in the sweet spot before the holiday chaos of December.” Music in community settings builds connections across generations and pushes strife aside for at least the length of a concert.
With apologies to the many other upcoming programs not covered here, I add my own two reasons for heightened awareness of Jazz in November, Veterans Day (my dad’s Navy service and Big Band music all during my growing up) and my introduction to the work of John Coltrane.
Win a Pair of Tickets
InkLinkNews has a pair of tickets to give away for each of the two shows coming up after election day. Want to escape to something fun and relaxing on us? (and the ticket prices are reasonable if your write in doesn’t get selected.)
Let me know where your interest in music sits. Is it Big Band and the homage to our veterans? Or something about Cool Jazz?
Share your music related backstory with me – Just send an email subject NOVEMBER JAZZ and give a short description of why Jazz and or Big Band has meaning in your life. We’ll pick the most interesting answers and if necessary, do a drawing for a pair of tickets to one of these upcoming shows (tell us your preference):
Thursday November 6th at The Rex – City Lights and Blue Nights Symphony NH Jazz Quartet
Sunday November 9th at the Dana Center – Swingin’ to Victory A Big Band Salute to Veterans
Email me Keith@KeithSpiroMedia.com by Monday November 3rd, 5 p.m.