Jazz Concert Review, Essay Example

Introduction

Venue

The traditional cultural outings by my friends and family usually venture to the Olympia Theater because the experience, the elegance of the Olympia Theater and the up-close personal experience gets better with every visit over the years. Its truly a great place to listen to jazz which is describe by Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for Performing Arts(2013),The wonderful theater was born in 1926 during the times of the silent movies which has become the jazz home of many musicians seeking to reach the South Florida community. Today the magnificently restored theater is home to live performances, films, community events, and social affairs.”The venue is so grandiose that appears like billions were spent on the décor while every view is splashed with vivid colors. The Olympia Theater is worthy of such amajestic introduction.

This jazz concert had a surprising performance in Miami at the in Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida. The best-kept concert secret in Miami Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, whichis a wonderful splendid and colorful musical setting that allows artist to interact and groove with the crowd. However, entering the Gusman Center has a feeling of royalty in the air as the interior feels like a place for kings and queens. It is one the most enchanting and exhilarating Mediterranean courtyards with elegant art fit for the best Miami museum along with golden balconies. The columns are majestic like with beautiful towers that share the jazz performance with everyone because they are no bad seats at the Gusman Center. This grand theater is a chapter of past that allows performers to merge the past with the future with wonderful jazz performances.

There are many areas in Florida that have the reputation for beautiful music and culture but this setting is full of culture and art. There is plenty to choose from in Miami but the jazz concerts at the location are an extraordinary experience. From Miami night-lights, tasty foods and many different jazz events that display Miami’s diversity and deep rich heritage of jazz. There are two artists that have a reputation for giving over and beyond performances at jazz concerts are Ed Callesaxophonistand jazz musician Eliane Elias. These are two artists that I have personally followed over the years, which I take great joy in sharing my concert experience’s with these legendary jazz musicians.

Ed Calle

In this lifetime, any jazz fan must take the time to see Ed Calle. His notoriety covers jazz circuit all over the world;nevertheless,on the jazz scene this talented saxophonist could be considered royalty. In order, to appreciate this sharing experience of Ed Calle music’s, I would be remiss not to share a little about who Ed Calle. He has many jazz accolades, awards, and life achievements, as represented in the jazz community. The Jazz artist Ed Calle, who plays the saxophone, is a legend who makes the Latin music speaks to the heart and soul. Ed was a surprise visit as the open Jazz festival at the Miami Olympia Theater. The word was buzzing around the theater about this superb saxophonist, who played like an angel with a strong Latin swing beat. The well travel and experienced saxophonist Ed Calle, has a reputation for playing several types of music such as contemporary jazz, pop and Latin.

The theater program indicated he was born in CaracasVenezuela, which gives you that authentic sound of the islands with a rich flavor of contemporary jazz. Ed Calle sound can be heard on literary hundreds of recordings, sets, background, track, sideman and solo tracks. Ed Calle may not be a household name in the American household but in the Spanish community,conversely, he is well known as a Latin musician. According to the Soul of Miami (2013),” Jazz at Pinecrest Gardens presents Latin Grammy nominated saxophonist, Ed Calle. He has appeared on Grammy award winning albums by Frank Sinatra, Vicky Carr, Arturo Sandoval, and Jon Secada, as well as numerous television and motion picture soundtracks.” Everyone is familiar with well-known respected artists Gloria Estefan, Vanessa Williams, Rihanna, Extreme, and Michael Bolton.Ed has spent time recording and performing with these artistsworldwide.It is no coincidence that the Ed Calle sounds and delivery of jazz sessions, share the feeling of the big band firing on all cylinders. The jazz musician Ed Calle brings the ambiance of a Cab Calloway orchestra that is performing big band precision and grace.

Ed Calle Music

The performances that Ed Calle has as signature are the sounds of jazz. The best example of the cool deliver is the Calle’s Concord Vista, which hassizzling intro with a splendid arrangement of horns, sax, and drums. The song has a playful percussive that flirts with the salsa swing with a hint of Earth, Wind and Fire. There were three other songs that capture the essence of Ed in the Sunset Harbor, Rachels Song and Marianne. Ed Calle signature saxophone delivers with the song “Strollin. The musician turns up the heat in the room, blasting the horn section with that Latin groove sound.

The song “Nightfall” that Ed played wonderfully changes the pace to a slower pace with a bass line that would give you goose pimples. In many reviews, they we amazed how Calle keep current with the sounds of yesterday. Ed’s shows include the new sounds of the Latin jittery hip-hop sound to a steady Latin thumping beat.

The Miami reviews said do not sleep on the sound of Dan Warner’s wah-wah guitar because his sound is powerful yet exciting bringing many fans to a shivering explosive sound. Not to mention the sound of “San Sebastian,” whois compared to the likes of Arturo Sandoval with the lazy Latin guitar sound speaking to the drums and base beat. It was no accident the Arturo sound was heard on some songs, because the guitarist Rene Toledo was a longtime friend of Arturo Sandoval. This was not about Sandoval influence. This was about Ed Calle bursting into a hot funky saxophone melody that almost brought the house down after one of his melody explosions. Finally, Ed brings it home with a tribute to his childhood heroes Earth, Wind & Fire. He played this jazz set in their memory “Colour My World” that dazzled with musical brilliance.

Eliane Alias

All the jazz reviews over the last five years all say the same thing” She is as beautiful as she is talented.”The hardest thing to do is concentrate on the music of Eliane Elias, because she is one the most classy and beautiful women you will see on stage. Nevertheless, make no mistake she is talented as any other jazz artist before or after her time. The second emotional performance is Jazz artist was Eliane Elias. According to Elias (2013),Elias has reputation for being a superb jazz pianist, who is very collaborative in her delivery. Her presence has everyone attending at the edge of his or her seats, because she is not only beautiful but her sound is crisp. She blends the Brazilian culture along with her contagious smile and voice.Elias has a unique gift as a pianist, strong vocals, and impressive instrumental arraignments along with classical and jazz performances. She has be credited with over 20 albums which shows that Elias has the established longevityin the business with her many different musical talents which include world class composter, singer and arranger of music. It shows that Elias has a talent that not every jazz musician can perform the jazz,pop, and Brazilian music.

Elias originates from Portuguesewhere she began her journey to become a singer, composer, performer, arranger, songwriter, and jazz pianist. Her supporting cast of jazz musicians are Personnel: Elias: vocals, piano; Marc Johnson: acoustic bass; Steve Cardenas: electric guitar; Randy Brecker: trumpet, flugelhorn; Oscar Castro-Neves: acoustic guitar: Victor Lewis: drums; Rafael Barata: drums and Marivaldo Dos Santos: percussion.

Eliane Elias Music

Eliane’s performances never fails to deliver. She takes command of the room with dazzling maneuvers on the pianosthat deliver sweet harmony to the concert listeners. Here is a great selection of songs that was played for the audience by Eliane. I Thought About You; There Will Never Be Another You; This Can’t Be Love; Embraceable You; That Old Feeling; Everything Depends On You; I’ve Never Been In Love Before; Let’s Get Lost; Start; You Don’t Know What Love Is; Blue Room; Just Friends; Girl Talk; Just In Time; and I Get Along Without You Very Well.

Eliane is a singer who voice is smooth just like silk. One the tunes that is so smooth is “I thought About You” which came from her new album. The song immediately set the mood as a romantic song with a jazzy pace that could be an interpretation of someone in love. The guitar leave an impression that is unforgettable, because Marc Johnson bass guitar is not intrusive until the song requires for the bass to solo or a climatic change. The drummer Maurico Zottarelli is talented swinging from melody to melody effortless without distracting from the songs and Eliane performances. Make no mistake the performance is just as elegant as the Gusman theater. Ms. Elias is a definitely an excellentpianist that has a beautiful voice that sings to the soul. The orchestra complements the moods with precision.

The performancesare always versatile from hard-hittingjazz, to the romantic slow ballad, to an upbeat sizzling samba back down to songs that just make you jump out of your seat. There several ballads mixed in the jazzy percussion base themes such as the “Embraceable You,” “Just in Time” and “Blue Room” which both have quick tempos with a beautiful jazzy sound. This was the moment that the talents of the drummer came to the stage to bring home hard-hitting melodies. According to a fantastic review from The New York Times(2013),”Mr. Zottarelli is musician that has dual talents of the drummers and samba percussions. This was evident when Zottarelli explodes into wonderful and impressive drum solos. There are other songs that are equally great such as “The Time Is Now album from 1997 and “Impulsive!”. Impulsive is an intricate instrumental duet that include the piano and drums. The instrumental is followed with a jazzy duel between the piano and drums, which brings many concertgoers to their feet. There is no doubt that every concert with Eliane Elias brings that jazz style of Brazil with samba like beats and the screaming saxophones for sure. The Brazilian sound is so soothing that the performance pulls you on the stage, with a hypnotic like melodies that keeps you listening for the entire show.

The typical concert set for Eliane Elias is very personable ,with the same flavor of jazz that works regardless of the venue worldwide. A typical set with Eliane is playing a fast hard charging jazzy bebop sound, then slowing down with a romantic ballad that displays how the piano can talk to anyone’s heart.

The next invitation to her excellence is dropping some jazz chords sizzling on the piano, that make you realize she is great while playful interchanging music song with Steve Cardenas. Steven is an accomplished guitarist who shows his skills using both hands from right and left. After this playful exchange, Elias sings the trademark piece” There Will Never Be Another. This song is rich in Brazilian flavor with a samba bass beat and without missing a beat. Eliane moves directly into a solo called” Embraceable You. At this time in the concert, the jazz enthusiast has already gotten their money’s worth, but Eliane is not done because she will dazzle with the tribute Chet Baker songs from the album,” I Thought About. This song displays the talents of Thomas Ovesen on guitar and bass, who sometimes stands in for the regular bassist Marc Johnson. There is always a tribute to jazz artists, which Eliane pays tribute in a sole medley from the great Bill Evans jazz musician.

These collections of songs drive home the very essence of downhome jazz. Elias’s talking piano brings the house to their feet in appreciations of the sound that she has made her own. That signature play is “Something for You” that Bill Evans never finished ,but Eliane has transformed this piece into some truly wonderful. Bill Evans would respect and enjoy this jazz interpretation.The best performance of the evening was during the Brazilian’s solo by percussionist Rafael Barata, who dominated the airwave with a remarkable sound, which mixed salsa, Latin bebop, and contemporary jazz. Rafael brings the younger musical fans to their feet’s in appreciation of his talent. The solo was remarkable changing gears from jazzy up tempo to slow steady beats ,which is typical of Elias type of jazz presence on stage.’

Emotional Response

The Latin sound of Ed Calle made me feel extremely happy, as the upbeat sounds makes you forget about all your problems in the world. The crowd was responding to his every song with eagerness, which made me feel emotionally involved with each song. The saxophonistpulled sounds and rifts that seem impossible to play. Ed made me feel and experience the emotional experience of love or sorrow. It was magic when the saxophone would hit the high notes to the low notes without missing a beat. The feeling of being tranquil and accepting of this sound that make your skin react to the smooth sounds. The saxophone performance made my imagination come alive, as each note made me feel the pain or happiness. Ed has a natural way of making the audience feel the song with the expressions in his face. The performances by Ed are songs with a jazzy upbeat-tempo that makes men think they can dance salsa.

Elias provides an emotional response because you can feel her emotions of her songs. There are moments that the piano ballads can bring you to tears, while making you laugh at thetime.Elias performance has a way of singing her tunes that are so romantic, that it makes you appreciate the love and emotional of the solo. Elias has a way of making grown man cry from the emotional connections and words of the song. The added ingredient that touches everyone’s heart is the romantic and playful movements and song with Marc Johnson. Marc is lead bassist and Elias companion for many 26 years. One of the patrons tried to get close to the stage in the area of Eliane, which prompted the response please do not enter my personal intimate space. The multi-talented, Brazilian singer-pianist-composer has brought many couples to tears, as she looks into the eyes of Marc.

The performance always has hint of intimacy, because the love comes through the music, while Eliane sets the mood with her piano to tug at heartstrings. There a number of emotions experienced from her concert such as happy, sad, excited, loving, romantic, and ready to dance. Eliane can send the crowd on a roller-coaster filled ride, with a deep Brazilian flavor that plays the song of life.Once Eliane begins to release the emotion in her voice and in the song, the men were afraid to look at the next man sitting next to them , because everyone including the theater attendants were crying.

References

Elias.E. (2013).Short bio. Retrieve from http://elias.com//short-bio

Soul of Miami (2013).Ed Calle. Retrieved from www.soulofmiami.com

The New York Times (2013). On piano, lauding a trumpeter. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/30/arts/music/eliane-elias-at-birdland.html?_r=0