Hands up: did you have a meteorite explosion on your St. Paddy’s Day bingo card this morning? That was a sound the likes of which I’ve never heard–which, in broadcasting is called a smooth segue to the topic at hand: music.
To say that this week’s constellation of concerts descended from the heavens is a reach, but starry? For sure!
Linda May Han Oh’s “The Glass Hours” at Finney Chapel, March 19
Another in the series of frustratingly dazzling concerts presented at Oberlin. Look, I understand that these are for the students. The general public isn’t forbidden from attending, but honestly, when did you find out about this band of major instrumentalists (Fabian Almazan, Sara Serpa, Greg Ward and Mark Whitfield, Jr.) presenting a major work that ended up on a lot of yearend lists? Was it two minutes ago? <sigh> Needless to say, this northeast Ohio appearance by Linda May Han Oh is as rare as . . . well, you know ??
Bria Skonberg at BLU Jazz+, March 19
Bria Skonberg is one of those artists who just might be too versatile for her own good. Remember her performance at the 2021 Tri-C JazzFest at Cain Park? She pinballed between “Elbow,” a slow blues over a New Orleans parade beat to “High Hat, Trumpet and Rhythm,” a 1930s novelty number for Valaida Snow, another singing trumpeter, to “Villain Vanguard,” a burning post-bop vamp tune.. It was a lot, but the thing is, she did everything well, and her stage persona was so warm and ingratiating that it could have been called “Minnesota Nice” were it not for the fact that she is Canadian (okay, close). Skonberg rolls in to Akron on a tour organized by the Midwest Jazz Collective, the intrepid group brought her doppelganger trumpeter/vocalist Benny Benack III to BOP STOP last year (I previewed it here). Still, with a 2023 appearance with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra on her resume, Skonberg is getting to be a regular here. Better get your tickets soon.
Fareed Haque Trio at Irishtown Bend Tap Room, Friday, March 20
Guitarist Fareed Haque is from Chicago, a city where musicians shrug at genre barriers. And sure enough, he has played with Joe Henderson, Sting, the Zawinul Syndicate, Kahil El’Zabar’s mighty Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and his own groove-intensive Garaj Mahal band. His drummer Friday is Mike Clark, who is probably most famous for his stint bringing the East Bay grease to Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters band. Yet when I talked with him a decade ago, Clark, who talks like he plays drums–on top of the beat–told me, “I’m a bebopper man!” That brings us to bass player Peter Washington, a guy who could probably get ten gigs a night if he could clone himself. Everybody want to play with him. So, will this be a staightahead night of standards and bop chestnuts? A groove train? Fusion for acoustic instruments? The possibilities are endless and there’s only one way to find out.
Alla Boara at Trinity Cathedral, Friday, March 20
A bit of disclosure is necessary here: In my six years in Cleveland, I have become such a fan of Alla Boara that founding capo di tutti capi Anthony Taddeo made me an offer I could not refuse and asked me to join the board of directors of his new nonprofit. Anthony is the sweetest ragazzo on the planet, so of course I said yes. Journalistic ethics suggest that I should refrain from covering the band, and I try to do that, but dear reader, I would be derelict in my duty to uncover the most compelling concerts of the week without including the Alla Boara show at Trinity Cathedral, a special space that draws a special kind of response from this joyous and wonderful band. If you’ve been to their Christmas concerts you know what I mean. Go. It’ll lift your spirits.
Nik Bärtsch’s RONIN at BOP STOP, Saturday, March 21
Q: When was the last time a band came into BOP STOP with its own lighting guy? A: March 24, 2024. It was Nik Bärtsch’s RONIN, A RONIN concert is an immersive experience of son et lumiere, a kind of rave for stationary jazz heads. Bärtsch calls RONIN’s offerings “ritual groove music.” Notice the seeming contradictions. “Ritual” suggests something hieratic and lofty. But this band also grooves so hard. Every player is a drum. It’s kind of amazing how these four Swiss musicians bring this off and it has to be heard–or more accurately, experienced–to be believed. I’m a believer and I’ll be there. Wouldn’t miss this for the world.
P.S. I had a lovely conversation with Bärtsch before the 2024 show that you can check out on my YouTube channel, along with more recent interviews. Here’s the link.
For the most complete listing of jazz and jazz-adjacent events., look to Jim Szabo’s essential, weekly Northeast Ohio jazz calendar.
