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An estimated 200,000 visitors attended the Montreux Jazz Festival this year, 23 of 33 concerts were sold out

Quincy Jones at Montreux Jazz Festival ©Lionel Flusin

Montreux, Switzerland - This year I caught not one, but two rainbow’s on my way to the Montreux Jazz Festival (MJF). I glimpsed the first one while getting soaked on my motorcycle in a summer downpour that appeared just after Lausanne.

Friday’s light show, if less dramatic, was sweetened by the fact I was on my bicycle outside of Vevey, and had time to stop and savour the ion-filled air.

Friday 16 July was my last night for this year’s fest and the evening was something of a question mark, not having listened to anything recently from Quincy Jones.

My biking plans were slightly delayed due to picture snapping, tent pitching etc. and I didn’t get into Miles Davis Hall well into the set by Jones’ Global Gumbo All-Star lineup.

The Hall was packed to the exits and I had to squeeze in the back; thanks to the jumbo screens though, I was able to catch all of the antics on stage by Richard Bona on bass, Lionel Loueke on guitar, Paulinho Da Costa on percussion, Francisco Mela on drums and the fabulous Alfredo Rodriguez on piano.

Da Costa’s percussion work provided the perfect counterpoint to Rodriguez’ fervent, sometimes zany keyboard massaging.

Alfredo Rodriguez Montreux Jazz Festival ©Lionel Flusin

Shortly after I arrived, Jones welcomed keyboardist Greg Phillinganes from the Herbie Hancock line-up, onstage, and fireworks ensued as he joined Rodriguez at the grand piano, starting with a “happy birthday” ode to a band member. The pair followed this up with a playful duet – the two swapping spots on the keyboard at least 2 times.

While Phillinganes provided balance and rhythm, Rodriguez fairly shivered with excitement, like he had never seen or touched such voluptuous piano keys. Phillinganes had the last word however, finishing the number with his right foot.

The Gumbo line-up included an impressive performance by 16 year-old vocalist Nikki Nanofsky, who according to Jones” has been singing since she was two.”

While there is something funny about hearing a 16 year-old say “Thank you for coming,” in a squeaky voice, she had the crowd yelling for more, and reminded me of a young Whitney in her ability to cut from open-throat deliveries to whisper soft finishes, with complete non-chalance – her voice discovering half-notes in between.

By the time Jones introduced his “brother from another mother” – Herbie Hancock – to finish the set, a smile was sealed on my face (and on the faces of everyone around me).

The resulting jam between Hancock with a keyboard strapped to his neck, Nanofsky parrying his solos, and Rodriguez on piano, left my head smoking.

Party on Quincy!

De La Soul

De La Soul Montreux Jazz Festival

Still buzzing from the Gumbo All-Stars, I went downstairs to check out the De La Soul performance.

The twenty-something crowd, thin at first, filled out as the show got going, and the Rhythm All Star horns put a nice touch on De La’s familiar hip hop.

Unfortunately, the sometimes funny, straightforward song riffs were overpowered by De La Soul’s over reliance on incessant concert c00l patter to liven up the crowd – “Are you ready to party; I think this side of the room is ready to party; scream if you want to party etc. – left me wondering why they wouldn’t let the music speak for itself.

See you next year Montreux – 1 to 16 July 2011!

Read all of our Montreux Jazz Festival reviews.

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