Jared Bloch
Homage to “Funky” Claude Nobs – Stravinsky Hall, Montreux Music & Convention Center - Photo Jared Bloch
MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND – “We all came out to Montreux…” but this celebration was of a different kind, in homage to “Funky” Claude Nobs, the man who made the name Montreux Jazz Festival (MJF) synonymous with musical innovation, new talent, and unhinged jam sessions.
“Funky” Claude Nobs’ parting gift to music lovers
This was the man Stephan Eicher and fellow artists took a bow to last night at Stravinsky Hall, as he sang “Je n’ai pas d’ami comme toi” – I have no friend like you – and finishing with a nod to “Smoke on the Water,” and the image of Nobs on the big screen.
Pepe Lienhard’s Big Band, including trombones extraordinaire, set the bar for the line-up of smooth acts to follow, including crooners Stevie Woods (think Tom Jones) and Mark Sway.
The sheer range of acts on display last night itself was a testament to Nob’s gift for recognizing and promoting diverse talent spanning genre and age; Bastian Baker, in his teens when he first met Nobs in 2006, played alongside Swiss musical icons Pascal Auberson, Francois Lindeman, Dieter Meir and Eicher, all more than twice his age. Auberson shared an intimate dream sequence ending with “Thank you Claude,” while Lindeman’s bereaved piano playing was a sombre note to the evening.
Meier and his perfectly named band, Out of Chaos, made me think, “It’s better to burn out than to fade away…”
Other stand outs for me included Barbara Hendrick’s rendition of “Strange Fruit,” (with Ulf England’s haunting slide guitar), Andreas Vollenweider’s enchanting harp ensemble, and Paolo Nutini’s rhythm and growling alternately reminiscent of Al Green and James Brown.
47th MJF poster by Oscar Oiwa, unveiled last night at Stravinsky Hall – Photo Jared Bloch
The show will go on and the 47th MJF poster, by Oscar Oiwa was unveiled as the tribute to Nobs came to an end. But the absence of “Funky” Claude’s voice and persona was palpable last night in Stravinsky Hall; I think we all paused for an awkward moment as acts were introduced, fully expecting his funkiness to stroll out on stage.
Read more on the new MJF poster and the artist who created it on GenevaLunch.
Jared Bloch
MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND – Boogy music producer Nile Rodgers “Freaked Out” the Montreux Jazz Festival last night, 13 July, with an evening of disco and dance music talent at Stravinsky Hall.
Last night’s call to booty was met by a fired up Montreux audience ready to shake it.
Nile Rodgers and Chic hold up Stravinsky Hall-Photo, MJF©Lionel Flusin
The closing night party line-up included performances by dance and techno hit makers Tavares (“Heaven Must be Missing an Angel”), Martha Wash (“It’s Rainin’ Men”), Taylor Dayne (“Tell it to My Heart”), Alison Moyet (Yazoo, ALF), and Grace Jones, in addition to Rodgers’ band Chic.
Chic at Stravinsky Hall, MJF
Regardless of what you may think of disco, it is the great dance equalizer, and for that I love it – I saw men, (straight, white men) in golf cardigans doing the Bow-Wow on their knees last night in Stravinsky Hall.
And Alison Moyet, what to say.
Jared Bloch
Marc Cerrone at Stravinsky Hall-MJF (c) Lionel Flusin
MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND – Remember “It’s Rainin’ Men” and “Everybody Dance”? Well, Martha Wash got Stravinsky Hall going tonight, 13 July with her unforgettable dance standards, forever imprinted on our cerebral cortex.
Disco Daddy, Marc Cerrone and friends followed close behind, putting the hall into a tail – as in booty – spin.
It’s getting hot in Stravinsky Hall, and about to get hotter with Taylor Dayne, La Roux and more in the wings.
More coming …
See other MJF reviews on GenevaLunch.
Montreux parties its last night away
Jared Bloch
The Pedro Martinez Group (minus one) after their Miles Davis lounge jam session
MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND – If you were lucky enough to catch the Rufus Wainwright show last night, 5 July at the Montreux Jazz Festival, you could have doubled your luck by catching the Pedrito Martinez Group performing shortly afterwards in the lounge at Miles Davis Hall.
The quartet with members from Cuba, Venezuela and Peru – they are based in New York – was the perfect nightcap to a stellar evening, with their conga driven Afro-Cuban rhythms.
My only regret is missing their four other shows at the festival. If you are reading this now (5:52 pm Friday) you have exactly 1 hour eight minutes to catch them at Parc Vernex in Montreux…for free.
Otherwise you’ll have to follow them to the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy, or one of the other 20 venues they are playing in Europe.
See other MJF reviews on GenevaLunch.
Jared Bloch
Rufus Wainright holding court in Miles Davis Hall - Photo MJF ©Daniel Balmat
MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND – Novices and loyal subjects alike were treated on 5 July at the Montreux Jazz Festival (MJF) to an audience with the king of ersatz funk, Rufus Wainwright.
I have been an armchair admirer of Wainwright’s genre and gender bending musical genius since I first heard “My Phone’s on Vibrate for You.”
[youtube]http://youtu.be/OBpYllqdIMc[/youtube]
Wainwright’s gift is his uncanny, or inherited ability – he is the son of Kate McGarrigle and Louden Wainwright III – to transform the mundane into soulful, sometimes sad, silly and occasionally sappy stories that resonate deep in your bones. Think Elton John meets Leonard Cohen (also the grandfather of Wainwright’s baby daughter).
Under Wainwright’s charismatic charm, I found myself singing along with the rest of Miles Davis Hall to such quirky choruses as “The church has run out of candles.”
Jared Bloch
Montreux Jazz Festival crowds
MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND – Gorgeous weather and fresh sounds made for a crowded scene on day two of the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Brandy Butler and the Fonxionaires
German a capella group, the Slixs put a cool touch on the sun baked crowd at Parc Vernex as the evening began, followed by the soul slingers, Brandy Butler and the Foxionaires.
The tone at Miles Davis Hall was distinctly toned down last night with acoustic performances from both Ed Sheeran and Chris Cornell.