Edgefest 18: Bas(s)ically Sound!
The acoustic bass was frequently at the center of this year's Edgefest at Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor, October 15–18, but that does not mean that the festival in any way was monochromatic. After all, the bass is part of almost all jazz performances whether edgy or not.
The four-day affair started on Tuesday night at Encore Records with a sneak peak of one of the key figures of improvised music: bassist William Parker. He also conducted a workshop (supported by SEMJA) with students at Scarlett Middle School on Wednesday, many of whom later showed up for the fun-filled Saturday parade led by Parker through the Farmers' Market. Towards the end of the parade he had the youngsters chanting: "Cosmic Funk will save the world!"
Saturday night, Parker led an all-star ensemble of some of New York's foremost avant players, including veteran pianist Dave Burrell and trombonist Steve Swell. Together with the formidable drummer Hamid Drake, Parker formed an incomparable rhythmic unit. Special guest with the group was tenorist Kidd Jordan from New Orleans who, at 79, was a veritable fountain of energy.
New York bassists Mark Helias and Mark Dresser excelled throughout the festival as they gave solo performances, played as a duo, or performed in small groups, topped off by a concert for a "body of basses" with University of Michigan bass professors Diana Gannett and Robert Hurst plus bass students at St Andrews Episcopal Church. Another unique bass feature was Jaribu Shahid's Bass Quartet on opening night, with Detroit bass masters Marion Hayden, Kurt Krahnke, and John Dana.
The Second City as always contributed greatly to the festival starting with a Septet led by bassist Jason Roebke. Roebke's arrangements balanced ensemble passages seamlessly with space for solos from players like Jeb Bishop on trombone and Josh Berman on cornet. A somewhat smaller ensemble led by trumpeter Russ Johnson celebrated the music of Eric Dolphy, to the delight of the audience. Dolphy's Out To Lunch is a classic worth refreshing, and in the hands of Johnson it did sound like it was recorded today.
Myra Melford treated us to some of her brilliant pianisms on several of the tunes. Bassist Harrison Bankhead's quartet from Chicago was also a powerhouse with saxophonist Ed Wilkerson at the front and Avreeayl Ra kicking on the drums. Saxophonist Mars Williams was a muscular saxophonist in Bankhead's group as well as in a trio with hard-driving Norwegian bassist Ingebrigt Haker Flaten and Chicago drummer Tim Daisy.