Buffalo State College's Rockwell Theater was the perfect host for a night of relaxing jams this past Friday when Jamie Masefield’s Jazz Mandolin Project came through for a spectacular show. The show started off very smooth and mellow, and most of the audience became fully drawn into the music. For me, this was quite pleasing, because I was there to see the band and hear them play, and at some shows you will find people who are not. This crowd was there to experience the music and just that and it showed by how quiet everyone remained for the whole show. The band could feel this as well because it came through in their playing. They played to us from their inner souls, smoothly, intimately, and if you looked around you could see all the music junkies of all different ages who were completely taken in by Jamie Masefield.
In the past 8 years, Masefield has worked on a variety of things but his number one priority has always been the Jazz Mandolin Project. With a theme based on a specific structure, improvisation takes over as Masefield takes it to somewhere new and unexplored. Many times, they will be evolving a jam and taking it to places it's never been before, thus amazing the audience who sometimes does not know whether it’s composed or improvised at that moment. Masefield plays from deep within, showing a new light and direction with his folk style mixed with elements of jazz and bluegrass to create a truly new and unique sound.
His friend and bassist, Danton Boller has been with the Project since January of 2000 when he did his first tour with Masefield and drummer from Phish, Jon Fishman. Danton kept the grooves rolling smoothly throughout on his upright bass with the syncopated rhythms and bending of notes by the touch of a finger. Danton plays in many different genres including classical and experimental music, so his talents can be recognized at different levels. From the big apple, drummer Greg Gonzales keeps the rhythm in check with his clock-like ticking of the hi-hat. He definitely keeps the flow of the band, but never really plays a prominent role of the creation or improvisation of the tune, yet he holds down the traditional structure of the songs and jams.
They played songs like “Xenoblast,” a very high energy song with fast paced licks by Mr. Masefield on the mandolin. This is a song where they make use of their skills of improvisation. “Sabre Dance,” a three-piece classical jazz movement by Khatchaturian was another among the songs played, yet was very different from the exploratory and improvisational style they normally stick to. “Sabre Dance” is an arrangement which they play with no improvisation at all, and it is very exact and I think a beautifully performed piece of music. “Milestones,” a well-known cover by the great Miles Davis, was another song played among many other favorites. Masefield kept it interesting all night by changing the mood of the music back and forth, exploring new and uncharted territory and showing us his soul with his beautiful mandolin licks. Danton on the upright bass is like the cherry on top, dueling back and forth with Gonzales and Masefield as they explore new and uncharted boundaries in what they call the Jazz Mandolin Project.
Words and Photos by Ian Stone
JamBase | Western NY
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