|
Astral Project performed two sets of their jazz and beyond sound
at a venue more known for raucous behavior than reserved
buttoned-down jazz club sensibility. Thus, there was a
discernable tension in the crowd early. The cultural clash was initially won by reserved buttoned-down jazz club sensibility but raucous behavior effectively disorganized this hold on power at setbreak, and again ruled the night at the Maple Leaf for the 2nd set.
During the first set, patrons heard music that varied from beautiful to groovy to thought provoking, flowing at every speed and tempo available. This was best illustrated by a composed Astral Project straight-ahead post-Coltrane tune that exploded in the middle to reveal the following: Groove Jam > detour into acappella chorus of Rainy Day Woman #35 > Funk Jam > Blues Jam > Calypso Interlude > back into the composed conclusion of song.
This segue-fest was executed with incredible precision and
caused the first fissure in relations between the jazz club
sitters and the movers and shakers.
Toward the end of the set, the band paused and drummer Johnny Vidacovich took the microphone. He introduced his bandmates (James Singleton, stand-up bass, Steve Masakowski, guitar, David Torkanowsky, keys, Tony Dagradi, sax) and treated the crowd to several of his distinctive stream of consciousness musings. He also reminisced about the evenings he spent over 20 years ago playing with James Booker at the Maple Leaf.
The band closed the set with a wonderful new tune by Steve Masakowski called Wetlands. This song is expected to be on the new album that they are currently working on.
As previously alluded to, the second set saw the complete eradication of the stuffy sit-down reverent jazz club vibe and it was again business as usual at the Maple Leaf. Astral Project, playing off the unruly energy of the crowd, unleashed a
funked-up 2nd set replete with barrelhouse piano and a nod to Professor Longhair (aka "Mardi Gras in New Orleans").
All of this was naturally within the Astral Project umbrella of sound, which is precise, tight jazz with feeling. Guitarist Steve Masakowski played with a gorgeous clean tone and unleashed laser guided sheaths of notes on the audience. Johnny
Vidacovich utilized every square inch of his drumkit, evoking a multitude of subtle pitch and audio differences amidst his rock-steady sense of rhythm. James Singleton draped himself over his stand-up bass and filled the room with rich and pure grooves. Dagradi and Torkanowsky also contributed mightily to the sound, but the trio of drums-bass-guitar was truly the propelling force of the band Thursday night.
Billy Thinnes
JamBase New Orleans Correspondent
Go See Live Music!
| 
