Radio station KYOT (95.5 FM), the main listening stop for smooth jazz in the Phoenix area, is heavily involved in promoting the genré via concert series and performances throughout the year. They have formed alliances with some of the fine hotels or resorts around town and created a place for their jazz and live music loving listening audience to get out. Such was the case this past Friday evening when they held Just Desserts at Marriott’s The Buttes Resort, in Tempe, when they featured keyboardist Jeff Lorber, and bassist Brian Bromberg in a wonderful free concert.
After meeting KYOT host Angie Handa earlier that day at the station on another project, I was thrilled to get the “green light” for me to bring my still and video camera to the event.
I’ve enjoyed Lorber’s work since his Fusion days, but had never seen him live. I wasn’t familiar with Bromberg’s name, although it turns out, I have enjoyed his work. This night was a real pleasure that I’m pleased to share here.
The performance was set in a rather large banquet room. Neither the lighting nor the staging were ideal for anything but flash photography. Fortunately, the two stationary spot lights were adequate for video, and I was rewarded with some wonderful footage… some of which I’ll share here.
I was allowed in before the general public, and took a shot of Jeff speaking with Smokie Rivers of ClearChannel, parent of KYOT and Talia who, at 15 years of age, is a music composer and performing artist in her own right, with three CDs out already!
Talia had the honor of having Lorber use her Yamaha Motif 8 keyboard for this performance. Standing to her right is her dad, while the hotel concierge smiles in the background.
Here’s another picture of Talia, this time with Brian Bromberg.
I’m told that Brian’s upright bass is over 100 years old! Its sound has grown sweet with age.
Angie Handa introduced the performers and kept the program humming. Who knew it would be such a treat?
Lorber was easy to approach and friendly. While many musicians are perhaps used to having their pictures taken, I wasn’t sure about video. I’ve shot several of Marion Meadows’ performances, but that relationship was developed over time, and has become a friendship too. Jeff and Brian were quite congenial, as Angie knew they would be.
A natural smile graces Lorber’s face in this available-light shot.
Bromberg was the big surprise for me. I grew up marveling at Ron Carter’s work on the bass. Did anyone else even play the bass? Red Clay, and First Light (which won a Grammy), by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, were two of my favorite albums that featured Ron Carter’s bass work, but there were many others released on CTI and other labels.
He is both expressive and clear; even using both the body and neck of his instrument to produce a percussive effect.
For the bulk of the second set Brian demonstrated his virtuosity with the electric guitar. His “band” accompanied him via CD. Though nice, this mix of “live” and Memorex didn’t work nearly as well for me as it did when Lorber and he played together. Lorber did return for the final song.
This was one fine night of music, and for free at that! And while shooting video with a single camera has its own inherent limitations, we can share some of the magic of that night through this, the opening song, Anthem for a New America, from Jeff Lorber’s CD, “He Had a Hat.” There’s an honesty about live performances that some musicians aren’t willing to share unless at great expense. I am pleased that these two men allowed their genius to be captured that fine night at The Buttes.
And for the video? Here it is…
[googlevideo=”http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1508639430049258451&hl=en”]
To view the second video in this series, click here. To view the third, click here.
