Jimmy Cobb and the So What Band, July 2

A review of the Monterey Quartet is coming soon, we promise.

Today though, we jump ahead to last night with Jimmy Cobb and the So What Band at the Centre, playing the music from Kind of Blue, Miles Davis’ breakthrough 1959 album.

Here’s what Stephen Thomas Erlewine says about it on AllMusic:Kind of Blue isn't merely an artistic highlight for Miles Davis, it's an album that towers above its peers, a record generally considered as the definitive jazz album, a universally acknowledged standard of excellence. Why does Kind of Blue posses such a mystique? Perhaps because this music never flaunts its genius.

If you are unfamiliar with Kind of Blue, check out the excellent film, Miles Davis Kind of Blue 50th Anniversary, posted on YouTube

The So What band is lead by drummer Jimmy Cobb, the only surviving member from the original recording. The rest of the band channels their cooresponding members with Wallace Roney playing Miles on trumpet, Javon Jackson as John Coltrane on tenor sax, Vincent Herring as Cannonball Atterly on alto sax, Larry Willis as Bill Evans on piano, and John Webber as Paul Chambers on bass.

They came on stage and played Kind of Blue straight, with chaser, as though on vinyl. First, So What, one of the most recognizable tunes in jazz history. Then, slinky Freddy Freeloader, gentle Blue in Green, and my fave, All Blues (seen here), finishing with Flemenco Sketches, a song that led to Miles’ next album, Sketches of Spain. But live, in the Centre, there was no need to flip the record over.

Watching these musicians re-create the sessions leading to Kind of Blue, you gotta wonder how much physical presence they are occupying. For instance, Wallace Roney wore a flashy, but immaculately tailored jacket, like Miles would have later in life, and he kept eyeing his horn. When he wasn’t playing, Miles often seemed obsessed with his horn, and stared at it like the thing was revealing secrets of the universe. In this small move, Roney gave us enough of a visual to enliven the audible Miles. Kind of mystical, kind of magical.

Bill thought Jimmy Cobb’s playing actually improved with each song and was a great form by the end. After the others had left the stage, Cobbs paced around, soaking up the applause and his own sweat with a dry towellette, until he finally said, oh alright, like so what? At the end of a show that drew multiple standing ovations, they played Straight, No Chaser as an encore. A perfect metaphor.

Missed almost all of the first band, John Stetch Trio, but heard the second to last song. When he announced the title, Girl in a Hemp Shirt, I thought, man, these guys are young. Then, after Stetch did a little William Shatner schtick, they played the theme from Star Trek. I guess this is jazz’s Next Generation.

Later, at O’Doul’s, So Whaters Lavon Jackson and Larry Willis turned up, along with a bunch of young musicians too numerous to name, to play the jam session with Mike Allen.

More great music this weekend.

See you at jazz fest!
-Mari