Concert Review: NCPA Legends with The Legendary Trio

The longer I hear jazz, particularly that performed by American bands, the extra I see this music not simply as an artwork type however quite as a tradition. This tradition is deep rooted in a high-quality custom of greater than 100 years.

The ‘legends’ of jazz have been the oldsters who’ve laid the muse for the expansion of this tradition and the NCPA paid excessive tribute to those foundations of jazz by inviting an illustrious trio of jazz musicians from the U.S. to play of their annual “Legends” live performance.

The piano, bass (acoustic, upright) and drums trio of Cyrus Chestnut, Buster Williams and Lenny White performed a night of conventional, mainstream jazz to a packed Tata Theatre on July 20, 2024. This will not be a trio that usually performs collectively however every is a grasp of his craft and the trio represented the essence of jazz tradition from its lengthy custom.

The opening piece, composed by the bassist Buster Williams was “Torpedo,” adopted by a classical piece from Chopin, creatively interpreted on the piano, with apologies for the purists!

“Dedication” penned by the stellar percussionist Lenny White adopted. It was a delicate, introspective ballad given its due by the trio with lyrical piano enjoying from Cyrus Chestnut.

Miles Davis’ composition, “Nardis” made well-known by pianist Bill Evans, was the subsequent presentation with refined remedy on the modifications from every member of the band. It was performed uptempo and Chestnut entertained the viewers with an extended solo.

The second set started with the favored normal “It Could Happen To You,” adopted by a Cyrus Chestnut composition “Shanti” — he referred to as it a shock package deal, however no rationalization was offered for the context of this quantity. 

It is certainly laborious to undergo a jazz live performance with out no less than one in all Duke Ellington’s compositions performed. Just when it appeared that tonight may be an exception, the band launched into Duke’s well-known “Sophisticated Lady” after a teasing introduction from the strains of “If A Picture”. To us, this providing was the spotlight of the night’s efficiency. To add an extra dimension to this rendition, the opening strains of Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life” had been performed as the subtle girl bid us adieu.

The remaining presentation of the night was the minor blues hardbop composition “Minority” written by the alto saxophonist Gigi Gryce.

While the trio of Cyrus Chestnut, Buster Williams and Lenny White are jazz musicians of excessive pedigree, they aren’t a trio that performs collectively as a band, and it was felt at occasions as if the three people didn’t mix as one band. 

However, a number of jazz legends had been honored throughout this live performance: the composers of the music performed, the good artists with whom every of the trio has been related and, in fact, the trio of Cyrus Chestnut, Buster Williams and Lenny White. It can be good to have them again.