![]() Fragments of standard melodies, presumably the same 17 tunes Bley says she knew in 1955, sneak in at intervals, each time subtly changing the suite's narrative flow. ![]() A perky guitar riff and vague horn rumblings get the suite rolling in earnest, gradually building to a stylized bop line which bounces amongst the horns. To set the scene, Bley's bandmates gather round her piano like lounge patrons as Bley plays a medley of standards such as "My Foolish Heart," absolutely straight. "Appearing Nightly at the Black Orchid" has its origins in a solo gig Bley played in Monterey as a teenager, fifty years ago "my first and last gig as a cocktail pianist," she quips. Occasional dissonant moments of decision crop up throughout, and each time the piece threatens to spin wildly onto a new axis before settling back into the original theme. But this is a Carla Bley concert, and even simplicity comes with a twist. ![]() Bley gives a deadpan introduction of "One Way," describing the piece as "really simple." And on one level it is simple, a big-band ballad built largely on variations of a two-chord vamp. With Bley herself alternating between the piano chair and conducting the group, the piece moves through several distinct phases: it's a quirky mechanical bounce one moment, a slow gospel moan the next, and at one point each horn blows in turn for about a measure and a half. "On the Stage in Cages" opens with a Monkish statement followed by percolating solos from trumpeter John Worley and George Young on alto sax. ![]() For this year's festival, the unpredictable Carla Bley has cooked up a beautifully conceived suite entitled "Appearing Nightly at the Black Orchid." Before premiering it, however, Bley puts her 17-piece Big Band (featuring many fine Northern California musicians) through their paces in two preliminary numbers. 8:00pm - Jimmy Lyons Stage (The Arena) Commissioned works have become a central part of the Monterey tradition. I continue my venue-hopping, trying to drink in as much music in as many styles as I can. Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 As the 48th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival presented by MCI passes its halfway mark, the traditionally blues-oriented program of Saturday afternoon gives way to an eclectic mix of modern-jazz and international sounds, along with a wave of vocalists led by first-time performer Tony Bennett. ![]()
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