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| The SFJAZZ Collective |
The SFJAZZ Collective, an
all-star ensemble, commemorated 20 years of music on Saturday night at the
Paradise Jazz Series with a commissioned suite in seven movements. Since its
inception in 2004, the collective has featured renowned jazz musicians,
including Joshua Redman, Sean Jones, Rene Rosnes, and Bobby Hutcherson. The
collective has showcased music from the great American songbook, pop songs, and
original works by various members. For the Paradise Jazz Series presentation,
the group performed a suite in which vibist Warren Wolfe, saxophonists David
Sanchez and Chris Potter, pianist Edward Simon, trumpeter Mike Rodriguez,
bassist Matt Brewer, and drummer Kendrick Scott contributed individual
movements. The suite could have felt disjointed with so many hands in the pot,
with one or two movements overshadowing the others. However, that wasn’t the
case here. All seven movements were equally captivating, featuring standout
solos by Wolfe and Potter. The 90-minute concert was my first time hearing
Potter live. I’m familiar with his studio recordings, but there’s nothing like
witnessing the gunslinger perform live with similarly skilled musicians. Potter
embodies a massive tone on the tenor saxophone, drawing you in just a few
choruses into one of his gorgeous solos. On Saturday night, he was the crowd
favorite. This was the first live concert I attended, where every moment felt
like it could make the highlight reel. This performance was undeniably better
than the last time the group performed at the Paradise Jazz Series, where they
played music by Michael Jackson. That was my least favorite jazz concert of all
time. The reason being, there’s nothing sadder than a group of jazz musicians playing pop
music—that’s more than my jazz purist heart can bear. This time, the collective
was masterful in presenting the seven-movement suite, making it a fitting way
to celebrate 20 years of swinging at the highest level.
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