Fresh From Hosting Chick Corea, Beijing's Blue Note Showcases The Manhattan Transfer Sep 15-18
Blue Note Beijing will host a four-day residency of Grammy-winning New York jazz fusion veterans The Manhattan Transfer from September 15-18, the latest in a string of strong shows since the venue opened its branch in the capital late last month.
The Manhattan Transfer has been performing and recording since 1969, through the group has gone through a few incarnations since then. Founding member Tim Hauser was the only member to appear in both the original late 60s lineup and the second 1973 rendition, after striking out on his own to form a new group that focused more on jazz and swing (according to this bio). Hauser has since passed away, but current members Alan Paul and Janis Siegel have been singing with the group since that second 1973 manifestation was formed.
Critics frequently praise the group's live set, with one reviewer writing: "When it comes to vocal power, The Manhattan Transfer set the bar. Soprano, alto, tenor, and bass come together to create a smooth, thick and rich concoction that’s both refreshing and riveting."
The acclaimed vocal group's upcoming Beijing performances are sure to be yet another early success for Blue Note (a group of jazz clubs which started in New York before opening locations in Nagoya, Japan; Milan, Italy; Waikiki, Hawaii, among other jazz hot spots). The club's Beijing opening started off on a high note on August 18 with a performance by heralded saxophonist Kenny Garrett. From there, the jazz club kept the momentum going with three night engagement starring none other than rising songbird Kandace Springs (Sep 3-5) and a four-night stay with veteran bassist Stanley Clarke (Sep 6-9).
We stopped by Blue Note on September 7 to see Clarke and his band lay down some seriously jazzy rhythms. The veteran musician played a gorgeous standup bass throughout much of the gig, playfully smacking and flicking its strings with abandon, before switching to an electric bass partway through. His band was also top-notch, including two meticulous keyboardists and an absolutely gangbuster drummer, who pummeled the skins in a frenzy but also plenty of subtler touches. One dangly cymbal, which looked more like a slinky or a metallic snake than part of a traditional drum kit, hissed like a reptile whenever he hit it, much to the audience's delight. Despite it being a Wednesday night, the venue was quite full, the vast majority of attendees being smartly dressed Chinese who watched attentively and enthusiastically, rarely playing on their phones and never resorting to unruly chatter (making for a far more enjoyable experience than the one had by one of our writers at a recent classical recital). There was even a young boy seated at one of the tables near the front, who he seemed as captive as the rest of the audience.
Blue Note's most hyped event, however, was the September 13 Chick Corea gig. Thankfully, the legendary, Massachusetts-born jazz pianist didn't disappoint. During a VIP engagement on the afternoon of September 13 (before the evening public performance), Corea greeted a room full of reporters and music industry insiders, telling them how excited he was to help usher in Blue Note's Beijing era. Before the veteran musician spoke, a Chinese pianist by the name of Abu played, and the two stood onstage together and talked about the younger prodigy had an opportunity to play piano with Corea onstage several years back, when he was still a boy. Abu played classy yet powerful notes, in thrillingly dynamic arrangements that went from whisper soft to loud clatters of joy. Later Abu told the crowd that he has been staying in New York for several years, to which Corea playfully retorted: "Yeah, I can hear your New York accent very clearly already."
When Corea himself sat down at the keys, he played a rendition of a classic by beloved pianist Thelonious Monk, striking each note in a soothingly subtle fashion. Later that night he also wowed a sold crowd that was awestruck his seasoned playing.
During the afternoon VIP engagement, he told attendees: "When I was cutting my teeth in New York in the 60s, seeing [Miles] Davis and [John] Coltrane play, Asia seemed so far away. Not now," he said, clearly impressed by the new Beijing venue.
He went on to give Beijing jazz enthusiasts a bit of advice: "Jazz became what it was in the clubs. That's the basis of it, more than Carnegie Hall or any other fancy hall. The clubs are where it can live because they're experimental. So my cheap advice is make a vibe here, where the local musicians and people interested in jazz can come hang, not like at a concert hall where they come, listen, and leave."
Judging by the roster of acts, and the reaction from the crowds, Beijing's jazz scene has already taken Corea's advice to heart.
Blue Note Beijing
Tue-Sun (hours vary), 23 Qianmen East Street (6527 0288)
东城区前门23号
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Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
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Photos: Blue Note, Kyle Mullin
