Monterey Jazz All-Stars Leave Audience Wanting More

Last Friday's performance by the Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars was one of the most impressive and infectious musical shows that TITAS has ever presented. With musicians spanning nearly 50 years in age, these jazz masters were a fantastic representation of the wealth of talent and glorious musicianship that has participated in the Monterey Jazz Festival. Terence Blanchard's performance of a pair of cuts from his A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina) was particularly jaw-dropping.

Thor Christensen from The Dallas Morning News was similarly impressed:

Sax ace James Moody first played the Monterey Jazz Festival 47 years ago – back when, as he put it Friday night, "none of these gentlemen were even born."

He wasn't joking. The male players in the festival's 50th Anniversary Tour ranged from 27-year-old drummer Kendrick Scott to 45-year-old trumpeter Terence Blanchard. And the band's token female, singer Nnenna Freelon, is still almost 30 years younger than the 82-year-old Mr. Moody.

But for a group with such far-flung experience levels, it meshed seamlessly in its TITAS concert at McFarlin Auditorium. This wasn't one of those all-star bands that seem like a disjointed parade of egos.

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Ted Gioia of Jazz.com had a great review of the show on jazz.com as well:

Not every musician is game for such a long and winding road-trip. But I am especially impressed that James Moody, now 82 years old, signed on for the tour. Moody first played the Monterey Jazz Festival some 47 years ago – which is before any of his fellow all-stars were born. Of course, Moody doesn’t look his age, certainly doesn't act it, and his playing shows no signs of excess mileage. Perhaps he was right in crediting his younger bandmates – who also include trumpeter Terence Blanchard, pianist Benny Green and bassist Derrick Hodge – for keeping him feeling robust.

For the rest of the review, click here.