TJS JAZZ BENEFIT IS ONE UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT

Not even the most optimistic jazz fans expected the Tucson Jazz Society’s Celebrity Jazz Benefit to be THIS good. Any concert featuring Rick Braun, Brian Bromberg, Judy Roberts, Greg Fishman and Brice Winston would have to be excellent.

But this outrageous evening began even before the music started, when the show was declared Sold Out with approximately 700 tickets paid for. Late arrivals to the tent-like Pavilion at the Starr Pass Resort had to be turned away. The all-volunteer TJS staff, which had outdone itself in producing the concert, was scrambling now to set up more chairs for what would be the society’s finest hour since that first New Year’s Eve celebrity blow-out welcoming in 2007.

People kept popping out of their seats like hundreds of Jack-in-the-Boxes, awarding the musicians with one standing ovation after another. That includes the city’s own musicians and the student musicians, as well the nationally ranked players (who were contributing their time and talents for this benefit concert to help put the 32-year-old organization back on sound financial footing).

Leading this historic performance were bassist Brian Bromberg and trumpeter Rick Braun. As advertised, Bromberg had the highest notes-per-minute rating, smiling demonically while blazing through one high speed bass solo after another. His instrument of choice was an electric bass, thinner and skinnier than the usual acoustic version, which he humorously called “the green monster.”

Braun played shimmering straight ahead jazz solos, golden notes that flew through the air with the greatest of ease, often propelled by the musician’s own twisting body language and personal need to swing. In this lyrical mode his playing was strong, clear, straight and direct.

A distinct and inspiring highlight was Braun’s touching vocal delivery on “My Funny Valentine,” followed by a haunting trumpet solo given an extra tweak of heartbreak using a muted after-midnight tone.

Ranked as co-headliners were pianist Judy Roberts and tenor man Greg Fishman. Roberts brought the most energy, connecting instantly with both the audience and the musicians. Turning her keyboard into a percussive instrument, she was a woman on a mission to be the driving force that inspired Fishman and Brice Winston, also on tenor sax.

Winston is a Tucson native with an international jazz reputation, as well. He joined Roberts, Fishman, bassist Scott Black and drummer Pete Swan. Winston’s solo work was a volatile combination of elaborate sax technique and emotional jazz intensity. Fishman provided the counterpoint, improvising solos that felt lighter and more introspective. The kind of thoughtful solos that leave you still thinking after he’s finished playing.

And that was just the first half!

After a brief intermission the Celebrity Jazz Benefit became a big jam that kept getting bigger. Stepping up his duties as the show’s director and adding the role of MC, Pete Swan begin stirring in an inspiring mix of high profile players, Tucson’s own jazz giants and student members of the Ellington Big Band at the Tucson Jazz Institute. These exceptional students already made it known in the first half that they would be taken seriously. Their punched up performance in an up-tempo arrangement of “Love For Sale” would impress the most cynical.

Now student players Alex Weiss and Teddy Raven, both playing tenor sax, were invited out front to join a lineup of guest artists and local players that would include Braun, Bromberg, Rob Boone, trombone, Arthur Migilazza and Arco Sandoval sharing piano time, Jonathan Townsend, guitar, David Bromberg and Roscoe Freund, drums.

The sentimental favorite, bringing elegance from an earlier jazz era, was sweet trumpeter and vocalist Cass Preston. With his fashion plate good looks and easy manner, Preston was the definitive statement of Classic Cool.

Brian Bromberg predicted a bright jazz future for Tucson by noting the quality of the students’ solos in this free-for-all jam session setting. Everyone in the audience could see the faces of approval from the veteran players. The respect and admiration between the local and national players onstage was equally evident.

Overheard as the invigorated crowd slowly filtered away from the bandstand and out into the night, “That was so much fun, I want to do this again tomorrow night!”