The Tbilisi Jazz Festival is the most significant and the most luxurious in the Caucasus. This year it was held on May 22 – 24, 2024, in the center of Tbilisi, on the stage of the Rustaveli Academic Theater, in a historical and beautiful hall.
In general, as every year, the Tbilisi Jazz Festival emphasizes and stands out with the fireworks of jazz legends. This year was no exception. Bill Frisell – Thomas Morgan, Rudy Royston Trio, Joey Calderazzo – John Patitucci – Dave Weckle Trio and Stacey Kent – Jim Tomlinson – Art Hirahara Trio.
In addition, the Czech Embassy in Georgia presented the Herak & Bulatkin Jazz Quartet from the Czech Republic as the opening act of the festival.
We will have 3 publications about each of them separately from Tbilisi Jazz Festival 2024. This time, let’s start with the miracles of the first day։
What can you say about this trio? Their surnames alone make the hearts of all jazz fans beat faster: Joey Calderazzo, John Patitucci and Dave Weckl are going on tour in Europe and I meet with they at Tblisi Jazz Festival 2024.
Three of the most important contemporary musicians of all time, who can otherwise only be seen in sold-out concert halls …
Clearly, no artist can be evaluated on the strength of the company he keeps. However, his commercial appeal may well depend on just such a factor. They are not performing with him in this engagement. However, he has formidable assistance in John Patitucci on bass and Dave Weckl on drums, both well-known through their association with Chick Corea.
In the ballad “My One and Only Love,” the graceful melody was distorted rather than embellished. His aggressiveness was better suited to a McCoy Tyner piece that captured the flavor of the composer’s own style.
A visit to Tbilisi’s is more than justified if only for the chance to hear bassist Patitucci. Playing only upright bass, he put his incredible technique and finesse to magical use on solo after solo. Weckl, too, cut loose with the skill that has established him as the role model for young drummers.
One more demonstrates bassist Patitucci’s skills both as a composer and artist, in allowing others to contribute in both ways. But Patitucci also demonstrates a rare modesty which blends well with his musical role as a strong but subtle support, rather than an overbearing titular lead.
From the soulful keys intro on Tribute, we are presented with an overall picture of just how sophisticated these musicians are. Each one bringing their years of musical talents to the table, the track is dynamic and heartfelt. The rhythm section of Weckl and Patitucci shines on Rhythm-a-ning having a musical showdown between drums and bass. Evidence that the rhythm section is the heart and soul of any ensemble. The tune is tight, groovy and entertaining.
The Chicken is a bonus track on the concert and showcases why Dave Weckl is a legend in the drumming world, his playing (as usual) is flawless, seamless, and is the bar at which most (if not all!) of us drummers try to achieve.
Dave Weckl’s showcases his legendary chops and mastery of beat displacement on the funky Tower ’99, a slowed-down version of his Tower of Power tribute, Tower Of Inspiration, which appeared on his 1990 solo debut, Master Plan. And he pulls out all the stops on the heavy-duty fusion number Access Denied (also from Rhythm Of The Soul), which has him traversing the kit with the kind of precision fills that have earned him legions of fans in the drumming community.
Joey Calderazzo is one of the best and most appreciated pianists of today. He has achieved the rare feat of going through a unique development in his career: From child prodigy to booked-out session musician to the absolute elite of the jazz world.
Calderazzo began playing classical piano at the age of 8 and took his first jazz piano lessons at the age of 14. Not long after, he played at his first jam sessions and rapidly made a name for himself. At the end of the 80s, saxophone superstar Michael Brecker discovered the young pianist and brought him into his band. Brecker also produced Calderazzo’s first album, which was released on Blue Note Records in 1990.
From then on, a remarkable career took its course, in which the virtuoso pianist played his way into the highest spheres of the jazz world. He has worked with Pat Metheny, Kurt Elling, John Pattitucci, Jack DeJohnette, Peter Erskine, Jerry Bergonzi, Adam Nussbaum; the list goes on and on. Since 1998 he has also been a permanent member of the quartet of saxophone visionary Branford Marsalis, with whom he has received several Grammy nominations.
John Patitucci is already one of the greatest bassists in jazz history. Born in New York, the electric and double bass player studied on the other side of the American continent and attracted attention very early on. He has been a fixture on the scene since the 1980s and has since played with the biggest names in the jazz world: He was a member of Chick Corea’s bands for years, played with Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Roy Haynes, Branford Marsalis, Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, Horacio Hernandez, Gary Burton, Vinnie Colaiuta, Adam Rogers and countless more.
In recent years, one of his most important stations has been the quartet around the recently deceased Wayne Shorter, together with Danilo Perez and Brian Blade, which is now one of the most important bands in jazz history. He has been honored countless times by various institutions and magazines as best bassist, has won three Grammy awards and has been nominated more than 15 times.
Dave Weckl is an American jazz and fusion drummer who is one of the most influential and best in his field. He studied at the infamous Berklee College of Music and was already a highly sought-after studio and tour musician in his early 20s, playing with acts such as Simon & Garfunkel, George Benson and Diana Ross.
The stage of the famous Tbilisi Jazz Festival hosted these three giants, who are living legends of Jazz, and the audience simply enjoyed their performance. After the concert, we were backstage, a parade of selfies, short conversations with the musicians, enjoyment, a celebration that is repeated every year in the capital RP of Georgia…
By Simon Sargsyan
