Blue Note 7

Define Jazz.

By definition it’s strong yet flexible in sound and composed of rhythmic understructure. There are basic tunes, chord patterns and a highly sophisticated harmonic idiom.

With Blue Note 7s’ performance at Columbia Colleges’ Music Center Concert Hall came all this and more. This all star band features septet comprising pianist and musical director Bill Charlap, trumpeter Nicholas Payton, tenor saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, alto saxophonist/flutist Steve Wilson, guitarist Peter Bernstein, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Lewis Nash. They came out to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Blue Note Legacy. And with these jazz musicians came a following unlike any I’ve seen. There were old folks, youngsters and most importantly college students.

As the band opened up, the audience like your typical spectator seemed anxious enough. From the quiet throughout the crowd the band knew what needed to be done. They passionately let sound loose and while their harmonies came together the audience indulged itself into the jazzy relief. As their sound increased we could hear the fierceness of what Blue Note 7 had to offer us for the night. What to be expected was no longer unknown and from the approvals shouts, whistling and oh yeahs the audience knew without a doubt that this concert hall was the place to be.

Announcing their next song, Blue Note 7’s sound shifted suddenly. It came off lighter as they gave tribute to the late Jackie Mclean, playing, “A Ballad for doll,” a song he wrote for his wife Dollie. You could feel the romance within this song. It spoke even with the lack of words. Their sheet music spat variation and with their next piece “Mosaic,” came the more in depth jazz feel. Solos and ensemble improvisations were spot on. The musicians were covert in their approach at first then broke out into intense instrumental scores that intermingled with the crowd. Each band member stood out. The trumpeter, bassist and drummer really did it of me here. They were intense and bold taking full advantage of their solo pieces. Rehearsed or improvised they pleased.

The crowd roared for more as the band thanked everyone then exited stage left. Cheering continued and to our surprise the band came back out all too eager. They played Party time, and shook the concert hall.

Blue Note 7 will be traveling the world throughout 2009 during their 70th Anniversary Tour