Reviews
Cooler jazz has rewards: Keller series begins in fine form
Thursday, June 16, 2005By Jennifer Lund
The Grand Rapids Press
Last summer, nearly every concert in the Keller Cooler Music Series got rained out when held outdoors at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Wednesday night, series coordinator Rich Ridenour said a bit smugly he was pleased to see it raining.
"It makes me feel that we made the right decision to stay indoors," he said of the series' move to Forest Hills Fine Arts Center.
Atmosphere in the hall was anything but chilly as the summer music program opened featuring jazz with Max Colley III and Friends, plus the Strike percussion ensemble.
The two-hour concert, sponsored by the Grand Rapids Musicians' League, began with its Spotlight on Youth artist Ian Tobasco performing Mendelssohn's Andante and Rondo Capriccioso, op.14.
A sophomore at Forest Hills Northern High School and student of Grand Valley State University's Aviram Reichart, Tobasco gave a bold and polished performance of a work that the romance-era composer wrote as a teenager. The young concert soloist then returned as a jazz pianist for Max Colley III and Friends in a composition off Wynton Marsalis' "Magic Hour" album. Also in the selection were bassist P.J. Roberts, drummer Tim Froncek and Colley III on trumpet, all working some improvisational magic.
Playing musical chairs, Eric Thorne, whom Colley described as someone who "lives exactly 600 steps from my house," traded with Tobasco on piano while Froncek moved to vibes, Colley to drums and Max Colley Jr. appeared on tenor sax.
Colley Jr., Northview High School's longtime jazz instructor and father of Colley III, artfully handed off bits of melody to his son and fellow band members in a rendition of Gershwin's "Summertime." After that mellifluous interlude, Thorne stomped his feet in time at the piano as Froncek jammed on the vibes in a piece titled "Bernie's Tune."
Especially with Froncek, who gave Colley III his first gig, humor was a repeating element as he bantered with Roberts during "Trickatism" and pointed to the audience during a silent beat.
Great audience response
The 325-some audience members ate it up and clapped loudly after each player had a chance to let loose. Dizzie Gillespie's "Blue in Boogie" gave Colley III a chance to wail on some high notes and Froncek another opportunity to elicit a few chuckles with some fancy drumstick tapping.
The energy of the first half continued after intermission when the percussion ensemble Strike, directed by Don Raaymakers, hit the stage. The ensemble of about 45 high school and college musicians performed Latin-flavored music on marimbas, steel drums and other instruments, featuring anywhere from three to 20 performers at a time.
With the drums reflecting onto the walls like beams of sunlight and children in the balcony performing the wave, listeners could well imagine themselves on a tropical beach somewhere in Latin America.
Pure enjoyment registered on the faces of the students as they performed a set of numbers with titles such as "La Negre," "Dill Pickles," "Coffee Street" and "Teakbois."
An original composition by the group titled "Roommates" had the musicians slapping their hands and bodies, throwing stones in tin buckets, tapping cups together, stomping brooms and hitting pots, pans, trash cans and tables. With this piece, the concert ended on a dazzling high note as the young artists' youthful energy foiled the outside gloominess with a final big bang.
Listeners were left in awe and had nothing to do but to fill the brief silence that followed with an immediate standing ovation.
One audience member commented that playing percussion "is a great way to let off some steam."
Whether listening or playing, it's also a great way to spend a cold and rainy spring evening.
