Fine & Performing Arts

A writer for Spinner reviews David Sanborn’s recent performance at the Montreal Jazz Festival, giving a glimpse of what to expect when the legendary saxophonist (who celebrates his 65th birthday July 30) performs July 31 in North Central College’s Wentz Concert Hall:

David Sanborn
Ever since I interviewed David Sanborn last January, I’ve been itching to see his current tour with organist Joey DeFrancesco and drummer Gene Lake. Sanborn’s last few albums have been soulful affairs that draw inspiration from Ray Charles and the Genius’ horn players David “Fathead” Newman and Hank Crawford. These albums also reveal Sanborn’s roots in St. Louis, growing up playing jazz and R&B in dives around the city.

While the stately Theatre Maisonneuve will never pass for a juke joint, the trio did their thing effectively enough to conjure one out of thin air. Playing out of the side as if his horn was dangling a cigarette, Sanborn was honking and skronking with the best of them as he worked his way through tunes like ‘Coming Home Baby,’ ‘Brother Ray’ and ‘The Peeper.’

Lake was obviously the least known of the three and didn’t play on the album, yet Sanborn was generous enough to let the young drummer (whose father is Oliver Lake of the World Saxophone Quartet) take a full on solo early in the set.

Not surprising, Joey D got plenty of solo time during the set and even did a passable job at singing the R&B classic ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ as the crowd clapped along in unison. His solos throughout, on both B3 and electric piano, had an earthiness to them that is so crucial for this kind of music. All in all, a great set. Let’s hope that these guys continue to work together on and off in the future.

As part of North Central College’s 2010-2011 Fine & Performing Arts Season, violinist Rachel Barton Pine performs classical works April 30 in Wentz Concert Hall a day after performing with her thrash metal group, Earthen Grave, in Pfeiffer Hall. The Chicago Sun-Times reviews Pine’s performance upon receiving a Great Performer of Illinois Award:

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/music/2491256,CST-FTR-grant13.article

Pine’s audacious acceptance show

REVIEW | A versatile Illinois honoree

July 13, 2010
BY BRYANT MANNING

Chicago-based classical violinist Rachel Barton Pine cites hearing rocker Axl Rose as a pivotal moment in her early musical development, making her one of those rare fiddlers who relishes both Mendelssohn and Motorhead. In a versatile career that stretches back to her childhood, Pine has fully embraced and experimented with these acoustic and electric sound worlds, and she’s a more interesting musician because of it.

There wasn’t a better chance to hear this celebrated violinist straddle classical and rock than in a headbanger’s potpourri Sunday at Millennium Park, as part of the Great Performers of Illinois Festival. Pine, 35, played everything from Handel to Tchaikovsky to various mosh pit anthems; this was the first time in one concert she would be playing her unaltered 18th century violin, her 1742 modernized Guarneri instrument and her custom-made Flying V, extended-range electric violin.

Such sonic audacity came from a good place, since Pine was accepting just the third ever Great Performer of Illinois Award, given previously to blues legend Buddy Guy and Styx singer Dennis DeYoung. For three hours, Pine played at a very high level even when endless rain drew down what would have otherwise been some amazing attendance numbers.

Fun and viscerally charged as her closing “doom-thrash” set was, it was her work with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and conductor Karen Lynne Deal that really shook the pavilion.

In Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Pine drew out a massive, gleaming sound and burned through the music’s difficulties without a flinch. Her alluring purple gown seemed to reflect every measure of this glamorous Romantic era staple. (She wore brown for her Baroque set, black for her metal songs.) Wisely, Pine dedicated the performance to virtuoso Maud Powell (1867-1920) from Downstate Peru, who gave the U.S. premiere of this work in 1889.

Here was also the chance to show off her philanthropy, and Pine brought out three young grant recipients from her own foundation: Gallia Kastner, Ade Williams and Alicia Mose. Together the four performed a muscular version of Vivaldi’s “L’Estro Armonico”: Concerto for Four Violins in B Minor.

The minor-key Vivaldi was a fine primer to the gloomy set featuring Pine’s band Earthen Grave, and ardent fans pushed toward the front of the Pritzker Pavilion stage, flashing their devil’s horns. Under the guiding voice of Mark Weiner, Pine demonstrated how naturally her souped-up violin can integrate with the grinding and assaulting screams of the guitars.

Whatever this music’s limitations — isn’t it cliche for a death-metal band to quote Chopin’s funeral march? — it certainly provides an intriguing canvas of raw expressive depth.

The first third of Pine’s showcase featured Baroque sonatas by Corelli, Handel and Veracini, with harpsichordist David Schrader and cellist John Mark Rozendaal making up the superb period instrument ensemble Trio Settecento.

Bryant Manning is a locally based free-lance writer.

The Pointer Sisters closed out North Central College’s 2009-2010 Fine and Performing Arts season with a great season. Season subscribers now have a chance to get first pick at the best seats for shows coming up in 2010-2011. Series ticket packages (jazz, classical, family, contemporary) also are on sale now. Call the box office at 630-637-7469 or visit www.northcentralcollege.edu/showtix today!

Look for tickets for individual shows to go on sale in early June, when the full 2010-2011 season is officially announced.