Sunday at North Sea Jazz
I started out with Rotterdam-based producer Glimlip and Amsterdam-based guitarist Yasper and their group of Louk Cox on sax and flute, Noe Mina on trumpet, Delaney Nelom on keys, Freek Mulder on bass, and Junya on drums. Their group sound is an intoxicating lo-fi mix of jazz, soul, and electronica, heavily groove-oriented with intelligent themes and arrangements. They’ve decided to squeeze in the Boz Scaggs classic “What You Won’t Do For Love” and the Roy Ayers staple “Everybody Loves The Sunshine”. Glimlip and Louk just released a new single with Matt Wilde called “Be Grateful”. A pretty impressive set with both sax/flute and trumpet making a lasting impression.
Terence Blanchard couldn’t make the festival so Christian McBride, who was already on his way to Oslo, got called back to Rotterdam to play a 60-minute set with Joshua Redman. He even apologized for wearing “flight clothes”. They’ve known each other for decades and Joshua had the nicest things to say about Christian, like that there is no other person in the world he’s learned more from. They both did a wonderful set of originals and standards, like the Oscar Pettiford composition “Tricotism”. It was really amazing to see their exchanging ideas and giving each other space to solo and shine.
Terri Lyne Carrington‘s New Standards, her project of playing music by women composers, was next. Trumpeter Milena Casado was back in her group, as well as Christie Dashiell on vocals and dancer Christiana Hunte. Christiana’s dances were incorporated as playing a solo part like all other instrumentalists. Interesting to watch. Terri had some fascinating solo spots, too. And Christie sang heartfelt and thoughtful versions of Abbey Lincoln’s “Throw It Away” and Carla Bley’s “Lawns”. Good to see a Rhodes in play, too.
Artist in Residence, Meshell Ndegeocello, performed music from her debut album “Plantation Lullabies”, which came out in 1993. What a thrill it was to hear all those landmark pieces again. I remember that we’ve been listening to this record for months on end back in the day. All of the material was somehow stripped down, in mostly slower tempos than the originals, making them all sound much fresher, vulnerable, and simply more contemporary than ever. “I’m Diggin’ You – Like An Old Soul Record” and “Outside Your Door” were embraced by the audience with open arms. Pieces like “If That’s Your Boyfriend (He Wasn’t Last Night”) and “Shoot’n Up And Gett’n High” sounded especially fascinating in those more moderate, almost unassuming versions. Brilliant stuff. I was especially impressed by the soulful, still grossly resonating “Call Me”. Both singer Justin Hicks and drummer/percussionist Abe Rounds (he should sing more I think) added oomph and sexiness to the proceedings. Also, “Step Into The Projects” was another awe-inspiring moment. Saxophonist Josh Johnson was given some solo space and Meshell also included “Love”, a track from her upcoming album “No More Water: The Gospel Of James Baldwin”. She will be back in Europe in November. Watch for her tour dates right here when we review her new album. Anyway, it was a great coup of hiring her as artist in residence this year. Her performance on Friday night was really really special.
NN North Sea Jazz Festival 2025 will run July 11-13th and a deal with the city of Rotterdam was just secured until 2031. See you next year!
