A Guide To the San Javier Jazz Festival by Tom Tansey
This article is sponsored by Spanish For Beginners
I love living in Spain, I really do but I do miss going to top quality gigs regularly. I have very catholic tastes and there just doesn’t seem to be the choice of high quality stuff around these parts. That, or I’m getting too old for this lark; possibly the latter. ‘Well moan no more’, says I, as I thumb through the line up of this year’s San Javier Jazz Festival held from June 29th until July 28th in the atmospheric outdoor auditorium of San Javier. ‘In our opinion, this is the finest jazz and blues line up anywhere in Europe in this year or in many other years’, such is the bold claim of the team behind this year’s event and it is very hard to disagree. Much more than a jazz festival, this is also a carnival of swing, funk, blues, soul and pop and I would defy you to not find something that meets your tastes. There is simply too much on to go into full detail, so here are the concerts that I believe to be the highlights... The festival kicks off on Friday 29th June with the biggest name in funk. Born in North Carolina 67 years ago, George Clinton is one of the most influential figures in black music. With more than twenty musicians on stage, Clinton’s concerts are ‘an explosion of rhythm, music and joy, and one of the most amazing shows that can be seen today on the planet’. This is the architect don’t forget, of one of the finest lines ever delivered in the annals of dance music, ‘Feet don't fail me now’, and I have this feeling that Clinton won’t fail us in this his first appearance at the Festival.
Popa Chubby, is a big man and a big name in the New York blues scene, and lists an amalgam of blues, rock, punk, hip-hop and R&B as his influences. He pours his heart and soul into his shows. He’s got a ton of presence and charisma and with his most recent recording Electric Chubbyland – Popa Chubby Plays Jimi Hendrix, we can expect an homage to the legendary guitarist, Jimi Hendrix. I’ll be there on Saturday 30th June.
Just impossible to categorize, and without the success of lesser talents, I bet you you’ve heard a number of Willy DeVille's hits without ever knowing of the man; ‘Spanish Stroll’ anyone? Magnetic and versatile, DeVille draws upon blues, latin, cajun music, rhythm and blues and other musical styles that come together and drive you to dance. I predict a night of musical romance on Friday, 13th July.
Put simply, the name Marsalis is the top name in jazz today and on Wednesday 18th July, Wynton Marsalis joins us. Brothers Branford, Delfeayo, and Jason combine with Wynton to form an unacceptable amount of talent in one family and with arguably the top big band around, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, this concert is one for pure jazz aficionados and, in my view will be the highlight of the roster. Wynton Marsalis is one of the best trumpet players in the history of jazz and his appearance here is an indicator of the ever-increasing importance of this festival in Europe's music calendar. George Benson and Al Jarreau are two giants of jazz music, who, having also conquered the pop world, need little introduction to most of us. I expect some of their jazz and pop classics together with material from their most recent collaboration, Givin' It Up, in which they joined forces, among others, with Paul McCartney, Herbie Hancock and Patti Austin. They grace the auditorium on Tuesday, 24th July.
A contemporary star selling millions of albums, Madeleine Peyroux brings to the festival the mood of today. Whilst only in her early 30’s, ironically her strengths lie in musical values of the past: simplicity and melody. Oft compared to Lady Day, Billie Holiday, Peyroux covers Holiday’s work along with that of Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Waller and other luminaries of the jazz world. Her most recent album, Half the Perfect World, features her own work together with covers of Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Joni Mitchell songs. Parky’s always banging on about her and indeed she was nominated for this year'’ BBC Radio 2 Jazz Artist of the Year. She appears on Wednesday 25th July. The festival finishes off on Saturday July 28th with one for the blues purists. Now well into his 70’s, Englishman John Mayall is a blues colossus, and reckoned to be the greatest European bluesman of all time. It’s hard to disagree with more than seventy albums to his name, and with such greats as Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Mick Fleetwood and former Rolling Stone, Mick Taylor all citing Mayall as their mentor. Accompanied by his legendary Bluesbreakers, John Mayall will offer the closing concert with one of only 4 gigs in Spain this year. Catch him while you can.
Trust me there is too much going on not to find something you like and I know La Sirena in El Paretón is taking a coach–load over to see George Benson on July 23rd, whilst the Mazarrón Country Club Social Group have opted to go to the climax of the festival with John Mayall. For more details of these and others trips to the festival, call 679 26 81 02. I’ll tell you something; the kids won’t be seeing much of me this month!
For programme details go to jazzsanjavier.com