Critical Listening ( MC328 ) Assignment 4

Concert Review

Wong Woei Jwo

11411701
BAJCMP Y3
James Pearson Trio: Giants of Jazz.

Date :17th Oct 2018,

Venue :National Concert Hall, Dublin.

Personnel

James Pearson - Piano

Jeremy Brown - Bass
Matt Skelton - Drums
Roderick Dunk - Conductor
RTÉ Concert Orchestra

Repertoire

I Love a Piano! (Entr'acte) - Irving Berlin

Maple Leaf Rag - Scott Joplin
Marigold - Billy Mayer
King Porter Stomp - Jelly Roll Morton
Fats Waller Medley
George Gershwin Medley- A Garland of Gershwin
Misty - Erroll Garner
Straight, No Chaser - Thelonius Monk
Honkey Tonk Train Blues - Meade Lux Lewis

Caravan - Duke Ellington

Time Remembered - Bill Evans
Granadas - Bill Evans
Round Midnight - Thelonius Monk
Lullaby of Birdland - George Shearing
Take Five - Dave Brubeck
Little Waltz - James Pearson
March Past - Oscar Peterson
My Foolish Heart - Peterson/Riddle sessions
Someday My Prince Will Come - Peterson/Riddle sessions
Spain - Chick Corea

Jazz had came a long way since the very first day of it’s emergence, from blues and ragtime, to
swing, free jazz, modal, bebop, odd time signatures, to styles such as smooth jazz, latin jazz and
jazz fusion. In this concert titled “Giants of Jazz”, James Pearson Trio and the RTÉ Concert
Orchestra takes us through the history and development of jazz piano.

James Pearson, the leader of the trio is one of the most well known jazz musician around United
Kingdom. James studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Peter Bithel, and
was acknowledged as one of the most versatile and sought after pianist in the U.K. James had
worked with a number of big names in the music scene, which includes Wynton Marsalis, Elvin
Jones, Paul McCartney, and many other musicians. James is now the resident pianist at the world
famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, and is one of the founding members of the Ronnie
Scott’s All Stars.

James has broadcast on all the major radio and television networks. Classic F.M broadcasted his
concert of Rachmaninoff’s 2nd piano concerto, and BBC Radio 2 broadcasted his performance
of the Gershwin Piano Concerto and Rhapsody in Blue. In 2011, James with his trio played a
four night sold out run in Birdland Jazz Club in New-York. James had also recorded in more than
50 albums.

“Giants of Jazz” is a breath taking tribute to 100 years of jazz piano development. The repertoire
was designed meticulously, as it includes tunes from most of the pianists who played a
significant role in the development of jazz piano. Before the team plays a tune, Roderick and
James would take turns to introduce the composer’s backstory and significance in the
development of jazz piano.

One of the aspect worth mentioning was that all of the arrangements are done by Roderick and
James, which beautifully incorporated both the orchestra and the trio. Roderick and James’s
capability as an arranger was beautifully shown on Irving Berlin’s ‘I Love the Piano’, the
opening tune for the night. As the tune hits it’s climax at the end of the piano solo, every single
instrument drops out of sudden, leaving just the harp playing the melody of the chorus, as the
instruments joins back in one by one. Another interesting instrumentation was the vibraphone,
where it was included in a few tunes, and playing trades with the piano.

Another highlight of the night would be James’s virtuosity as an improviser. Depending on the
composer, James would always take solos while imitating the composer’s style, if the composer
had one. The whole idea of improvising by imitating a composer’s style brings the listener a
more in-depth understanding on the composer’s musical style and how it contributed to the
development of jazz piano playing.

Although the concert was beautifully presented, there are some aspects that needs to be improved
on. While the concert was a tribute to jazz pianists, the piano’s volume was often shadowed by
the orchestra’s. Another aspect that was disturbing was that very often during a solo, when the
strings section are not involved, some of the strings player would portray themselves in a bored
and not interested way, which was not very pleasant to be seen especially when they are seated at
the front row.

Nonetheless, “Giants of Jazz” was a remarkable concert, one thats definitely worth to watch.
Not only does it introduces the audience to the significant figures in the development of jazz
piano, it also embraces the importances of studying and learning the roots, be it jazz or culture or
tradition.