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The Review - CLASSICAL & JAZZ
Published: 30 July 2009

Stateside jazzmen relocate eastward

REVIEW: JAZZ LINCOLN ORCHESTRA
Barbican

ANY concert given by the 15-piece Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra led by trumpeter Wynton Marsalis always generates high expectations.
It has built a huge reputation for top quality jazz since its formation more than 20 years ago, both through new Marsalis compositions and the virtuosity of its members.
But the high expectations were not fully realised at its concert at the Barbican on Friday.
Much of the first half disappointed even though the music comprised new Marsalis material. The essential jazz pulse was often missing, leaving soloists to demonstrate their virtuosity without sufficient swing under-pinnings.
Amends were made in the second half with the arrival of two flamenco musicians, composer pianist Chano Dominguez and percussionist El Pirano.
Quickly, the complex flamenco rhythms put some real energy and excitement into the orchestra’s playing and provided a much better context for soloists to display their techniques.
Next year, the orchestra and Marsalis will be back to take up its first “residency” at the Barbican, returning again for the 2012 Olympics.
Its musicians will play at large and small-scale concerts, join jam sessions at The Vortex in Dalston, and perform at the Hackney Empire.
Crucially, too, the orchestra’s musicians will get involved in educational and outreach work with schools in east London.
The musicians will help to launch a new East London Creative Jazz Orchestra, mostly made up of 12 to 18-year-olds, heavily funded by the Arts Council.
Great for east London, that’s for sure. But who’s going to take the initiative and tap the Arts Council for a North London Jazz Orchestra?

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