Music Reviews

Jul 17, 2007 - An editorial, not a review, on jazz artist Herbie Hancock and other Artown events

By Jack Neal

At midpoint in Reno’s glittering twelfth Reno-is-Artown Festival, a couple of editorial comments seem more appropriate than a review. This is prompted by jazz icon Herbie Hancock’s appearance Sunday (7/15/07) at the Grand Theater at Reno’s Grand Sierra Resort.

My comment about Mr. Hancock in a moment.

Artown executive director Beth Macmillan and her staff have done a terrific job putting together a month of diverse events (see www.renoisartown.com), many of which are free and obviously affordable, and many of which are not free, but bring considerable luster to the notion that Reno on the River in Northern Nevada has moved strongly in the direction of being a place for people who enjoy the finer things in life.

Natasha Bourlin works with the media and she does her job efficiently and with great charm. Ditto for everyone associated with Artown. My hat is off to each of them for getting so much done that’s just so very right. In order to make stellar Artown events more accessible to working people, however, it’s my suggestion that many performances – especially Sunday performances and week night performances – be scheduled for 7 p.m. rather that 8 p.m.

Which brings me back to Herbie Hancock, whose concert was scheduled for 8 p.m., but actually started when he and his two collaborative musicians walked on stage at 8:20. Their entrance was followed by a warm-up chat from Hancock. The first number started at 8:25, followed by more talk, then a second number was started at 8:40. Programs need to begin on time. The presumption that concertgoers who arrive on time never do so without making sacrifices is a presumption that doesn’t hold water. To delay a program’s start for latecomers, unless under very special circumstances involving emergencies preventing attendees from arriving on time, is as rude as people who arrive at programs late and demand to be seated.

It’s a new world in which many performers keep audiences waiting. Some performers, Herbie Hancock being one, need reminding that those they keep waiting are their employers. Audiences should not be kept waiting. It’s rude, unprofessional and bad business.

Beyond that, Herbie Hancock plays splendid piano. Terri Lynne Carrington is a wonderful percussionist. Bassist Nathan East is sensational. That’s why it’s so puzzling that the opening number was so over amplified and uninspired. Excessive sound levels are most often a cover for lack of musical vitality. Musical dullness – the opening number - is not the fault of amplification. This is not as review. Reviewing one number than leaving, which is what I did, is no basis for criticism. Pass this off to pique. But maybe, just maybe, next time Herbie Hancock and his splendid friends might show up on time, turn down the volume, cut some of the chit chat, and stand up and play.

Monday’s concert (7/9/07) at the Hawkins Amphitheater featuring the Jimmy Dorsey Band presents a slightly different point of concern. Trombonist Bill Tole, who lead the band, and big band singer Nancy Knorr, who sang, were enjoyable. The Jimmy Dorsey arrangements were memorable. The band – mostly locals – was good but not the fabulous group they could have been had they really been the Jimmy Dorsey Band or at least a reasonable facsimile, which might come from traveling together and playing together on a regular basis. Fine ensembles are made on the road, not in heaven, nor from the local musician’s union no matter how classy its musicians might be.

No one expected the real Jimmy Dorsey Band to be on hand. We are talking about 70 years ago. But I had expected something closer to the real thing. The saving grace? The concert was free; part of Artown’s American Songbook Series underwritten by the Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation, Washoe County and Lennar Homes.

Dance band fans loved the Jimmy Dorsey arrangements. Jazz fans loved Herbie Hancock. Fans are like that. They put up with a lot.