@ Axum this Friday
Compared to pop and even classical music, jazz is a difficult product to sell. This often results in jazz festivals whereby, according to the menu, you could listen to jazz. But in reality, you will hear more Pop related music.
The musicians connected to “Jazz meets Classic” and the management of Axum Art Cafe decided to make a change. They did their third concert last Friday.
In the two previous concerts, the trio consisted of Jerrel Seymonson on bass, vocalist La Vaune Henry and Russian violin player Merehznikov Constantin. The violin player moved back to Russia and for replacement, the French trumpet player Allain de la Maestra was added to complete the trio. The repertoire consisted of jazz standards such as the heavenly Stolen Moments written by Oliver Nelson and played by Jerrel Seymonson and Alain de la Maestra, God Bless the Child, as well as the Classic Cello Suite by Bach.
And then somewhere at the end of the evening, the trio interpreted My Favourite Things. This was one of the highlights of the evening. Vocalist Le Vaune Henry has a beautiful dark voice, which seems perfect for jazz standards, but also fits very well in the classical pieces.
My favourite things, however, was classically presented in an opera-like atmosphere and the crowd was endlessly applauding and asking for an encore.
Jazz doesn’t have to be major, upscale and elitist. The cosy, comfortable and intimate atmosphere at Axum Art Cafe made clear that jazz does well, without too many pretensions, and that visitors really got jazz and classical music served, just as it was promised on the menu card. (Robin Austen)
