The Barnstable Patriot

A guide to listening to jazz with eyes wide open

Written by Michael Gross

Nov 13, 2008 

Bart Weisman Trio and guests to prove “live” is best

Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2:30 p.m. Bart Weisman (drums) brings his trio of true professionals, including Fred Boyle on piano, and Laird Boles on upright bass, to the wonderfully intimate Gertrude Lawrence Stage at the historic Dennis Union Church on Route 6A in Dennis. Here he'll welcome vocal soloist Lisa Jason, and Mashpee High School's outstanding young sax player Russ Wilcox, for a concert of traditional American Jazz, and great "American Songbook" standards.

Soloist and back-up ensemble: it's an entirely dynamic piece of performance art "in the moment." But, if it's not experienced live as it's being created, it can never be completely appreciated again, even through a recording. The energy and emotional focus of the players provides critical context for the listener - not unlike how a great piece of artwork is meticulously framed and hung in a gallery, or a piece of sculpture is carefully placed in selected surroundings by the artist so as to give the viewer the very best opportunity to emotionally as well as visually connect with the piece. In live jazz performance, that context is transmitted to the audience through visual elements, cues that just can't be experienced listening to a CD. Seeing players’ deep reactions to each others' creativity, seeing the eye contact that passes the solo from one to another; seeing the body language, facial expressions, and waves of tension that ebb and flow throughout a performance all make "live" the way to enjoy great jazz.

These concerts also provide great opportunity to explore the relationship between soloist and ensemble. In many ways it's very much like partners on the dance floor; one must lead, but if no one follows, disaster is right around the corner. Here the visual provides context for the sound. The raised eyebrow, the cocked head, the hopefully not but sometimes seen look of near panic; all communicate the same reality we've all experienced when asked out on the dance floor by either a new partner or someone not providing great direction. Remember how happy you were that the band stopped playing after you’d suffered those four to six painful minutes?

Happily, what's much more common is a transcendent experience, where great art is created as soloist and ensemble swirl together in a delicate musical ballet, ending in an emotionally satiating final chord. The result is an enormous sense of great joy and appreciation of the soloist and ensemble blending together to create something unique. Depending upon the style of music, the audience is either stunned into a moment of quiet reflection, or moved to explosive applause; in each case realizing they've been a part of something forever to be remembered.

Creating those transcendent moments with the Bart Weisman Trio will be vocalist Lisa Jason, a performer since childhood, and well known on the Cape, in Boston, and New York for her one woman-show "Lisa Jason's Little Voice," a tribute to legendary female vocalists including Judy Garland, Dionne Warwick, Peggy Lee, and Barbara Streisand. Lisa was the guest vocalist with the Cape Cod Symphony "Pops in the Park" in August 2006 where she debuted her song, "Beautiful Child" which was recently adopted as its theme song by The March Of Dimes. She's released her third CD, titled "Road To Me." She'll be bringing great standards to the concert: "Fever," “That Old Black Magic," and others.

Mashpee High School's Russ Wilcox is a "discovery" from the monthly "Jazz Jams" organized by Weisman, and now happening once a month at The Island Merchant on Main Street in Hyannis. His sax playing is a mix of youthful enthusiasm with fine young "chops," and will be showcased "out front" on great jazz standards like "Body and Soul" and "Stolen Moments."

Eventide Arts offers a great venue at a very reasonable price, $18 at the door. Top professionals and the vitality of a new young player will make for a program worthy of a "Sold Out" sign on the door. Get there before it goes up.