Photos/Writer: Rudy Lu
Pianist Bill O’Connell and his band of equals wowed the audience at Concert #4 of the Fall Series at A Place For Jazz with 2 well curated sets.
1st set
Bill composed a piece entitled “Sea Glass” which was inspired by the his Long Island home. He opened on solo piano, painting an aural picture of the sea by his home with its waves and stillness. The rest of the band followed.
Billy Hart made his presence with that highly aggressive playing he is known for. This 83 year old still has power in his strokes as well as swing.Craig Handy was not intimidated and ran fast scales, with O’Connell echoed with Hart answering again. Santi DeBriano was the subtle one on this tune.
In contrast “85th Street” was a sound painting of his former Manhattan home with the sights and sounds of NYC. Entire performance was high energy.
The musical travelogue continued to the Caribbean “Cayman”. The music here was Latin rather than reggae like, reflecting O’Connell’s musical background for this. Handy was on soprano sax for this.
The expressions turned to personal with “Mom’s Song”. O’Connell’s tender tribute to his mom.
2nd set
“Three Little Words” was the only standard played. Bill O’ Connell played solo for an extended period of time, with the other members of the band entering one by one. The piece continued as a simultaneous meditation for quite some time.
The 2nd piece was the most powerful of the evening. Being political without stating sides, this O’Connell composition was a personal statement of what the American public feels right now “Enough is Enough”(not a cover of Post Malone’s song). The piano driving the dirge like expression of menace /hopelessness, drums with emphasis on tom/toms adding feelings of anger and frustration, saxophone was rationally argumentized with the bass summing it all up. The piece was in many ways was cleansing for both audience and band. It brought the audience to its feet.
With the emotion of “Enough”, O Connell lost the passage of time. He looked and realized he only had time for one more composition. The composition “Tip Toes” which was inspired by cartoon character Fred Flintstone’s bowling style. It had many animated polycadences that painted a aural cartoon of Fred and Barney at play.
The quartet’s aural paintings was like viewing an art gallery of jazz with twists and turns.
The final concert of the season will be trumpeter Bria Skonberg leading her band in what should be an entertaining light hearted concert on 11/1.
Setlist:
1st set: Sea Glass, 85th street, Cay-Man, Mom’s Song, Sparks
2nd Set: 3 Little Words, Enough is Enough, Tip Toes
Gallery:
The Band:
Bill O’ Connell-piano
Craig Handy-flute & soprano/tenor saxophones
Billy Hart- drums
Santi DeBriano-Bass
