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Concert Review
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Vancouver Sun, Concert Review >>
Jazz Festival sizzles with hot sounds and sun
OPENING WEEKEND | Up to 110,000 revellers hit Gastown for colourful street carnival and free live music
BY GREG BUIUM
The 21st annual TD Canada Trust Vancouver International Jazz Festival plunged into its opening weekend with glorious sunshine and a raccishing B.C. debut by the Brazilian singer Seu Jorge Friday night at the Centre for the Performing Arts.
Accompanied by a three-piece band of siger-percussionists (and a soetime guitarist), Jorge transformed parts of this often staid, sit-down venue into a street scene: dancing crowds flowed from the orchestra seats to the wings, boxes in the balcony turned into private, rollicking affairs.
Very early on, you knew that much of the night was happening right off-thecuff: border officials had stranded Jorge's bassist in Seattle, so the leader, himself a guitarist, even played a bit of bass, as he did on the opener, Mania De Peitao. It set the tone straight away: all those simple grinding grooves, imperfectly executed and absolutely intoxicating.
The band worked mostly off its latest disc, Cru, but near the end Jorge stopped, alone on the stage, and retold the story of his North American fame: how director Wes Anderson found him for the 2004 film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
"I'm from Rio," he began in his fractured, endearing English. "I don't play rock 'n' roll, just sambas."
At least that's what he told the American when he called looking for David Bowie covers. "I'm Portuguese - you sure?"
And the he went directly into Rebel, Rebel and Ziggy Stardust, an ingenious refashioning still; even after all the fuss they felt fresh and new.
gbuium@yahoo.com
06/26/06
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