Today's Funky Friday award goes to that force-of-nature named Frank London. The Grammy-winning trumpeter and composer was in Charlottesville, yesterday, to perform with the University of Virginia's Klezmer Ensemble. Last night, he and they nearly blew the roof off of the university's stolid and dignified Cabell Auditorium. By the end of the evening, several members of the audience were up on their feet, dancing -- a rare event in that beautiful, but stodgy setting. It was one of the best concerts I've heard in a long time.
Frank London, sound check, University of Virginia, 10 November 2011. [Photos copyright John Edwin Mason, 2011. Click on either image to see a larger version.]
As a trumpeter player, London has amazing chops. As a composer, he blends klezmer with a variety of influences. Some might be expected -- the songs of Hasidic Jewish communities -- and some definitely aren't. During one of his solos, last night, he sounded like Miles Davis, that is, if Miles had played klezmer. Another piece was propelled by a funky New Orleans backbeat.
Here's a sample of his work.
"In Your Garden Twenty Fecund Fruit Trees," from the album Carnival Conspiracy.
A lot of the credit for the strength of the concert goes to the Joel Rubin and the members of the Klezmer Ensemble. They weren't just backing up a star soloist. The were full collaborators with London. Rubin, the ensemble's director, is an internationally known klezmer clarinetist. I've been listening to him play for about five years and am still amazed by his technique and musicianship. Emily Segal, on flute and piccolo, also contributed one tasty solo after another.
Joel Rubin, sound check, University of Virginia, 10 November 2011.
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