Undated Jazz Concert Review

Article headed "Society Jazzes Up Weekend With Quartet Show" by Bill Garts

On Friday evening, at the intimate Gardner Theatre located on the second floor of the Meadville Market House, a marvelous quartet performed some superior jazz before a capacity audience.

Sponsored by the Allegheny Jazz Society, three old friends, joined by a newcomer to Meadville, played two sets of music composed by the cream of American composers.

The quartet was fronted by tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton, originally from the New England area, but now living in London, England. His team mates were Washington, DC pianist Larry Eanet, Cincinnati-area drummer John Von Ohlen, and, from Australia, but now living in New York City, the young bassist Nicki Parrott.

The quartet opened the first set with a medium-tempo "Taking A Chance On Love," which was followed by a four-star, five alarm version of "Three Little Words," with some very fleet piano work by Eanet, and nice work from bassist Parrott.

The first ballad of the evening was a number long associated with Billie Holiday, "Easy Living," which featured a breathy solo by Hamilton, and some lyrical piano work by Eanet.

A long, medium-tempo version of Jerome Kern's "Yesterdays" followed. This led into another medium-tempo number, Victor Young's lovely "Love Letters."

The set closed with another fine ballad, Victor Young's "My Foolish Heart," with another breathy saxophone solo by Hamilton, and, again, some beautiful piano from Eanet.

The whole evening was a joy for those who appreciate what jazz society President Joe Boughton calls "the Great American Song." Hamilton remains one of the few practitioners of the tenor saxophone styles made famous by the mainly black reed players of the golden age of jazz; Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Ike Quebec, Chu Berry, Illinois Jacquet, Lester Young. His style is a distillation of their styles, is wonderful to hear.

Eanet remains the perfect band pianist. Lyrical, swinging, with a knowledge of many songs. His solo work is beautiful, and his backing of the soloists adds greatly to their solos.

Von Ohlen is fascinating to watch, and to listen to. He doesn't drown you with noise, uses colorations to good advantage, is an excellent time keeper. This reviewer has been listening to him for about fifteen years now; he has never sounded better.

Finally, we come to the Bassist, Nicki Parrott. This young lady was a most pleasant surprise. She comes from Australia, has played with the all-woman big band Viva, and is featured on an Arbors Records compact disc, playing in a group named Five Play, a band-within-a-band from the big band Viva. Not only is she a lyrical bassist, but manages to keep wonderful time, has a huge tone. We can expect much from her in the future.

The evening was another sample of what jazz is all about. Superior playing of superior songs, and with a respect for the audience and the music. Highly recommended.

There will be two more concerts this weekend, tonight at 8 and Sunday afternoon at
1. The Saturday concert is completely sold out, but a few tickets remain for Sunday's performance.

Garts is producer/host of the long-running radio program "Saturday Swing Session," heard on National Public Radio station WQLN-FM in Erie, PA (91.3FM) each Saturday evening from 8 until 11.