All Rise: Jazz at the Lincoln Centre with Wynton Marsalis and the MSO
25 August, 2023, Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne
Epic. Grand. Exhilarating. Describing All Rise with any level of useful detail is an impossible task. To label it as Jazz Symphony, in 12 movements, that utilises the forces of full symphony orchestra, 100 or so member choir, 6 vocal soloists plus and an internationally renowned jazz band is horribly inadequate, but gives some idea the scale of the performance. Clocking in at about 2 hours of music it’s a substantive work. Add to this that composer, Wynton Marsalis, was not only present, but playing in the performance and you start to see why this was a special night.
Each section transported me. New Orleans marches, fiddle tunes taking me to the south of the U.S., swinging New York jazz, Afro Cuban rhythms, Sunday morning Church. There was such a variety of styles woven into a unified work. Marsalis is a genius of trumpet playing, melodic invention and improvisation, but also as shown in All Rise, orchestration. Orchestration is the art of choosing which instruments play each part of the music (be that melodies, bass lines, harmony parts, counter melodies etc.) and how they are combined. The rich tone colours created by the careful orchestration of All Rise was for me the absolute highlight, and took full advantage of the use of the symphony orchestra. The careful crafting of instrumental flavours and ingredients produced an aural feast.
The Jazz at the Lincoln Centre Orchestra were literally ‘front and centre’ on the Hamer Hall stage, surrounded on the left and right by the string section. This allowed a clear view of the front row of woodwind players. True ‘doublers’, each played saxophones (sizes ranging from sopranino to baritone), and clarinet, with some members also branching out to flute, piccolo and bass clarinet. When needed they added hand percussion instruments. Three trombones sat behind, and then hidden in the middle of the stage the four trumpets led by Marsalis. Their rhythm section was piano, double bass and drums. The sound at Hamer Hall is arguably best in the stalls where I was seated, but I did at times wish for a seat in the balcony where looking down on the whole ensemble would have been possible. The musicians remained seated for any solos (unlike in a traditional jazz performance) and for me part of the appeal of live performances is being able to see the musicians as well as hear them.
MSO Principal Conductor in Residence, Benjamin Northey was right in his element directing in his usual clear, musical yet unpretentious manner. The orchestral parts in All Rise are complicated and integral. It’s certainly not an arrangement where the music is expanded to allow the jazz band to be accompanied by an orchestra. Solos from various instruments ranging from tuba, contra bassoon, timpani, oboe were numerous and demanding. Watching the nods of acknowledgement from the Jazz at the Lincoln Centre Orchestra given as the MSO soloists played, or how the orchestra members turned their heads and smiled while the chorus brought sections to life was engaging and shows the passion and spirit all of the performers conveyed.
Photo credit: Nico Photography
