Cal Performances presents The Legacy of Duke Ellington: 50 Years of Swing! featuring the Marcus Shelby Orchestra
2014-05-02
Zellerbach Hall Auditorium
U.C. Berkeley, Bancroft Way at Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA
8:00 PM, Friday, May 2, 2014

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[8:06 PM lights down, announcements]

1. [8:08 PM] Perdido (w/Joel B?)
   [add Jules Broussard for next tune?]
2. [8:16 PM] Creole Love Call
3. [8:21 PM] ? Black & Tan Fantasy
4. [8:32 PM] ?
5. [8:39 PM] ? Boy Meets Horn
6. [8:43 PM] Take the “A” Train (featuring Matthew Szemela)
7. [8:52 PM] ? Tourist Point of View
8. [9:00 PM] ?
9. [9:02 PM] In My Solitude (featuring Faye Carol)
10. [9:09 PM] C Jam Blues (featuring Faye Carol)
    [set ends 9:27 PM]

1. [9:45 PM] Such Sweet Thunder (reading)
2. [9:47 PM] Such Sweet Thunder
3. [9:48 PM] Lady Mac (reading)
4. [9:53 PM] Lady Mac
5. [9:57 PM] Up and Down, Up and Down (reading)
6. [9:59 PM] Up and Down, Up and Down
7. [10:01 PM] Madness in Great Ones (reading)
8. [10:05 PM] Madness in Great Ones
9. [10:07 PM] The Star-Crossed Lovers (reading)
10. [10:10 PM] The Star-Crossed Lovers
11. [10:12 PM] Sonnet to Hank Cinq (reading)
12. [10:15 PM] Sonnet to Hank Cinq
13. [10:18 PM] Sonnet in Search of a Moor (reading)
14. [10:20 PM] Sonnet in Search of a Moor
15. [10:24 PM] Sonnet for Sister Kate (reading)
16. [10:28 PM] Sonnet for Sister Kate
17. [10:32 PM] Half the Fun (reading)
18. [10:33 PM] Half the Fun
19. [10:35 PM] Circle of Fourths
    [show ends 10:40 PM]

• Ryan Black: trombone;
• Danny Brown: tenor saxophone, clarinet;
• Mitch Butler: trombone;
• Ila Cantor: guitar;
• Scott Englebright: trumpet;
• Rob Ewing: trombone;
• Tom Griesser: alto saxophone, clarinet;
• Fil Lorenz: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet;
• Jeff Marrs: drums;
• Rafa Postel: trumpet;
• Marcus Shelby: bass, conductor;
• Marcus Stephens: alto saxophone, flute;
• Geechi Taylor: trumpet;
• Joe Warner: piano;
• Patrick Wolff: tenor saxophone, clarinet;
• Mark Wright: trumpet.

• Joel Behrman: trumpet;
• Jules Broussard: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone;
• Faye Carol: vox;
• Matthew Szemela: violin.

• Aldo Billingslea: actor/reader;
• Cassidy Brown: actor/reader;
• Catherine Castellanos: actor/reader;
• Tristan Cunningham: actor/reader;
• Gabriel Marin: actor/reader;
  
• Corrie Bennett: stage manager
• Clive Worsley: director

Had a nice slow day today – nice because I didn't feel pressure to get much done, so I could work slowly and carefully instead of having to rush. Carried that feeling forward through dinner – just a simple salad with kale and garbanzos and cherry tomatoes and such. The drive down was easy enough and Ting used her usual magic to get us a parking spot on Bancroft just above the police department. Stopped at a boba place for dessert, then ambled on over to Zellerbach, walking in just before the crowd. Just exactly poi-fect!

So the first set was super-duper long – almost 90 min! – which is both good and bad. Good for generosity's sake, but bad in a couple minor respects: weird sound mix (no bass!?) for the first long while. Strangely incohesive too – makes me think the band under-rehearsed this material – it just wasn't nearly as punchy and crisp as I expected from a professional outfit. So overall, a mixed bag. At this point, I kinda feel like I should have gone to see Regina Carter instead … going with the known good (based on TC's review of the recent Kuumbwa show). Oh well, ya takes yer chances…

Second set seemed considerably tighter musically – as if these unfamiliar pieces had received the bulk of the allotted practice time. The actors bits – brief monologues from each, with both opening and closing words from ? as Puck – were all quite well done, as could be expected from trained professionals, right? Anyways, I'm glad I stuck around, it turned out to be a fun night!

Lou Fancher's promo article for East Bay Express is worth a read too!

As a final comment, my timing/setlist above is a rather speculative take on the program notes … take it with a grain of salt!

Back to the previous event ☸ Back to the 2014 yearbox ☸ Back to the 2014 event list! ☸ On to the next event!