I had a fantastic Jazz Night Out when I saw the Vijay Iyer Sextet play the Wexner Center season finale on Saturday the 20th with my wife and friends. Joined by a world-class band, the pianist led the group through compositions from its forthcoming debut for ECM Records. Iyer’s solo introduction to opener “Far From Over” was aptly reminiscent of a gathering storm, as the front line horns (Graham Haynes on cornet, Steve Lehman on alto sax, and Mark Shim on tenor sax) soon unleashed a broad and menacing chorus. The trio then played short solos in a round, before providing rugged backing for a wide-ranging flurry of chords from Iyer, and the tune ended with an explosive solo by drummer Justin Brown. While elements of improvised free jazz were expected by yours truly, I was pleasantly surprised by the funky overtones of several tunes and passages, and the versatile unit was certainly ready to tackle shifting styles. Prolific bassist Stephan Crump was an unstoppable musical and visual force, as his steadfast and creative rhythms guided the proceedings and his joyful energy was impossible to miss. This was an excellent end to a thrilling season – can’t wait for next year, and Iyer’s new album! Read More →
