Showing Youngsters How It's Done

Source:  www.thestar.com - Ashante Infantry, Pop & Jazz Critic

(June 27, 2008) Never mind those celebrated young lions, or jazz's next fresh face, the septuagenarians passing through this edition of the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival have it all covered.

Wednesday night, Memphis native Charles Lloyd turned in a magical display of high-calibre improvisation at Enwave Theatre. Backed by a stellar collection of young bucks – pianist Jason Moran (who worked the piano over like it owed him money), bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland – the 70-year-old flautist/saxist was as vigorous and inventive as anything going.

The songs from his new disc, Rabo de Nube, ranged from classically inflected ballads to funky, smooth jazz burners, all delivered with a meditative air.

On Tuesday, American vocalist Sandy Stewart, 70, helmed the cabaret series at Old Mill Inn, accompanied by her noted pianist son Bill Charlap on chestnuts such as "Tea For Two," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "Just One of Those Things."

She's imbued with a syrupy quiver that took some getting used to, along with the way she clipped some notes abruptly and held others, though none as high as one suspects she used to.

What captivated was Stewart's effortlessness and conversational, authoritative approach; she seemed as if she was confessing rather than interpreting.

Monday night, the mainstage tent saw Montreal-born Oliver Jones, 73, serving up tunes from his new disc, Second Time Around, with a simpatico trio. The spirit of Jones' late mentor Oscar Peterson hovered indirectly through his swinging, incandescent style, as well as in renditions of Peterson classics "Place St. Henri" and "Hymn To Freedom."

The night, however, belonged to 78-year-old pianist and Pittsburgh native Ahmad Jamal, who drew gasps from the rapt, capacity crowd as he tightly directed his small ensemble through the smooth, precise changes of his impressionistic compositions.

Among the vets still to come: the granddaddy of them all at 87, pianist Dave Brubeck performs with his quartet and the Toronto Jazz Festival Orchestra at the Four Season Centre on Wednesday (8 p.m., $40-$130).