Weekend roundup: Wilson, Stein, free jazz

A lot went down this weekend in Richmond, but here’s a taste of one thing a day from Friday to Sunday.

November 3, 2009; 10:25 AM • by Dean Christesen

A lot went down this weekend in Richmond. I experienced about one music-related thing each day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and still missed out on a lot. Hopefully you had a chance to get out of the house and enjoy some music yourself. Maybe you checked out our Halloween Jazz Guide, or saw some spook secular events like Glenn Wilson or Terence Blanchard (of which we welcomed your comments and feedback).

I started my weekend at Glenn Wilson Quartet at The Camel. Photos are on their way, but here’s a short video to enjoy if you missed the show:

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/7414407[/vimeo]

On Saturday afternoon, there was a small free jazz jam at Black Hand Coffee with two drummers — Forrest Young and Emre Kartari — and two tenor saxophonists — John Lilley and Jason Scott. Bespectacled with 3D glasses (double vision, get it?), the quartet plus an array of drummers sitting in experimented with different forms and themes, like an avant garde medley of children’s songs. Another short video:

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/7414487[/vimeo]

Bass clarinetist Jason Stein from Chicago blew away a small but intent crowd with a solo set at Ghost Print Gallery on Sunday evening. Trombonist Bryan Hooten opened with a great performance.

Afterwards, we headed over to Minimum Wage Studio for the Fight the Giant Bull (remember them?) session. The multi-percussionist and multi-bassist rhythm section was laying down hypnotic, driving vamps as the base for what should become a huge tapestry of psychedelic minimalism. A trio of singers recorded repetitious intervallic layers over the rhythm section and synthesizer, and Stein blew over one track, adding much variety and drama with nearly funk-inflected syncopations. Matt White described his vision for the Fight the Giant Bull record in August, and so far it seems right on track.