Lina Allemano Standards Quartet

 

Lina Allemandddo Standards Quartet@the REX

Lina Allemano standards quartet is a seriously cool group playing standards a little off the beaten path.  They are more the modern and free jazz standards then the swing and hardbop tunes most audiences are accustomed to. But good golly is the word "standard" problematic, especially in an improvised art form, long story incoming...(music review below you can skip to the )

I spent the better part of 15 years living in the conservative hub of Korea, Daegu.  There were without a

doubt some problematic politics present that don't reflect the rest of the country.  This was pretty true culturally speaking as well.  One thing that was somewhat prevalent was the idea of "standards".  Jazz in Daegu was often set in stone and scripted a certain way. There are certainly popular changes or intros and endings in the Canadian jazz scene, but they are not codified like in Daegu.  It could be like pulling teeth sometimes to play something other than "how it goes"  I sometimes get flashbacks to a university percussion professor we hired for a swing gig, who couldn't figure out how to play the intro for a cover of Donkeys Kong's jungle japes....  

My friends liked to call it "mini-skirt" jazz a nod to both it's inauthenticity as the fact that most of the singers were pop singers trying to get a paycheck.  (And hey I'd take a gig if it pays, I just would hope for some interest in the genre)  perhaps that makes me a slight hypocrite then, but the audiences expected a specific "cultural" experience, a snapshot of the golden swing era that may never have really existed, were few risks are taken.  Songs always had lengthy explanations, delivered bereft of passion and as more of a time filler, that marked it as a specific experience.  You aren't seeing the musicians for their style, you are seeing a reproduction.  Things outside the norm were not respected like they should be.  Of course there were people with passion and who tried to stand out(a concept somewhat alien to a conservative and Confucian culture)  

The next generation of jazz "kids" coming up in Daegu were eschewing a fair bit of that old conservative scene.  Choosing more adventurous songs, and just having fun playing and supporting each other instead of vibing. A couple of me favourites were Young Ahn an old trumpet teacher of mine(and half the scene) who just breathes Lee Morgan and stood out with a big smile and positive attitude.  Jae Young a jazz violinist a collaborated a few times with me and Choi Myeong Ji a devotee of Cyrille Aimee, who would skat in different instrument styles visible through her fingers playing trumpet sax or piano patterns on her hands.

Myeong Ji and Young Ahn and the sadly now defunct Bird(another huge rant for another day)

Finally there was the very interesting Park Si Yeon trio, always gave me a chiller version of Go Go Penguin Vibe.  They were on of the coolest groups in Korea, doing their own thing in their own unique way, yet of course I'd still hear the grumblings from the old guard that it wasn't jazz or just not good....  Madness!

Rant over!

So, here we are with a standards band about as far away from that Korean concept as you could get.  Though I do occasionally catch a this isn't music, or they are just playing nonsense/making it up as they go types I largely imagine these people are either jealous, ignorant, or complain about things everywhere they go.

Look at this moron complaining about Julian Lage for example

Not even the best in my Hometown bahahaha! I wish my noodling nonsense sounded like him!

 The Rex is a carefully, well curated space and pretty darn "safe"  it can't escape that working class vibe.  Lina Allemano is a great introduction to modern jazz, free jazz not because they lack daring or aren't as avant guarde as they could be, but because they are so damn good at what they do.  That being said tonight had a very receptive and responsive crowd.

The music:

Lina lead her band through a number of Ornette Coleman, Geri Allen, Monk and other modern and free tunes.  It was creative, energetic, and at times dark and brooding(largely to Michael Davidsons incredible vibes playing), this was interesting, captivating music that didn't rely on cliché or gimmicks to step outside normal conventions.  

It's no wonder as Lina herself runs a record label full of unique modern players and recordings. (https://www.instagram.com/lumo_records/ ) Her recorded catalogue has quite a range from free jazz to dark brooding atmosphere and harsh dissonant soundscapes.  Though the later isn't the most popular/accessible of genres, she really can paint a scene ripe from madness and chaos.  I would love to see her do a nuit blanche collaboration installation in the city with some visual artists.  For those with more mainstream tastes she excels leading a group like this with more of the hallmarks of traditional music and retains that bit of monk that makes the rhythm jazz to me but still injects enough of the, if you'll excuse the cliche "artsy" leaning.  Check out these 2 to see what I mean

It's a bit of a cliche to liken something like this to psychedelics, but to me this perfectly paints the chaos and energy of wandering the city in all it's chaos overwhelmed by your perception filters faltering and all your senses firing like rockets.  Though I wonder if Lina Allemano would dislike my comparison, I don't doubt that she'd agree that it is raw and vivid.

Michael Davidson will change your whole idea of a vibes player.  He has a beautiful way playing with dissonance and the unique timbre of the instrument, some really unique voicings that sound otherwordly with the vibes and his careful use of the sustain pedal. 

 I really enjoy his vibraphone playing, but would be remiss if i didn't mention his kalimba work as well, a great example on local guitar legend and kind soul David Occhipinti's most recent release.  Promised Kiss from camera lucinda (can't resist plugging that record every chance i can)

Promised Kiss

Nick Fraser is definitely creative force on the drums, I'm always reminded of Monk, it's still danceable even when it's getting pretty wild, but you also need a creative drummer to drive the bus in a group like this who can hold it together but is creative enough to come up with patterns that fit when more traditional drumming wont do, he just makes it seem so natural.  He does free form stuff very well, but can also swing in the more traditional sense. 

I'll admit tonight was the first time in my life I heard the drummer not only play the head for a tune that was instantly recognizable, but absolutely kill it. If you had thought such a thing was not possible, well you needn't(going to have to steal that one!)

Andrew Downing there's the maturity in his playing that you would expect of a UofT professor and two time Juno winner.  He is  very creative rhymically, and very inventive, a must in a group like this.  He recently released a record at the crossroads between Canadian folk music and jazz that is just beautiful.  It touches my soul in interesting ways.

 Just incredible

They are a group that definitely intuitively knows each other in and out and are a joy to watch interact on stage.  

The Lina Allamendo quartet, treated us to 2 great sets featuring Geri Allen, Carla Bley, Ornette Coleman, and Thelonious Monk tunes tinged with innovation spontaneity and a cutting edge contemporary sound.

They opened with an interesating version of Happy house that quickly established the kind of night we were in form.

An excellent rendition of Star eyes turned and evolved with the ebb and flow of the bands improv and went to this really neat night in tunisia thing.

Other hilights were the Carlo Blay tune Syndrome and Oliver Nelson's Stolen Moments which was an excellent showcase/vehicle for Lina's improvization.

The last tune of the night,  Well You Needn't had the "melody" played by drums! Nick Fraser killed it with his Monk impression, and after all, Monk is the consummate rhythm guy.  

Really fun night of creative music, you should definitely check them out next time Lina is in town

Drink Pairing 1: Agua Do Sol 

Perhaps a Spanish red would be more appropriate for Lina, but I have my reasons, and besides they are on the same peninsula.  Well it doesn't exactly feel like you are drinking the sun, Agua Do Sol is an excellent full bodied red blend of Touriga Nacional, Syrah and Alicante de Bouschet at a great price point. 

The syrah adds a nice pepperiness and bold fruit, and Alicante de Bouschet, a grape famous for both being the only grape that actually bleeds red and thus making it appropriate for a raw passionate performance like this, but for adding a lot of firm tannins that are well integrated and tempered by the Touriga Nacional.  Much like creative music like this, there is familiarity, but some deep complexity to it.  Red Berries, chocolate and firm tannins, definitely better with a little bit of fatty protein to soften them, but fine on it's own as well.

Also at under $10 a bottle it's both a steal and appropriate thematically for a gig in a venue with working class roots.      

Book/Movie Pairing 1:  Like Water For Chocolate

When listening to music with a looser form and some free improve to it, I tend to gravitate to magical realism, things are magical but still rooted mostly in reality and or the forms you are used to, much like this groups music.  

In the before time I remember taking a film 101 class and being exposed to a lot of different types of film.  It was an eye opening experience seeing just the "101" of what film could be, let alone getting into advanced classes or genre specific study.    

As for the book and the story there's a lot of crossover here.  If you skipped my long rant above I won't hold it against you, but themes of struggling with classism, racism, misogony and generational trauma fit the bill for something that some ignaramous's refuse to label as "music" let alone jazz.  Our protaganist struggles unser the weight of tradition, Tita, the youngest in her family is forbidden to love and marry as it's her duty as the youngest to take care of her own mother in her old age. Her frustrations with love and life boil over and manifest in her cooking, literally infusing her emotions into whoever consumes her food.  Perfect fair for jazz music that breaks the mold just a touch, though Lina's music can be fiery at times It's not likely to inspire you to fonicate with a general on horseback nor induce nasuea or great dispare.  Nontheless it does inspire something in you.  And a decent choice for a female led band in a mostly male profession. (Though I suppose that can be interpreted as problematic in it's own sense, i strongly feel that my opinions on the bands "quality" have little to do with gender)

It is a beautifal book, and a great film adaptation that can be quite sad and depressing but also full of whimsy that everyone should read.  

Drink Pairing 2: Ventisquero Grey Single Block Carmenere.

Carmenere can be a devisive choice, perhaps the consumate love it or hate it wine(though an overokaed pinotage would give it a run for it's money)

Love it or hate it, hmmm could be jazz, improv, wine, food.  Lina's kinds of standards could be quite devisive in the wrong hands, but like with this band, this lovely Carmenere could please most on it's strengths even if it does stand out slightly ackwardly, not quite knowing what to do with it's hands.  So, shift your mitts around, play on your phone to look busy, crack your knuckles and crack a bottle of this.  You'll immediately be hit with a green pepper, jalapeño kind of thing with some red cherry underneath.  The sorts of things we'd likely fault a bad cabernet sauvingon (Carmenere is the parent of modern cab sauv afterall) for somehow balance and just work. It's fresh, bright and makes a great food wine with lots of acidity and balanced tannins.

Food Pairing, Chili crisp and mayo

Creamy, spicy, tangy and with a little crunch, if that doesn't scream Monk to you i don't know what does.  Mayo or any creamy sauce really mixed with aromatic spicy chilli crisp works extremely well for dips.  Mayo is just such a great vessel for flavours.  

To tell you the truth, you should probably hit up Maker Pizza on a Thursday for a $3.75 slice or two and get a spicy garlic dip for the crusts.  There's is more on the proper spicy side so fair warning, home cooks can adjust brands for their own likes, but this is an easy way to try before you buy.  So grab some of  their excellent NY/Neopilitan hybrid pie.  Their classic cheese is very solid, Spicy Vodka Pep God isn't too terribly spicy, but their pepperoni is great and of course Frank's best, goat cheese, rosemary, honey and caramalised onions on a sesame seed flecked crust is a perfectly balanced gourmand's dream of a slice.  They do beleive in quality, they use the good cheese, the good tomatoes, the good olive oil and plenty of garlic and herbs, a solid if expensive pie(except for thursdays^^)

Food pairing 2  Cured Tuna Loin  Mojama

Finally something Spanish for Lina here!

I won't blame you if you don't want to try making this at home.  A lot of folks get weirded out by cured or aged seafood, let alone curing it at home.  Their is an excellent recipe in the very good Charcuteria by Jeffery Weisse that's worth grabbing from the library or owning if you are into food preservation or spanish food in general.

If you need more convincing look no further than the outstanding Bar Isabel on College.  It's definitely more on the anniversary splurge end of the budget but if you have the means oh baby.  This a haven for any inspiring spanish foodie.  Nutty, unctious, melt in your mouth Jambon Iberico, rich, flavour bomb seafood conservas, incredible, soft gooey croccetas made from bechamel stewed with aged ham bone( to die for)  tender meaty octopus with smokey paprika, pan con tomato a dish that's simplicity itself just done right and with excellent bread, and of course the mojama, it's an excellent umami bomb and just incredible, we had it last with some chive oil and some delcious and fancy ecoutrement, but oh man i could eat piles of this just on it's own.  They also have a pretty killer winelist and a great somellier who will both take care of you and make you feel at ease.

It works as a pairing with this music because be honest, cured seafood might sound a little oddball at first as might some of these standards, but once you get a taste you'll be shocked by how much you enjoyed it.

Food Recommendation 3 Champandongo

If you have read Like Water For Chocolate surely you have been tempted by it's monthly recipes, and to me this is one of the better ones.  

I mean it's essantially mexican lasagna, eat your heart out, though perhaps not literally as one might after eating Tita's cooking.

Here's a pretty decent post/recipe on the topic.

Champandongo from “Like Water for Chocolate” – Cooking in Mexico https://share.google/GU4KpMdIfXDTGBS6Y