Music Festival Vancouver

Festival Vancouver has a special place in my heart because I have met people who have become important in my life at past concerts and the music is always exceptional. The first announcement of the evening was a change of name to “Music Festival Vancouver”, apparently there has been some confusion about the festival focus . . .

This year Music Festival Vancouver held concerts in VanDusen Botanical Garden for the first time. It was a great choice for a venue and the large grassy field, where plant sales are usually held, was prepared by adding a large covered stage on the north end. The World at the Garden Series featured three great concerts and friends have told me that the guitar led Yamandu Costa Trio (Brazil), who played on Friday, Aug 15 was amazing. I chose to go to Salsa Dura, the “hard salsa” band conducted by Sal Ferreras on the following Sunday evening because of guest Ernán López-Nussa, piano.

I first encountered this accomplished Cuban pianist in 2003, when I heard him play at UBC, then later during in the week at the Commodore Ballroom. Ernán López-Nussa opened for John Kosrud’s “Orquestra Goma Dura”, one of Vancouver’s great big salsa bands. I had the opportunity to dance with Ernán after his set while the second band was playing. I had a great time that evening and looked forward to hearing him again.

It was an overcast evening after weeks of sunny summer weather and concert attendees knew there was a strong probability that we would be on the receiving end of some falling raindrops. I decided to go despite the rain and packed an umbrella on my motorcycle (closed).

The garden was beautiful and I had a few minutes to wander around before the music began. VanDusen Gardens is one of Vancouver’s treasures as it is watched over by a gardeners and offers an ever-changing pallet of colour, scent and form. I couldn’t linger too long, as Celso Machado was opening and I did not want to miss a moment of his show. Celso is one of the few solo performers who has packed the Ironworks during the Jazz Festival (2007) and he is a favourite of local audiences.

In addition to playing guitar and singing in the styles of his native Brasil, he has learned to play African kora and South Indian kanjira, a snakeskin covered tambourine. Celso is known for his mischievous attitude to displaying his virtuosity and this evening was no exception as he performed a percussion solo on his microphones and water bottle. He did bring out the kora and the exquisite timbre of African strings infused the garden.

The intermission was cut short as the rain began to fall and the original plan, of allowing the audience to wander the garden while the second group prepared to play, was shelved. After a speedy set-up, the main attraction was ready, with two female singers, a brassy horn section, piano and three percussionists.

The band had Lou Mastroianni as the regular piano player and featured guest spots with Ernán. It was pure rhythmic pleasure as Sal, Jack Duncan, Raphael Geronimo and Gilberto Moreaux meshed to form a shifting pattern of polyrhythmic texture. The band was Vancouver’s finest sofrito laced with authentic Cuban flavours in the form of Israel “Toto” Berriel, singer and Miguelito Valdes, trumpet. John Kosrud, Vince Mai and my school-mate Malcolm Aiken, also played trumpet with two trombonists, who I didn’t know. Pure brass punch and power, although there was some flugelhorn, no reeds. Authentic “hard salsa” with two female singers, mostly doing back-up, but one stood up and sang a lead. Al Johnston, who I have rarely seen, played bass very competently.

In the spirit of tradition, Sal Ferreras the band-leader, was introduced once everyone else was ready to start. As he bounded on stage with his usual energy, I noticed he has adopted a new style of eyeglasses that really suit him.

to be continued . . .