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| The Phil Hey Quartet at the AQ, November 27, 2013 |
© Andrea Canter
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| Phil Hey (2013) |
Jazz in one of the few genres of music that places a greater
value on collaboration over individual exploits. Certainly, there are individual stars,
prophets, innovators--but even those artists, by and large, emerged at the top
as much from their collaborative skills in ensembles as their singular genius
as soloists. I could easily justify single entries in this series for drummer Phil
Hey, vibraphonist Dave Hagedorn, bassist Tom Lewis and pianist Phil Aaron. But
it is the Phil Hey Quartet as a whole that epitomizes both the best of modern
jazz and the mission of the Artists Quarter -- showcasing local musicians with
global talents. And save a few early gigs at the old Dakota, the PHQ has only
performed at the AQ, typically landing on a Thursday night every month and
occasionally on a weekend. Hey leads -- and does most of the commentary which
is often quite enlightening re the music and more. But it's the long-standing
empathy among the foursome that shines on every gig, every tune.
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| Dave Hagedorn (2013) |
Think of the Modern Jazz Quartet on a diet of Ornette,
Miles, Coltrane, Dolphy and Monk, with some original compositions as Value Added
extras. Think of group conversations among good friends that could easily
disintegrate into chaos but never do-- every shift in direction only challenges
each musician to create his own means of following along while thinking ahead
to another group adventure.
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| Tom Lewis (2013) |
And watch/listen as the conversation unfolds via
subtle eye contact, musical signals, so many ways to veer off and separate yet
always there's that tether that maintains the four-way connection. And
watch/listen to collective respect and joy. That's what jazz is.
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| Phil Aaron (2013) |
And that's why the Artists Quarter has kept jazz alive and
well across two decades in St. Paul.
Hear the Phil Hey
Quartet one more time at the AQ, December 26th. Make it a celebration, not a
wake.
