While waiting, for the first time in line at a Victor Goines and Friends concert, I saw an employee come out, waving theatrically with his hands for attention, and announce that the show had been sold out. Not everybody behind me would get a chance to experience a swinging, vibrant night at Dizzy’s Club. No walk-ins, which means the band had to be great. This elevated my excitement to a different level.
I love cultural places swarming with an audience greedy for soul food and a desire to have a ceremonial moment with star musicians. I found some mentions about Victor around the web which would confirm his stardom: “A son of New Orleans”; “A member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra”; “A composer, and performer who has worked with such stars like Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder.” Time for stardust has come!
Victor Goines and Friends are getting ready…
Once Victor Goines entered the stage with his friends, they galvanized the listeners right away with the right swing in practice! The first composition was a piece dedicated to C.J. Walker – the first Black female multimillionaire in America. Although it was a late-night show, I felt invigorated and even more curious when Victor revealed that the repertoire, we would witness was dedicated to the music artists who found their resting place… at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx (!). The concert was a musical reference to ‘The Woodlawn Suite’, an album the band recorded in December 2022. However, the release was a day before the concert.
Chris Lewis (tenor saxophone), in the middle.
The next piece we heard was: ‘Down the Alley’ which sneaked in bebop accentuations and complex improvisations of Chris Lewis on a tenor saxophone.
Surely, one of the most beautiful moments of the night was hearing a song for Cicely Tyson titled… ‘Ms. Tyson.’ Here is a story: Cicely was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery with her former husband, Miles Davis. This song is like a dialog between her and Miles, where she would whisper to him, and he would respond through a Marcus Printup’s trumpet which had a “human-like” sound like Miles’ play style (the plunger!). A romantic word exchange in the language of music which everybody can understand slightly differently. It is a highlight on the album’s playlist!
‘Swing a Ling, Swing a Ling’, dedicated to Duke Ellington, was a great swinging take that boosted the energy of the audience and was a reference to the Lindy Hop dance style. It was characteristic to the Swing music marking a line of jazz history.
‘One For Hawk’ was a beautiful ballad (a tribute to Coleman Hawkins) with Victor’s amazing sax solo. I recommend listening to this composition on the album once more, after the concert. Very tender, mellow notes with a crescendo of the brass section, a feast to the ears needing silence amongst music notes.
The ensemble made a great statement about the female power in ‘The Suffragists’ and finished the evening with ‘A Night in the Latin Quarter.’
Lauren Sevian (baritone)
My relation would be incomplete if I hadn’t mentioned Lauren Sevian, a fantastic baritone saxophonist, and Sarah Jacovino on trombone. Ladies, what a beautiful sense of music timing! Yasushi Nakamura on a double bass was spectacular in his music craft. I saw him with Christian Sands earlier and he is THE musician. Also, Oscar Rossignolli stood out with a great piano sound.
Victor has good friends in all of the musicians! This album is a unique memorandum of how resting in power can still be powerful to grateful listeners. May they swing in peace!
PERFORMANCE LINEUP
Sherman Irby, alto
Sophia Kickhofel, alto, flute
Chris Lewis, tenor, clarinet
Victor Goines, tenor, clarinet
Lauren Sevian, baritone
Jimmy O’Connell, trombone
Sarah Jacovino, trombone
Jacob Melsha, trombone
Jennifer Wharton, trombone
Liesl Whitaker, trumpet
Jami Dauber, trumpet
Marcus Printup, trumpet
Kenny Rampton, trumpet
Oscar Rosignolli, piano
Yasushi Nakamura, bass
Cliff Wallace, drums
More about ‘The Woodlawn Suite’: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lIv8heWnhutQXmR3vIuXnBUIzkZt4Oq5w
Acknowledgements to Jazz at Lincoln Center – https://2023.jazz.org/dizzys-club?gad=1
jazzova.com 