Review - Mark Kramer

The Time: Sunday, January 30, 2011, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Place: The Porch Club, Riverton, NJ
Mark Kramer, piano

The Tri-State Jazz Society began a new piano series on Sunday, and pianist Mark Kramer was invited to inaugurate the series.

Kramer's presentation was one of dramatics and education. In addition to performing the works of the influential Jazz pianists, Mr. Kramer "acted" in character, summarizing their lives and works. Louis Gottschalk, Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, James P. Johnson and Fats Waller were presented in this fashion. Treating the evolution of Jazz chronologically, Kramer pointed out the techniques that were developed over time; the influence of African rhythms and polyrhythms in the works of Gottschalk and Joplin; the Spanish clave (or "tinge") in Morton's work and the loosening of time in Johnson's and Waller's playing. Mr. Kramer even got the audience to participate in a rhythmic exercise, combining rhythm patterns based on the human heartbeat and breathing.

With all this history, demonstration and activity, one thing suffered - the music. Kramer, a pianist comfortable with modern players Eddie Gomez, the Brecker Brothers and Stanley Clarke, was entering new terrain with this concert. In most of his pianistic interpretations, Kramer's modern skills clashed with the works of the masters. Some modern players (post bop) were included and some (pre-Bop) players from the past were overlooked. Kramer acknowledged Thelonious Monk with developing space in his solos - did not Count Basie, by economizing his piano playing, allowed the sounds of Freddie Green, Walter Page and Jo Jones to filter in so the rhythm section worked as a whole unit? Would that be defined as using space?

One pleasant surprise - new faces. The audience at this concert were mostly first-time attendees, and generally enjoyed Kramer's presentation. Let's hope this is a trend!

Our next piano concert will return to the Porch Club. On February 27, pianist Joe Holt will perform "Stride Piano - A Continuing Legacy of Spontaneous Joy." at 2:00 p.m.

-Jim McGann