Charlie Haden's Quartet West and Iro Haarla Quintet

My first concert of the 2008 Vancouver International Jazz Festival. I was going to go and see Beade Belle at Performance Works but some work related IT problems stopped me from getting out the door. I saw Charlie Haden a couple years back and walked out half way through the set because it was boring; either Charlie was off that night or I was because he was not boring tonight.

Great band: Charlie Haden's Quartet West with Charlie Haden bass, Ernie Watts tenor saxophone, Alan Broadbent piano, and Rodney Green drums. They all delivered great performances; strong solos and best of all they played together! I think one of my complaints last time was a repetitive approach to each song; group plays theme then every player has a solo and then reprise the theme - boring. This time they played together and kept the solos in check with Ernie Watts and Alan Broadbent doing some especially fine work.

Iro Haarla Quintet

Mostly Interesting stuff, very atmospheric but some good energy. I must admit I was nearly lulled to sleep at one point.