Concert Review: Thaddeus Ford’s birthday celebration at Pearl

by Alan Cohen

Nothing in music is more pure than a jam session. To see musicians come together and share in a musical dialogue for no other reason than the joy it brings them is a beautiful thing. That's why Friday night at Pearl, trumpeter Thaddeus Ford could think of no better way to celebrate his birthday than with a jam session. Instead of making his gig all about himself, Ford chose to make the night special for everyone by inviting all who wanted to participate to the stage to perform.

Birthday Celebration for Thaddeus "Fabulous" Ford II

Friday night, Thaddeus celebrated his birthday at Pearl by playing a show that included a rotating roster of local jazz luminaries throughout the night. It was an all-star jam that went into the wee hours. Photos by Carlton Primm. (http://www.carltonprimm.com)

(Click photo to see entire gallery)

That made the night more than just about who was headlining. Rather, it was about saxophonist Shelley Carroll's solo on "Blue Bossa." It was about the crazy old lady in the audience that wanted to hug and dance with everyone she drunkenly bumped into. It was about Lynn Ross scatting to "Bye Bye Blackbird." It was about Richmond Punch's remarkable ability to make the violin sing. It was about Victor Cager passing by every 20 minutes only to ask, "Are you having fun yet?" But most of all, it was about Thaddeus Ford's recognition that his music was only to be enhanced by the presence of each and every person in the room.

Simply put - it was Fabulous.

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Anonymous

Mike Orren, says:

I was there with Alan, and the show totally blew my mind. I was tagging along mainly to check out the venue, and was supposed to meet my wife and her coworkers at another club around midnight.

Texted April @ 11:30: Won't make it tonight. At AMAZING jazz show.

@ 11:45: Do what you want, but you might want to come here instead.

@ Midnight: If you don't blow that off and come here now you are frikkin INSANE.

She arrived @ 12:30. Alan missed the last few numbers, which featured both Thaddeus and Shelley on vocals too.

Very raw. Very real. Very nice.