Categories
Music

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival – The Necessary Means at Nectar’s

The first week of June is a great time to be in Burlington. It’s the week of the annual Burlington Discover Jazz Festival which brings together international and local musicians together to play at a variety of venues around the city. I love walking down Church Street during the festival; every block you can hear different sounds drifting out of the windows or on outdoor stages.

This year, The Necessary Means played at Nectar’s as a part of the festivities. Ray Paczkowski and Russ Lawton (Soule Monde) opened.  If you haven’t seen these two play together, you’re missing out. It’s hard to believe that two people can produce such a big, full sound. I kept looking around to see where they were hiding all the other musicians.

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - Ray Paczkowski at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (1)

 

After a quick stage reset (it’s gotta be hard always moving around that big Hammond organ) the Necessary Means came on and didn’t disappoint. Their Facebook page describes their sound as “70’s horn funk meets modern jam jazz” and that about nails it. Longtime Grift fans will recognize a few songs as solo riffs that have been turned into full fledged, standalone art. What strikes me every time I see these guys play is that in addition to sounding great, they’re all having fun on stage.

Enough words.  Enjoy the photos — and maybe put on a few tunes while you’re scrolling through them.

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (2)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (3)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (4)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (5)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (6)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (7)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (8)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (9)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (10)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (11)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (12)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (13)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (14)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (15)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (17)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (18)

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (20)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (21)

 

I found the secret sauce to Daiki’s awesome percussion. Coconut Juice.

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (22)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (23)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (24)

 

 

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - The Necessary Means at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (25)

 

I recommend picking up their album, “Click” from CDBaby. It’s only 6 bucks as a digital download.

 

There are still a couple more days of music. Who’re you going to see?

Categories
Music

The Sweet Remains: Outdoor music at American Flatbread

Normally, when The Sweet Remains comes to town they’re booked in the Flynnspace or Higher Ground.  For Jazz Fest, they came to American Flatbread to play an outdoor show in the back alley. I had never seen music there, and didn’t know what to expect.  The wait for a table was over an hour, but they had set up seating and standing areas near the stage so you could drink a beer and enjoy the music. It was a little chaotic as people jockeyed for position and figured out the pattern, but eventually it settled down as the sound check completed and the music started in earnest.  The alley way was jammed from the moment we arrived to the moment we left.

When we finally got a table, we enjoyed watching people walk by the alley, slow down a little, and many stop for a minute to listen to the music as the melodies and harmonies tickled their ears.