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Vision Festival
Abrons Arts Center
New York City
June 11, 2011

Reut Regev R*Time Special Edition

Trombonist Reut Regev Reut Regev
's R*Time began the final night of the Vision Festival in exuberant style. Since relocating to New York from her native Israel in 1998, Regev has kept an inclusively wide contacts book, encompassing Latin, klezmer and rock, as well as the contemporary avant-garde. She notably holds down the trombone chair in esteemed composer/saxophonist Anthony Braxton Anthony Braxton
b.1945
reeds 's renowned Twelvetet +1, appearing on that ensemble's monumental 9 Compositions (Iridium) 2006 (Firehouse 12, 2007) box set.

R*Time is an expandable unit for the trombonist and her husband drummer Igal Foni Igal Foni
, that ranges from duo to quartet and beyond, but in tonight's incarnation was specially expanded by the inclusion of storied New Thing pianist Burton Greene Burton Greene
b.1937
piano . Their brand of jazz ranged from boppish swing to bluesy swagger, by way of brooding riffs, dreamy electronics (from Regev) and choppy intricacies. From the onstage banter and expansive introductions it was immediately apparent that this was a communicative outfit. And so it proved, with playful interaction (particularly between Greene's maverick piano and the leader's trombone) the order of the day.

From left: Burton Greene, Reut Regev

From the inaugural clarion blast to the heavens on valve trombone, Regev was an engaging presence. Her expressive gesticulation, with the slide sweeping from skyward ascent to pointed cues, was echoed in her playing: uninhibited, joyous, but displaying assured technique. On bass Adam Lane Adam Lane
b.1868
bass, acoustic brought depth to the rhythms and took one invigorating break where the transition back into the thematic material was as noteworthy as the solo itself. Drummer Foni commanded multiple genres whether martial cadences or timbral variation, as when he rubbed wet fingers across his drumhead to produce a series of slurred booms. Together they fashioned a suitably upbeat start to the day's proceedings.

Connie Crothers Quartet

Quality standards were sustained in the next set: a flowing exposition by pianist Connie Crothers Connie Crothers
b.1941
piano ' Quartet, featuring long-time collaborators alto saxophonist Richard Tabnik Richard Tabnik
and drummer Roger Mancuso Roger Mancuso
, along with more recent colleague Ken Filiano Ken Filiano
b.1952
bass, acoustic on bass. This same line-up, with the addition of trumpeter Roy Campbell Roy Campbell
b.1952
trumpet was responsible for the alluring Band of Fire (New Artists, 2011) documenting a 2010 concert at The Stone.

Though Crothers' studies with Cool School linchpin Lennie Tristano Lennie Tristano
1919 - 1978
piano are a near constant reference, they left little overt trace in the close-knit colloquy that succeeded the swinging initial melody. Thoughtful but unfettered interplay, and a high level of understanding, characterized what was one of the festival's most cohesive groups. Filiano contributed any number of compelling statements with his bass during their two pieces, but also indulged in notable communion in keeping a buoyant pulse with Mancuso, and especially the pianist. During one fierce exchange, their eyes locked across the stage, as if testing each other's mettle.

From left: Connie Crothers, Richard Tabnik, Roger Mancuso, Ken Filiano

Crothers' jabbing chords jostled with the saxophonist's convoluted alto lines, which were seemingly reflected in his physical contortions as he blew. Tabnik never hit the extremes, always maintaining a surefooted control, even as he slid fluidly between notes. His unhurried demeanor made a compelling contrast with the pianist, whose intensity was more impulsive and animated. But even at her most turbulent extreme, she was fully aware of her environment, able to pull the diverging bandmembers back into the head, before taking it out once more. It was a stunning performance that fully merited the ensuing standing ovation.

All Star Mystery Collective

Although the moniker coined by organizer Patricia Nicholson suggested an ad hoc grouping to complement her dance, the sextet actually followed charts. Comprising a dazzling constellation of Vision Festival mainstays who in previous years have each triumphantly led their own bands, there was a pleasing balance between daredevil flights and collective cohesion in a freewheeling session studded with bravura solos, raucous ensembles and rugged group empathy, accompanied by the dancing and occasional vocals of organizer Nicholson.

Trumpeter Roy Campbell Roy Campbell
b.1952
trumpet made the introductions and composed some of the tunes. His "Lament for Billy Bang Billy Bang
1947 - 2011
violin began with an appropriately mournful air before a fanfare led into a round of impassioned expositions. Alto saxophonist Rob Brown Rob Brown
b.1962
saxophone excelled with a typically tightly wound, heart-on-sleeve outpouring whose emotive weight benefited from his bittersweet tone and controlled harmonic dissonance.

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