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Copenhagen Jazz Festival, 2015

Fire

Shouting Fire! Orchestra In A Crowded Theater
The 37th Edition of the Copenhagen Jazz Festival has just concluded after 10 full days of music and celebration. While the fest is more loyal to authentic jazz than most other large festivals, they still endeared themselves to the masses with pop shows by the likes of Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, Al Jarreau and Jamie Cullum. Besides other high-profile jazz acts including the Brad Mehldau Trio, singers Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright, Chick Corea & Herbie Hancock and Brazilian legends Caetano Veloso & Gilberto Gil, the fest’s programming was actually quite progressive.

With more than 100 venues participating all over the city, there was never any trouble finding left-of-the-dial, improvisational and/or free/jazz gigs. That said, Italian pianist Enrico Peiranunzi played at Gustavs Bistro, which harkened back to the days of classic piano bars (like the old Bradley’s in NYC). Other piano legends such as Kenny Barron and Kirk Lightsey appeared, as did modernists like Vijey Iyer and the Bad Plus with guest saxophonist Joshua Redman.

One of the more unusual highlights was undoubtedly the Fire! Orchestra, which played two action packed shows at the Jazzhouse. Led by Swedish power saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, the Fire! Orchestra is a huge, sprawling collective with at least 20 members. The band brings to mind other anarchic jazz armies like Sun Ra’s band or Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra. Boasting multiple horn players, guitarists, drummers and singers, Gustafsson led his troops through a wailing, thrashing, high-energy show that kept the Copenhagen audience fully engaged and set everyone’s minds on fire. This frantic mix of Scandinavian musicians epitomized the wild experiences possible at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival. The only question is how to take this band on the road—perhaps Babylon by bus? I repeat, Fire! Orchestra. Listen now.

—Mitch Myers