Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 34

'm 6C SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2010 DemocratandChronicle.com DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE XEROX ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL Versatile Beck sets new standard at fest balcony seats from a sellout. As it should have been. With a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career that dates back to the 1960s and The Yardbirds (where he stepped into JEFF SPEVAK STAFF MUSIC CRITIC Picking the biggest name to have played the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival is for quibblers. If you insist on a jazz icon, go with Dave Jeff Beck plays to a sold-out crowd at the Eastman Theatre on Friday. A second show later was nearly sold out.

Brubeck, and you'd be right. enthusiasts would insist on CONCERT REVIEW ANNETTE LEIN staff photographer It's a crazy career, if your goal is commercial success, but an admirable one if the idea is artistic exploration. And he does have jazz on his resume. Beck cut two excellent jazz-fusion albums in the 70s, Wired and Blow By Blow, and a well-received 2008 instrumental jazz-rock record, Performing This Week Live at Ronnie Scott's. Beck certainly knows how to look like a rock star, with his sleeveless black shirt, black pants with a white stripe tucked into gray boots and chrome bracelets, perhaps left over from the customized tail pipes of the hot rods that he likes to work on, wrapped around his wrist and bicep.

The hair is still 70s-era dude. In fact, the 65-year-old Beck looks like a kid eager to stick his head under the hood of your car. Drawing heavily from his last two records, Beck's quartet started off rocking with a 90-minute set that included "Hammerhead" and "Corpus Christi Carol" from his James Brown, and they'd be right. Fans of wry co-medic films and dabblers in the clarinet would be correct in celebrating the cause of Woody Allen. But Jeff Beck set a new standard here Friday.

One sold-out show at the Eastman Theatre, a second just a handful of i' i hard-rocking jazz of the show-opening "Eternity's Breath," a John McLaughlin piece, or "Stratus" and "Blast From the East," all from Performing This Live at Ronnie Scott's, or "Led Boots" from Wired, also reprised for the live record. Resurrecting other musicians' pasts is something Beck has done quite well, and, with the aid of bassist Rhonda Smith on bluesy vocals, dusted off "Rollin' and Tumblin and instrumental versions of The Day in the Life" and a heart breaking "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Interestingly, that's at least the fourth time that last song has made an appearance here this week, after Stanley Jordan and Chuchito Valdes, and also on Friday, Jane Monheit. You expect influences like Miles Davis at jazz festivals. Now we can add Judy Garland to the list. Today's jazz haiku Rollin' and Tumblin Somewhere Over the Rainbow Wailing and soaring JSPEVAKDemocratandChronicle.com Eric Clapton's shoes) Beck has plenty of material to draw from.

Perhaps he's been slowed commercially because he's worked over the years with so many vocalists, including Rod Stewart, and sometimes has just said to hell with the singers. Jeff Beck simply does not have an easily identifiable sound. i 01 ifal.T2iHr-Vf!,.'. 1 Duffy, Mifot City ol Hoofttttir, NY MVP Health Care, Wegmans, City Newspaper, Maplewood Neighborhood Association, Rochester Rotary Club, Rochester Public Library MaaryngsnmHjglfima I toViSffi new album, the lush Emotion Commotion; slipped into jazz-fusion; then back to rock and funk, with "I Want to Take You Higher;" then to encores of the rockabilly swing of his recent Les Paul tribute, "How High the Moon," and "Nessun Dorma." A few of the rock purists took a break in the lobby during the fusion section, but not for long. If any sound is signature Beck, and he can actually play them all, let's go with sorrowful, soaring guitar leads, whether it's the world music to choose from Friday night.

Musicians from Denmark, Norway, England, Hungary and Brazil were all represented. Three of the acts featured singers, and all three drew comparisons to Bjork. One big trio Gwyneth Herbert apologized for her band, advertised as a quartet, but clearly a trio. No apology necessary. As the English singer pointed out, she was playing a handful of instruments, so the crowd for her first show at Christ Church was actually getting more than its money's worth.

She opened with a striking, piercing set of notes, not only showing off that she would be delivering the goods as a singer, but that she would be an unusual one, as well. Backed by acoustic guitar and double bass, Herbert played ukulele, piano, a small drum and tin whistle herself. And she whistled. Her bright, beautiful voice easily filled the huge church, as did her charming, coquettish personality, like a 21st century, folksy Julie London. Unlabeled luggage Little Red Suitcase literally displayed a miniature red suitcase on the piano in Xerox Auditorium as Johanne Borch- What's in your future? Consult our Horoscope every day.

in the Jim Pond. (Family in a convertible. Displayed June 3-24, 1968. wwwf ityofrochnstcr.gov ert accompanied the accordionist Elena Setien. The duo lives in Denmark, but Borchert is from Germany and Setien from Spain.

Setien has a child-like voice, while half singing and half speaking odd lyrics and musical poetry about things like organic food and swimming with dolphins. Her voice against the acoustic piano, often playing an assortment of odd instrument, is sparse and atmospheric. The group was nominated for best vocaljazz at the Danish Music Awards, but jazz is a tough label for music like this. Indie pop might suit it better. Magic touch I don't really care what you call the duo from Norway at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, Susanna the Magical Orchestra (a.k.a.

singer Susanna Karolina Wallumrod and pianist Morten Qyenild). Whatever you call it eclectic, trip hop, slow pop, experimental there's no need for labels when the music captivates as this did. Wallumrod's vocals are a beautiful lullaby against a sifting background of electronic beats on modifiers and keyboards by Qyenild. Even Wallumrod one city IDC-000021B1B2 SALE DAYS JUNE 24-26 FREE msmm St iii Jazz FROM PAGE 1C Versace, bassist Drew Gress and drummer Tom Rainey jumping off the deep end? Everything after that was easy listening. Climate change was hard to draw out of the eclectic movements, unless there was some message about global nidus uuacu ill.

The planet is a big massive piace ana sne-pik's suite seems to focus on the instability of it all. But there was plenty 'ft. tfV n. had her own set of knobs to work with. In addition to originals, they performed intensely personal versions of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" and, as an encore, Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Noth ing but tears could come out of this.

Traditional nod Adding to the night's vocalists was a lone American, Jane Monheit in Kilbourn Hall. In fact, she's now an upstate girl, living in Rome, Oneida County, where her husband and drummer Rick Montalbano grew up. In contrast to the other singers of the night, she's as traditional as it gets, if it weren't for a tint of folksiness to her voice. She charmed the audience with lesser-known standards the perfect wedding music with a band that included Rick Montalbano Sr. on the organ and young guitarist Tom Bronzetti.

Street music Festival co-producer John Nugent estimated 30,000 people at the festival on Friday, which included a large party on East Avenue and Chestnut Street for Booker T. and the MG's. With beers in hand, the popular '60s band kept the atmosphere rocking and grooving on the streets. AREGUERODemocratandChronicle.com JSreVAKDemccratandChroniclc.com DEM0CRATANDCHR0NICLE.COM Find hundreds of events and things to do. Juneteenth Celebration: Entertainment, speakers, food and activities for children.

11 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 19. Susan B. Anthony Square, King and Madison streets.

Free. (585) Spencerport Firemen's Carnival: Rides, games, food, live entertainment and activities. Noon to 1130 p.m. June 19. Fireman's Exempt Grounds, Union Street (Route 259), Spencerport.

Free admission, www.spencerport fire.org. JUST FOR KIDS Bach Children's Chorus Audition: Audition meeting for vocal ensemble for children, ages 8-16; with training chorus for ages 5-7. 11 a.m. to noon June 19 (arrive 10:45 a.m.). Gerald G.

Wilmot Hall of Music, 4245 East Pittsford. (585) 442-0800 or www.bachkidsusa.org. Family Fun Night: A meet and greet with Buzz Llghtyear and Woody from Toy Story 3. Plus, the mall will be collecting new toys to try to make a Guinness World Record that day. Toys will be donated to The Pirate Toy Fund.

11 a.m. to 4 m. June 19. Mall at Greece Ridge, 271 Greece Ridge Center Drive, Greece. Free.

(585) 225-1140 or www.themall atgreeceridge.com. BARGAINS BEER PARTY JUNE 24 6-8pm AT THE MEMORIAL ART GALLERY THINGS TO DO The Gallery Council of the Memorial Art r.allfrv Rochester NY 585.276.8910 ma2.r0chester.edu 0- 'if-. Sr. 500 University Avenue, OC-00002237M 1 1 gjb" Ijjl GEORGE HOUSE US Summer COMEDY Clubs Alysia Wood: Stand up comedy. 7:30 and 10 p.m.

June 19. The Comedy Club, 2235 Empire Webster. $5. (585) 671-9080 or www.thecomedyclub.us. CONCERTS Choral Phoenix Boys Choir: With the Amadeus Chorale.

7 p.m. June 19. Twelve Corners Presbyterian Church, 1200 S. Winton Road, Brighton. $10.

(585) 244-8585 or www.boyschoir.org. Other Hochstein at Canandalgua: Simple Gifts: Concert to benefit the Molly Brown Memorial Scholarship. 3 p.m. June 19. Canandaigua Elementary School, 90 Gibson Canandaigua.

$10, $5 students; $20 family maximum. (585) 454-4596 or www.hochstein.org. FESTIVALS Festival on the Green: Arts and crafts, entertainment, 5K race, fireworks, games, food, storytelling and activities. Highlights Include pie easting contest, 5 to 6 p.m. June 19, and parade, 6 p.m.

June 19. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 19 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

June 20 at Harry Allen Park, North Main Street, Honeoye Falls. Free admission, www.festivalon thegreen.us. -1L (C. JL 2010 I Ads that wowed the world Colorama Celebration Party with a Mad Men" theme Friday, June 25, 6-8 p.m. Celebrate BIG advertising in a BIG way! Grab a martini and tasty nibbles, be part of a "Colorama" photo shoot, and show off your slick style.

Pillbox hats and fedoras optional. Cash bar. members. Pay at the door. Celebration presented by This exhibition and tour are generously supported by the Harcourt M.

and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation, Inc. 900 East Avenue, Rochester NY www.eastmanhouse.org OC-00002232W.