Tower of Power!

(Photo by Michel Vonlanthen at www.jazzphone.ch).

I just returned from Freihofer's Jazz Festival at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Currently, day two of the event is ongoing, but my parents and I decided to only go to the first day. The reason for this was simple--Tower of Power! performed yesterday only.

I've been wanting to see Tower of Power! since the seventh grade, when my middle school jazz band played "What is Hip?" Yesterday, finally, I was able to feel the power.

However, given the poor behavior of the audience, I feel like an apology is in order to the group. Here it goes:

Dear Tower of Power!,

I was at your concert last night. It was awesome. Hip. Powerful. When you played "Diggin' On James Brown" I honestly felt a tear coming down my cheek. It could have been due to the wind (I have really sensitive eyes), but I actually think it was from hearing you guys for the first time, after over six years of waiting.

Your dancing was fantastic. Funky Doctor (the baritone saxist) was hilarious. Your lead singer was so good he even impressed my mom.

Yet, for some reason, the amphitheater was half empty when you played. People were trickling out in the middle of songs. The atmosphere was pretty much dead as you played.

I want to apologize for this. You deserve much better.

You came onto the stage after a very long day of jazz, some which was incredibly inspiring, some which was not. David Sanborn on the saxaphone was fantastic. Jean-Luc Ponty on the jazz violin was surprisingly good. Yet, the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey was dull and melodyless--they clearly thought they were too cool for school. The Ray Haynes Quartet, while good, was simply too small and calm to fill such a large amphitheater.

And then there was George Benson. He came on right before you. He was once good (so my mom tells me). He was once a pop-star. Now he's old and not very good at all.

When Benson was playing, the crowd was dancing all around, singing the words to his old hits. They were living vicariously through the aging Benson, remembering the days when they were younger and listened to his hits on record or radio.

At around 9:30, you guys came on, and the crowd was emotionless and half-empty. Apparently, many people came to simply see Benson and then left.

You deserve much better. Your performance was one of the greatest live performances I have ever seen. The music, the dancing, the personality--you guys are the real deal.

This coming fall, when I have to vote for a Spring Concert performer here at Amherst, you're definitely going to be my write-in candidate.

Now, finally, I know what hip is. You group is the definition of hip.

Thanks,

JT

For anyone unfamiliar with Tower of Power!, here is a clip of them playing their hit "What is Hip?" at the 2006 Montreal Jazz Festival with Carlos Santana. Their performance last night was very similar, minus Santana and the full crowd.