The Lethbridge Jazz Festival was a lot of fun, at least the couple shows I caught.

 While I missed the opening show on Wednesday, I enjoyed Allen Jacobson and the Contemporary Jazz Works Orchestra at the Tongue n Groove, Friday, June 17 which had a close to sold out crowd.

 It was a blast watching Jacobson conduct the orchestra with expansive gestures and vivid facial expressions, as the orchestra sat rapt in concentration, playing the music of an array of European composers as well as some more well known modern American composers like Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

 Everybody got a chance to strut their stuff in impressive solos, standing up to play them. Jacobson showed off some strange, experimental trombone material did some scatting then sang a pretty Charlie Mingus jazz ballad.

He made jokes in between songs and told stories about some of the European composers.

 I enjoyed the Coltrane arrangement, though I missed the name.
“John Coltrane wrote those changes  in 1963 and they’re still a challenge to play,” he explained afterwards.

As far as Jazz Festival activities, I only caught that show, part of an exceptional piano heavy set from the Davidson Porter Trio at Ric’s Grill, June 18 and part of the Saturday afternoon jam at the Slice. 

The jam featured the Usual Suspects (Paul Holden, Brad Brouwer,  James Oldenburg) plus jazz scene stalwarts Don Robb and David Renter and guests including Allen Jacobson.

Tommy Banks, who had a solo show Saturday night at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre, was in the audience, but didn't join them on stage, preferring to sit in the background applauding politely and listening intently.