The second part of our tour of jazz festivals in Europe was the 61st Jazzaldia in San Sebastián, Spain.
We listened to two consecutive concerts at the historic Trinitate Plaza. The first was the Azar Lawrence Quartet performing “John Coltrane: The Impulse Era”!
This concert celebrated the 100th anniversary of John Coltrane’s birth by focusing on his innovative years with Impulse! Records—the period that produced groundbreaking albums such as *A Love Supreme*, *Crescent*, and *Live at Birdland*.
Azar Lawrence is uniquely qualified to lead this tribute concert. He joined Elvin Jones’s band at the age of just 17. Later, he became a key member of McCoy Tyner’s group, touring extensively and appearing on numerous recordings with Coltrane’s legendary pianist. He also worked with Miles Davis—featuring on the classic live album *Dark Magus*—and collaborated with artists such as Pharoah Sanders, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Marvin Gaye, and Roberta Flack.
Lawrence did not merely re-enact Coltrane’s music; having inherited its musical language directly from some of Coltrane’s closest collaborators, he brought a deeply personal perspective to the music. The concert took place at the Plaza de la Trinidad, one of Jazzaldia’s most iconic venues.
Azar Lawrence Quartet
Quartet lineup: Azar Lawrence (tenor saxophone), Benito Gonzalez (piano), Essiet Essiet (double bass), Brandon Lee (drums).
Cécile McLorin Salvant also performed as part of the same evening’s program. It was a delight to hear her again, following her incredibly successful stage performance at the Pori Jazz Festival.
After a half-hour stage setup, Cécile McLorin Salvant took the stage with the same band she was touring with. The repertoire was the same, but the running order for this performance differed.
On July 23rd, we went to hear Samara Joy at the Kursaal Auditorioa. She was on a European tour, was accompanied by a band featuring Eli Feingold (trombone), David Mason (alto saxophone), Kendric McCallister (tenor saxophone), Jason Charos (trumpet), Connor Rohrer (piano), Paul Sikivie (bass), and Evan Sherman (drums). We couldn’t make it to Marciac this year, but Samara Joy performed there with the same lineup on July 26th. Here it is—don’t miss out on listening to it!
On July 25, at the Kursaal Auditorioa, we listened to *Side Eye III+*, a project in which Pat Metheny brings together powerful musicians from the younger generation. The project is garnering great acclaim for blending Metheny’s distinctive melodic style with the freshness and innovative spirit of next-generation jazz musicians.
Pat Metheny (guitar), Chris Fishman (keyboards), Jermaine Paul (bass), and Joe Dyson (drums) also appeared on stage.
Side-Eye is an ongoing project in which Metheny focuses on collaborating with exceptionally talented young musicians. The group does not merely reinterpret his classic works; they also perform new compositions, fresh arrangements of Metheny classics, and extended improvisations. This project has become one of the artist’s most exciting recent ensembles. The two-and-a-half-hour concert was filled with lyrical acoustic moments, spirited and impressive electric guitar performances, sophisticated rhythmic interplay, and extended solos.
For those who want to listen to the entire album, we’re adding it here.
