Graham Connah's NoPorkestra & Chorus
Anyone who's seen jazz pianist Graham Connah in concert is familiar with his fun-loving fascination with language. From droll, between-song wisecracks to clever album titles (like his palindromic debut, Snaps Erupt at Pure Spans, and last year's choice follow-up, My God Has Fleas), Connah seems never at a loss for the wry turn of phrase. He even extends his linguistic tomfoolery to the names of the many groups he leads, such as Spasms & Rapture, Sour Note Six (his regular sextet), and the latest 13-piece incarnation of his large ensemble, NoPorkestra & Chorus. Featuring Sour Note collaborators (bassist Trevor Dunn, clarinetist Ben Goldberg, drummer Elliot Kavee) and the dazzling vocalists of Charming Hostess (Jewlia Eisenberg and Carla Kihlstedt), this big band marries Connah's wiry wordplay to his eloquent musicality. In other words: no pork. Typical George Cothran tunes spur dynamic blowing, but the jams never stray far from the songs. The melodic/harmonic concepts undergirding Connah's compositions take center stage, and his penchant for poetics intensifies the sounds suitably.
-- Sam Prestianni
Graham Connah's NoPorkestra & Chorus perform Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 8 p.m. at Venue 9, 252 Ninth St. Tickets are $6-10 (sliding scale); call 626-2169.
