Veronica is inclusive and gracious in the spotlight, digging and enthusiastically embracing the performance of each and every player while at the same time engaging the audience. Her contagious joy is the mark of a great singer who delivers.
Along with Fred Hersch, Eldar Djangirov and Brad Meldhau, among the greatest jazz pianists performing today. Each one with a clearly defined individual style.
This was a great jam. Cream of the crop for a Small's band. Search for 'Véronica Swift & Wynton Marsalis "Cherokee" @Jazz_in_Marciac 2019' for an amazing performance from her.
I've been digging Veronica since the first time I heard her, maybe five years ago. She is the real deal! BUT -- where was the sound mixer on this gig? Did she do something to piss him/her off? BTW -- the reason we hear everyone talking over the bass solo is that the sound mixer doesn't have enough mics!
Bill's rendering of American songbook standards is always mesmerising to me. I was lucky enough to see and hear his sorcery up close, as I was present when he played a gig at Ronnie Scot's here in London UK back in the summer of 2015.
When God was allocating musical talent, he did so using an enormously gigantic pitcher filled with 'musical talent' potion. On approaching the soul of a yet to be born human, he would dip his fingers into the pitcher, and, with the flick of his hand, sprinkle a bit of talent upon the soul. And so, that was your quota of talent. Unfortunately, as he approached Bill's soul, he tripped.
