Hancher presented the Kenny Barron Trio with David Sanchez on November 13. We asked our audience for their reactions:
Thank you so much for a fantastic concert. My wife and I live in West Des Moines but we come up to Iowa City at least once a year for your wonderful jazz shows. We had a nice hotel room and great meal at Bistro 126. My wife enjoyed a nice date night and I enjoyed some fantastic jazz.
Keep bringing world class jazz and we will keep doing our part to help the Iowa City economy.
Thanks again, Jeffrey Lind.
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I was so glad that my wife and I attended the Kenny Barron Trio concert at the Englert last Saturday night.
The quality of the performance was first rate. It is such a pleasure to see musicians of this caliber playing a wide range of music, from the beautiful and soulful renditions of standards such as "My Funny Valentine", to the melodically intriguing originals such as "Song for Abdullah" and "Bud Like" and also the energetic re-workings of "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise."
We sat in the stage-left wing of the auditorium. When the music first began, I was afraid that the sound quality wasn't going to be that good. I had a little trouble hearing the piano and the bass. I don't know if the sound crew was working on it, or if my ears adjusted, but that quickly seemed to become not a concern and I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the evening.
I thought the standing ovation which the band received was well-deserved and I was pleased that Kenny came out and gave another solo performance.
I am really looking forward to Esperanza Spalding next month.
Thank you,
Mike Buckman
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FABULOUS in any language! SUPERB in any language! Thoroughly enjoyable. An amazing group individually and together---
Hancher attendees
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This was one of the finest evenings of live jazz I’ve ever enjoyed – and I’ve enjoyed quite a few! Thanks to Hancher for bringing Kenny Barron and David Sanchez to Iowa City.
Forrest Meyer
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We truly enjoyed the intimate setting (appropriately sized stage) and wonderful ‘quartet’ (Kenny Barron Trio with David Sanchez). It well was worth the drive from Ames for this evening of great jazz! Keep up the great programming.
Bob Mazur & Semakaleng Lebepe-Mazur
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My wife and I found much that we liked about the jazz trio plus David Sanchez. The bass player was very accomplished and impressed us with his techniques of various styles. Eddie Barron was very much in control of his piano and we enjoyed him.
As older people who have patronized Hancher for many years, (somewhere around 40 years), we have found the seats in the Englert very uncomfortable for long stretches. We would like to have seen an intermission, or maybe two. We left after about 90 minutes, due to our back discomfort and the long pieces. Just to stand up and stretch would have helped. I know you are strapped for performance venues, so you are forgiven.
Thanks for all your efforts,
Lee and Bev Witwer
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Outstanding musicians and outstanding music. More!
Sherwood
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This was an incredible concert. Kenny Barron makes playing the piano seem effortless. His enunciation is beyond compare. Add the incredible musicians that accompanied him and I would say this is possibly the best jazz concert I've attended; and I've attended quite a few. I did get a few of their CDs after the concert but they do not do the live performance justice by any stretch. You just don't capture the way the instruments talk to each other on CD. You really have to experience a live performance such as this to appreciate their true virtuosity.
Richard Rives Bird
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Kenny Barron and his group were possibly the best group we have seen, anywhere/anytime!
Barb and Phil Peterson
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My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed Kenny Barron and David Sanchez backed by Barron's really fine trio. Englert Theater is a wonderful venue and I love an evening of jazz with such superb players.
Mark
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All four musicians were superb.
Verne Kelley
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fabulous, one of the finest concerts I've attended.
Ann
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You expect quality from professional musicians but the Kenny Barron quartet performance went beyond that. For me, each singular piece was a cut diamond which coalesced into a shining necklace by evening's end. And what a pleasure it was to hear a young talent like Kim Thompson on drums. As I thanked her for the music after the concert, I told her wherever they were Art Blakey and Max Roach had to be smiling...
Ron Ikan