Its’s all about the bass says MeghanTrainor. Similarly, Yale’s Ellington Jazz Series seems to favor the low end. I have seen titans of bass Ron Carter and Dave Holland for these events, so it’s only fitting to view young lioness LMHO. Malaysian born, Perth raised Oh, came at the bass through classical training. She won a 2023 Grammy for participating on Terri Lynne Carrington’s album New Standards Vol. 1. She is joined onstage by Greg Ward on sax, Mark Whitfield Jr. on drums, Fabian Almazan on piano and effects, and Sara Serpa on voice. The concert was based on her recent release The Glass Hours, a collection of works that focused on “ abstract themes of the fragility of time and life”. Ward blew feverish runs, often in unison with Serpa and Oh on wordless vocals. The titles and explanations were zen-like, Circles, Antiquity, The Glass Hours, The Imperative, Phosphorus, Respite were all expertly delivered. Oh toggled between standup and electric bass with flashes of funk, drone, and modern composition. Whitfield Jr. was lithe and reminded me of Calvin Weston behind the kit. He looked as if he was on the verge of cracking up, like he had a Jerry Seinfeld on the Bluetooth. Almazan seems to be Oh’s partner as one tune was written for their three year old. He reveled in playing the Sprague Steinway which stretches for two city blocks. The addition of Serpa added a unique sound with some poetic passages, her Portuguese accent shining through. Gracious to be included in this historic series, Oh will be on the forefront of jazz for years to come.
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