Ron Carter was deleted from the North Sea Jazz Festival line-up because of "personal reasons". Not bad enough to prevent him from playing in the US (strange). Hope this won't be seen as a break of contract.
I'm going to the NSJF tonight as well (went last 2 days also). Friday I saw a killer Charles Tolliver Big Band set (with Bill Saxton completely smokin' Billy Harper, not a small feat!!!). Talkin' about underrated......This Saxton guy is really something. THen off to EST (the Swedish ECM type trio) which was very good. Topped the whole with a smashing set by Scofield, Medeski, Martin & Wood! Yesterday (saturday) was more "woman" type of music day. First Steely Dan (always great to see those guys). Then our own Trijntje Oosterhuis with the Metropole Orchestra (Vince Mendoza arranger, conductor) singing Burt Bacharach songs (she just made a cd with these songs and line-up). THen I wanted to see Gino Vannelli but the hall was too crowded and you couldn't get in which is a pitty since my good friend Erik Kooger plays the drums in this group. I'll catch them later in the Netherlands somewhere. Tonight will be the best I hope with the SF Jazz Collective, Joshua Redman Trio, Dave Holland Quintet, Mike Stern/Dave Weckl/Anthony Jackson, Solal with Konitz, Mengelberg trio etc, etc.......