Jason Moran & The Bandwagon
Durham Fruit Company 305 S Dillard St, Durham, North Carolina 27701
Jason Moran has a new vision for jazz. His influences are eclectic, even adventurous: The pianist and composer has a style that spans genres and decades, integrating his mastery of old techniques, like a two-handed piano style ubiquitous in the jazz of the 1920s, with newer sounds from hip-hop, funk, and avant-garde jazz. His work raises questions about history, heritage, and what it means to carry old work into this century. He received wide attention for In My Mind, his reimagining of a famous 1959 Thelonious Monk performance, and his original work also speaks to the past. Some pieces are moody and thoughtful, while others crackle with energy. Whatever the style, Moran is a compelling performer. On Thursday, he’ll be joined by his backing band, the Bandwagon, which includes bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits. The Fruit, a warehouse space, is rawer than Moran’s usual haunts; expect the trio to fill it up with sou