The first night of Jazzoula, Missoula's annual spring music festival, got off to a convivial start with a relaxed set by the UM Grizzly Jazz sextet. That was followed by a series of two-song sets by several young female vocalists.
The set of the evening for me, though, was an engaging performance by young Missoula vocalist Margi Cates fronting a quartet of longstanding local musicians called The Smoking Jackets.
The give and takebetween Cates and saxophonist Pat Montgomery was polished and well paced. But it was Cates who won the crowd over. She's not only comfortable with her bandmates, but has a stage presence and charisma of a much older vocalist (she said she's 21).
It was a nice way to kick off the five-day festival.
A major festival improvement is the relocation of the bar to a tent just outside the auditorium. Last year performers and audience had to deal with the noise of non-music-listening attendees who were gathered around the bar.
The only glitch was minor: the stage was significantly under-lit, making it often difficult for musicians to read their music. Tough on the photographer as well.
PHOTOS: Above, vocalist Margi Cates. Middle, Cates and saxophonist Pat Montgomery. Bottom: Bassist Bill James.
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