Michael Janisch (bs/bsgtr), Paul Booth (ten/alt), Jason Palmer (tpt/flug), Jim Hart (vbs), Clarence Penn (dms).This has been quite a week for live jazz and, with Scarborough on the horizon, it looks set to continue. Tonight there was even a choice! Andy Shephard was 50 miles away out west at Lanercost Priory and it did look very tempting. However, the Michael Janisch Quintet were at Live Theatre - a mere 7 miles from where I hang my hat so MJQ won the day.
The Live Theatre gig, the first of Jazz Northeast's Autumn Program drew a reasonable crowd and I don't think they were disappointed. I certainly wasn't.
This was an imaginative program of mainly original pieces by Janisch, "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" and Strayhorn's "Bloodcount" being the two exceptions. "Lost Creek", for me, stood out amongst the originals although all were impressive; a Mingus inspired piece showing where Michael's bass technique came from. As well as playing mighty fine bass he introduced each number with humour and informative content.
LIAMST was a showcase for the U.K.'s Jim Hart whose 4 mallet technique is something special - he himself is something very special - I can't recall hearing a better vibist.
"Bloodcount"; evocative and delicate. Drawing the harmonic properties to the forefront.
Paul Booth, the only other non American and originally from Durham, lost nothing by comparision with his world class colleagues and he blew up the proverbial storm. His saxual prowess is awesome and, as the guy who sold him his first sax, I feel a kind of a paternal pride in his achievements.
Trumpeter Jason Palmer has quickly become one of the most in demand jazz musicians of his generation. The June 2007 issue of Downbeat Magazine cited Jason as one of the Top 25 trumpeters of the Future - I'd reduce that figure considerably. Tonight, Jason Palmer played some exciting stuff reminiscent at times of Miles or Lee Morgan.
Drummer Penn from NYC also excelled. Penn is another widely sort after player and tonight we knew why. He kicked!
Chatting with Paul Booth during the interval he asked if I was going to Scarborough informing me that he's playing with four different bands at the Festival - including MJQ so, on tonight's performance, take my word for it, Scarborough is the place to be next weekend.
Lance.
5 comments; click to add more:
Hi Lance
Another great gig here in the north east. I agree that ''Lost Creek'' with Paul Booth's contribution was a highlight. The M Base tune in the second set was another highlight, as was Strayhorn's ''Blood Count''. Live Theatre is certainly one of the better venues in which to hear jazz and Michael Janisch seemed to like it a lot.
Russell
Hi Lance
The ''slide show'' is excellent. The black and white images are particularly effective; those of Paul Booth and Jason Palmer ''sitting out'', as it were, the one of Janisch and Palmer is tremendous. There's a hard - back coffee table book of jazz photography in there somewhere!
Russell
I think William Claxton got there first!
Greetings Lance,
The stunning skills of MJQ are awesome. The sheer beauty of Blood Count confirmed this for me.
Well done Jazz North East and all who made this gig possible.
Jim.
Sorry I had to miss the gig - I'm going to try and get to Scarborough for the Friday concert. Just wanted to say that your photos of the band are excellent, great atmosphere - well done.
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