I'm not an expert on freely improvised playing but I like the genre and really enjoy it when things come off. They certainly did at this gig.
A unique quintet of two drummers (one also using electronics), keyboards, guitar (+ electronics) and fronted by James Allsopp (saxs & bass clt). You sort of expect top players these days to have phenomenal technical ability - plenty of that on show but it was also deeply felt playing ranging from moving lyrical phases to manic, post Coltrane, sheets of sound. An emotional roller coaster.
The two percussionists (Tim Giles/Ben Reynolds) worked beautifully together and generated quite an infectious rhythmic storm at times. Subtle keyboard interventions from Philip Hochstrate were complemented by wide ranging guitar interludes and accompaniment, from lyrical, fragmented bursts to what seemed to me to be Hendrix/punk/R&B/heavy metal influenced playing from Chris Sharkey.
Chris is a local but now works from Leeds. A unique and phenomenal player destined for much wider recognition I feel. The music was not completely free - there was a fair amount of structure with arranged sections and motifs developing into a 'free for all' then back to pre-arranged sections. All in all it was quite a concert - one that left me drained and rather 'bowled over'. Phew!
Incidentally, the Radio 3 Mingus feature today just reminded me of how much he was a pivotal figure paving the way for what was on offer last night.
1 comment :
Thanks Roly; great report of a gig that you obviously enjoyed.
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