Dave Weisser (tpt/vcl), Paul Gowland, Dr. Steve Summers (tenors), Laurie Brown (vibes/drums), Barry Ascroft (pno), Jim Crinson (bs), Solly Bashiri (dms). + Harley Johnson & Chris Finch (pno).Tonight began very low key - no drums, Eric had a last minute emergency and couldn't make it. So it kicked off softly softly as a quartet - Dave, Jim, Barry and Laurie. The vibes gave it a Shearing cum MJQ sound with Dave throwing muted Miles into the mix. "September Song," "Moonglow", "It Don't Mean a Thing", "Lullaby of Birdland" just some of the exquisitely executed miniatures.
Come the second set and it was all systems go. Solly Bashiri arrived and was promptly sent home and told to come back with drums which, with some audience assistance, he did.
Chris Finch moved in on keyboards and two kickass tenor players - Paul Gowland and Dr. Steve Summers - arrived looking for blood. I said thank you to my lucky stars for not having my own sax with me!
This was the real deal; both players went for the jugular in the time honoured tradition of tenor players past present and, no doubt, future. Paul Gonsalves playing the interlude from "Dim. & Cres. in Blue" (Ellington @ Newport 1956) was but the starting point for these two guys!
A high-scoring score draw the only possible result!
Laurie played drums whilst Solly went to retrieve a missing bass pedal. Chris had some punchy solos before Harley finished the night off with the whole gang screaming and kicking "All of Me" into Jack Common's old backyard (No. 44 Third Avenue.)
This was one of those nights that are becoming more and more frequent at the Chilli.
With the Harley Johnson Trio next week, Scotty Adair and Steve Whitfield, the week after, then Budvivar, Alan Glen and Mo Scott to follow, the Chilli has got to be the hottest ticket in town (trans: Toon.)
Lance.
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