LCD mindblowing @ Corner House.

Mornington Lockett (ten), Lawrence Cottle (bs.gtr), Martin Drew (dms).

My first thought when I saw the name of the band - LCD - was that this was going to be one of those "This next composition is one I wrote whilst running for the bus..." type nights.

I couldn't have been further from the truth!

I should have picked up the clue from Mornington's tee shirt - it had 'Blue Note' printed across front and rear and this was what it was - a contemporary Blue Note style blowing session.

All 3 musicians have technique to spare and woe betide anyone who crosses their path in a jam!

The last time I heard Martin Drew was at York when he was with Simon Spillett. Tonight, at Corner House, he was with another hardblowing hit 'em where it hurts tenorman in Mornington Lockett.

Apart from a couple of Pat Metheny tunes most were well known standards that provided the sax man with the perfect launching pad.

"My One and Only Love", "Autumn Leaves", "It Could Happen To You", "Yesterdays", "Donna Lee" were some of the tunes that the pianoless trio took to the cleaners and hung out to dry.

Michel Petrucciani's "My Bebop Tune" had an amazing cadenza-like intro from ML that was breathtaking. The same tune also saw some clever interplay between bass and drums.

The finale - "Just in Time" - was taken at tempo di Jenson (Button) which meant it was fast.

No prisoners and no pit stops.

Apart from ML there were some incredible happenings from Cottle. Playing a five string bass guitar he played chord patterns and intricate runs as if he were playing a fast action lead guitar. Martin Drew - is there anything left to say about Martin? The man is rock steady, he's deservedly regarded as one of the best kitmen around and tonight he didn't put a beat wrong.

A good night was had by all which wasn't as big an all as they deserved.

I'm not going to start preaching again save to ask the so-called moderns why miss an evening like this?

Having said that, the audience may have been small but it oozed quality in the form of bassists, drummers and a few saxy persons.

Photos.

Lance.