The Profound Sound Trio @ Gateshead Old Town Hall

Andrew Cyrille (dms), Henry Grimes (bs & vln), Paul Dunmall (ten/sop/bagpipes).

What can I say? Three brilliant players who, in a single set lasting just over an hour, took free improvisation to a new height. So intent were they on their marathon solos that not a word was spoken. Instead they delved deep into their innermost soul. Searching, probing and finally exploding with a cascade of notes which, in the case of Dunmall, shot from the instrument with the speed and multi-directional aim of a box of firecrackers after someone had simultaneously lit the blue touchpaper on all of them.

Not content with tenor and soprano he also delivered sheets of sound on the bagpipes.

Whilst all this was going on, Cyrille and Grimes went off down their own journey into the unknown. Grimes swapping the big fiddle for the little fiddle and producing some sounds that Stephane or Yehudi might have disputed actually came from a violin.

Master percussionist Cyrille, not to be outdone had his moments in the spotlight displaying his prodigious technique to great effect. On one occasion he was on the verge of swing but he checked himself in the nick of time

With all this going on it is not surprising that the audience, almost to a man, were vociferous in their applause.

You might note I said "almost"...

Photos.

Lance.