Abdullah Ibrahim piano; Belden Bullock bass; George Graydrums;Cleave Guyton alto sax; Keith Loftis tenor sax; Andrae Murchison trombone; Jason Marshall baritone sax.
I came in on a high from the previous two concerts (Brass Jaw and Jason Yarde with VOTNJO) this was to be the icing on the cake - and it was. The only trouble being that there was too much icing and not enough cake.
It all began with Abdullah playing beautifully and serene. One of the signs of a good pianist, jazz or otherwise, is in the touch - the feeling that is created when fingers hit keys. Abdullah has that.
Bass and drums joined him and added their own ingredients to the mix. The result still beautifully serene.
On came the horns and I thought that now we're going to get that infectious swing the program notes referred to.
Instead it was rich harmonies that drew up pastoral images and so, for the first hour of this two hour, uninterrupted, concert the tapestry unfolded - beautiful and serene.
I began to feel restless. True that, in this sea of tranquillity, there were a couple of suggestions of turbulence when the tempo upped and the horns were let loose but they were small islands and it soon returned to the neo-funereal.
This was a unique experience for me. Never before have I heard so much beautiful music yet left without a spring to my step.
It was left to Gerry Richardson's Big Idea to do that afterwards in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sadly, I could only stay for a couple of numbers as the Metro beckoned but nevertheless, they gave me the uplift I needed.
Lance.
4 comments :
I enjoyed the Abdullah gig last night. I knew nothing about him but thourght his solo stuff was beautiful and evocative. I could have listened to it for hours. I couldn't get my head round the genre of the jazz style the band played but some great arrangements in the second half particularly. Great tenor player. And the whole band were very good at blowing !
Spellbindingly spellbound by that horn section. Probably the best live performance I've experienced for years. Something happened in that room and we all felt it. And still do 24 hours later. I could cry right now.
Can I just add how many of you missed out on the great experience of the festival after hours club.
I was there on one night, surrounded by lots of the stars of the festival all playing their little hearts out in front of other musicians.
Great time had by all.
Sounds like I should have supported Abdullah as this has drawn diverse reactions, but sadly I couldn't make it. I've been listening to him since I got his original African Piano album in the early 70's when he went under the name of Dollar Brand - really is worth getting up for. His style has been more serenity than attack, which can be like a hot bath - there's a limit to how long you can enjoy lying in it!
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