Graham Hardy (tpt); Paul Edis (keys); Neil Harland (bs); Rob Walker (dms).
(Review by Lance).
Graham Hardy, last seen at Hoochie four days previous with Hannabiell and Midnight Blue (Graham also played with NCRO at Tynemouth earlier that same day), fronted 3 fellow A - Listers for a pulsating couple of sets of pure funk.
The show opened with an explosive trumpet fanfare so powerful I expected someone to run in carrying the Olympic Torch - and it would have been appropriate - as Hardy went into a marathon solo reaching near stratospheric heights on Freddie Hubbard's Red Clay. Hubbard is, I guess, one of his influences and the evening had a late Hubbard Blue Note feel to it.
Bill Evan's Funkallero, the inspiration for the band's name, saw Neil Harland put in some wild licks - Daddy Cool was now Daddy Hot!
Paul Edis at the Virtual Hammond contributed his own brand of funk with his own composition - In The Pocket. These guys can, seemingly, turn their hand to whatever style is demanded of them.
Over There, a dirge-like tune that, nonetheless, gradually built up to an almost hypnotic climax via more bravura trumpet playing and compelling rhythmic intensity from Walker.
Other highlights included a Wayne Shorter number, some Hardy originals and a tune by Neil Harland! Yes Neil The Bass is also Neil The Composer - he'll be singing next!
This was, I think, their first gig and I was impressed. It's asking a lot for a trumpet player to take centre stage without a front-line partner but he did it and did it well. The chops were in good shape.
Lance.
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