Brendan Murphy (tuned glass percussion),
Graham Hardy (trumpet & flugelhorn) & Neil Harland (double bass)
(Review by Russell. Photos by Ken Drew).
Splinter @ the Bridge presented a
world premiere! Brendan Murphy’s amazing glass constructions - water-filled
bowls, bells, blocks - constituted a glistening, gleaming, crystal orchestra
from which sounds rang and chimed to the echo. Trumpeter Graham Hardy adopted
Miles’ modal mode, bassist Neil Harland mined a rich seam of grooves. Hypnotic,
insinuating loops took cover in the dusk of the night air, a grapefruit-green
spotlight illuminated Murphy’s Heath Robinson instrument.
Improvised pieces,
written compositions, reference points punctuated the performance; Moorish
sketches of Miles and Gil, the Eastern drone rung from fragile vessels of
glass, a bass line suggesting
A Love Supreme. A highlight of the evening, a Harland
blues, went down to the Delta in search of Buddy Bolden. Hardy’s muted trumpet
called out and I swear the iconic figure visited the Bridge, in spirit, if not
in body. The late Keith Morris - musician, teacher, promoter - was friend and
mentor to the Mu Ha Ha three, so it was fitting his
Scheherazade be played so beautifully on such an occasion.
My Favourite Things drew to a close a
unique evening in the upstairs room of the Bridge Hotel. Next week (Sunday 7
July) sees the welcome return of Alter Ego.
Photos (by Ken Drew).
Russell.
Brendan Murphy (tuned glass percussion),
Graham Hardy (trumpet & flugelhorn) & Neil Harland (double bass)
No comments :
Post a Comment