MuHaHa @ The Bridge Hotel. June 30

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.