(Review by
Kath Jobes)
Wow what a busy Sunday! First I went to the inaugural
Jam session at Salsa… great to see some new faces… long may it continue… you
can never have too much Jazz! After a
bite to eat at and a natter to a couple of folks, I moved on to Splinter at The
Bridge… well, I thought, why not make an evening of it?
I think I was the first one there… apart from
the band, but slowly the numbers grew, although not quite as well attended as
expected…but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
The first set commences with Tyneside Blues, an original number
written by Alan Law, filled with 13ths in recognition of a mate he used to play
with who would often shout out that the chord in bar so and so is a 13th…
sorry I missed the guy’s name but anyone who plays with him may well recognise
this reference. This tune began with a
very laid-back piano but quickly gained momentum into a nice improvised section
between D. Bass and Piano. The next
number, Ending, was described as ‘not
swing’ and indeed that soft piano
introduction with occasional swishes from the brushes of Jonathan Marriott that
grew as ‘Thee Pope’ added his bass was certainly not swing… the progression
onto an intricate bass solo and variation of timbre of percussion and piano enthralled the
growing audience. A lovely ballad
ensued, I Remember Clifford, and this
tune exhibited the wonderful combination of Bass and Piano, with just the
occasional tickle of the cymbals from Marriott… enchanting!
A Don Cherry number, Brown Rice was introduced by Popes unique style - skilfully slapping and tapping his bass with only
the occasional pluck of a string… the piano and drum grew into the tune giving
it an organic quality, the feel of the music modulated between soft and vibrant
sections… the drums really came in to their own in this piece, as Jonathan
switched between brushes, to sticks and on to timpani mallets, booming out, bringing images of a thunderstorm turning to
a softer rain and, just as you thought the storm was over, we were rapidly returned to the cacophony of the storm…
simply stunning!
The last number of this set, Mixed with Glass, was written by John
Pope and described by Alan Law as, “a lullaby that gets kinda shouty!” This tune really spoke to my soul, it started
off so gently with soft brushwork joined by a tranquil piano, and the
occasional ‘heartbeat’ from the bass drum.
As the layers of instruments were added, and the
timbre modulated between soft and gentle to crazy and mixed up, then back to
soft and gentle… the internal changes of emotion continued and grew with the
resounding percussion to a roar as we reached the pinnacle…that simply faded
away. Phew! What emotional dynamic music… and how could
it get any better… but it did!
The second half was a free jazz session, having
been at a recent free jazz event at the Sage I thought I was prepared for this
next piece, jovially named by Alan Law as ‘Half Past Nine on a Sunday Night at
the Bridge in December’, but later christened as A Journey of Consciousness.
I would think that every member of the audience would have their own
take on this piece of music, but as I listened, I jotted down my thoughts and
imaginings which I shall share with you…
For me this emotive piece brought forth a
passionate journey, with streams of consciousness varying between strolling
along to suddenly crashing into oblivion… becoming quite insistent as the
musicians ‘lost themselves’ in their own instruments. A sudden lull in the music was filled as the
piano exerted its presence to be joined by bass and percussion…. Anxious
confusion and turmoil ebbed away to softer gentler flutterings, flowing on like
an unstoppable river to a more insistent sound until it reaches the sea… and
the waves gently crash against the shore.
A song of renewal and new beginnings brought forth new life and
developed a new and exciting theme heading out into the cosmos before being
brought back to earth by a deep and reverberating bass solo as we were thrown
into the uncertainty of not knowing where we were going. Suddenly we are running to escape this
reality and uncertainty is revealed again… the repetition of a phrase by both
bass and piano led us ever onwards to who knows where… perhaps to the deepest
corners of our soul in search of the soul bird… searching the corners of one’s
mind to where internal destruction has hidden all thought of what was before …
thoughts… where am I? Where am I going?
What will I find… a new start… a broken heart… life goes on and I will survive
this journey and go ever onwards… intertwining petals of a flower spiral around
and growth returns, determined, strong and feisty… ebbing away to a steady flow
before the insurgence of tension builds to bursting pitch!
… And ten minutes later I was still feeling the
emotive storm raging within deep in my solar plexus… yes indeed this was a
Journey of Consciousness!
Thanks to Kathryn Lowdon for her thoughts and
input, and the ‘stolen’ phrase, ‘streams of consciousness’.
Kath J.
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