The Pilgrim St. Set @ Hoochie Coochie March 20

Richard Burns (tpt); Gary Turner (ten); Paul Edis (pno); Paul Susans (bs); Rob Walker (dms).

(Review by Lance).

The Media informed us that March 20 was "Happiness Day"! I'm not sure who decides these things but they certainly got it right last night at Hoochie. 

This band of pilgrims hit the ground running on only their second gig and the first with this line-up. The music ranged from early Blue Note to late Blue Note with some funky grooves in between.

The man from Melbourne proved himself to be a fine modern trumpet player and his announcements - when translated - showed that some Aussies do have a sense of humour!

Combining with the elusive Gary Turner the front line gelled, at times, close your eyes and it could have been Freddie Hubbard or Lee Morgan with say Wayne Shorter or Sonny Rollins!

Good to have Gary Turner back on the scene - quite an incredible player, always goes for the jugular. He discovers saxophone harmonics that seem to reach out to distant galaxies.

The repertoire consisted of items by Dexter Gordon, Ornette Coleman, Horace Silver, Eddie Harris, Frank Zappa and others. The Coleman piece included a section of free blowing that came across as a couple of Dixielanders doing Improv or maybe a couple of Improv guys doing Dixie. Whatever, it worked!

And why not? with the Triptych trio behind them anything is possible.

Edis, the master craftsman, a seasoned campaigner who can adapt to any musical situation, filling out the ensembles with choice harmonies and scoring one hundred and eighty with every solo flight.

Rob Walker is the ideal stickman easily finding the right groove to drive the horns to the point of no return. The climactic drum solo the icing on a beautifully cooked cake.

A cake made to a recipe by ace bass Paul Susans who, along with Burns, created this welcome addition to the scene.

Photos.
Lance.