Paul Gowland (ten/alt), Pete Gilligan
(pno), Ray Truscott (bs), Steve Doyle (dms)
(Review/photo by
Dave Parker)
This was mainstream jazz of the highest quality
– as good as anything you might hear in a top London Westgate Road
The PG Allstars played standards but Gowland and
Gilligan made them sound like originals.
They reworked the harmony on the classic ballad In a Sentimental Mood so it was less sugar and more spice. Gowland played the head of Bye Bye Blackbird as though he’d just
made it up with only an occasional snatch of the original melody.
Midnight
Voyage
lived up to its name: Gowland’s dreamy tenor took us to far away places and
then back again with a brief echo of the melody before handing over to Gilligan
whose haunting solo was equally transporting and then Truscott continued the
mood with a lyrical journey through the entire range of his six-string bass.
Next was Take
Five, the most familiar jazz tune which Gowland, on alto, made sound as
fresh and extraordinary as when it was first played over 50 years ago. Gilligan and Truscott kept the 5/4 rhythm
nailed down while Doyle rolled all over the kit.
No point in mentioning every number – they were
all brilliant.
Dave P.
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