Rachel Musson, Chris
Biscoe (reeds); Loz Speyer (trumpet); Olie Brice (bass); Gary Wilcox (drums).
(Review by Steve H)
Yet another superb gig at the Jazz Cafe on
Tuesday night; it was Loz Speyer’s Inner Space Music who were the purveyors of
this fine fayre. The make up of the band is slightly unconventional with two reeds
players and a trumpet. This combination gives a somewhat hard edged feel to
parts of the music but some of the harmonies conjured up were simply sublime.
All the tunes played were composed by Speyer, several with titles making
reference to the band name, for example Rocket Science which
you didn’t have to be an astrophysicist to enjoy. A couple were named
after animals which feature on an earlier album Five Animal Dances. The
first, ‘Bird’, was introduced by Speyer, the second was left for the audience
to guess. We never did find out, my guess would have been something fitting
such as Emperor Penguin or The Lion.
The style of music will resonate with Ornette
Coleman fans although it was more than just that. A feeling of warmth and peace
seemed to exude from the stage. Fascinating solos from grandmaster Biscoe and
rising star Musson were backed by cool steady drumming from Wilcox and some
very muscular playing from double bassist Brice who surpassed himself on the
piece Fragile. This was all held together by the ever so affable
Speyer who controlled proceeding without ever hogging the limelight.
The final piece of the evening, entitled The
Long Road, appropriately named given that the band are in the middle
of a UK tour, was joyous and had a real calypso feel to it. An
enthralled audience responded with rapturous applause and Speyer informed us
that anyone wanting more would be welcome to see them again in Hull the
following night.
Steve.
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