(Review by Lance).
At first it looked like no one was there then, suddenly, everyone was there! The usual suspects and a few not so usual. As usual the house trio got things moving with, I think, A Weaver of Dreams and they were kicking ass from the first bar and this was just the start of another memorable evening!
Time Remembered and Senor Blues followed before 'Bradders' joined the mix for A Foggy Day and a Michel Petrucciani number the title of which escapes me. The young guitarist's resolution of the closing bars on the former was masterly whilst the latter, a brisk Latin piece, saw all four take it round the block a few times.
Time for a change with Paul Edis taking over on piano and Matt MacKellar on drums. Edis, wearing a top that made the lights on the Christmas tree look dim by comparison, opened with What is This Thing Called Love? (or was it What is This Thing He's Wearing?) it was very enjoyable every man jack digging deep culminating in a round of 4s, 2's and 0's. MacKellar brought in Stomping at the Savoy, and stomp they did whilst Someday My Prince Will Come displayed expert balladry. To hear Gilligan and Edis in the one night is akin to Peterson and Tatum turning up. Now here's a thought for a Jazz Café duo set - Gilligan and Edis on two pianos over 15 rounds!
Edis, incidentally, launches his solo double album at the Lit and Phil tomorrow (Thursday Nov. 19)
Dawn Furness offered Love For Sale in a jazzy operatic style, Luke Stewart-Smith played bass with Paul Gowland on soprano sax for Dolphin Dance. First time I'd heard PG on sop. Waltz For Debbie and I'll Remember April did no harm at all.
Jordan Alfonso with George Anyantis on piano played Skylark, Nature Boy and Softly as in a Morning Sunrise before Gilligan returned with Duncan Walker on soprano - 3 sopranos in one evening (Gowland, Furness and now Walker). In a Mellow Tone, and Tenor Madness (I think) with Kalenak on drums.
Quite a night and it wasn't over yet although it was for me - 27 bus beckoned...
Lance.
Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Russ Morgan (dms); Bradley Johnston (gtr) + Paul Edis (pno); Matt MacKellar (dms); Dawn Furness (vcl); Paul Gowland (sop); Jordan Alfonso (alt); George Anyantis (pno); Luke Stewart-Smith (bs); Duncan Walker (sop); Nick Kalenak (dms).
2 comments :
3 Sopranos? I think it was Frank Skinner, a great arranger from the 20s until he progressed to writing film scores for 30 years, said it was impossible to find 3 soprano players who were in tune with each other! Nowadays improved instruments and, I suspect, musical sensibility has allowed the renaissance of the "fish horn".
Ah John, but here we had 2 soprano saxes and a soprano jazz singer who, up to my point of departure, hadn't formed an alliance although it may have happened after I left.
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