Samuel Eagles Quartet @ The Globe Jazz Bar - Nov. 7

Samuel Eagles (alt/sop); Maceo Brown (gtr); Daniel Kasimir (bs); Dave McKeague (dms).

(Review by Lance).

A 50% turnaround in personnel since Eagles last landed at the Globe didn't detract from another splendid session by the quartet. If I felt any disappointment at the absence of Ralph Wyld it was quickly dispensed with when I heard Maceo Brown's first guitar solo - this guy is the business. Dave McKeague, being local, we knew could handle the drum chair and it was near impossible to tell that this was his first gig with the band. Kasimir has played the venue several times so no problem there and Eagles is one of the UK's best contemporary saxmen.

A program of originals by the leader from their CD Next Beginning kept the audience's attention from start to finish - thankfully a bigger crowd than on their previous visit. This, I'm sure, was due in part to their afternoon workshop at Sage Gateshead and Debra Milne's glowing reference to the gig on Alyn Shipton's Jazz Record Requests broadcast live on Radio 3, also at Sage Gateshead.

As befits the composer, Eagles needed no dots or chord symbols to show him the way simply soaring through them with apparent ease on alto and, for one number, soprano.

Thanks to Sandra and Steve for the lift to the station. Unfortunate that it clashed with the masses exiting the Metro Arena still, we made it leaving me to pose the question as to why the audience for rapper 50 Cent is so much bigger than that for any jazz artist? Ain't no justice.

Great gig (at the Globe).
Photos.

Lance.