Pete Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Rob Walker (dms) + George Anyfantis (pno); Ian Forbes, Abbie Finn, Russ Morgan (dms); Paul Gowland (ten).
(Review by Lance).
Until Paul Gowland showed up late on, the horns had been prominent by their absence - not so the drummers! Tonight we had a drum masterclass by the old, the young and the in-between! Rob Walker was the house drummer tonight his drive and imagination booting Gilligan and Grainger through Sam River's Beatrice, Kenny Barron's Voyage, Autumn Nocturne and Scarborough Fair,
Autumn Nocturne is a rather special tune recorded initially by Claude Thornhill and, later, Sonny Rollins. A favourite of Gilligans, I seem to recall Alice Grace singing it with him somewhere or other. The composer, Josef Myrow, also gave us You Make me Feel so Young.
George Anyfantis took over the keyboard stool for My Funny Valentine and Ian Forbes, as spry an octogenarian as ever lived, played drums on All of Me.
Gilligan returned for an uptempo bop number - was it Au Privavé? It swung like the proverbial.
A Beautiful Friendship did likewise until Grainger had some mechanical problems during his bass solo. A friend in need is a friend indeed as Gilligan proved by continuing the solo with his left hand on the keyboard until the hole in the boat was plugged!
Now for the revelation of the night!
Abbie Finn!
It takes a great deal of confidence for a drummer of any age to follow Rob Walker and Ian Forbes whilst knowing that Russ Morgan will be following her but, confidence and a whole lot of talent is what this young woman has in abundance.
Abbie, tutored by Ian Wynd and now studying at Leeds College of Music, came through the ranks of the Durham County Youth Big Band and it showed across a varied set of numbers - swing, latin, 3/4 driving the guys along. Powerful, yet sympathetic, listening, contributing. It's moments like these that bring that much-bandied phrase, The Sound of Surprise, to mind.
There must be something in the air at Leeds!
Russell Morgan took over, knowing he had a hard act to follow, but of course, pro's like Russ can handle anything as can Paul Gowland who gave a Tubby Hayes-like rendition of Oleo before it was bus time.
Another night to remember!
Photos.
Photos.
Lance.
3 comments :
How great to hear of a female drummer! All power to her sticks and brushes! Meanwhile I've been torturing people after meetings at the Globe by playing the bongos which the Globe has recently received as a gift.
From the sublime (Abbie Finn) to the ridiculous...
Russell ..to say nothing about me playing the tin whistle or the ukulele...
Ann Alex
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