Nigel Price (gtr); Ross Stanley (Hammond); Steve Brown (dms).
(Review by Lance/Photos courtesy of Mike Tilley)
Smokin' is the expression frequently used to describe organ based trios and, as such, it was no surprise that on a previous northeast gig (Ushaw College Jazz Festival) the fire alarm went off. Tonight wasn't a four-alarm alert but the atmosphere was certainly incendiary as the three guys lit the blue touch paper.
Over the years I've heard Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Jim Hall, Charlie Byrd, Tal Farlow, John McLaughlin, Martin Taylor, Alvin Lee and many other names - include Nigel Price on that Roll of Honour.
He was phenomenal! Irrespective of mood or tempo Price was in there exploring, creating, interpreting, an absolute delight.
Opening up with Wes Montgomery's Jingles, the groove was in. Loverman as a bossa led to Who Can I Turn to? A question I asked myself, sitting as I was between two delightful ladies. However, it was hypothetical as one left before me and the other left after me! Back to the music. The Anthony Newley song had a beautiful unaccompanied guitar intro before going into a nice easy swing. Angel Eyes practically brought tears to my eyes such was the execution of this saddest of songs.
The set ended with This Could be the Start of Something Big and it certainly was!
So far I've only mentioned Price but the contribution of Ross Stanley on Hammond and Leslie was awesome. His approach, more subtle and restrained in comparision to some of the wilder double manual merchants who dance on the pedals and deliver forearm smashes to the keyboard, gelled perfectly with the guitar. Matt Home couldn't make this gig so who replaced him? Only Steve Brown! Him of the permanent smile and the prodigious technique - a British jazz legend.
Roll on Set Two!
Back in the 1930's Coleman Hawkins set down the benchmark for Body and Soul. Now, almost 80 years later the bar has been raised!
A long intro by Price took us on a fantastic journey - totally solo and without a safety net. This was a master painter - Django Rembrandt - at work. It couldn't get any better than this - or could it?
Yes!
Stanley and Brown slipped onto their respective bench and throne. We'd had the body now we got the soul as the tempo lifted. They soloed, they swung, they exchanged fours. Composer Johnny Green didn't turn over in his grave - I bet he got up and danced!
There was more. Indian Summer, Wes' Four on Six (played as six on four!) Prelude to a Kiss (arguably Duke's most sensual ballad) and a rocking blues to finish that featured Steve Brown. Phew! There may have been an encore but I had a bus to catch - or did I float home on a cloud?
The evening began with the Early Bird Band, Paul Edis' young proteges who continue to develop. Indeed the rhythm section are pretty close to pro standard and didn't seem overawed by the headliners who were to follow. Without maestro Edis waving his imaginary baton the horns were a little hesitant at times but grew in confidence as the set unfolded. It may still be a work in progress but that progress is apparent upon every gig.James Metcalf, Ben Lawrence (tpts); Andrew Hodges (tmb); Nick Caughey (ten); Philip Grobe (pno); Francis D. Tulip (gtr); Dan Lawrence (bs gtr); Matthew MacKellar (dms).
Lance.
1 comment :
Pleased to see Francis acquitted himself well on his final North East gig as a North East resident. He has had consistency lapses in the past; he's never poor but he isn't always on fire. Last night he maybe wasn't on fire, but he was on form.
Dan and Whiplash don't have consistency issues and Dans' enthusiasm will be a miss.
Dr Phil proved an excellent foil for Francis, giving him all the space he needed and I'm always surprised by his solos. Between Lord Paul and the Dr, the next guitarist couldn't be in better hands. I can't wait for their next gig.
In defence of the horns, while all of the rhythm section are hoping for careers in music, some horns are, some aren't and some are undecided. OK I over-egged the sums. I thought James, one of the youngest in the band, was great doing the intros. People always think nervous makes poor but nervous makes human.
And what a power-house turn the Nigel Price Trio are. Best live band in the land? No. 1 son speculated.
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