John Kotre (trumpet/flugel/pocket trumpet/slide trumpet); Steve Summers (tenor/soprano/percussion); Mickey Ball (guitar); Willie Angus (bass guitar); Neil Smith (drums).
(Review by Lance).
Reports vary as to whether it was 12 or 15 years since the last jazz invasion - you wouldn't have guessed it. Opening number very tight. This was Freddie Hubbard's Super Blue with assured, fiery, solos from flugel, tenor and guitar.
An original, Suspended Disbelief, followed. This could have been subtitled Someone Give me an A which someone duly did afterwards.
Dangerous featured Kotre playing a slide trumpet (or was it a pocket trombone?) it sounded good even though he admitted he'd never played it in public before. Great sound. Summers, as always played some blistering tenor as well as shaking things from his bag of tricks. As it was done over a Ska rhythm this was perfectly acceptable.
Churchy feel to the next number so it was no surprise to discover it was called In the Beginning There Was Groove.
Mickey Ball didn't set his guitar on fire but, at times, you felt he just might. Rain Dance saw leader Kotre switch to pocket trumpet.
The set concluded with a Crusaders' number that I know so well that I could sing it backward yet can I think of the name?! After Street Life it's probably their best known.
Willie Angus kept it all together with Smith's drumming as sound as a Scottish pound.
Thus here endeth the first session - for me at least. The 9pm start made an early exit
regretful, but unavoidable,
A good crowd although, with Jazz Rock gigs, there always seems to be more rockers than jazzers in the audience.
Let's hope we don't have to wait for another 12 to 15 years for their next appearance.
Lance.
3 comments :
That Crusaders number was 'My Mama Told Me So' from 'Those Southern Knights.' Hopefully there'll be more gigs to come!
Ah yes!
A great gig. Loved it. Hope there will be many more.
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