PMM: Riley Stone-Lonergan & Ben Lowman (saxes); Sam Dunn & Jamie Taylor (guitars); Garry Jackson (bass); Steve Hanley (drums)
A.S.B.O: Adam Sinclair (drums); Ian ‘Dodge’ Paterson (bass); Paul Edis (Moog Bass Synth) + Graham Hardy (trumpet)
(Review by Steve H/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew).
After the heady experience of Spirit Farm the previous week it was no surprise that there was standing room only for Jazz North East’s latest offering - last Sunday night’s eclectic double bill at The Bridge.
Perpetual Motion Machine hail from Manchester and have an interesting line up which includes 2 saxes and 2 guitars. Their set comprised of a number of styles: - jazz funk, jazz rock, cinematic jazz and, for the final piece, spoken word. There was some interesting interplay between the dual guitars and saxes which kept one’s attention throughout. I imagine that would they be better heard in a livelier, stand up, venue since the music certainly had a dancy feel to it.
Earlier in the evening we saw the debut of a new band - A.S.B.O - which is the latest project from drummer Adam Sinclair. With Paul Edis on moog synthesiser the band set out to lay down a bit of 60’s style funk. However, although rooted in this period, one piece was inspired by the indicator sequence of a current Ford Mondeo. Being familiar with the fine work of the various members of the band maybe my expectations were a little too high since I didn’t think the whole thing really worked. Maybe it will take a few more outings for them to really iron out their true groove.
Steve H.
3 comments :
Thanks for the positive comments Steve H, I was invited to try something new and so I did, I'm sorry you didn't like it. Perhaps the fact "60s funk grooves" was your nearest reference point suggest you were never going to like it.
I'll be posting some footage online so people can make up their own minds.
Each to their own!
Adam
I'd buy an album of it, and this is coming from a millenial that streams everything and never pays for recorded music. Really not sure where the 60s funk statement came from but the two youngest and coolest cats there thought the grooves were next level, and the bass duo was a really interesting setup. Also where's the shoutout to Graham Hardy?!
I'm so disappointed I missed this gig but work gets in the way of life. Francis(I get into bother for FDT or no 1 son)tried to get there but wasn't up for it on his own.
Millenials are like every generation in thinking they invented everything (as opposed to Beatleboomers who did). Funk was born out of James Brown and Sly Stone in the late sixties (although there are earlier references in Jazz, blues and Black Literature) but peaked in the early seventies with P Funk and the next generation of bands taking things to a gloriously insane conclusion in the late seventies.
Of course it continues but everything, including hip hop, had been done by the end of that decade.
A word for Steve H; wherever he goes, whenever he goes, he's always the coolest person there. He's the next level to the rest of us.
Post a comment