Francis Tulip Quartet @ The Jazz Café - Dec 22

Francis Tulip (guitar), Joel Brown (keyboards), Michael Dunlop (bass) & Matt MacKellar (drums)

(Review by Russell)

Cut and paste Wednesday’s Durham Empty Shop gig, job done. All too easy, the Francis Tulip Quartet is a developing project and considering the four musicians meet up infrequently it is all the more remarkable that they are able to produce a performance as good as this. Wednesday was good, this Friday evening Jazz Café gig was better still. And there is more to come…
 The setlist was much the same in much the same order and no bad thing as it offered a simple opportunity to compare and contrast. The quartet – Francis, Joel, Michael and Matt – got down to business long before the audience arrived, running through their set list, topping and tailing a few tunes, making sure everything was sorted in advance of the advertised start time.

Stablemates, Purim, Body and Soul, yes, Durham revisited. The playing seemed more assured, no surprise given that playing gigs is key. Imagine if they had gigs on December 23, 24, 25, 26, and on, the phrase ‘well-oiled’ springs to mind. And the Francis Tulip Quartet is just that, four of the most promising young musicians to emerge on the northeast jazz scene in years and it’s as if they’re seasoned pros. Alone Together (comp. Arthur Schwartz/lyrics Howard Dietz) served to demonstrate their appreciation of a GASbook classic, sitting quite comfortably alongside a more contemporary number such as Chick Corea’s 500 Miles High, the closing number of an excellent first set.

Wayne Shorter’s Yes or No opened the second set featuring drummer Matt MacKellar’s sparkling solo followed by another chance to hear Gilad Hekselman’s March of the Sad Ones. Pianist Joel Brown shone on Joe Henderson’s Black Narcissus, as did bandleader Tulip, and Guildhall student, bassist Michael Dunlop. Monk’s In Walked Bud featured yet more great playing centred around an extended exchange of fours. Christian McBride’s Interlude once again took its place in the set list with guitarist Tulip mightily impressive as was MacKellar with his hi-hat working overtime. As last bus time approached Tulip said they would end on something Christmassy. Matt MacKellar picked up his brushes as the quartet went out on a fine arrangement of Silent Night. The Jazz Café Friday night audience wanted more and they got it with another superb, blistering take on John Coltrane’s Impressions. The Francis Tulip Quartet will resume its tour itinerary on Tuesday 9th January at the Fox Inn on West End Terrace, Hexham. Arrive in good time, the first set will get underway at eight thirty. Highly recommended.   

Russell