Tony Irving & Massimo Magee @ The Globe - Jan 28

Tony Irving (drums); Massimo Magee (soprano & tenor sax)

(Review by Russell) 

It was billed on the Jazz Co-op's website as 'Tony Irving & Massimo Magee & Guests...seven o'clock'. In the event, the 'guests' failed to materialise and for a while your correspondent was the only bod on the premises, save for Jazz Co-op mover and shaker, Debra M. 

At quarter past eight, as Irving and Magee were about to begin (yep, an hour and a quarter after the advertised seven o'clock start - or should that have been 'doors'?) some of the usual suspects (they're rarely seen at 'jazz' gigs) had arrived, no doubt ready for some 'no-genre' music. Saxophonist Magee spoke briefly: drummer Irving would open the first set with a solo piece, Magee would follow with a solo piece of his own, then there would be a duo second set. For the remainder of the evening, neither Magee nor Irving said another word. Cool.

A drum solo, sorry, 'improvisation', took up fifteen minutes of our time followed by a similar span of time featuring Magee's circular breathing, uncomfortably pitched soprano sax workout. Technique to burn, Magee's approach owed something to the 'fire music' first heard more than half a century ago. 

The interval: a cassette tape (hey, kids, Google 'DIY underground retro music format') was for sale, bottles of Black Sheep were for sale at the bar. 

Second set - Irving and Magee served up some more free improv 'no-genre' stuff. No eye contact required, nor possible with Magee standing in front of drummer Magee, the men of few words let their improvisations do the talking.       

Russell