(Review/photos
courtesy of Brian Ebbatson)
Publicity
for this gig from guitarist Bradley Johnston promised “a musical journey that
explores guitar playing over the last 100 years”, but it was a much more
personal selection of pieces, mainly by Bradley himself – four out of six of
the tunes featured were from his pen – although there was certainly a strong
element of paying tribute to his influences.
Bradley
opened solo with his arrangement of John Lennon’s In My Life, a dreamy
interpretation very reminiscent of Bill Frisell – indeed it features on
Frisell’s 2011 album All We Are Saying. Bradley wove his way with
synth-like chords through and around the George Harrison intro and the Lennon
melody. Maybe it was a 70’s Beatles number but this was definitely a second-decade C21 interpretation.
The
band came in for For Joe, the first of four consecutive Johnston compositions,
a guitar and sax-led hard-bop theme, which upped the tempo of the concert. Then
followed the sweeping sax intro of The Awakening, Russ punctuating on
drums and cymbals, Paul holding the rhythm, Keith taking flight on his horn and
intricate guitar work from Bradley.
Django’s
Footsteps
took us into the familiar territory of Brad’s apprenticeship with James Birkett,
a jaunty typical Reinhardt rhythm, with Keith on Hubert Rostaing style clarinet.
James’ Waltz, (Bradley’s first composition, he said,) familiar to many
from Brad and James’ 2014 CD Together, a gentle melody, giving Brad the
opportunity to demonstrate his sensitive guitar style.
Douce
Ambience, an
up-tempo Grappelli – Reinhardt composition, with Keith on clarinet again, followed
by Bradley’s tribute to another guitar master, For Frisell.
Keith
stood down while Brad led on a beautiful folky melody, Russ on brushes and
Paul’s bass in complete empathy behind him.
For
Presence – another Brad composition – Keith and Bradley played the theme
before the guitar gently segued seamlessly into A Nightingale Sang in
Berkeley Square, which brought us to a short finale with Limehouse Blues
for the band to sign off with a flourish, greeted by appreciative applause
from the near-capacity Lit & Phil audience. Bradley told me this was only
the band’s third outing with this material. It certainly has potential and this
audience would certainly have stayed for more.
Hopefully
other venues will extend an invitation; with more exposure the possibilities
are limitless.
Brian E.
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