Matt MacKellar (drums); Andy Champion (bass/bass guitar); Ben Lawrence (keys); Zoë Gilby (voice).
(Review by Lance/Photos courtesy of Mike Tilley)
The bar was crowded. So much so that had a person arrived of more than average girth the whole shebang would have had to be moved to the lower basement auditorium. Such was the drawing power of the performers.
Leader Matt drove the band with some powerhouse drumming. By coincidence, I'm currently reading the latest biography of Buddy Rich (review imminent) and, listening to Matt it struck me that he was creating the same sense of awe that Buddy caused back in the 1930s! Even though his solos were fewer, and in many ways more restrained than in the past, there was no mistaking the star quality of the boy from Boston Mass.
No less impressive was Ben Lawrence on keys. I guess he's causing more than a few pianists to look over their shoulder. A lot of the material was by Robert Glasper and, whilst RG may not be looking over his shoulder - yet - he may well have been giving furtive backward glances had he been present.
What can one say about Andy Champion that hasn't already been said? On bass guitar it crossed my mind that if Eric Clapton had played bass instead of lead he would have sounded just like Andy. Likewise on double bass he is the man they all have to catch. Now that he is getting gigs further afield who is to say that he too won't be up among the nominations in the next lot of APPJAGs? Maybe even win one like...
...Zoë. Although featured on only a few numbers, the newly crowned parliamentarian had perhaps the toughest job of all given that the material was far removed from the jazz standards many singers rely on. Robert Glasper, Esmeralda Spaulding, Stevie Wonder (Theo Crocker arrangement) and several other contemporary names provided a challenge that any singer would struggle with but, then again, this lady isn't just any singer she is unique and she met the challenge head on demonstrating a vocal range I hadn't previously realised she possessed!
An outstanding session - can't wait until it is repeated maybe around Easter?
Lance
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