Xhosa Cole (tenor sax); Francis Tulip (guitar); Will Markham (piano); James Owston (bass); Nathan England Jones (drums).
(Review by Lance).
Close your eyes and you could be excused for thinking that this was tonight's Blue Note album. The players could easily have been signed up by Francis Wolff and Alfred Lyon in fact, after noting their repertoire, they more than likely would have thought that they already had. Tunes written by, or associated with, Monk, Henderson, Dameron, Rollins and Mobley would have done nothing to dispel that idea until, after closer listening they'd have realised that this wasn't West 47th St., in NYC but somewhere in the UK. Not so much hard bop as Brum Bop.
All 5 of these young
men honed their craft at Birmingham Conservatoire with Cole picking up the BBC
Young Jazz Musician of the Year gong in 2018 which is the equivalent of winning
the Rising Star category in the DownBeat Critic's Poll which, on this showing
is more than mere fantasy.
Originally, this gig was lined up as one of Jazzlines' free gigs at Birmingham Town Hall & Symphony Hall but, circumstances decreed that it would be risky to allow an audience in - they may have broken their wrists clapping - so rather than face an empty auditorium the band played with their backs to the missing audience. This could have been, a) to minimise the the inevitable echo in such a cavernous empty space or b) to cultivate a Miles Davis persona of indifference.
Whatever, it worked well and, keeping 2 metres apart, they gave us 35 minutes of solid sending (I know all the latest jive talk!).
No need to praise Cole, his pedigree speaks for itself and Tulip, being a native of Co. Durham, is well known for his work with various northeast bands - we have raved over him since he emerged from Jambone at Sage Gateshead. The other three may not be as well known in the northeast but they are of similar calibre.
The only complaint I have is that 35 minutes wasn't long enough to enable them to stretch out further. Still, let's hope that when this is all over we get a further chance to hear them live or on record.
Impressed,
Lance
I Mean You; Recorda Me; On a Misty Night; Doxy; Remember.
Link.
No comments :
Post a Comment