Andrew Oliver (piano, cornet); David Evans (tenor sax, clarinet); John Moak (trombone); Doug Sammons (guitar, banjo); Eric Gruber (double bass); Tyson Stubelek (drums)
Pianist Andrew Oliver recently returned home to Portland, Oregon after working on the London jazz scene for some seven years. Covid-19 is every bit as much an issue out on the Pacific west coast as it is in London yet it hasn't taken the brilliant young pianist long to reconnect with his old buddies. Leading the Bridgetown Sextet is one of Oliver's many projects and on Sunday evening (BST) the band played a one hour live stream gig from his backyard.
The sun shone on a Portland Sunday afternoon; social distancing in place, shirt-sleeve order, the Bridgetown boys signalled their intent with first The Georgia Grind, then Lulu's Back in Town. From prohibition era Chicago to a jumpin' Kansas City to a swinging NYC scene and more, Oliver and co went at it with gusto although Oliver wasn't convinced that the live stream was working as it should, frequently peering at a monitor, messing with the frequently frustrating technology.
Benny Moten's Kansas City Breakdown, Cottontail with tenor saxophonist David Evans switching to clarinet and again on Your Baby Ain't Sweet Like Mine to the N'Awlins' vibe of Percolatin' Blues (Oliver citing Lemuel Fowler's barrelhouse piano take on the number), these West Coast guys were more than a match for their Chicago hotshot counterparts over on the East Coast.
Russell
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