Another New York venue live streaming to the world. Bar Bayeux in Brooklyn presents jazz on a weekly basis and this online gig happened thanks to the generosity of those contributing from all around the globe with support from Keyed Up! and Arts Center at Duck Creek. Jaleel Shaw isn't unknown to BSH's Tyneside audience having appeared at Sage Gateshead in 2015. The Cookers were in town, on that occasion Shaw, the young gun, kept a relatively low profile. Not so this evening. Similarly, Matt Brewer was in John Escreet's band when it called in at Gateshead in 2010. Here at Bar Bayeux they were joined by drummer Joe Dyson. Boy! Can he play?!
And so to the gig...7:30 EST, 12:30am GMT. Straight in with Shaw's Contemplation. Searing alto saxophone, superb support from Brewer and Dyson. Quite a start! From Shaw's composition in to Chick Corea's Steps. More killing stuff. This was Jaleel Shaw's gig but the man had the humility and presence of mind to remember Chick Corea and Milford Graves. Drummer Graves featured on Albert Ayler's Love Cry and Shaw's trio played it, the bandleader playing soprano sax. Shaw's Distant Images was written in memory of his grandmother who died five years ago, the composer remarking how time had flown. Sensitive playing all round, Brewer's resonant bass notes, Dyson's considered use of mallets.
And so to the heart of the performance - All the Things You Are followed by Shaw's Flipside from his Optimism album released a couple of years ago. Shaw tiptoes over and around Jerome Kern's melody as Brewer walks him through it. Dyson joins his band mates, maintaining mood and tempo, Brewer soloing, Dyson (brushes) featured in an exchange with Shaw's alto. And so to Flipside. Wow! Stellar, mega, gargantuan, words cannot describe just how good this was. Shaw laid it down for other alto saxophonists to pick it up, if they're brave enough! Absolutely breathtaking. Shaw brilliant, just brilliant, checkout Dyson, Brewer nailing it. How to follow that? Duke Ellington's Take the Coltrane from Duke Ellington & John Coltrane. Live stream gig of the year.
Russell
1 comment :
Great to see reviews of New York City events. I hope to get over there again soon to check out the Jazz scene as things seem to be improving slightly. I was at the Malta Jazz Festival some time ago and Jaleel Shaw was playing alto in Tom Harrell's band and blew up a storm! Glad you got to see him at the Sage; when I'm able to travel I must visit the North East, Last time I was there to attend the Middlesborough Newport Jazz Festival in 1978---Cheers-Mike
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