A free-ish intro to Night and Day opened this evening's Small's live stream-with-a-difference. The difference? An audience! Granted, a small audience, but hey, call it progress! A second number, the title eluding your reviewer, heard alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins stating the theme before stepping off stage, donning a mask as he did so, leaving the floor to trio leader Kiyoshi Kitagawa to play an extended bass solo. At the tune's end...applause. Weird!
Candlit tables, table service, a front row artist quietly sketching the scene before him, boss man Kitagawa walking his sidemen through Brubeck's In Your Own Sweet Way, Wilkins taking it out somewhat further than Paul Desmond's original conception! Time for a couple more: Kitagawa in command, Wilkins offering Ornette-ish contributions, drummer Jimmy Macbride unobtrusive yet propulsive. Applause, the hour up, Kitagawa's bass intro set up a final number from the Thelonious Monk Songbook. Was it Ask Me Now? Time for another beer...
Russell
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