Sunday Night @ The Globe: Three In One - March 21

(Photo by Debra Milne)

Will Howard (tenor sax); Elliot Roffe (bass); Steve   Hanley (drums).

Last week the Bossa Trio became a duo. This week, Four In One became Three In One. However, the show must go on - as the saying goes - and tonight's three troupers adhered to that maxim.

It's been a week for tenor players with ne'er an alto or soprano in sight. Over the past few days at Ronnie's, Smitty's and 606 we've had Riley Stone-Lonergan, Xhosa Cole, Mornington Lockett and Alec Harper taking Adolphe Sax's invention to places he never dreamed were possible.

(Photos by Debra Milne)

Going into a prestigious gig like Sunday Night at the Globe a man down is like facing Man City with ten men. However, tonight's tenor sax man Howard was, at least outwardly, not fazed. He blew cool, no pyrotechnics and only the occasional sortie into those harmonic extremities that you don't find in your A Tune A Day tutor.

A great selection of standards along with a couple of Monks and a Bird (how's that for a title Two Monks and a Bird? Maybe not, it could be misconstrued!)

Howard gets a nice sound not a gutsy, walkin' the bar sound, more an introvert Warne Marsh (ish) sound which isn't surprising as, had the full monty been on stage we'd have heard some Tristano music.

What we did hear was good enough for me. Fine tenor playing, impressive bass and  excellent drums resulting in a most enjoyable set.

Next week it's the Bradford/Shoulder/Williams (all being well...) and, having a heard a few tracks in advance of this new band, it's going to be great and maybe not quite what you were expecting ...

Lance

You Stepped Out of a Dream; Jitterbug Waltz; Cheryl; Stardust; I'm Getting Sentimental Over You; Light Blue; Rhythm-A-Ning; When Lights Are Low and Stompin' at the Savoy.