Alan Barnes @ the 606 Club - April 3

(Screen collage by Lance)

Alan Barnes (alto & baritone sax/clarinet); Robin Aspland (piano); Andrew Cleyndert (bass); Alfonso Vitale (drums).

To go for almost two years without seeing Alan Barnes live is like going for a day without seeing the PM on TV - ah well, you win some, you lose some. Tonight, at least, we won handsomely hearing Alan Barnes livestreaming from the 606. Other than the sport, I didn't watch the news today - did Chelsea really lose to WBA? Still, there were more important things happening in Chelsea and this was one, if not the only one.

It was a delight to hear our premier saxophonist again and, if at times I got the feeling that his lip wasn't quite in he still sounded better than any ten others whose lips were in.

A good set with three of the finest alongside him.

Tavares: An original by Alan dedicated to Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silver. Being christened with a name like that puts an entirely new meaning behind Silver's Song For My Father - I know how he must have felt! Me and a boy named Sue!

Los Caracoles: Spanish for snails. Alan pointed out that it was was in the key of D major which, if my memory serves me right, puts the alto sax in 5 sharps - only 2 short of a full house! When you can play with such fluency in keys like that you know you're in with a chance.

Little Willie Leaps: A Miles Davis number that soared and I use the word advisedly. Tempo-di-lick, a.k.a as presto in classical circles, was written for Bird and tonight's representation didn't let the legend down. The phrases just flowed. If I'd have actually been at the 606 I'd have been painting Bird Lives on the wall outside!

Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most: A beautiful ballad beautifully played.

Somebody Loves Me: Robin took this away as per the original Bud Powell version on Roost (Vogue over here). It's one of the all-time classic jazz piano solos and Robin did it beautifully before, eventually, setting it up for Alan.

A Felicidade and an Italian song, the title of which escaped me, had our man switching to clarinet.

I'll be Seeing You: A switch to baritone and some gutsy blowing.

(Screenshot by Lance)

Tonight I Shall Sleep: A Strayhorn/Ellington composition for Johnny Hodges that also sounded good on baritone.

One For Moll: Back to alto for this dedication to his daughter Molly. A nice blues to finish off with.

Needless to say, Robin, Andrew and Alfonso were equally outstanding - "What a rhythm section!" as Frank Sinatra once said, albeit in a totally different context (was it Kim Novak he was referring to?)

Next week it's Paul Moran's Smokin' B3 with vocals by Jo Harrop.

Lance.