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| (Collage by Lance) |
Tonight at the 606 was extra special - it was Henry Lowther's 80th birthday!
Welcome aboard Henry.
However, before Henry joined the quartet, Mornington gave us 20 minutes of Without a Song. Blistering tenor that was more akin to the Williamsburg Bridge in NYC rather than the somewhat closer - at least physically if not musically - Stamford Bridge. The Williamsburg Bridge, for the benefit of jazz neophytes, is where Sonny Rollins took his sabbatical, practising into the early hours with no worries about the neighbours knocking! Without a Song came from the album inspired by Rollins' nocturnal activity - The Bridge.
Mornington did the Grand Old Man justice.
Talking of grand old men, tonight's GOM truly defied the years playing with controlled fire and increased lyricism. Every note, phrase, subtle nuance that Henry Lowther blows surely has all the trumpet players listening say to themselves, "Why didn't I think of that?!"
The answer's simple - you're not Henry Lowther!
The band, now a quintet, played Henry's arrangement of Ray Bryant's Cubana Chant. This was Blue Note revisited, regenerated, reimagined, re-anything.
Mornington exited stage left leaving Henry to mesmerise us with Some Other Time. Exquisitely melodic flugel playing.
Posers' Paradise was an original by Henry and related to another jazz club although no names were given. The tune turned out to be, as hinted at by the title, a contrafact of Stranger in Paradise. Quite an exotic rhythm that, nevertheless, didn't stop the guys swinging.
Mornington chose Skylark as a ballad feature. The room loved it although the RSPCB may have had a few reservations when Mornington himself was in full flight!
Wayne Shorter's United had everyone blowing like Blakey was in town - this was that kind of gig - but, by this time, us livestreamers had overstayed our welcome but we were given a bonus with a blast on What Is This Thing Called Love? Everyone went for it although, given the pending intermission, I thought there was, under the circumstances, just a bit too much doodlin' at the end. Nevertheless, another great 606 session.
OMG! I've done it again! I haven't said what a super sterling job piano, bass and drums did to make it all swing. My apologies to Gareth, Geoff and Mark - they are the absolute biz!
And there's another great sax man next Saturday - Alex Garnett!
Woohoo!
Lance
Lance
PS: An afterthought. Where was the birthday cake? Did that come at the end or, being a small room, would so many candles have caused a fire risk? Just thinkin'...
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