Two one hour sets, actually two separate houses, available to the online armchair viewer for the princely sum of £5.35., Calum Gourlay reconvened his Vortex big band to play a mix of new material and tried and tested charts. The bassist's ensemble comprising household names across the sections suggested we were in for a treat.
Kicking off with a new Gourlay composition, Don't You Dare featured alto sax and trombone solos (respectively Alice Leggett and Kieran McLeod). Hinting at a take-no-prisoners approach, this first set was shaping up nicely. Trevor Mires blew a fiendishly difficult sounding trombone solo on New Ears (it's been in the pad a while as a quartet number), as good as you'll hear anywhere. Baritone sax specialist James Allsopp took to his feet to blow a corruscating solo on another new tune titled RT, the rhythm section - Rick Simpson, Gourlay and James Maddren - sketching an impressionistic backdrop before leaving it to trumpeter Charlotte Keeffe and tenor saxophonist Xhosa Cole to resolve their differences in a thrilling, free form duet.
Bear in a Flat set about scaring the horses, neighbours, and anyone and anything in earshot featuring tremendous solos by Simpson, Allsopp and Keeffe. Junction 14 rounded off a terrific first set. And what a way to sign off: Xhosa Cole ripping it up on tenor, the main man, Calum Gourlay, with Mingus-like authority, alongside Maddren's impressive big band drumming and Ryan Quigley letting everyone know he was in the building having the final say. Russell
Charlotte Keeffe; Ryan Quigley; Sean Gibbs (trumpets); Kieran McLeod; Trevor Mires; Richard Henry (trombones); Alice Leggett (alto sax); Michael Chillingworth (alto sax); Xhosa Cole (tenor sax); Helena Kay (tenor sax); James Allsopp (baritone sax); Rick Simpson (piano); Calum Gourlay (MD, double bass); James Maddren (drums)
First set (first house): Don't You Dare; New Ears; RT; Naima; Bear in a Flat; Junction 14.
Second set (second house): same as the first set and every bit as good!
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