Moore-Pope-Hunter @ The Globe - June 5

(© Ken Drew)

Michael Moore  (alto sax, clarinet);   John Pope (double bass); Johnny Hunter (drums)

The sixth and final date of a British tour found the scratch trio of Michael Moore, John Pope and Johnny Hunter calling in at Newcastle Jazz Co-op's Railway Street premises. The evening's music would comprise compositions old and new, one so new it would receive its premiere performance. Streaming to the world and an expectant full house at the Globe, Moore, Pope and Hunter began in somewhat restrained manner. Moore would alternate between alto sax and clarinet, Pope, as usual, playing bass, Hunter, as ever, occupying the drum stool.

(© Ken Drew)

Switching from alto sax to clarinet, Moore joined Pope in getting to grips with Hunter's First Half of May (the composer utilising brushes and mallets). Pope's slow groove Piffle unfurled its wares to an on-side audience. Moore's Redmans (For Dewey, said Moore) tipped the hat to fellow American Dewey (and son Joshua?) Redman. 

The second set opened with two of Moore's compositions, first Bug Music followed by the premiere of Saliva. The latter number exploded into life like an incandescent firework (recalling Ornette Coleman), moving into an Ellingtonian section (Pope walking both trio and audience through the piece). Hunter's A Simple Change (Moore's alto suggesting Coltrane) contrasted with what had gone before (Hunter's drumming encompassing a swinging sense of time, drum and bass patterns, a  touch of reggae and more). The audience at this Newcastle Jazz Co-op - Jazz North East co-promotion listened intently to two sets of music making, spontaneous applause noticeably absent, as if not to disturb the concentration of all present. Moore, Pope and Hunter plan to record an album - watch this space. Russell