Zach Okonkwo (drums); Jimmy Jefford (tenor sax); Daniel Vildósola (guitar); Will Hobson (piano); Harry Gould (bass guitar)
It was a homecoming of sorts for two of the quintet performing in King's Hall this afternoon: bandleader Zach Okonkwo and tenor saxophonist Jimmy Jefford are alumni of Newcastle University. Drummer Okonkwo remarked that it seemed like a long time ago when he and Jefford graduated way back in 2018. Guitarist Daniel Vildósola, pianist Will Hobson and five-string bassist Harry Gould were the unknown quantities. The set, all-too-brief at thirty minutes, would feature two of Okonkwo's compositions and two modern jazz standards.
Okonkwo's Ndubisi is named after his father (Mr Ndubisi was present in King's Hall) and tells of their father and son relationship. Okonkwo led from the front, his band mates reading their charts. An all round solid opening, one sensed there was more to come. The two standards in the set - Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage and Joshua Redman's Hide and Seek - encouraged the quintet to stretch out a little. Okonkwo's arrangement of Hancock's familiar tune was given, as indicated by the band leader, a 'modern twist'. Jefford stepped up on the Redman number, Okonkwo's programme notes stating the one-time Bold Big Band leader would replicate 'the unique extended techniques of Joshua Redman while still making the tune his own'. Jefford's tenor playing reminded the Newcastle audience, if anyone had forgotten, just what he could do. Excellent.
To conclude the performance, Okonkwo spoke eloquently of his disbelief at the unfolding events of January 6, 2021 (the failed insurrection in Washington DC). His response was to compose Hypothetical, in so doing incorporating elements relating to the murder of George Floyd. As the quintet dug into the material (Jefford, Vildósola, Hobson and Gould making decisive contributions) segments of Dave Chappelle's '8:46' powerful speech detailing the death of George Floyd were introduced into the sound mix, and for a moment, Okonkwo took the handbrake off. Sometimes music speaks louder than words. Russell
Set list: Ndubisi; Maiden Voyage; Hide and Seek; Hypothetical.
1 comment :
Thank you for coming, it’s a shame I didn’t catch you before you left! Also a shame that I clearly can’t tell the time as 30 minutes is very brief you are right! It was my first outing as a band leader/playing my own material and it was a pleasure to do it in front of such a caring audience. As a ‘hired gun’ of sorts I under estimated how exposed you are when playing your own music but as I said it was a pleasure to do it in a safe environment. I hope to return and do it again...just a bit longer the next time!
All the best
Zach Okonkwo
Post a Comment