Four of the north east's big hitters and an expat from Cumbria in the form of Ben Lawrence, who's also making waves, made this a win win gig.
How could it not be? All five are at the top of their game blowing like the King's Hall was Birdland back in the day and, back in the day, these five could have held their own - if they'd been born back then!
Still, just as you don't have to be born in Salzburg to interpret Mozart nor do you have to be 'shooting up' in a downtown Manhattan apartment to pay tribute to Horace Silver, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, these guys did the biz.
However, although the first two numbers were by Silver, SFQ soon put their own stamp on it. Opus de Funk laid their stall out and all five blew their socks off including Ben Lawrence who preempted the happening - or maybe they were in the wash! It didn't matter, his credentials as a jazz pianist are sound.
Hardy switched to flugel for Song for my Father which has never been one of my favourite Silver compositions - until now that is. Graham did it justice and opened my eyes to what a great piece it is.
Ben Lawrence began his jazz journey as part of the Early Bird Band which was led and tutored by Paul Edis at was then known as the Sage before becoming the Glasshouse so it was perhaps fitting that Edis' composition McCoin a Phrase should be included in the 45 minute set. Inspired by American pianist McCoy Tyner it was another that hit the band's groove.
Of course, even in a hard-blowing set like this a ballad is needed to ease the tension and Hardy stepped up to the plate with One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story.
Time for one more and the closer(ish) was Roy Hargrove's Soppin' the Biscuit. This one really did take the biscuit! I didn't want it to end I wanted it to last forever but, time was running out. Graham had to go but would the audience let the other four leave? No way Pedro! So, Sue, picked up the flute that had looked so lonely throughout the set and mesmerised us with My Heart Belongs to Daddy re-titled, I'm sure, by the audience to Your Heart Belongs to us!
Great band, great gig and, now available on a CD: That Shoe String Thing which was available at the gig and hopefully elsewhere. Marketing details please. Lance
2 comments :
Download available on Bandcamp here: https://sueferris.bandcamp.com/album/that-shoe-string-thing-2
No mention of CD therein though.
Thanks for the review Russell/Lance! I will investigate the whole Bandcamp thing as it's new territory for me, and one where I might have missed an important step! I'm happy to post a CD to anyone that might want one to purchase one. Please send me a message via Facebook messenger if this is the case! Sue Ferris 😊
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