Blur! that's what crossed my mind midway through this superb gig. Blur, but nothing to do with the rock band of the same name. It was my reaction to Hughes' hand-drumming on the band's Latin take on Lullaby of Birdland. His hands became just a blur as he pounded the skins so fast it was impossible to tell left from right and the blurring wasn't finished yet. On the number that followed, Nuclear Bebopalypse* - the title track of their latest album - was driven along so fast they would have broken the lap record at the Indy 500 (237.5 mph). This time it was pianist Baranek who did the blurring. Same thing happened with my photos!
Earlier in the day they'd played at Hexham. Russell will, no doubt, give you the lowdown on that one.
Here at the Globe the audience was about what you'd expect given that England were playing Serbia in a Euro 2024 qualifier and it was on terrestial tv. One goal in 90 minutes compared to a dozen goals at the jazz bar in the same time - no contest!
Kicking off, and I use the expression aďvisably as both band and audience were having a ball, with Beboptical Illusion from a previous album I knew I would have no regrets about missing the match. Not just three individuals but a unit as tight as... I'll leave it to you to choose your own metaphor... suffice to say they think as one.
AB's Blues* was just that, a blues composed by Andrzej Baranek including a drum solo during the course of which Hughes played the melody of Bird's Now's the Time - on drums! Clever.
Beautiful Moons Ago composed by Nat Cole before he was 'crowned' is a lovely tune that should be heard more often. They did the composer proud.
Satin Doll. The lyric describes this satin doll as out cattin' and when the piano went into overdrive she most certainly was. The room flipped.
Lullaby of Birdland and Nuclear Bebopalypse* we've covered and the interval was upon us.
Monk's I Mean You got us back on track then a piece by bassist Barras, Disinformation,* demonstrated that he can do arco as well as pizz.
Hughes chipped in with one of his compositions - Shooting From the Hip!*. Another killer. I wished they'd play something awful just to prove they were human but they didn't. Certainly not the next one: Put on a Happy Face. Inspired by an Oscar Peterson recording this was the swingingest number of the night - any night! Now, hours later, I'm still wearing a happy face - maybe I always will.
Another Hughes' original, White Noise*, brought us to the last number - Body and Soul featuring Barras. Tender and expressive, a thing of beauty. However, you don't close the show with tenderness and beauty so Baranek, who is one of the finest pianists I've heard in many a year, upped the ante tempo-wise by segueing into Blue Monk which in turn went into another bebop anthem, the title of which escapes me. Earlier they'd played Lullaby of Birdland - tonight, the Globe was Birdland! Lance.
*From the album Nuclear Bebopalypse. TRY/BUY.
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