In recent years it has been almost impossible to pick up an album that was recorded in that London and find that Daniel Casimir was not playing bass on it. Small groups, large ensembles, Mr Casimir was the top of the list of guns for hire and he brought his large ensemble, a 16 piece Big Band and crammed them onto the stage at The Parabola with barely room to slide a cigarette paper between them. The opener, Music not numbers, provided everything I’d hope for as the band made a big, bold statement of intent from the off, as tight as could be. This sound and fury broke to allow an alto solo, the pianist throwing Stan Tracey shapes; the rhythm section forge forwards as other sections of the band are folded in in a supporting role that raises the heat. This Band is a bit of a beast.
Just a Little Bit is inspired by the early stages of love, we are told. It seems like the tone is torn between hope and caution, opening joyously but then being undercut by some sinuous blues. It’s romantic in a soulful 70s way. An excellent extended alto solo is pushed on by the drums as a sharp edged trumpet takes the lead, still with the drums, increasingly ferocious, forcing it onward and upward before a gentler, more subdued tenor solo, which in turn is challenged by the energetic drumming as the trumpets fold in in support. It’s all about the dynamics across the sections of the band and how the different voices work together as a single character within the Band. Letting go is more soul with a rich bed of trombones and saxes and a muted trumpet singing along; George’s alto solo is long and lyrical leading up to a melodic closing passage; as before the trumpet escapes and climbs and, again, the rest of the Band power up to fold it back in.
Closer In Search for Goldilocks sees Casimir back on acoustic bass opening the piece with a knotty, meaty solo with Mingus-ish elements; the full trombone section’s roaming is softened by the saxes but the energy levels are maintained. A sudden stop and then the Band are all in and it feels like we are in the eye of the storm. A rapid series of solos, a full phat trombone, a piercing trumpet and pummelling drums takes us to another dead stop and then the Band comes back in even more energetically than before. Wide smiles from the audience. We have been entertained.
Music Not Numbers, Don’t be Afraid, I’ll Take my Chances, Balance, Just a little bit, Let me know, In search for Goldilocks
Dave Sayer (With thanks to Daniel Casimir who provided the names of all the musicians and the set list)
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