Mama Terra @ Pilgrim - Jan. 28

Marco Cafolla (piano); Rachel Lightbody (voice); Konrad Wiszniewski (tenor/soprano sax);  Mikey Owers (trombone); Ross Saunders (double bass); Doug Hough (drums)

I knew this was going to be good but I never dreamed that it would be this good! Even the clips on YouTube only hinted at what to expect. Those expectations were surpassed after only a few of the opening bars.

With your average band, 90 minutes without an intermission can be a testing time. Not so last night at Pilgrim, the time just flew by. We were in awe of the sheets of sound that were enveloping us.

The material, mainly original, came from the band's albums - past, present and future.

All six were phenomenal. Lightbody, Mama Terra (Mother Earth), herself's amazing range, her voice another front line instrument. Wiszniewski's incredible tenor solos, the warmth of his soprano combined to remind me how much more he had to offer with Mama Terra than when confined to the sax section of the SNJO brilliant as he was with that great band. Owers on trombone at times blew a growling gut bucket, at others a smooth Urbie Green sound. Overall he reminded me of, say Roswell Rudd or Jimmy Knepper.

Cafolla, pianist, composer maybe also had Jimmy Knepper in mind as, when the shot and shell were flying the ensemble brought to mind Charles Mingus' music if he'd added a voice to  some of his recordings.

Saunders was a tower of strength on bass and Hough drove the bus with the power needed for a band like this.

And now, the morning after the night before, I'm still reeling - punch drunk with, I'm told, Acid Jazz. Small Venue Week was celebrated in style at Pilgrim. Lance

Photos © Sylvia