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| © Russell |
Harben Kay (tenor sax, alto flute); Peter Johnstone
(piano); Ali Watson (double bass); Alyn Cosker (drums)
The Globe was at capacity. Seats were at a premium
and on a person per square yard ratio probably had the edge on the Michael
Jackson tribute concert at the nearby Utilita Arena.
The attraction? Scottish Young Jazz
Musician of the Year Harben Kay touring their soon to be released
EP Firn.
The material, all composed by Kay, in the main came from the new disc and the third of their three albums, The World I Live in. Indeed it was the title track of that last album with which they opened the first set.
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| © Russell |
The rich sonority of the alto flute, the full tone
of the tenor, the piano, a composer for the moment, a concerto that lives and
dies with the applause. The bass knows the score, lays down the foundation and
maybe more whilst on the kit, let's just say that you ain't heard nuttin' yet!
Swolf features flute and has a relaxed feel to it
before the bombs start dropping on Greylight which has a good
old four in a bar swing section. The solos are getting hotter than hot and
on Blue Beetle (car? insect?) we move into hard bop territory.
This is my beat and I swear that the photo of Dexter Gordon on the wall, right
of stage, smiles and nods approvingly.
Like the first set, the second opens with a short
narration before going into Turning Tides. Flute, tenor, flute
with piano in the mix flowed nicely. I didn't catch the name of the next tune
but it had a good bass solo and Watson wasn't fazed by a sonic boom from his
amp - I get a similar sound from my fridge/freezer!
Watson had a long, uninterrupted bass solo on Alcazaba which
moved into a swinging free for all with Cosker driving the proceedings along
with the power he applies to the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra - wow!
Winter Halo cooled things but only until the
final Virago caused a four alarm fire alert (musically
speaking).
An all-round good gig and, at times, a great
one. Lance
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