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| © Jeff Pritchard |
Grant Russell (bass); Kyran Matthews (tenor sax); George King (keyboards); Luke Flowers (drums)
This quartet, I was surprised to learn, was formed back in 2013. All four musicians are much in demand and it must be difficult to get them all together in one place to play the sort of hard-driving music they like.
Grant Russell ls the leader of this remarkable quartet, his formidable technique commanding the attention of the Moor Club audience. It is the ideal venue to demonstrate his talent. Kyran Matthews is well known to jazz followers in the UK and I have seen him many times in large and small ensembles and he is always amazing.
Luke Flowers was in high-octane mode most of the time but he slowed things down on Angle Eyes which started with Kyran stating the theme but ended after an energetic tenor workout from top to bottom. Luke has a drum style that is hard to define. A New Orleans influence maybe like Ed Blackwell but louder. George King did a fine job on keyboards and in spite of the football events taking place the audience was better than expected and they liked what they heard.
The tune I enjoyed the most was the Cedar Walton composition Bolivia and Grant's fingers were flying on the free form intro before bringing the rest of the band in after the familiar bass riff. This morning I watched a video of this group via Matt and Phreds site and they were playing a great version of Monk's Bemsha Swing. Mike Farmer
Groovin' High; Angel Eyes; Little Sunflower; Nica's Dream; Aim Eh?; Bolivia; Oscar's Bossa; Bluesville.
1 comment :
Grant Russell was the original player in GoGo Penguin. I heard him at the Vortex in those days. Very charismatic and excellent. Just as good in a different style to Nick Blacka.
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