at last - the boys club has been further infiltrated
sandy evans has been the single dominant female on this scene
that of traditionally male-oriented jazz/improvised live music
but tonight another lady is on stage with the space cadets
founder/leader john pochee on humour, drums and percussion
warwick alder as his foil and also playing trumpet
matt ottignon on tenor saxophones and main composer
greg coffin left of stage providing piano noises and tunes
and...zoe hauptman on double bass keeping the boys in check
first impressions are that john pochee is loud and expressive
piano barely audible, bass just there and brass doing the job
mr pochee totally dominating at least in my front row position
he's big on the snare drum but is all over everything in his reach
the first tune is titled pochee's opener which may explain his dominance
by the time the next few tunes are played things have changed
all members of the band have time in the spotlight
or together are combining to make some fine music
sax and trumpet harmonising nicely or leading confidently
then stepping aside to let the piano based trio take over
which confirms the strength of a quintet such as this
one moment the brass section demanding all the attention
then the next the pianist in charge and providing a gentler sound
both backed up by a rhythm section content to provide the anchor
between tunes john pochee takes the time to give credit where credit is due
consistently announces the names and composers of each piece
which i find as a latecomer to this music to be invaluable
in one sense this information provides a reference point
allowing the listener to attach a style or tune to a known name
donald henderson, ornette coleman, christian mcbride covered tonight
in another sense it allows the listener to appreciate those on stage
this when a piece of music composed by a member is played
greg coffin's ode to rodger frampton is titled to all those who have gone before
john pochee gave an emotional introduction to this tune
written for and dedicated to his departed colleague
a lovely, slow, piano-based melodic tune given due respect
the first set closed with a tune titled trigonometry by ornette coleman
which really had the brass section in particular digging in
sparring off each other with quite different stanzas of music
that to me seemed to require serious concentration to get through
and highlighting quite a complex, unusual and engaging tune
the second set was dominated by a work by matt ottignon
4 movements making up a long, sprawling, impressive tune titled spaces
each movement individually titled and standing on it's own
all the musicians deferring to sheet music throughout
indicating the depth of thought that had gone into this composition
and similarly indicating the skills of the musicians on stage
a small but very appreciative audience providing the appropriate ovation
the final tune for the night a blues based tune by christian mcbride
with lots of smiles, happiness and a giving of all on stage
at the conclusion i was once again left to ponder on this scene
another exceptional, highly individual, unpredictable night's music
but largely ignored by the millions of people outside
still my head was nicely filled for the long walk home
i think i may have an addiction problem
oh well, nevermind
