i thought i was running late for this one - hate walking in on shows
but things are a bit behind schedule at the sound lounge tonight
so bum hit seat as the first note was struck in front of me
i'd taken the empty table again centre front
all but on the stage with the 4 musicians
and so a push back required to best take it all in
tim bruer stage right tickling the ivories
sean coffin under his baseball cap blowing on the sax
brett hirst leading the dance with his double bass
and surprisingly simon barker on drums stage left
last time i had seen him was with his duo showa 44
making an amazing improvised noise with guitarist carl dewhurst
so tonight in a much more conventional line-up
first impressions - hmmm - could be a long night
all a bit loose, held-back, under-rehearsed possibly
sheet music being the main focus for some
drums overwhelmingly loud in my position
tim bruer back-announcing his compositions
which kind of saved the day for me - all originals
3 or 4 tunes played capably but not convincingly
my mind unfairly harking back to the last visit to the lounge
when the aaron goldberg trio dazzled with similar material
and on that ocassion demonstrating an unbelievable connection
tonight the skills were there but the clocked up hours were not
though in the last tune for the first set things got much better
tim bruer introduced side-step as a funky number new to the band
here they let go of the disciplined approach and indulged
the 4 of them obviously enjoying a new found connection
the audience also responding appropriately with enthusiasm
though not explaining the dwindling of audience numbers during the break
something i do find quite common with the jazz set
see and be scene then high-tail it out of there
though a well-known reviewer makes a habit of that also
odd behaviour really as typically the best music comes in the second set
as with tonight after the band were back on stage
picking up where they left off and playing much more confidently
sean coffin in particular really making his sax sing very nicely
with the whole band now sounding like something very familiar
closest i could come up with was dewey redman a-la 80/81
a very melodic, up-tempo, balanced sound coming from the stage
by now i had also figured out why simon barker was there
improvisation is his gig i suspect but structure must also appeal
he himself referring to sheet music at times
and clearly enjoying his role in this band
tim bruer is not a flashy or hugely impressive pianist
seems content to write and play for and with a full band
which probably was a standout feature of the entire night
the emphasis being on group performance more than soloing
so that when they hit a groove their sound was just fine
allowing for self-indulgent, eye-closing, no-better-place enjoyment
another successful outing to the sound lounge
