part 2 of a run of blue-chip bands playing this weekend at the sound lounge
last night it was the much-loved ten part invention laying it on
tonight miroslav bukovsky and james greening are back on stage
but significantly in this case at front of stage with the six part wanderlust
understandably a completely different sound with jeremy sawkins on guitar
steve elphick also puts in a repeat performance guesting on double bass
fabian hevia assuming his usual position at rear on drums and percussion
and way over there stage left is alister spence in charge of the yamaha c7 piano
a typically quiet and gentle start with him doing a solo piano piece
then one by one the others come in also quite tentatively and gently
it's a classic warm-up number allowing them to check and synchronise
another case i suspect of rehearsal time being nil or very limited
this confirmed by the friendly embraces exchanged between members pre-set
and so it's the decades of performances that provides the foundation
some reassuring glances, nods and smiles indicating this will be good
miroslav bukovsky is the driving force of this band and does mc duties
james greening also in his usual master of comedian role with his quick wit
so everything is in place for the band to crank into it and excel once again
my feeling is that the outstanding component here is the songwriting
tunes that all have a unique edge to them and true to the band's name
dakar, samba nova, mumbo jumbo amongst the stunning tunes played tonight
the band name very aptly describing the music that they play so convincingly
always a sense of travelling, distance, foreign places invoked when they play
so easy to give into the music and go with them on the journey for an hour or 2
a wonderful hybrid of music with jazz, world and even rock (guitar) intersecting
and as a bonus alister spence on piano adding a lovely melodic component
as for last night's performance it's the sense of control that dominates
in this case bass-player and drummer a constant in every tune
allowing the 4 chaps up front to come and go with ease
piano, trumpet, trombone and guitar solos all taken and played brilliantly
then on the occasions when they are all at it there's impressive harmonies
a highlight in dakar being trombone and guitar sounding as one
if there was one standout musician tonight then jeremy sawkins did it
every time i have seem him with this band he has contributed faultlessly
but tonight he went up a notch or 2 in intensity and inventiveness
his left-handed chord-based effects-driven guitar-playing superb
bringing to mind more than ever pat metheny at his fastest and best
sounds meshing so well with the music coming from his peers
and significantly applause, whoops and large smiles also from them
which pretty well summed up the whole nights performance
you know you're onto a good thing when the band is enjoying it
this band has 6 members of equal and individual skills
each one of them clearly with respect for each other
as evidenced by the after-show embraces and handshakes
me - just so happy to be there and now re-charged (again)
