it's favourite band time at the sound lounge tonight
well there's a few of them but this one certainly counts
saw them do a set at the same venue about a year ago
sharing the bill with another trio of young local jazz upstarts
and making an impression on me that has had me on the lookout
i attended the wangaratta jazz festival last year to see them again
their attendance there convincing me of their unique sound
tonight it's the official launch of their second album titled sofia
a decent crowd in attendance and me in the best seat in the house
looking forward this time to a couple of sets of fine music
sure enough they start up and are immediately engaging
in a way it's a fairly conventional lineup - sax, bass, drums
but then they have other things to add - youth, talent, enthusiasm
dave jackson on alto can't help attracting the most attention
for it's his sweet, singing, melodic style that makes their sound
able cross on standup bass his musical brother and master player
he similarly as fluid and melodic as can be on his instrument
alex masso on drums and percussion sitting tight and close
no need for flashiness here - precision playing filling it out
his other duty to provide the banter between blocks of tunes
which to me is quite an essential yet underrated component
done with grace, humour and brevity adding to a performance
certainly the case tonight as alex informs us of the music
they now have 2 albums to draw on and a few standards
one of them being the gorgeous what reason could i give
an ornette coleman tune last heard covered by another outfit
then led by a trumpet but tonight it's at home with an alto
dave jackson appropriately providing the emotion in spades
working with his bandmates to provide a unified sound
the silence factor confirming that this show is special
at times in gentle pieces like this the room was hushed
to me indicating every person tuned into the performance
with loud and generous applause as each tune concludes
the new tunes sounding original and played confidently
sofia - back-announced - me thinking it was a standard
holly and bobby - horses - sax playing of the highest order
details of how to get APOPLECTIC on your licence plate
a tune from the first album that allows lots of space
an up-tempo all-in anything-goes free-form number
dave jackson pulling all manner of sounds from his sax
able cross using a bow to great effect on his bass
alex masso bashing, crashing, tapping, flourishing
a move away from melody but still playing as one
every single tune different from every other
no mean feat in 2 hours of music from a trio
it's always good to see a unit having fun
even more so to recognise mutual respect
and the ultimate to sense something special
heart palpitations in one moving tune for me
a totally impressive and engaging performance
music as fresh and pure as you could hope for
their musical journey only just beginning....
