part 2 of tonights presentation of improvised music by sima
another eclectic lineup featuring chris abrahams on the piano
master noise-making bass-player mike majkowski in the middle
james 'pug' waples completing the lineup on drums and percussion
the trio are positioned tightly together in the middle of the stage
the piano repositioned stage right to suit chris abrahams style
his preference seemingly to have his back to other musicians
the first sign that this outfit is not your standard jazz trio
mr abrahams leading off with an introduction of the band
then heading off musically with his distinctive playing
fingers moving rapidly, gently and somehow uniquely
eyes left and mike majkowski already into it big time
not much noise but some very impressive actions
palm-scraping, finger-flicking, bow in and out
james waples now assuming an unfamiliar role
i have a lot of respect for him as a drummer of feel
all other times i have seen him there has been structure
tonight he's now playing with more experimental style
easily providing the percussive noises to suit this group
scraping cymbals, tapping or bashing anything in reach
an array of metal objects placed on drums and manipulated
dragged, tapped, brushed, dropped to create various sounds
some too close to fingernails on blackboards for our liking
but as mike majkowski also demonstrates - anything goes
his hands and arms moving at lightning speed pulling sounds
his bow in and out of it's holder sometimes used for one note
or a kazoo type instrument held in his mouth and blown
sometimes his voice used in unison with the bowed notes
producing a very harmonic and strangely beautiful sound
in the meantime chris abrahams trills away on the piano
his fingers moving rapidly - the rest of him motionless
me thinking he must be thoroughly enjoying this setting
his day job with the necks seeming so different to this
a sense of freedom and freshness with this outfit
and also obvious admiration for his peers tonight
at one point craning his neck to watch mr majkowski
again i think there were only 3 tunes played by the band
all improvised, all totally absorbing, all very well received
and given the previous bands efforts also totally unique
long live improvisation i say - in the hands of experts
now looking forward to the next sima presentation
