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October 2006
gig reviews

Herb Robertson's NY Downtown Allstars
Brian Abrahams
Nois4
Chris Laurence Quartet
Finn Peters
Centre Line
Barb Jungr
Prevost, Wilkinson, Williamson
Eddie Parker's Mr Vertigo
Aisling Stephenson
Kevin Davy
Evan Parker
Basil Hodge
Turner, Grenadier, Ballard

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October 2006 gig reviews by Chris Parker

Basil Hodge Quartet

Monday 30

The stellar line-up assembled by pianist/composer Basil Hodge (saxophonist Tony Kofi, bassist Larry Bartley, drummer Winston Clifford) did not disappoint. The leader provided all the quartet's material, a series of eminently playable heads that were instantly accessible yet contained just sufficient wrinkles, rhythmic and melodic, to ensure that their exploration (particularly by the inexhaustibly inventive Kofi, who moved easily between pleasantly buzzing baritone and astringent alto and soprano) gave the soloists plenty to chew on.

The band proved to be a tight, cohesive and hard-blowing outfit, all its members seizing their solo opportunities (Clifford's spots especially memorable, little gems of teasing rhythmic wit) as well as constantly tending the overall group sound, but it was Hodge's compositional skill that really impressed.

Clearly inspired by the open, fresh hard-bop sound of Blue Note's heyday, but tellingly infused with the questing earnestness of Coltrane-era jazz, he seems to have an almost unlimited supply of bright, engaging yet intriguing themes conducive to extended exploration, and his own piano playing is at once driving and subtle; a man to watch.

 

 

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