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February 2008
gig reviews

Phronesis
Barry Green
Dan Stern
Gwilym Simcock
Tangent

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February 2008 gig reviews by Chris Parker

Barry Green

Wednesday 13 February

Launching his new website , pianist Barry Green led three line-ups for this gig. He began by airing original themes with a quartet completed by tenor player Mark Hanslip, bassist Sam Lassersson and drummer Tim Giles; these proved to be complex enough to engage his band's talents (Hanslip's tenor tone an attractive warm warble, Giles's selection of dynamics and texture impressive throughout, Lassersson enthusiastically pushing things along) while simultaneously straightforward enough to accommodate uninhibited soloing, notably from the mellifluous Green himself.

A duo with one of the UK's most experienced bassists, Dave Green, explored material by Alec Wilder and Ornette Coleman from a forthcoming album, showcasing not only (Barry) Green's luminous delicacy laced with tensile strength but also (Dave) Green's rock-steady accompanying skills and occasional bursts of soloing eloquence.

Joined for a third set by alto player Martin Speake and drummer James Maddren, the Greens expanded their repertoire to include more recherch¬ standards ('My Melancholy Baby' segueing into a pleasingly hushed, tender version of the Billie Holiday/Frank Sinatra torch song 'I'm a Fool to Want You') and a concluding hectic rush through Charlie Parker's bop classic 'Donna Lee', on which the purity and slippery elegance of Speake's tone was particularly noteworthy.

Green's evening thus did exactly what it said on the tin: it provided a showcase for his unassuming versatility, allowing him to shine as composer/leader, sparkling soloist and intriguing interpreter of standard material.

 

 

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