New Generation Jazz: Binker Golding Band The Verdict, Brighton Friday 26th October, 2018 Saxophonist Binker Golding is probably best known for his duo work in Binker and Moses, as well as his sideman role with the likes of Zara McFarlane and Mr Jukes. Fronting his own band, he performed compositions from his forthcoming album Abstractions of…
Sons of Kemet Komedia, Brighton Tuesday 30th October, 2018 There is already a sense of excitement in the air as opener Vels Trio’s drummer Dougal Taylor brings their set of elegantly hip Hancock-esque minimal fusion to a simmering boil. This gig in the low-ceilinged Komedia basement sold out long ago – evidence of a…
Lorraine Baker’s Eden The Brunswick, Hove Sunday 7th November, 2018 Lorraine Baker recorded one of the season’s freshest sounding releases with her Eden project, dedicated to exploring the unique legacy of maverick New Orleans drum supremo Ed Blackwell. As Blackwell was a relatively infrequent composer, she’s picked selections from the back catalogue of his…
GoGo Penguin Concorde 2, Brighton Sunday 11th November, 2018 The Concorde usually hosts mid-ranking rock bands or popular club nights – tonight it’s completely sold out for an acoustic piano trio. Gogo Penguin walk onstage like rockstars to John Carpenter style atmospherics – Chris Illingworth plucks one repeated note from the piano from amidst…
Ezra Collective Patterns, Brighton Wednesday 14th November, 2018 “This is about joy and happiness and celebrating everything that’s good” proclaims Femi Koleoso. “There’s no boundaries to how you express yourself – dance, shout, be mad quiet and stare – but let’s lose the barriers, we ain’t superstars or nothing”. He’s talking about the crash…
Thelonious Monk Mønk (Gearbox CD 1841) Live recordings are a precious part of any Jazz collection. If the recording quality is good and the performance outstanding you have a gem to treasure. This session in Copenhagen in 1963 certainly deserves that description. I heard this quartet at the De Montfort Hall in Leicester in…
Dexter Gordon Quartet Tokyo 1975 (Elemental 5990428) Espace Cardin 1977 (Elemental 5990431) Two beautifully packaged CDs from Elemental these are in fact ‘discoveries’ – concert recordings not previously issued. Unfortunately there are many examples of Dexter available, so do they have any special interest? During his 15 years in Copenhagen Dexter acquired an A-list…
Fraser and the Alibis New Generation Jazz at The Verdict, Brighton Friday 28th September, 2018 Fraser and the Alibis formed 10 years ago when they met on the jazz degree course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. This was not an album launch as planned, as the new album is still…
Skinny Pelembe Green Door Store, Brighton Wednesday 26th September, 2018 A recent signing to Brownswood, as part of their excellent Future Bubblers series, Skinny Pelembe performed a set that highlighted his creativity and originality, with assistance from a top class band. Talented bassist Alley Lloyd also provided vocals on some of the numbers propelled…
Yussef Dayes The Haunt, Brighton Wednesday 26th September, 2018 The bouncer outside is busy checking ID and handing out wristbands to those lucky enough and old enough to buy booze legally; inside the system is playing trap to entertain the packed out crowd. The keys and bass players appear first and, after a short…