Isomatic UK Weblog

On Friday evening we went to Ripley Cricket Club to see the Malcolm Cliff trio, comprising Malcolm (keyboard), Ian Scott-Taylor (excellent on string bass) and Al Merritt (drums) with guests Pete Towndrow (flugelhorn, cornet) and Clive Burton (trombone). Pete described this as mainstream jazz rather than the dixieland style he plays when Brian White is in charge of the Magna Jazz Band. We like both !
When requests were sought I proposed anything from the Bossa Nova era, loved by Pete and us. Clive also approved so they played 'Desafinado'. The next request was for the equally beautiful 'Skylark'. Other highlights were 'Autumn Leaves', Clive's feature 'I'm Glad There is You' in honour of Alma Cogan and Pete's feature 'Little Jazz'.
We asked Pete what he thought about contemporary jazz and, unsolicited, he volunteered that he does not like to hear musicians cramming too many notes into each bar.
We found a modern jazz gig organiser in the audience but his comments seemed based on lack of knowledge of the real jazz scene, e.g. he thinks that Chris Barber still plays trad jazz. He described the musicians we see regularly as not like the real professionals he hires. Perhaps we should avoid such expensive gigs for fear of disappointment.

Labels: Jazz