There’s a pub called “The Spice of Life” on Cambridge Circus, in the basement bar of which there’s one of those small, formerly smoky venues, which is where you feel jazz always should happen, though 4.30 on a Sunday afternoon is perhaps a tad implausible. The band was Drugstore Cowboy who are described as straightahead. It was good, loud, forceful conventional stuff. The trumpeter,Quentin Collins, could obviously play pure melodic notes if he wanted to, but was too inclined to go for screeching on the edge for my taste. But some good solos from Brandon Allen on the sax, and from the Hammond organist and the drummer.
Time for a quick dash to Pret for a wrap (hoisin duck — v. good) before back to the basement for the Froy Aagre band. Froy does her own numbers, very much in the Norwegian saxophone mould after Gabarek and Seim, but all delightfully tuneful and not overstrained. She had what can only be described as a modest demeanour. For the second half Kenny Wheeler, who is famous and old, joined the band to play some of his numbers. Good stuff, but more mainstream.
And so to Monday night at the QEH, which is not an intimate venue. Iro Haarla is a Finnish harp and piano player whose CD “Northbound” I really like. Unfortunately the music didn’t really come across in this concert. The first number, which has Trygve Seim and Mathias Eick blaring together, was ill-chosen, I thought, and prejudiced a lot of the audience against what was to follow. The numbers ended up all sounding pretty much the same, beautiful and atmospheric though they were. Pity, I like Seim and Eick.
Iro Haarla was actually part of a double bill with the Manu Katche band, which was what most of the audience had come to hear. Although again there were some nice moments and accomplished playing, having the drummer lead the band in this instance led to much to prominent drumming. A bit of an ego-trip maybe ?
