Weather Morning: 9°c Sunny spells Afternoon: 10°c Sunny spells

Music

London,

Steve Grossman & Damon Brown Quintet

Description: The former-Miles Davis tenor and the Killer Shrimp trumpeter lock horns.



Rating: 4 out of 5 Jack Massarik's rating
Rating: 5 out of 5

Reader rating

Your rating

one star two star three star four star five star

Click on a star to rate

Ronnie Scott's Frith Street, W1D 4HT

Phone: 0207439 0747

Website: www.ronniescotts.co.uk

Email: ronniescotts@ronniescotts.co.uk

Extra info: Air Conditioning, Pub, Party Hire

Transport: Tube: Leicester Square Transport for London

Damon Brown makes music last

Damon Brown
Well-chosen set: Damon Brown played alongside Steve Grossman

By Jack Massarik
18 Jul 2008


Britain's finest straight-ahead trumpeter has lived abroad for years, which makes a silent point. Homesick? Far from it. The tall, shaven-headed Damon Brown is flourishing in exile. Based in Paris, he's playing more warmly and fluently than ever. His style, an amalgam of Blue Mitchell, Clifford Brown and Lee Morgan, is popular all over Europe and it was in Naples last year that he met New York saxophonist Steve Grossman, now living in Italy. They exchanged phone numbers and this group is the result.

Backing the co-leaders with brio, pianist Nico Lindsay's nimble lines and full chord voicings reflected McCoy Tyner, Wynton Kelly, Horace Parlan and their fountainhead, Bud Powell. Behind him, bassist Aldo Zanino and drummer Alessandro Minetto made a first-class all-Italian rhythm section. Minetto, in particular, is a real discovery. He kept excellent time on a warm, riveted ride cymbal, took brilliant, no-nonsense solos and swung crisply even on brushes.

Grossman, who played with nonchalant expertise, is something of a rarity. While very young and deeply inspired by John Coltrane, he worked with Miles Davis and later Elvin Jones. Later, in his 30s, he fell under the stylistic spell of an earlier US master, Sonny Rollins, a counterchronological revision which nevertheless suited him better. He still operates in Sonny's wide-toned, freewheeling area today.

A well-chosen set featured a blues, a ballad (I'm Confessin'), jazz staples (On a Misty Night, Joy Spring, Ceora, Soultrane, and a Grossman original, Take the D Train) - "make that a double-D," quipped the composer - all beautifully played examples of modern jazz from a golden era before the rock sensibility changed everything. But life, of course, is brief and art is eternal. Who knows, this music might last for centuries, just as Bach and Vivaldi's has done.

Again tonight. Information: 020 7439 0747.

Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.

Reader views (0)

 Add your view

No comments have so far been submitted.


Add your comment

 

Terms and conditions Make text area bigger You have  characters left.

We welcome your opinions. This is a public forum. Libellous and abusive comments are not allowed. Please read our House Rules.

For information about privacy and cookies please read our Privacy Policy.


 

Music top five
Cher Lloyd
Cher Lloyd

IndigO2
SE10
Apr 8, 7pm

Chris Rea

HMV Apollo
W6
Apr 5, 6.30pm

Miles Kane

HMV Forum
NW5
Apr 28, 7.30pm

Example

The O2 Arena
SE10
Apr 27, 6.30pm

Lightning Seeds

02 Shepherd's Bush Empire
W12
Feb 18, 7pm