UK Jazz News

Art Themen and Alan Barnes at Frank and Mark’s

Iffley Church Hall, East Oxford. 6 December 2023

L-R: Frank Harrison, Mark Hodgson, Art Themen, Alan Barnes. Photo by Mark Rowan-Hull

This week was different at “Frank and Mark’s.” It is ingenious though simple idea by two great musicians to start a scene in their local environment. But this time, rather than playing with contemporaries or younger musicians (Iain Ballamy, Cleveland Watkiss, Mike Walker and most recently Jocelyn Brown…) this time the combo were with two tremendous and respectable elder statesmen and stalwarts of British Jazz. Art Themen and Alan Barnes. Both with incredible experience. Mark Hodgson warmly introduced them as lovely human beings and their warmth and generosity became more and more evident as the evening wore on.

I’ve seen Art Themen many, many times and have numerous recordings of him with the great Stan Tracey combos. He provides for me a link with the jazz greats, playing with the likes of Charlie Rouse, Red Rodney and Peter King and many more. He seems to be defying age (now 83) taking on the look of a Guru alike Sri Chinmoy and his playing though mellower, seems to retain a real power sometimes reminiscent of someone much younger like Joe Lovano.

Playing with Barnes, the two seemed to bring out the best out of each other, complementing each in style. This was particularly evident on the Sonny Rollins tune ‘Airegin’ with such tight and melodious playing. The harmonies made me think of the version arranged by Marty Paich on one of my favourite albums, “Art Pepper + Eleven” – I later found out that Barnes has completed a project on it.

I thought Barnes’ exquisite tone shone out wonderfully on the Sidney Bechet tune “Si tu vois ma mere”, which they made sound so fresh and modern.

However, the evening was particularly interesting for the change of the dynamics, and put a particular spotlight on Frank (Harrison) and Mark ( Hodgson)‘s own playing . Frank in particular with an exceptional solo on a Cedar Walton piece “Midnight Waltz” and Mark Hodgson with wonderful sonorous playing on Duke Ellington’s “Love you Madly”, with drummer Tim Giles. Hodgson and Giles on occasions – for me at least – evoked the spirit of John Ore and Frankie Dunlop in the classic quartet with Monk and Charlie Rouse.

This felt like a thoughtful and fitting end of the year performance in this intimate, adventurous and exciting project which also benefits from the warmth and the goodwill of volunteers. I am so looking forward to see what they have up their sleeves for Oxford in 2024.

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