What a delight it was to walk through the rain to the sound of church bells , into this beautiful, life-affirming , monthly offering at ‘Frank and Mark’s’ . In this tucked-away quiet street, as I approached the wafting but clear and gentle sound of the trumpet and drums pierced the mist . This was the exciting trumpeter Laura Jurd and drummer Corrie Dick. As I settled at the back of this ancient building ( a village hall in Iffley ) the quality and clarity of the sound was absorbing, each detail of sound of these guests joining with Mark Hodgson ( bass) and Frank Harrison (piano) who play almost as one, quickly gelling with their guests firstly in ‘ You must believe in Spring’ apt with the unseasonably warm evening. Followed with ‘ Softly as a morning Sunrise’, with gentleness and beautiful interactions between Laura Jurd and In particular the bass of Mark Hodgson apparent. In the first pieces , I was reminded of those early Wynton Marsalis’ albums in the 1980’s. One of my favourite was called ‘J Mood’ . Something in the classical type precision of the notes and the sensitivity of the playing.
In a fresh version of ‘Autumn Leaves’ the improvisations became fluent and fluid. The tightness and almost frail delicacy reminded me of Chet Baker (of which she mentioned as playing her favourite solo in this lovely tune ) . Then things started to swing with Charlie Parker’s ‘Au Privave’, with wonderful solos by all, driven with exciting force by Corrie Dick, whose drumming was urgent and imaginative throughout.’
Then came a gentle and exquisite version of Ellington’s ‘Come Sunday’ where the notes seemed to gracefully float into the mist outside . It was most beautiful, and seemingly transcending time and place. On occasion‘s Laura Jurd seemed to let go of the trumpet, creating a gesture with her hand , as if the music was a bodily expression. An extension of her gestural playing.
With ‘Bye Bye blackbird’ Frank and Mark’s playing with Corrie Dick brought to mind those special interactions between Keith Jarrett and Gary Peacock on the glorious version of the piece on the ‘Live at Deerhead’ recordings . The closing piece was a fabulous spirited and fresh re imagining of the classic Miles Davis ‘All Blues ‘ with great solos by all .
The whole performance felt humble yet enlightening with such imagination and lightness of touch on such old classics.
