It was cold and wet tonight on Southend seafront, but I found a warm & welcoming Georgian lounge which resounds to live jazz from local & national musicians every week. And to my delight, the 6-piece Mandala were playing some of the greatest hits of Carla Bley.
Long-standing favourites from the 70s (Ida Lupino and The New Funeral March/New National Anthem from A Genuine Tong Funeral) and a substantial core of 80s Big Band pieces were leavened with sensitive renditions of Útviklingssang, featuring a fulsome tenor solo from Zak Barrett, and Lawns, with the rarely heard vocal setting given by Ted Porter, whose trumpet work elsewhere was equally spare, fresh & exquisite. He was complemented in this by Geof Harris‘ ranging bass solo.
It’s those Big Band numbers with their always surprising hooks that really grab your attention. With Dave Jago leading from the front and giving a damn fine impression of Gary Valente’s soaring, bluesy trombone, Song Sung Long, Real Life Hits and of course, the magsterial The Lord Is Listening To Ya, Hallelujah! shone through, capturing the seriously quirky Bley humour. He revelled in the Preacher-groove of Who Will Rescue You, bringing the band with him with really focused conducting. Tony Gooderham‘s keys delivered both Burton vibes & Bley-er piano, and he really rocked it in Sing Me Softly Of The Blues. Barrett and Porter blew fine solos throughout, but especially in Vashkar – Zak on soprano, Ted commanding on trumpet. They flew with Jago into a rousing encore of Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s Sack Full of Soul – a preview of the band’s upcoming Kirk project. (not one of Carla’s, but felt pretty close). Throughout, Trevor Taylor‘s driving drumming was as persistent and on the mark as his long history of promoting jazz in the area.
Southend has its pier. Which is great, but it is also very lucky to have the Jazz825 programme. Next week (drum roll…): Chris Biscoe plays Westbrook!
Mandala:
Zak Barrett – Saxophone
Ted Porter – Trumpet
Dave Jago – Trombone
Tony Gooderham – Piano
Geof Harris – Bass
Trevor Taylor (drums)
Every Wednesday, Royal Hotel, Southend-on-Sea.
