Like any jazz fan I’m conscious of the vibes as a jazz instrument and could probably name half a dozen well-known players if pushed, but I didn’t know the history of the instrument or its importance and influence until I heard Orphy Robinson’s fascinating and erudite mini-lecture which was part of this highly enjoyable gig.
Every tune was introduced with an explanation of the historical context in which the original recording or composition took place, usually with an anecdote or two about the musicians involved and the way in which they helped to develop the role of the vibes in jazz, and the subsequent playing of the tune gave instant relevance to the introductions. The fact that Orphy is a fan of appalling convoluted puns as well as a great vibes player and communicator just added to the fun,
The 8-piece band which Orphy fronted consisted entirely of current students on the jazz course at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM), under the watchful eye of RAM Head of Jazz Nick Smart seated at the bar. Nick can be extremely proud of his students ! Not a weak spot among them and some remarkably mature performances and solos. The rhythm section was notably tight, and for me Ananda Brandão on drums was a standout – she has a great future ahead of her.
Although the set started with Lionel Hampton’s “Flying Home” from 1939, Orphy mostly focused on the classic Blue Note recordings of the 60’s and 70’s – in fact the second half consisted entirely of Bobby Hutcherson tunes, including “Knucklebean”, “Montara”, “8/4 Beat” and “Ummh”. We got to that point via a tour of big vibes names starting with Terry Gibbs – a new one to me, so I looked him up & was delighted to discover that he celebrated his 100th birthday last October! “Bags’ Groove” and Roy Ayers’s “Goree Island” featured of course, and I discovered at last why Bags was Milt Jackson’s nickname – Orphy explained that it referred to the bags under his eyes.
I can understand why there wasn’t time to get into more recent vibes material, but I would have enjoyed an explanation of what Gary Burton and his 4-mallet innovations brought to the party. Maybe one for Orphy to consider for take two of this admirable show. Nonetheless, the Club and Orphy certainly deserve praise for the opportunity it gave to next-generation jazz musicians to play at an iconic venue, as well as for Orphy’s amusing take on the history of the instrument that he loves.
BAND
Flute – Keira Chakraborty
Trumpet – Gabriel Taylor
Alto Sax – Mali Sheard
Tenor Sax – Ethan Townsend
Trombone – Ismael Aasgard
VIBES – Orphy Robinson
Piano – Lewis James
Bass – Zaki Osahn
Drums – Ananda Brandão
