Saxophonist Sam Braysher called up two of his favourite musicians to form the trio that played the 606 on Tuesday 24 June. He picked well: Joe Webb on piano and the Venerable Dave Green on bass worked a treat together – in fact, a series of treats. Each had a hand in selecting the programme, which consisted of some less-played standards, a couple of jazz classics and a timeless Ellington ballad.
Joe Webb’s style is clearly rooted in the two-fisted stride tradition but takes it way beyond into the realms of Ellington and Peterson and provided a perfect foil for Sam’s combination of lightness and strength. He has been compared, not without justification, to a young Lee Konitz. Thoughtful, elegant and straight to the point.
And as for Mr Green’s contribution, it was just as one might expect: warm, solid and faultlessly swinging.
Themes were stated clearly and solos by all three developed with a clear beginning. middle and end. Great to hear a programme without “Just Friends”, “Stella by Starlight”, “Cherokee”. or even a 12-bar blues. Play it again Sam.
