Chris Ingham’s Rebop celebrates the music of Miles Davis
By Robert Carr
25th Oct 2022 | Opinion
There was an air of excitement from the sell-out audience at Hadleigh Town Hall as they anticipated the cool jazz which lay ahead on the mild October evening. And Chris Ingham's Rebop sextet of outstanding musicians did not let them down with a thrilling celebration of the coolest of the cool – Miles Davis at his peak during the 1950s.
Forming the source of the show was Miles' decade-long production of legendary albums including Workin', 'Round About Midnight, Miles Ahead, Milestones and Kind of Blue – in all, well over thirty albums.
Opening the first set with All Blues from the album that critics consider the greatest jazz album of all time - Kind of Blue – the sextet's cool start introduced the collective and individual talents of the musicians.
On trumpet, the former musical director of the National Theatre, Paul Higgs, took on the mantle of Davis: a daunting task for musicians but he acquitted himself with supreme expertise and flair. Throughout the evening, Paul's playing was as dazzling as his glistening green trumpet - playing at levels I had never previously heard from him.
The dynamically upbeat Move inspired Paul to yet more exciting stuff as it did for bandleader Chris Ingham on piano. During the evening of music and anecdotes, Chris related the life and career of Davis with a mixture of engaging academic erudition and his unique brand of drollery.
The melodic and swinging Gil Evans big band style Boplicity was a change from the Bebop openers. This was followed by Four which also gently swung along.
Then it was onto Walkin', the title track of the album, with the whole band in searing form. In particular, the young virtuoso alto saxist Tom Smith gave such a blistering Hard Bop display it was almost an audible abstract blur, such was his technique. Debuting at the Club, he is firmly established on the national jazz scene and all our table gang are hoping for a return visit from this crowd-pleaser.
A relaxed rendition of Cole Porter's Love for Sale was performed by Paul in Davis's signature muted trumpet manner. Again, this was a pleasing side of his playing I had heard little of in past shows. Miles Ahead, the title track number of the album, was another Gil Evans arrangement, this time in a fusion of jazz, European classical and world music.
Another title track number, Milestones, was wonderfully played by the whole ensemble. The rising young tenor sax star, Suffolk's Harry Greene, splendidly filled the shoes of the legendary John Coltrane on this standout number. Making a return visit to the Club, this was the third time I had seen Harry in concert, and it is always a great pleasure to hear him play – the future of British jazz is in safe hands with talents such as his.
Classics such as Autumn Leaves and Summertime led us to the hauntingly evocative Flamenco Sketches (Davis and Bill Evans) and So What (Davis), to conclude the show as it had started, with tracks from his seminal album Kind of Blue. The final number was full of wonderful improvisation and the whole performance could grace any venue in the country.
On double bass, Joe Pettitt's riffs formed a firm rhythm basis throughout the show. Never more so than on the outstanding So What encore. A busy freelancer, Joe also plays bass for pop legend Tony Christie and runs the mighty Len Phillips Big Band.
Needing no introduction was George Double, the drumming half of the rhythm section and the Club's promoter. As ever, George provided a driving groove, which is so much a part of Bebop, interspersed with the occasional display of drumming pyrotechnics, much to the delight of his fans.
During his lifetime, Davis suffered from drug addiction, racial prejudice, a lot of illness, and much else, but left the world his enduring genius. For me, his being an alumnus of New York's Julliard School of Music is evidenced by his approach to playing, composition, and directional styles.
Next up at Hadleigh Jazz Club, on Saturday 17 December is Jazz at the Movies: A Swinging Christmas. This ever-popular annual show will feature the voice of Joanna Eden together with the Chris Ingham Trio. Tickets for the matinee and evening shows will be available from ticketsouce.co.uk/hadleigh-jazz-club
To receive information about HJC gigs, ask to be added to the Club's mailing list by contacting George at [email protected] or via his website at georgedouble.com
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