Jazz | Pint | Amok Amor

Tonight I planned to listen to selections from discs relating to an up coming session. The theme for November is "Jazz & Place" - which I'm leaning towards music that I have connection the place and the music. maybe something from Chicago which I've nailed down to a couple of options - Miles Davis 'Live at the Plugged Nickel 1965' (I lived a short walk from where the club once stood and it's one of my favourite recordings from Miles) or Ken Vandermark's 'The Midwest School' (I heard this group, Audio One, at the Green Mill in 2013 and this was recorded in 2014 at the same venue). And then there's NYC, and The Stone in particular - Connie Crothers and Bill Payne ('The Stone Set'), Richard Tabnik ('Symphony for Jazz Trio') or Connie Crothers Quartet with Mark Weber.... a tough choice! Plus there's Will Holhauser/Michael Moore/Han Bennink 'Live in NYC' not only a souvenir from that gig at Drom where I happened to run into Bastian Duncker (it's a reminder of the time I spent in Greece where I'd been a couple of months before playing music alongside Bastian). It all feels a little nostalgic tonight... maybe it's the chamomile tea?

But in the end, I went off script and ended up listening to Amok Amor - Petter Eldh (bass) Christian Lillinger (drums) Wanja Slavin (alto sax) and Peter Evans (trumpet) - and their high energy playing almost crushed any nostalgic feelings that were kicking about! Seriously though, this is a recent bandcamp purchase that I bumped into will looking into Lillinger. He's quite the drummer and worth price of admission alone, but everyone plays well, and it's a really cohesive quartet. Maybe not music I will return to a lot but when the moment strikes me it can hit the spot.

Michael Moore Quartet at Constellation

Saturday night was spent at Constellation. The venue's excellent programming continued with the Michael Moore Quartet. Joining the alto saxophone and clarinet of Moore were locals Josh Berman (cornet) Jason Roebke (b) Frank Rosaly (d).

There was an intimate feel musically and atmospherically. The quartet huddled together, close to the hushed audience in the darkened concert hall (my notebook was surprisingly readable when I opened it this morning). The acoustics allowed for the quartet to play quietly and clearly, though there was still plenty of clarity when the dynamic level shifted gears.

The two sets of all original material from Moore had a nice mix of freedom and form etc. Considering the material was new to 3/4 of the band they still managed to create a create a fine ensemble sound.  In particular, Moore and Berman were a pairing I would like to hear more from - their blend was superb.

I've been lucky to catch Moore in concert about half a dozen times over the last 8 or 9 years. In fact, the very first time I hear him was in concert in at the jazz festival in Wellington - a quartet with Han Bennink (off the top of my head the rest of the personnel escapes me... anyone care to fill me in?). Moore has a melodic conception and tone that a greatly admire - a player who has developed a personal approach to the instrument and to improvisation.

You can find many of Moore's recordings on his record label - Ramboy Recordings. Also, be sure to check out this playing with the ICP Orchestra and Clusone Trio.