LIVE AT THE PAH HOMESTEAD 2/4/25
Felix Hayes-Tourelle – tenor sax
Charlotte Barrand – alto sax
Robin Baek – guitar
Connor McAneny – piano
Hank Trenton – bass
Alex Freer – drums
Felix opened with a powerful fluid Coleman influenced solo ,also reminding me of Ernie Watts. Robin showing a Hiram Bullock influence ,finding free improvised voicings through solo runs and chords. The drums and bass like Laurance Marable and Charlie Haden (reminding me of Haden’s album “Angel City”.) Felix announced the title “Rube Goldberg Machine”.
The next number was Paul Simons “I do it for your love” …. a far more mellow approach …. Felix invoking autumn days and vintage wine, while Robin showed a Jim Hall/Joe Pass influence. Connor soloed on piano, an Alan Broadbent influence. Robin then took a bluesy John Scofield flavored solo …. Charlotte is also influenced by Ornette Coleman…. gold clouds of sunshine floating up from the heart. As the late Ray Edmondson would have said “the bass really rocked “,with Alan Freer painting in subtle colour with his brushwork.
The next number was a Charlotte Barrand composition. With Felix she took an Eastern European folk jazz approach … touching on Parker…then making a powerful musical statement… while Connor mixed subtle blues with his Alan Broadbent influenced solo, while Robins Hall/Pass influenced soloing was beautiful.
The second part of the set opened with a composition by Felix “Morsecode” Here each musician added individual colour’s to a bold abstract painting. Connor soloed like ripples spreading out on calm water, then referencing Monk. Charlotte soloed like an intense soul flame.
“Tomorrow I will not be able to stop thinking about yesterday” is the composition by Hank Trenton (inspired by Glen Campell’s “Wichita Linesman”) played next. This felt very uplifting ,raising up to something better than here and now.
The night finished with a composition by Felix “Craters edge” driven by the rhythm section and piano the wide sound of the guitar and two saxes was up front boiling like stop start LA traffic.
We are fortunate having music of this high standard in Auckland.
GT
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