The Write Stuff - Last Year's Winning Review

DAVID MURRAY: THE CREOLE PROJECT QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL, LONDON

"When I die, I don't want to go to heaven - too many extremists - I want to go to jazz." It's a lame joke, and a pretty restrained piece of social commentary, given the current climate, but when David Murray mentions this half way through The Creole Project's set on the penultimate night of the London Jazz Festival, there's an extra irony. He's already spent the best part of an hour proving just how much of an extremist he himself remains.

Murray's approach still crackles with the incendiary explorations of his apprenticeship in the loft scene of 70s New York. From the moment he raises the tenor for his first solo, he's way out there, summoning post-Ayler upper-register shrieks, and low honks and burps that illustrate exactly why collaborations with Pharaoh Sanders have proven so memorable.

This current project follows a daring recipe: take heavy Afro-funk, throw in percussion and vocals from Guadeloupan gwo ka masters, Klod Kiavue and Francois Ladrezeau, sprinkle sizzling tenor pyrotechnics over the top and cook up a storm. On the live stage, it has an irresistible energy.

This synthesis of free-jazz bluster and world music lyricism even achieves a genuinely moving heaviness on a slow African blues, with an elastic bassline from The Art Ensemble of Chicago's Jaribu Shahid, and Rasul Siddick's punchy trumpet exhortations. Murray translates the song's title as 'Three Days Without Food = The Blues' and the gwo ka masters' mournful vocals leave you in no doubt that it's the truth.

But it's on the show-stopping dance-floor filler 'Gwotet' that Murray really shines, with a solo so full of authentic fire that it transcends any notion of mere technique. This is direct, soulful communication and clear proof of why he's considered by many to be the leading tenor player of his generation. Daniel Spicer

Have your say

Were you at this gig? What did you think? Let us know your thoughts.

My dream lineup would be mingus/bud powell/dizzy gillespie/charlie parker/max roach. it doesn't get any better than that!
Doug, Lancashire

Dream band - Miles Davis Mike Brecker Jack DeJohnette Jaco Pastorius Pat metheny Keith Jarrett
Slim Shady, wherever

Tubby Hayes ~ Tenor Sax Tubby Hayes ~ Flute Tubby Hayes ~ Soprano Sax Tubby Hayes ~ Vibes Tubby Hayes ~ Piano Tubby Hayes ~ Bass Tubby Hayes ~ Drums Tubby Hayes ~ Congas Tubby Hayes ~ Refreshments.
Ronnie Griffin

Right - how about Jazz at the Philharmonic on Acid? On the shopping list would be: The John Coltrane Quartet plus John Tchicai, Marion Brown, Archie Shepp, Albert Ayler, Steve Lacy, Milford Graves, Henry Grimes, Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille, Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Peter Brotzmann, John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, Paul Dunmall, Don Cherry, Bill Dixon, Ken Vandermark, Barry Guy, Sonny Sharrock, Wadada Leo Smith, Rashied Ali, Sunny Murray and various percussionists from West Africa and Latin America. Opening the show would be North Walian superstars Corky's Cats.
Bruce

Why not have a balance of styles like some of the festivals in Europe ? How about this for a balanced line-up? 1. Jazz & Classical: Music by James Reece Europe / James P. Johmson / Will Marion Cook for orchestra in the first half. Second half. Herbie Hancock playing Wayne Shorter's Piano Concerto. (I believe this either exists or is in the throes of composition.) 2. Jazz piano night; Kenny Barron trio. Jason Moran (solo, playing the music of Jelly Roll Morton.) Paul Bley trio with Haen & Motian. 3. Big band night: Paris Swing Orchestra playing Fletcher Henderson / Don Redman / Spike Hughes / Benny Carter / Chick Webb, etc. George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band. Mike Gibbs Orch featuring John Scofield. 4. Contemporary night. Wayne Shorter Qt with D. Perez. Dave Holland 5tet. 5. Avant Garde Night. William Parker's "Luc's Lantern " trio. Henry Threadgill's Very, Very Cicrus. 6. European Jazz night. Tomasz Stanko Qt. (playing Komeda's music.) Bobo Stenson trio UMO Jazz Orchestra + John Surman. 7. Singers. Dianne Reeves & Cassandra Wilson. 8. Funk night. MMW Fred Wesley Tania Maria 9. Legends of Blue Note: Kenny Burrell, McCoy Tyner, Fred "Hootin' & Tootin'" Jackson, and any others who are still alive. Pretty much perfect for all tastes.
Ian Thumwood