By: Roy Stevens - Mon, 16 April 2012

The mere mention of an evening of Miles Davis music is enough to excite most jazz lovers which it did on Sunday evening when pianist Terry Seabrook brought his Milestones to the Chapel at No.1, Shakespeare Street to the delight of a capacity audience. This formidable sextet presented a wonderful celebration of the jazz icon’s music which majored on fresh arrangements from the Kind of Blue album coupled with original material written by Terry Seabrook before launching into arrangements evoking memories of Miles’s be-bop era and his experiments with jazz-funk.

The fact that this band coped so spectacularly with such a wide spectrum of Miles’s music is a testament to the thoughtful arrangements of Terry Seabrook and his ability to assemble such a fine set of musicians.

Martin Shaw on trumpet and flugelhorn was quite outstanding on both instruments, his muted work on Kind of Blue and Flamenco Sketches was very reminiscent of Miles’s soft and vulnerable tone.

Allan Barnes on alto and baritone saxes was in splendid form and obviously enjoying his role in the Cannonball Adderley mould with some blistering solo work. He picked up the baritone sax just once, on Seven Steps to Heaven, showing how equally adroit he is on either instrument.

Tenor saxist Ian Price was made for the John Coltrane spot, he has a similar aggressive approach with a robust biting tone which combined with his excellent technique led to some exhilarating solo work. His accomplished solos on Flamenco Sketches and Three Miles High proved he could do gentle lyrical too when the occasion demanded.

The three first class front-liners were supported by an equally adept rhythm team headed by Terry Seabrook who contributed with some vibrant and creative solo work. Powerful and assured playing from Paul Whitten on bass and some inspired driving percussion from Spike Wells completed this fine close knit sextet.

An evening of admirable music played by musicians of the highest quality – it really does not get better than this.

More info please visit www.stratfordjazz.org.uk

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