Vibes, double bass and drums are a format that you don't often hear these days as a unit. Add piano and in the past you would have got a sound as durable and significant as the Modern Jazz Quartet. Anthony Kerr, whose style bears a surface resemblance to the MJQ's Milt Jackson, live streamed with bassist Jeremy Brown and drummer Ed Richardson from Ronnie Scott's last night.
Opening with tunes by Coltrane, 'Lazy Bird' and 'Wise One' (the more effective of the two), a sprightly Mingus interpretation ('Nostalgia in Times Square') early on too the set changed gear a few times and was most interesting on tackling Brad Mehldau's 'Unrequited' where Kerr showed that he can be more modernist than you might imagine if you only know his work from playing with Georgie Fame. A slightly shy leader as a player he certainly knows how to stretch out and there was a lot of mobility to the trio's rapid canter through their impressive set. Highlight? The bouncing take on Chick Corea's 'Bud Powell' ringing in the air. Watch the stream here
Tags: