Players in the Ma Rainey band

Among the musician credits on the superb new Netflix film Ma Rainey's Black Bottom here's the Ma band: Wendell Brunious (cornet); Freddie Lonzo (trombone) the New Orleans-born "tailgate" exponent and erstwhile Wyntonian; Sean Mason (piano) in his …

Published: 18 Dec 2020. Updated: 19 months.

Among the musician credits on the superb new Netflix film Ma Rainey's Black Bottom here's the Ma band: Wendell Brunious (cornet); Freddie Lonzo (trombone) the New Orleans-born "tailgate" exponent and erstwhile Wyntonian; Sean Mason (piano) in his early twenties, a Julliard student; and from the Branford Marsalis quartet Eric Revis on double bass; plus the great Wyntonian, from New Orleans, Herlin Riley on drums.

Branford Marsalis, who wrote the film's music, told North Carolina paper the Charlotte Observer back in January when discussing the newcomer pianist: ''He has a strong internal pulse, and he can copy any style with instruction. When we recorded it, I used mostly New Orleans guys, my regular bass player (Eric Revis) and Sean.”

Interviewing the film's director George C. Wolfe speaking on Brunious Branford notes: ''Wendell Brunious, the trumpet player, the cornet player, was perfect for Levee [played by Chadwick Boseman]. He’s a New Orleans guy, he’s like, 'Hey, y’all. How you doing? Come here, girl. Give me some sugar. Give me a hug.' That was the whole thing; these guys have really strong personalities, and those personalities match the personalities of the actors.''

Viola Davis as Ma, top. Photo: Netflix.

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Phelan Burgoyne, On Thursday

''Standing there waiting in the dark, no light, only the light of the fire, and no sound of any kind, only the fire'' (Samuel Beckett, Embers) From the bittersweet ballad and beautiful lead-off track and throughout a slow ache resonates, there …

Published: 18 Dec 2020. Updated: 3 years.

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''Standing there waiting in the dark, no light, only the light of the fire, and no sound of any kind, only the fire'' (Samuel Beckett, Embers)

From the bittersweet ballad and beautiful lead-off track and throughout a slow ache resonates, there is a spaciousness that lingers long in the air. Recorded down in the Village, Copenhagen, a cinematic directorial quality in drummer leader Phelan Burgoyne is certainly in evidence On Thursday. No grandstanding, a Paul Motian approach led from the kit then there's Italian pianist Emanuele Maniscalco warm and gentle if not Stefano Bollani-like in exuberance more a little Billy Taylor-like by contrast at least in one bluesier passage on 'Always a Pleasure, Never a Chore,' a choice part of his contribution. No matter jazz archaeologists: oh come, oh come Emanuele.

Danish bassist Anders Christensen, the Dark Eyes Stańko band player, middles every note and more to the point his sense of time and the way the decay of his sound is captured is handsome. Not exactly party music it must be said if that is an issue for you dear readers but neither is this trio record a gloomy farrago of laboratory monasticism but more about the accomplished capturing and ultimate realisation of nocturnal expectation. Ultimately a very different approach to the art of the piano trio certainly for 2020. Stare into those coals why not. Out today. On Hout