WOODY SHAW QUINTET: SUPERB by Eric Myers ______The Woody Shaw Quintet The St James, 80 Castlereagh Street, Sydney Sydney Morning Herald, January 21, 1981 ______
ith the visit of the Woody Shaw Quintet, the jazz activist Greg Quigley has once again enabled Sydney to hear an outstanding W African-American group which is at the apex of the art form. At The St James on Monday night, Woody Shaw sounded very much like the complete modern jazz trumpeter, with a gorgeous tone on the instrument, a willingness to use vibrato, an incisive technique when he chose to use it, and a consummate ability to produce stunning improvised lines.
Woody Shaw: sounding very much like the complete modern jazz trumpeter…PHOTO CREDIT TOM COPI Now that Miles Davis is inactive, and Freddie Hubbard has been largely lost in the mire of jazz/rock fusion, Mr Shaw is virtually the supreme trumpeter in the mainstream of contemporary jazz. Other than the leader on trumpet and
1 flugelhorn, the Quintet included Steve Turre (tenor and bass trombone), Mulgrew Miller (piano), Stafford James (bass) and Tony Reedus (drums). The opening number was Bye Bye Blackbird, stated by Mr Shaw with the harmon mute, after Miles Davis. From that first moment, this superb quintet played modern jazz as many of us believe it should sound. The rhythm section, based largely on the warm sound of Stafford James, swung freely, loosely and gently, conspicuously aware of dynamics down to the softest whisper, and capable of the tiniest subtleties. With their version of the lovely old trumpet classic I Can't Get Started, and a bright, boppish treatment of the Cole Porter standard What Is This Thing Called Love? the quintet showed that they were interested in redefining past jazz vocabulary as well as performing contemporary original works. The Woody Shaw Quintet played two long sets, ending around 1.30 am.
Mulgrew Miller: a beautiful treatment of the tune You're Blasé… In an evening which saw the brilliance of each player highlighted, I would draw particular attention to Mulgrew Miller's beautiful treatment of the tune You're Blasé, where he demonstrated a virtuosic knowledge of the art of solo jazz piano. The dignified bearing of the quintet members was remarkable. To acknowledge applause, Mr Shaw cradles the trumpet horizontally and bows reverently, somewhat in the manner of the great tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon. The Woody Shaw Quintet will be playing a late program at The St James tonight, after the performance of the John Scofield Trio, and will be the star attraction again on Saturday night at the same venue.
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