Colin Steele Quintet, Glasgow Jazz Festival review: 'beguiling'
This all-star quintet did more than justice to Miles Davis’s classic album Kind of Blue, writes Fiona Shepherd
Colin Steele Quintet Play Miles Davis, Recital Room, City Halls, Glasgow ★★★★
Trumpeter Colin Steele spends so much time celebrating not just the jazz canon but music and artists from across genres that he must be in permanent party mode. But how could you not be transported by the music of Miles Davis? In his centenary year, Steele paid tribute to the late 50s imperial phase of this cultural colossus - and former star attraction of the Glasgow Jazz Festival - with his quintet, comprising pianist Dave Milligan, saxophonist Martin Kershaw, bassist Kenny Ellis and drummer Alyn Cosker.
This all-star line-up in its own right commenced their second sold out show of the day with the ubercool pep of Milestones, all scurrying rhythm and skyscraping notes. Steele was applauded like an athlete breaking the tape on the finishing line before the same mellifluous urgency on saxophone and piano elicited whoops of approval in the audience. The lithe, soulful Love For Sale felt like a palate cleanser for the main business of the show.
Across two sets, Steele and co played Davis’s modal jazz game changer Kind of Blue in its entirety, starting with the glamorous strut of Freddie Freeloader. The Bill Evans ballad Blue In Green provided a striking contrast, with the exquisite ache of Steele’s muted trumpet. Later, everything else stopped for Milligan's spiralling deconstructed waltz.
In the second half, the beguiling moody refrain of All Blues gave way to exultant celebration. Steele gave others the glory on So What, not least Ellis for his twanging bassline, steady through the unfolding drama of Cosker’s crashing and very loud drums and Kershaw’s keening saxophone.
Steele’s personal favourite Flamenco Sketches (“what a set of chords it is,” he beamed) was characterized by the Satie-like serenity of the piano and the latent passion of the trumpet before they rounded off the show with the all-action, propulsive Walkin’, Cosker’s heroic drum solo spurring Kershaw and Steele to the colourful denouement, then returned to have fun with encore Bye Bye Blackbird.
The Scotsman’s arts newsletter is now sent twice a week - subscribe today
Want the latest Scottish headlines sent directly to your phone? Sign up to our new WhatsApp channel here
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.