The Bowery Hot Five
This time last weekend, we were closed….in anxious anticipation of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Thankfully, Alfred has now been and gone. And left us with no damage!!
But amazingly…beautifully…with no boats and ferries, and no breeze or tidal movement, tonight, he left us with a river that was like a mill pond, a mirror. All glass.
And who better to provide the perfect vibe for such a magical night……?
The Bowery Hot Five. All class.
John Reeves Piano and piano accordion
Mal Wood Trumpet, flugelhorn and vocals
A.J. Hall Double bass
Zac Curran Tenor saxophone
Steve Francis Drums
And what a night it was!!
From the opening instrumental as the Bowery Hot Three, with piano, bass and drums. Through the first set as the Bowery Hot Four, without sax player, Zac. And into the second set, as the complete Bowery Hot Five. They delivered it all for an enthusiastic and grateful audience, in one big, beautiful night to remember!!
Of course, you will already know that Mal Wood is the consummate Showman …with or without his trumpet. And tonight, as Mal walked on, Steve, from the drum kit, successfully flicked a hat straight on to Mal’s head with a drop shot that the Harlem Globe Trotters would gladly claim as their own….
…see what I did there? That slick little segue into their first number?
Yep. It was Sweet Georgia Brown. And, wow, hat-trick aside, it left me wondering, just how does Mal push so much into, and squeeze so much out of, that trumpet?
Needless to say…via Mal’s frequently fractured lyrics…for a while, the song became Sweet Stevie Francis….
Across the evening, they gave us classics such as Pennies from Heaven, and a very Chet Baker-esque, My Funny Valentine….with each band member giving us regular, and generously, sincerely, applauded solos.
And for renowned local Jazz musician, Educator and former BJC Treasurer, Mr. Ian Cook, they played Darktown Strutters Ball…during which, John added a sparkling Stride improv and Mal added a final touch…with a burst of vocal through his Harmon mute.
When later, Mal switched to the flugelhorn, he explained that the instrument had originally belonged to the late, great Brisbane trumpet-player, Rick Price. Mal’s father, Steve, who had been a friend and contemporary of Rick’s, had bought it for Mal.
After asking if there were any requests, the band played Summertime, with Mal on the flugelhorn …dedicating it to Rick Price’s late wife, Barbara, who had been a Volunteer at the Club for many years.
During the break between sets, saxophonist Zac announced his arrival from the Sunshine Coast, by standing alone on the stage with his tenor sax, to give us an inspired and beautiful improv piece, which he later felt deserved a title: Being; living.
And then, stepping into Zac’s shoes, (or at least, sitting on the piano stool), John Reeves also gave us a man-alone solo effort, on his jet-black Bugari button accordion. A touch of gay Paris; J’Attendre, (I Wait). A veiled reference to last weekend and Alfred, perhaps?
The second set included a Tango-styled version of Black Magic Woman, with Mal doing his best Carlos Santana on the trumpet. And when it was time to get a little more mellow and introduce a touch of the sublime, Mal picked up the Tibetan singing bowl.
After several softly resonant strokes of the bowl, Steve came in on the drums….AJ on the bass….Mal on the flugelhorn….Zac on the sax. The band slowly, sweetly, built up a beautiful improv around the word ‘Hope’…and the sweet sound of that bowl. A perfect companion to the glassy, peaceful, mirrored surface of the river outside.
Of course, the fractured lyrics and Mal-sian frivolity made regular appearances across the evening, climaxing with his commandeering of a battery-powered three-wheeler, which he drove on to the stage….to be stopped only by a sizeable and fortuitously placed foldback speaker!!
The band’s first Encore was a rousing version of Bye Bye Blackbird…for which audience participation was requested…and enthusiastically provided.
And the final Encore, I’m Coming Home, was called for, and delivered, at the generally unheard-of time of 10.15pm!! (The big stage hook must have been put away during the flood threat. We couldn’t get Mal off!!)
But oh, what an amazing evening.
As I said earlier…on the outside, the Brisbane River. All Glass!! On the inside, The Bowery Hot Five. All Class!!
Thank you, guys!!
Alan Smith
Brisbane Jazz Club
