88 ways to love Paul Jordanous

It's been over a year since South London bon viveur Paul Jordanous created his Jazz Jam at No.88 in Kingston. Strictly speaking this isn't your usual jam, more a spread of Funk, Soul with chunks of real Jazz to satisfy sweet toothed aficionados.

Bill Mudge -
Piano

This night (14/11/2013) saw my first return since the epic 'Festival of Awfulness' of April earlier in the year. Well who could blame me, watching 12+ musicians singing instead of expertly playing their instruments takes some time to wash from the most stubborn of cerebral cortices. Here we had many of the offenders but tonight they were doing what they do best. There was the notable addition of special guest Mike DiRubbo, who had arrived from Paris a few hours earlier and was destined to return to New York, USA the following day.

Mike DiRubbo -
Alto Saxophone

Paul Jordanous is a fluid and talented improviser and composer with a bacchanalian streak that tightropes across the abyss of Creativity. On the first tune "Skip's Blues" he resembled a professional dart player, sending an early marker to regulate the classy standards and expectations. "Skip's Blues" had been a regular on Mike DiRubbo's short European tour and once again he jumped in with both feet. Despite just being assaulted by the 88's legendary Pie of Year, the chicken and leek variety, DiRubbo didn't let it dull his senses too much.

Johan Hansen Larson -
Bass

Once again the quiet man, Bill Mudge, was DiRubbo's second when a duel was in the offing. I would say he avoided the spotlight but the 88's atmosphere which is ideal for carousing is also excellent for the shy species which is the Mudge. Our seated bassist was equally concealed, Johan Hansen Larson, apart from his headstock which he waved like a naked flagpole in the breeze.




Leo Appleyard - Guitar

We were joined by Leo Appleyard on guitar, just days away from his London Jazz Festival debut at the Pizza Express, Soho. Here in more insalubrious surroundings his flush cheeked prettiness clashed against the sirens and night buses which veered along the A308 behind him, and he stood clear with both succinct support playing and placid visage.

Ted Carrasco - drums

The second set started with the tune of the evening, "Summation" with an early exchange between Larson's bass and south-coast fixer Ted Carrasco. There was a rambling deepness from the two with a brief quip from Appleyard before altos and the trumpet of Jordanous signalled the arrival of reinforcements with a Charge of Light Brigade attitude. Carrasco is the gaffer at the Southampton Modern Jazz Club, and with a rich line-up for 2013 and 2014 I'll be making the trip south in the next few months.

Piers Green - alto

There was time enough after the serious Jazz repertoire to slink into something a little more sexy and Piers Green put on his glad rags with relish. Earth Wind and Fire's "September" put quick smiles on the 88 crowd's faces and sequins in our hearts. Even though I have all but forgotten the aforementioned 'Festival Of Awfulness' it is Green's "Careless Whisper" which still lives with me in my weakest moments.



Annie-Grace Smith -
Summertime

We just had time enough to share a bottle of wine and "Summertime" with Annie-Grace Smith from the Belletones. The wine was courtesy of well-greased Adam, a total stranger who asked me to sketch his portrait. Despite my years sketching live I have never been propositioned in this way but you never say never and Adam walked away with an original pen & ink in his pocket. I on the hand spent the rest of the night in the company of a very palatable Sauvignon Blanc and the 'bon viveurs' who are Paul Jordanous' good time boys.

AL.

Mike DiRubbo - London touchdown

Mike DiRubbo - Alto saxophone

Earlier this month Mike DiRubbo touched down upon these shores with a short exploratory tour. It was his first experience of London and a great opportunity to hear more from this Rising Star (Downbeat alto saxophone poll 2013) of New York City's jazz scene. I had the pleasure of meeting Mike when I had my first New York art exhibition along 14th street in 2011. As I was alone in the Manhattan he took me under his wing, and introduced me to many of New York's hot spots.

Kelvin Christiane -
Tenor Saxophone

Although he started at London's Jazz HQ, Ronnie Scotts, it wasn't until jetlag was dispelled and he had negotiated the intricacies of our public transport system that he really hit his straps. Two nights later (07/11/2013) we experienced the best of Mike DiRubbo along with Bill Mudge's Trio at the Twickenham Jazz Club. Rich in Italian heritage and dark looks his honeyed American drawl created a stir amongst the packed suburban crowd.

DiRubbo is a fluid player that needs to be teased into his most powerful performances and here at Twickenham Jazz Club he found an atmosphere that obviously suited him. It is a warm venue and the audience was bolstered by the Wembley wing of the DiRubbo azzurri. As we launched into "Skips Blues" I worked hard to capture the smokey eyes of our headliner, he is not a dominating frontman, but does take centre stage for long periods, taking us on extended expeditions into his compositions.

Rob Gray & Lister Park -
TJC Dudes

Bill Mudge as usual lurked in the gloom, he shirks the spotlight but I think he might have taken it too far as he peered intensely at the charts in the dark. I had not sketched him since May 2013 and he now sported a fuzzy winter beard like an arctic ferret, his beady eyes darting furiously. Third tune "Stellar by Starlight" just about summed up his predicament but it didn't set him back. By the fourth tune "Lilt" he was less Weasel more Sable, and his pelt shone with a soft shine of perspiration.

Matt Fishwick - Drums

Matt Fishwick had started the DiRubbo tour at Ronnie Scotts but it is hard to ascertain if he was up to speed or not. He is the steadiest of individuals, barely changing pace, his rosey cheeks might go from Amaranth to Crimson and his lips become a little wetter when really in the groove. He was the perfect foil for his American leader with his dead pan demeanour.

Peter S Smith & Dom Starkie

Kelvin Christiane enlivened the front of stage dynamics with a frisson between tenor and alto. The Twickenham crowd know and love him which provided a shot in the arm for regulars Rob Gray and Lister Park. In contrast none of us were familiar with Joe Downard on bass, and we did not know what to expect. Well, he was thrilling, skilful and immediately made an impression upon the regulars. In demeanour he hides behind a flick George Michael (circa 1980s) would be proud off and has a lean cheeked physique that is de rigueur amongst early career Londoners. As you know I am a jazz twitcher and try to identify a player's 'trigger', the movement or idiosyncrasy when they are totally in the zone. Downard's is his mouth, with an expressive tongue which pops out like the Whac-a-mole game in its rapidity and frequency.

Joe Downard - Bass

The tune of the night was seconder setter "Throwback" where Mike DiRubbo stretched clear, sweeping up the audience, tapping away with fingers, toes and heartbeats. Both Bill Mudge and Joe Downard excelled, the latter with hair flopping, drew his hirsute curtains and undressed an emotive solo which exposed the best in DiRubbo's composition.

We will be hearing more of Mike DiRubbo's writing in the coming months with a crowd-funding campaign in full swing, he'll be recording a new album in the New Year.
Check it out here. Until then we still had him at the heart of the UK's jazz scene for another week and it seemed the Twickenham crowd had given him the sort of welcome he deserved, generous and enthusiastic.

AL.