REVIEW:

Butch Thomas

That music labelled ‘modern jazz’ of which my parents’ generation was so suspicious, even disparaging, has now lost its patina of modernity. Jazz has in many ways absorbed its own history so in an evening at the Spin Jazz Club for example one might hear music from Ellington all the way past Coltrane to Metheny. What is generally missing are the musical roots in New Orleans, perhaps too unsophisticated now, and the more recent outreaches of improvisation that could take over the modern label as they are often viewed with suspicion by many jazz audiences. A rather uncertain definition.

American saxophonist Butch Thomas has made himself a fierce exponent of that central swathe of jazz. As guest soloist with the Spin trio he began the evening with Pete Oxley’s Methenyesque upbeat Finsbury Park and then touched base with Coltrane , Jobim and Parker. His playing was characteristically an unfettered outpouring of loud fast lyrical music which rightly brought the audience calling for more when the evening had already died (our gracious licensing laws, extended but not infinite). Thomas has a big sound on tenor and a virtuosic technique that allows him to keep up an unrelenting pace and intensity but also a smoothness of attack that made even the melody of Oxley’s Gruffollo, based on a children’s monster story, much prettier than intended. On the other hand as one burning solo followed another there was a feeling that his fingers were at times getting ahead of his musical judgement, though this was somewhat mitigated by his much gentler soprano playing on Jobim’s Estate.

The evening ended with a scorching version of Parker’s Cherokee in which, while exchanging phrases Oxley and Thomas reached a point where their playing overlapped causing a sudden discordant clash of harmonies. Rather than a wince of displeasure, a sudden sharpening of enjoyment rippled through the audience. A little epiphany that seemed to be saying that jazz can move forward into wilder country and take some part of the mainstream audience with it. The Spin has brought some great music to an ever widening audience and the gates are wide open for more.

© Paul Medley