Fabulous location, out of the ordinary venues, top class performers accompanied by a first class single malt. What's not to like?
Well to this listener, there is too much formulaic performing which relegates the tune to the service of the soloist(s). Trygve Seim and his mates, the Norwegian boundary-breakers, who split the audience into love and loath camps last year, raised the bar. Having seen a quintet and a sextet over two days, it becomes wearying to sit through the same performance pattern. Tune - (rhythm section lays down a groove)- alto sax solo- tenor sax solo- trumpet solo- piano solo - then either bass or drummer has a go - then back to the 'tune.' Judging by the whoops and hollers which break out at the end of each solo, it is clearly a popular formula. After a few listens it wears. Occasionally the solos are reduced and the music benefits.
Play 'Stramash,' a cd written about Islay, by Colin Steele, an exceptional musician, and you will find some gorgeous tunes and melodies. He incorporated some traditional folk elements into the mix. The musicians serve the tune and the result is atmospheric and beguiling.
Put some of those self-same musicians on a live stage and get seemingly endless 'brilliant improvisations' (according to some) or masturbatory noodling (according to others).
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