Thoughts on Martin Speake’s Universal Connections, 9 March 2022

Surprise! Hans Koller plays great Euphonium as well as  very fine piano. That is, his playing that is very fine, but he does like our piano.

Martin Speake brings a band of heavy listeners: himself on alto, Hans, Anders Christenssen on bass and Anders Mogensen on drums. Indeed, this is music that requires listening. It is filled with lyricism and emotion, built on great technique and a band in each others minds. I have no favourites. Most of the music is from Martin’s hand. One, “Balance”, is recognisably based on Parkers “Moose the Mooche”.

Our audience are great listeners too, and they enjoyed the gig thoroughly.

Steve Jordan has provided us with a set list. Martin does not announce all of hs songs, but Steve did very well.

  1. Bouncy (Martin Speake
  2. Unannounced (but very likely from the Universal Connection recording)
  3. Unannounced (but very likely from the Universal Connection recording)
  4. Four Four (Martin Speake)
  5. What is there to say? (Vernon Duke/Yip Harburg)

A jazz standard performed by Johnny Hartman, Nat King Cole and Gerry Mulligan

  1. Father Sky (Martin Speake)

       *          *          *           *         *        *        *

  1. Balance (Martin Speake)

Based on Charlie Parker’s Moose The Mooche)

  1. Heaven Energy (Martin Speake)
  2. Dissolving Illusions (Martin Speake)
  3. 10.Conspiracy Observer (Martin Speake)
  4. 11.Unannounced 
  1. 12.ENCORE: Unannounced
  2. Take care
  3. Dave
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