Reviews
The Jackson - Hoggard Sextet (27th May 2015)
Drummer Mike Hoggard brought this band to The Cask to celebrate his birthday and they generated a happy party atmosphere. They played an interesting repertoire with enthusiasm and zest.
The rhythm section had Mike's old friend Brian Jackson on double bass and Peter Elsdon on keyboard.
Trevor Vincent - trumpet and flugelhorn, Jim Corry - alto sax and Stuart MacDonald - tenor sax, made up the front line.
Together, they gave us sumptuous harmonies, musical fireworks and accomplished musicianship, all served up with irresistible swing.
The band provided many moments of excellence. On Ellington's Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me, Stuart spontaneously chose to make his solo into a series of 8 bar exchanges with the drums. St Thomas by Sonny Rollins saw the three horns improvising simultaneously, interweaving excitingly.
Oliver Nelson's Stolen Moments was very suitable for Peter's cool, cerebral pianistic approach. Trevor had transcribed Bobby Timmons' tune Dat Dere from the recording by the Cannonball Adderley Quartet. Jim's fleet fingered alto solo on this included a phrase or two that recalled Cannonball's playing.
An Adderley composition, Sack O'Woe, gave Stuart another chance to rouse us with one of his splendid tenor solos.
The friendly competition between the two sax players was a joy to hear as each matched the other in quality and invention.
Trevor's rich, buttery flugelhorn sound on Whisper Not was perfect and Brian's bass solo on Oleo was majestic.
Finally, on the encore - Horace Silver's Sister Sadie - we had the long expected grand drum solo from Mike. This was an appropriate end to an evening of high quality jazz that was enthusiastically appreciated by the audience.
Dick Armstrong
