Atholl Ransome @ Grove Inn
By John Hepworth
The cognoscenti gathered in the music room of the Grove as light slowly faded across a daylong sky of flawless blue. A good day was just about to get even better, thanks to a Jazz Club special guest of international quality : Leeds' thrilling sax maestro Atholl Ransome. Within less than the space of a couple of numbers it was clear that the musicians with him were well up to the job, and that Carole Eve Bell's persistent efforts in arranging this date were going to be memorably rewarded for performers and audience alike.
These jazz nights (2nd and 4th Sundays) are also warmly hosted by resident vocalist Carole, very much at ease singing with tonight's bespoke quartet, and insightful enough to know when to let them out on a long leash for spacious instrumental breaks in her songs and then to give them generous sets in both halves of the evening. Landmark solos repeatedly drew eager and courteously received applause for each player as the show developed. The shimmering keyboard skills of Kevin James, the discipline and adventurousness on bass (plucked and bowed) of Emlyn Vaughan, and the leisurely precision of drummer Paul Smith all featured as individual showpieces. Every one of the solos was earned by brilliant ensemble work, vibrant with the life force of the Ransome saxophone, richly nutritious in its offerings for both head and heart (prana, for those of you who respond to that sort of concept). If it was good in the combo it was sometimes unspeakably impressive in his solos, and there was visual entertainment too as when not blowing his instrument, Atholl can be taken up in an idiosyncratic swaying, lolling, not-quite-dancing that somehow tames the rhythms while at the same time letting you see how elaborate they are.
So, how about it? Top musical quality all round, plus enough relaxation for all the audience to share smiles of real delight at so much perfection presented with such apparent ease and moderated by the impishness of some of the improvised passages.
Can it always be like this? Do allow yourselves to judge : there are chances to see Atholl Ransome whenever the Haggis Horns play at The Wardrobe, or catch him as a member of Huddersfield groovemongers Kava Kava.
