Live
Chris Minh Doki and the Nomads: The New Morning Club, Paris 19/10/10
An outing to one of the top jazz clubs in Paris was just what a tired old hack like me needed to recharge the batteries. Back in the day Paris was the epicentre of European jazz and all the american top flight musicians flocked there in their droves to perform there. Mulligan, Mingus, Miles and now Minh Doki. An exponent of Michael Brecker breaking out on his own and caught in the most productive and fertile of periods.
The New Morning club has it's own unique ambience and it turned out to be the perfect settting for this crack ace outfit. Chris, with his film star looks and big flat cap on,which reminded me of that classic photo of construction workers sitting on girders way up high in the '30s Started solo (in true Jimmy Garrison style) with a very filmic piece,wasting no time in plying his stock in trade. His impressive new compositions from his excellent new cd 'Scenes From A Dream' were all on display here, poetic, abstract yet earthy all bound together with his hard swinging approach.
The lithe tunefulness that marks his playing is augmented by a more pronounced physicality that pushes his funk/groove aspect to the fore; this is due in no small part to his highly focussed intensity, which drives the likes of ace drummer, Weckl on harder than even he's been driven. Although Minh Doki is a compelling soloist when the occasion presents itself, he doesn't need the spotlight to be effective. His propulsive sense of time never fails, and his empathy with those playing around him is nigh on complete.
So what of his band members I hear you ask? Well Dave Weckl needs no introductions. A true master whose playing is crisp and crackling with life and guitarist Dean Brown, who won the audience over with his zest and passion was a sensation. His well constructed solos were an absolute joy starting off sparse and reflective, building upto a ferocious pace, teetering on the edge of madness, a fascinating character to watch I might add also!
Keyboard player George Whitty ties it all together with an innate harmonic wisdom and delves into more experimental sounds, stretching boundaries, a technically gifted and wonderfully subtle player. He's definately, without doubt, the glue in the band!
Every tune a heavyweight, every player a master, every tune sounding new, every player keeping the spirit of jazz alive and swinging egged on by bandleader Chris who makes sure each player feels at ease and encourages them like a chilean miner's boss, to dig as deep as possible. Chris has grown in staure and clearly relishing the fruits of his labour.........
ALL PHOTOS BY ALINE SA
Words Emrys Baird
