Mill at the Pier, Wigan (Jul 21)

THE master jazz bassist Ray Brown, who is celebrating attainment of his 75th birthday with a European concert tour, gave a scintillating trio performance at Wigan's Mill at the Pier on Saturday.

The passing years have not dimmed his sharp musical mind or his fat-toned, highly articulate playing.

Two qualities present throughout the evening were an unerring swing and a fertile imagination that brought dying warhorses back to life.

The drummerless trio, in the tradition of similar Nat Cole and Oscar Peterson line-ups, was completed by guitarist Russell Malone - heard at an earlier Wigan festival with Canadian singer Diana Krall - and pianist Benny Green. They made a propulsive combination, with the guitarist's blues-flecked playing giving the music an earthy edge.

In a solo feature, Malone went the whole hog, presenting a brilliant exposition of rural and urban blues guitar styles, managing to marry his inherent musical sophistication to tributes to John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Big Bill Broonzy, Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters and the Rev Gary Davis. And, in a final trio encore, he mixed in a little of Lonnie Johnson.

Pianist Green, a spring-loaded player, exhibited much of Peterson's rhythmic drive and dexterity but without Oscar's tendency to over-elaborate.

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