April tour: the Mikkel Ploug trio in Ireland

Accrual of the wider inner consciousness and the gaining of a sense of greater enlightenment rather than clinging to the cruellest of gloom in any Eliotian sense, this April there's a way-in to the way-out reaching the west because there is a fine …

Published: 22 Mar 2024. Updated: 35 days.

Accrual of the wider inner consciousness and the gaining of a sense of greater enlightenment rather than clinging to the cruellest of gloom in any Eliotian sense, this April there's a way-in to the way-out reaching the west because there is a fine post, post, post modernistic jazz trio tour in prospect that reaches, just past the time of the spring tide, the Clew Bay Hotel in Westport when the tour makes it eventually to County Mayo.

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Touring fairly extensively around Ireland, Danish guitar ace Mikkel Ploug and his trio known for his word of mouth work jamming with drummer Phelan Burgoyne in Copenhagen, has recorded for the Catalan label Fresh Sound New Talent including the highwater mark that is Ploug discography jewel Featuring Mark Turner recorded in 2006.

Appearing on tour with fellow Dane double bassist Jeppe Skovbakke and Irish drummer Seán Carpio from the Featuring Mark Turner line-up but sans sax ace Turner, expect Ploug tunes and interpretative responses to the work of the folk inspired seam of the great Danish classical composer Carl Nielsen (1865-1931).

Touring to Cork city (22 April), Dublin (24th), city of Limerick (25th), Westport (26th) and Wexford Town (28th)

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Track of the week: New World, the Nat Birchall Unity Ensemble, Ancient Archive of Sound

Spirits rejoice: The title track of New World from the north west of England's celebrated Coltranian Nat Birchall and his Unity Ensemble on a members-don't-git-weary original played by his seven piece that also includes the most loyal and …

Published: 22 Mar 2024. Updated: 35 days.

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Spirits rejoice: The title track of New World from the north west of England's celebrated Coltranian Nat Birchall and his Unity Ensemble on a members-don't-git-weary original played by his seven piece that also includes the most loyal and influential Coltranian of an earlier generation, the erstwhile New Blue Flames cultural attaché to the soulful Georgie Fame in the front line with Guy Barker, Alan Skidmore.

''Free player'' percussionist and record producer Mark Wastell is also here among the Unity minded ones, joining in with percussionist Lascelle Gordon.

Mark issued Skid's massive retrospective box set A Supreme Love featuring the saxist with Trane's drummer Elvin Jones, Weather Report, Kenny Wheeler, S. O. S. and Mask Symphonic last year.

Skid, 81, had heard John Coltrane play live in Walthamstow, before even East 17 postcode days mapped the endless terraces and mock Tudorbethan vistas of the north east London suburbs, back in the day. And that listening experience changed Skid's life as it also massively impacted upon free improv icon of the music the great improviser Evan Parker who turns 80 next month also present at the Granada Theatre on a Jazz at the Philharmonic tour organised by Norman Granz that 17 November 1961 night.

The pianist here fitting so well is the fine north west of England player Adam Fairhall whose Winifred Atwell hipster knees up homage in duo with Johnny Hunter was a pleasure in 2022. Final words as a brief gloss on this latest track of the week and Nat: the saxist was a great favourite of the much missed Tony Hall who often expressed his admiration of Nat in conversation and surely Tony - Tempo Records, Tubby Hayes, Dizzy Reece Blue Note producer, manager of the great 1976 no. 1 singles pop chart hit makers Liverpool's The Real Thing - will be smiling down from the sweet hereafter as this freedom loving music so meaningfully raises us all up. Nat Birchall, photo: via Ballantyne Communications