Music Spoken Here close out 2024 with
Bryan Corbett’s Instrumental Groove Unit
12th December 2024 – the Marrs Bar, Worcester
Thursday saw the last Music Spoken Here show of the year at The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, with a stellar performance from Bryan Corbett’s Instrumental Groove Unit. Trumpet, flugelhorn and groove master Bryan is based in Smethwick but grew up in Bromyard and introduced the band saying it was “very nice to be playing back on my old stomping ground”, adding that he’d spent “many a drunken night out in Worcester” in his youth!
The Instrumental Groove Unit is described by Bryan as a project with “emphasis on the ‘pocket’ of groove and freedom of improvisation” that he put together shortly before having to take some time out earlier this year, so it was great to see it “slowly getting back on its feet again” after successful surgery.
Bryan came equipped with trumpet and flugelhorn, both remarkable for their ‘raw brass’ finish and squared bell, at times played through various electronic effects. Paul Deats on Fender Rhodes had just flown in from Canada earlier in the day and come straight to the gig, for which he must have summoned some superhuman powers to perform as he did! On bass, Wayne Matthews predominantly played his six-string fretted Anaconda, switching to a gorgeous Overwater Hollowbody fretless for a couple of tunes. Custodian of the beat was Luke Harris, who joined The Brand New Heavies the same time as Bryan and oozes groove, while exuding an air of effortless subtlety perfectly serving Bryan’s music.
Bryan set out his stall right form the get go, with the ‘IGU Intro’ – a considered and commanding trumpet solo, spatially augmented by shimmering chords from Paul on the Rhodes and various dustings and rumblings from Luke on the kit, followed by an anticipatory pause before the unit launched into the jazz-funky head, starting with Bryan stating the theme, with Paul warming up the Rhodes nicely in a joyful feature followed by a delightfully emotive solo from Wayne, dancing up and down the broad neck of his Anaconda bass.
Explaining the improvisational nature of this project, Bryan said the tunes, which were all but one original compositions, were “meant to be different each time, because we don’t remember them from the last time we played”!
Psycho Spirit’ was a laid-back affair, introduced by a sweet, simple bass line from Wayne harmonised by Paul’s deliciously cool Rhodes, joined by Bryan on flugelhorn this time, with another great high-end solo from Wayne that was cooking so much he had to remove his hat when it was over!
Luke and Wayne kicked off ‘IGU’ with a funky break-beat, joined by Bryan back on trumpet and Paul taking a solo combining left-handed Rhodes with his right-hand playing a two-octave synth device perched atop the Rhodes. The first set closed with ‘Rubicon’, another laid-back groove somewhat reminiscent of mid-Seventies Herbie Hancock, and featured Wayne on his Overwater Hollowbody fretless.
After a short break, where the audience were encouraged to finish up the abundance of mince pies and lemon drizzle cake baked fresh in the morning by the long-suffering wife of Music Spoken Here instigator Dave Fuller, the band returned to the stage to open the second set with ‘Different Species’. This one had Bryan reaching some remarkable highs, made all the more dramatic with a touch of echo and another groovy Rhodes solo from Paul. ‘Pushin’ Ya Buttons’ was a soulful groove, perfect for the more mellow tone from Bryan’s flugelhorn. The sombre ‘Interlude’ featured a haunting trumpet solo embellished by various effects before the band segued into the first and only cover of the set, the stonkingly funky but lesser-played groove ‘Skagly’, by Freddie Hubbard, where we finally got a drum solo out of Luke – and what a job he did, getting all up in the tricky stuff and keeping everyone on their toes with anticipation!
The set finished with ‘Expanse’ – a relaxed, flugelhorn led vibe interlaced with the tickles of Paul’s Rhodes and Wayne’s bubbling away on the fretless Overwater, each then taking a solo. The attentive audience let their appreciation be known and the IGU performed an excerpt of around 5 minutes from ‘Corbenova’ as time was running out on what had been another night of exceptional music at The Marr’s Bar.
Music Spoken Here return to the Marr’s Bar in January with 7-piece Latin band TRYPL on Thursday 9th, followed by a series of four shows from drummer-led bands, starting with Jas Kasyer & Chums on Thursday 23rd. Jas has been touring with Lenny Kravitz this year and has just wound up the South American leg of the Blue Electric Light tour. She will be resuming the tour in February, so we’re really lucky to have her play with her own band in Worcester next month!