As a tune title, Words to Signify a Meaning That Isn't Implied rather undersells the product.
It may have to be replaced, and with items in the set list such as Travelling, South and Moving, Euan Burton is just the man to bring some nominal brevity to match the neatness of his compositions.
Burton's group was a late replacement in this latest instalment of Bridge Music's Thursday jazz series, with the bassist taking over the leader's role from his old school pal, Adam Jackson, who did a sterling job on alto saxophone in a reshaped quartet that also saw the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra's rhythm section powerhouse, Alyn Cosker, filling the drummer's seat.
Cosker's contribution to the final number, Party Time, in which he did his party trick of wilfully stretching and contracting the tempo, would have been worth turning up to hear by itself. But there were other equally fine moments, especially in a second half that introduced many and varied influences such as the aforementioned finale's alternating gospel-funk grooves and South's dancing, South African township quality.
The last named turned into a mighty showcase for pianist Tom Gibbs who thrived with superb invention and spontaneously melodic clarity on a pulse that brought to mind those great enliveners of the 1960s British jazz scene, the Blue Notes in general and their inspirational keyboard master, Chris McGregor in particular. Burton also showed great creativity, as well pinning down the music's harmonic-rhythmic developments and Jackson, with his curling, elongated linear extemporising and individual sound suggested that when his own group does play the Art Club, it'll be one to look out for.
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