Mr Little's Noisy Band, Royal Festival Hall, London (GB) - 16 mars 2018

Basically a funk band. Personnel: Andras Varadi trombone, Piers Green alto sax, Will Gibson tenor sax, Andy Little guitar/leader/composer/arranger, Matt Carter keyboards, Matt Findlay bs guitar, Joel Prime drums. A well-drilled combo and, within the limitations of the genre, good arrangements and soloing, enjoyable licks. Trouble is, the rhythm in this kind of music is metronomic, monotonous. In the very first number my reaction went from being excited at hearing a seven-piece with horns to a sinking feeling as it meandered on. Let’s just say: these are good players constrained by the rhythmic shortcomings of the music.