Soft Machine - 13th March 2022

Hosted by the Harborough Jazz Club, a most surreal Sunday lunch time gig in a room normally used for weddings at the back of a pub in a market town.  Needless to say it was packed.  Nick France was sitting in for John Marshall and Fred Baker had taken over on bass duties from Roy Babbington.  Theo Travis and John Etheridge lead from the front.  The reimagined older material was a particular joy - an energetic 'Facelift' dissolved into some stunning improv, a stately 'Kings and Queens' woven around Travis's echoplexed flute were notable hightlights.  Etheridge was able to give it some on 'Hazard Profile Part 1'.  You need to see this wonderful band while they are still around and the UK tour continues.  The compere noted the juxtapositon of the venue and the psychedelic impact of the music right at the end...