Submitted
Two horns, upright bass and drums make Loose Gravel. Loose Gravel includes Jay Havelaar on trumpet, Tony Morrison on saxophones, James Lithgow on upright bass and Oscar Robles on percussion.
They are at Zocalo Cafe and Gallery Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Last time Loose Gravel played at the Zocalo in Courtenay, while actual fisticuffs didn’t break out, the atmosphere on the bandstand could be cut with a knife.
There is some speculation among bandmates that it was a simple double stop on the bass that led to the aggression.
The band will be playing again this Saturday evening at the popular night spot and want to assure people they are safe from any bandstand shenanigans.
“We don’t have chords, and if he does it again I’ll bebop him one on the nose,” said Morrison, who plays saxophones and flute in the combo.
Trumpeter Havelaar admits that at times he can get an overtone while playing, which could be mistaken for a chord, “but that was a solid chord I heard, very confrontational in the legal context of this band.”
Lithgow makes no apologies, citing several factors which led him to take the unusual step of playing two notes at the same time, which describes a chord and forces harmonic structure on other players.
“There were a couple of new players that night,” explains Lithgow, referring to saxophonist Rachel Fuller and Robles.
“I just wanted to make them feel more comfortable, because playing in a small band without guitar or piano can be a bit like suffering vertigo.”
The fun starts at 7 p.m.
