‘Day of Reckoning’ by the Gavin Barras Quintet
The first recording under my own name was released on June 11th 2012 on ASC Records. The album features eight of my compositions and was recorded in January 2012. The quintet includes Ed Jones (tenor sax), Corey Mwamba (vibes), Steve Plews (piano) and Dave Walsh (drums). The liner notes for the album read….
The Day of Reckoning
On 8 August 2011 I was in London playing at Ronnie Scott’s as part of the Brit Jazz Fest. Throughout the day it became clear that there was a lot of trouble in the city, and riots which began in Tottenham were spreading to other parts of London. On the drive back home to Manchester we listened to the news as the full magnitude of the situation became apparent and there was a real possibility that riots could start in Manchester. The next day I was due to play at Matt and Phred’s Jazz Club; the gig was cancelled on the advice of Greater Manchester Police and I spent the rest of the night watching footage of parts of the city burning whilst listening to my favourite records and composing all of the tunes that appear on this album. The tune ‘The Day of Reckoning’ depicts that day, the sense of foreboding , the sinister gangs on street corners, the violence and looting – and the sudden end.