November 2011
Hermeto at The Barbican

A response to this review of the Hermeto Pascoal gig at the Barbican;

http://www.jazzjournal.co.uk/jazz-latest-news/348/london-jazz-festival-hermeto-pascoal


Reviewers sometimes get the wrong end of the stick, or may alternatively offer an insight that you wouldn't get from the stand, but I generally don't have a strong urge to respond. Not so here, however, as this reviewer resorts to a tired cliché in the first sentence (Brazilians = football) and then proceeds to use the comparison to dismiss the British musicians out of hand throughout. Having compared the gig to an adversarial sport, Garry Booth then makes the casual assertion that the British band were ‘inevitably a little mechanical”. Why inevitably? 

He might have considered the actual material being played by each group, i.e. music scored for large ensemble as against music intended for a small group of soloists. Was it that the British players interpretation of the written music was mechanical, or that the he considered the big band material, in comparison with the small group repertoire, to be mechanical? A basic working knowledge of any renowned jazz composer’s output would confirm a significant difference between small group and big band repertoire; Sam Rivers, John Taylor and Django Bates come immediately to mind.

Hermeto’s big band music is highly organized, (even the sections for squeaky toys and coconuts were written out) and generally scored for choirs of brass and reeds in the conventional way of block voicing, although with very unconventional harmonic language. This organization of the instruments is conveyed to the band through the printed parts.

Mr Booth reports that the British band were “glued to the charts”; this is known in music as “reading” – is he suggesting that the band should abandon the parts in order to take part in a less mechanical, presumably more authentic fashion?

It is possible that the 19 British musicians might have been used differently, and that is a matter for the promoter, composer and arranger – however Mr Booth chooses to belittle the “doughty” musicians themselves, who did the difficult but rewarding job asked of them to a very high standard. Hermeto and his fantastic band were extremely warm and complimentary about the British band, both in private and on stage throughout the entire gig.

One can only conclude that the referee has had a shocker – 2000 people could see what happened and he seems to have totally missed it. Clearly there is a need for better understanding and higher professional standards or the game will be ruined in this country.





 

May 2011

Review

Big Air at Cheltenham and Vortex

February 2011

Reviews

Some great reviews for recent gigs ; 5 stars in the Telegraph for Uri Caine in Birmingham here-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/worldfolkandjazz/8309485/Uri-Caine-meets-Mahler-Birmingham-Town-Hall-review.html
and 4 stars in the Guardian for Mike Gibbs at the Pizza Express-
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/feb/17/mike-gibbs-review

Uri Caine Mahler Project

I am very excited to be playing with Uri Caine this week - it's a great band with Jim Black, Chris Speed, Josefina Vergera, Steve Watts and DJ Olive. The gigs are at Manchester RNCM on Thursday 3rd and Birmingham Town Hall on Saturday 5th.

November 2010

Township Comets in 5* Guardian review

The Vortex was packed and roaring last Sunday for the monthly Township Comets gig, which John Fordham covered in his 5* Guardian review of the London Jazz Festival - he also mentioned the band in his survey of the festival on Jazz On 3. Next Township Comets gig at the Vortex is December 12th.
Review is here; www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/nov/16/glasper-mikkelborg-township-comets-ljf-review 


October 2010

New Oren Marshall CD

Old friend and fabulous tuba player from Big Air launches his new CD "Family Connections" on October 28th at Charlie Wright's, London. I played on a couple of the tracks, and the band features another old friend, Julian Siegel, on tenor.
www.orenmarshall.com

Simon Purcell Quintet Review

Enjoyed three great gigs with Simon last week, review is here;
www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Gig-Review-Simon-Purcell-Quintet.6592770.jp

Harry Beckett Jazz Library Radio3 Saturday October 16th at 4pm

I recently recorded a Jazz Library programme with Alyn Shipton for BBC Radio 3 talking about the music of Harry Beckett, who passed away recently. I met Harry when I was a teenager, and he gave me some of my first paid gigs, even putting me in as a dep for Dudu Pukwana's Zila, a baptism of fire if ever there was one. It is a great honour to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Harry in this way.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00v7s7l

August 2010

Jazz On 3 session

I have just recorded a session for BBC Jazz On 3 for Liam Noble, with Okkyung Lee and Dave Wickens. We recorded a couple of quartet pieces and also three improvised duos with Liam featured in all pieces. To be broadcast on October 4th. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tt0y
 

September 2010

Vortex residency

I am really looking forward to a new once monthly Sunday afternoon residency at the Vortex with the Township Comets. Some of my earliest playing experiences were at Dudu Pukwana's various South London Sunday gigs in the late 70's, and Pinise Saul and Adam Glasser will be playing Dudu's music at the Vortex, just as they were then. Starts September 12th.
 

Loose Tubes Release

Dancing on Frith Street is released on September 27th, almost exactly 20 years since it was recorded at Ronnie Scott's just before Loose tubes split up. Have just received an advance copy, and the band sounds very fresh and exciting, and reminded me of just how vibey that band was. Available from www.loosetubes.com