Simon Spillett (ten), John Critchinson (pno), Andy Cleyndert (bs), Martin Drew (dms). Amazingly, given the above line-up, the Early Music Centre wasn't sold-out - perhaps the music wasn't early enough. Paradoxically, tomorrow's concert by Snake Davis is sold-out! The jazz world never fails to amaze me.
Still, it was their loss. Four of this country's very finest gave a stella, nay, memorable performance - what a saxophone bonanza we've had recently (Tony Kofi, Julian Siegel, Tim Garland - albeit further north than York).
Tonight it was Simon Spillett, blowing in the tradition of Tubbs and Griffin. Hit 'em hard and hit 'em fast was the name of the game as SS sailed through the changes on his new (on loan) Cannonball tenor.
"The Right To Love" and "I Thought About You" touched on his lyrical side but it was the movers such as "Peace Pipe" and "Cherokee" that really got the adrenaline coursing.
Pianist Critchinson has been around for some time now and in truth they don't come much better than John who revelled in the delights of playing on a Bosendorfer grand - the same make of piano that Oscar Peterson used to favour. OP's former drummer, Martin Drew, swung things along nicely and soloed powerfully whilst Andy C was, as ever, the epitome of the thinking man's bass player.
Great gig, great venue and great company.
Lance.
Yes wasn't it great? being tutored by you of course Lance put me in a better position to understand the pedigree of line up. I thought that Simon's birthday tribute to his partner "I thought about you" was so romantic, much better than "that song"
ReplyDeleteLiz.