Paul Towndrow (alto saxophone), Konrad Wiszniewski (tenor saxophone), Allon Beauvoisin (baritone saxophone) & Ryan Quigley (trumpet)
The Literary & Philosophical Library in Newcastle is the oldest private members' library outside of London. Down the years artists, writers, musicians, inventors, political figures, thinkers and others have visited the impressive rooms of this hidden gem of a building. In the early years of the 21st century add jazz musicians to the list of luminaries.
Brass Jaw - three saxophones, one trumpet - travelled south from Glasgow and east from Dublin. The Irish connection being that tenor player Konrad Wiszniewski negotiated a night off from his nice little earner touring the world with a pop megastar to come to Newcastle to play with his Scottish buddies. Now there's a guy who's got his priorities right!. Brass Jaw, albeit with a trumpeter, are from the long tradition of the saxophone quartet (World Saxophone Quartet, 29th Street Quartet, Saxophonics - to name but three). The Lit & Phil's first floor library with its wrought iron spiral staircases and balustrades and shelves upon shelves of books made for a highly unusual setting.
The quartet chose to play acoustically, the musicianship was of the highest order throughout two entertaining sets of original compositions and contemporary standards. The original material came from Brass Jaw's latest CD Branded. All four members of the quartet contributed material ranging from ballads to bop. Ryan Quigley's trumpet added pathos; a blues feel was never too far from the surface. Baritone saxophonist Allon Beauvoisin had such mastery of his instrument that lightening-fast bop lines were well within his capabilities. Towndrow and Wiszniewski played some killer solos and the whole performance exuded warmth, shot-through with humour. Any gig that can get away with the inclusion of versions of Drive My Car (The Beatles) andPeaches on Regalia (Frank Zappa) has got to be good and this was one such occasion.
Russell.
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