Keith Robinson (alto), Steve Summers (alto & tenor), Graeme Wilson
(tenor) & Niall Armstrong (baritone)
(Review by Russell/photo courtesy of Mike Tilley.)
Friday night in the Jazz Café and
it wasn’t too busy. The listening few enjoyed another fine performance from the
supremely talented saxophone quartet Saxophonics. Keith Robinson led the
ensemble through two sets of well-honed material, much of it composed and/or
arranged by the versatile Graeme Wilson. Twenty four hours earlier the amiable
Scot had been on stage at Sage Gateshead as a member of the Paul Edis Sextet.
Altoists Robinson and Steve Summers similarly were on duty with the Strictly
Smokin’ Big Band the previous evening down at the Millstone.
Wilson’s Street
of Furs kicked-off proceedings. The eponymous track from the quartet’s
recently released CD The River Flows at
Night (comp.Wilson), a fabulous Wilson
arrangement of Come Fly with Me and
Wilson’s The New Wallaw (echoes of
the Voice of the North) illustrated the Honourary Geordie’s multifaceted
abilities. Robinson played some bluesy alto on In the Wee Small Hours. Itchy Fingers were in the well-thumbed pad,
so too the 29th Street,
Dizzy and Fats Waller. Wilson’s Damfino is a Desert Island
favourite – it was in the set, it should be a fixture. Saxophonics always come
up trumps; fine musicianship anchored by baritone man Niall Armstrong,
excellent compositions and arrangements and if you’re lucky, you’ll get a
twirl. A twirl? Be there next time!
Russell.
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