Landermason : Fiona Lander ( vocals,
keys, saxes, clarinet, whistles, even a shakey egg);
Paul Mason (vocals,
guitar).
(Review by Ann Alex).
This event was something
of an adventurous experiment to combine jazz with folk music, and it worked
folks! A double header with Landermason playing the first set, with their blend of traditional and contemporary folk, jazz,
and other styles, such as a touch of ska on the guitar.
Fiona grew up listening to classical music
and jazz whilst Paul hails from the glam rock bands of the 1980’s. The duo gave a hugely enjoyable set to a
sizeable and appreciative audience.
When The Boat Comes In had a skilled
jazzy piano and a folksy ending – sounds odd in writing but it works well
musically. Then came Take Five on guitar and whistle; a local
song The Shoemaker, followed by Words Unsaid, with good jazz piano and a
clarinet solo in true jazz tradition. Other
numbers included In The Wee Small Hours
Of The Morning; Working Man Blues (Paul took the vocals, accompanied by
clarinet and shakey egg); a Fiona original, The
Mirror, a bebop style song with a bit of scat; a haunting song, Somalia.
And all most splendidly rounded off with a fast folksy instrumental, The Bellingham Bellingham
Andy
May and Ian Stephenson: Andy May (keys,
Northumbrian pipes); Ian Stephenson (guitar, double bass, melodeon).
These two are usually
seen as a part of larger bands but they’ve been playing on and off as a duo for
a number of years. They too did a very
enjoyable set with both folk and jazz elements and their presentation was
closer to the way that folk musicians perform in folk clubs, with quite a bit
of friendly self-deprecating chat. The
tunes (no singing) were played in pairs. They included; a lively Swedish tune;
an original by Andy; then Arathusa on
pipes and guitar, which is a version of a morris dance tune; Trip To Scarborough; Helsinki, with Ian
on a very pleasing melodeon; straight folk tunes such as Kissed her Under The Coverlet (yes, the title is meant to be rude);
and Show Us The Way To Wallington, the
last 2 both in 9/8 time. The double bass and sometimes the guitar added a jazz
feel to the folk, and Andy plays a mean jazz piano with a cool jazz feel, as
shown on tunes such as Coming Home. These
two are both highly skilled musicians and I think they could well extend the
jazz element further. And to anyone who
hasn’t heard the wonderful tender sound of Northumbrian pipes - nothing like
Scottish bagpipes – hear them soon.
To round off a great
night, both bands joined up to play a rousing Stranger On The Shore.
The jazz coop is hoping to organise monthly
Jazz/folk events, not necessarily gigs as such, but maybe some kind of
jam. Ideas please, from readers of BSH.
Ann
Alex
2 comments :
Great review Ann.
Mention of the pipes reminds me of the story about two Scotsmen playing the Highland Pipes. Midway through, one of them put down his pipes and picked up a set of Northumbrian Pipes much to the annoyance of the other piper who said "Will ye stop your Tickelling Jock?"
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