Improvisers Workshop @ Jazz Café - February 10

Andy Champion (bass); Wes Stephenson (drums); Alan Law (keys); Jeff Smith and 2 others (saxes); Simon Stephenson (guitar); Rees ? (Welsh poet); ? (trumpet); Zoe Gilby, Ann Alexander, Julie ? (vocals) - Apologies to people I’ve missed out or misnamed

(Review by Ann Alex).

The atmosphere in the upstairs room is quite different from that downstairs.  Downstairs is light and minimalist but upstairs is dark, spacious, with a partly curtained central area, suitable both for romantic meetings or something more edgy, depending on your mood.  And this entertaining session provided both types of music. 

I entered to banging drums and much sound which later changed to Andy bowing the bass as if it was a giant cello, a very pleasing sound.  Andy organised various groups of players during the first half, including Zoe doing uninhibited vocalisation together with himself hitting the bass with hammers; then Julie performing whispering types of sounds with Alan playing lyrically on keys.  It’s all to do with listening and responding to the others, and sometimes having the courage to change the direction of the music.

For the second half we were placed in duos of like instruments and this produced interesting and sometimes beautiful sounds, especially from the keys and, surprisingly, a lovely bell- like tone from the drummer.  Interest was added by Rees who passionately recited (in Welsh I think) to musical accompaniment. We female vocalists were a threesome, with sounds and words, something about gardens and the devil.  The listeners seemed to enjoy it anyway.

The proceedings were rounded off with everyone in for a free for all, but with rules about not playing at the same time as your partner.

Then we all went home to normal life, but perhaps having been made to consider what music actually is, and how did it all start anyway? 

Ann Alex