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
No comments :
Post a Comment