Steve Glendinning (gtr) & Paul
Grainger (bs)
(Review by Kath J/Photo left by Mike Tilley photo right by Lance).
When
two outstanding musicians team up for a duo gig, you know that it’s going to be
a high quality performance and I wasn’t disappointed. Four on Six commenced with a bit of Gershwin,
A Foggy Day, and right from the start
the intricate workings of Stevie’s fingers backed by that confident but laid
back bass, set the standard. Pat Metheny’s
Aways and Forever brought an
innovative bass solo and Paul’s creativity carried on into God Bless the Child, way to go Mr Grainger!
Horizon – an original by
Stephen Glendinning exhibited that not only can this clever musician play
creatively with imagination, but he can also write superb and inspirational tunes. Ralph Rainger’s If I Should Lose You and Victor Feldman’s upbeat Seven Steps to Heaven brought the first
set to a close. Now I really feel I need
to make reference to the many jovial comments over the course of the evening,
regarding the different composers and their family relationships to others… I
particularly liked the Marty Feldman one… a friendly poke in the ribs at Don
Forbes who was in the audience, who had often commented at his own gigs that
Marty was the brother of Victor, which actually, when investigated by Paul
Grainger proved to be totally untrue.
On
to set two and by now the Jazz Café was pretty full, attentive ‘Jazzers’ to the
front and further back an appreciative but chattier crowd. A cracking start with Straight No Chaser, again this duo shone - executing superb solos. Up next was Waltz for Ruth, with an intricate guitar intro and a bowed bass to
end… gorgeous! If You Never Come to Me preceded more Metheny in the form of Question and Answer, and a delightful rendition
of Jimmy Van Heusen’s Polka Dots and
Moonbeams, another chance to hear that beautiful bowed bass.
A
second original composition, this time from the talented Mr Grainger, Swim - I am yet to hear to story behind
this composition, as promised some time ago,
it but it’s a great tune. A few
more terrific tunes, Witchcraft,
followed by Stevie’s favourite, Stella By
Starlight, and then the duo’s namesake tune Four on Six was supposed to be the last one, but the crowd yelled
for more and we were treated to a smashing upbeat version of All The Things You Are. Fabulous evening and if you missed it well
there’s another chance to see the superlative Stephen Glendinning this evening
at The Bridge where he is joined by the
magnificent Mark Williams as they come together as Duende.
Kath J
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