Andy
Champion (bass); Wes Stephenson and Another (drums); Alan Laws and Another
(keys); Stewart Finden, Fiona Finden, Karen Rann and Two Others (saxes); Two
Others (guitars); Another (Flute); Zoe Gilby, Julie Allen, Ann
Alex (vocals).
(Review
by Ann Alex).
I must apologise to anyone whose name I
didn’t know or who hasn’t been mentioned, but it was an improvisation workshop
after all, so I think I can improvise with the names. It could be worse, I could have called you Mickey
Mouse or Donald Duck. (I used to work in a certain local museum and according
to the visitors’ book, those two characters came to the museum regularly!)
Once again, this workshop was very ably
led by Andy Champion and a good and musically adventurous time was had by
all. Various sets of musicians performed
during the first set. For the second set,
Andy let each vocalist lead a piece, choosing their own musicians. There were quite a few listeners and one such
man suggested that we should name each piece after it had been played – a good
idea, and yet another way to involve everyone.
The first set included a pleasing piece on
drums, bass, guitar, sax and flute, quite ethereal, no discernible pulse,
‘could be a film score’ as someone remarked. Very relaxing to listen to. Then came Zoe and bass, guitar, drums, very
uninhibited vocals, breaths, sighs, mewing cries, and then a hint of Spanish
guitar, but all quiet at the end. After
a lively ‘mash’ (Andy’s description), the Findens and others came up with a
more straight ahead jazz item.
The second set began with a poem which
Fiona had written for International Women’s Day, accompanied by Zoe, drums,
keys and bass. Julie chose to vocalise
with sax, drums and guitar, and vocalise is the word, as Julie does a skilful
line in breathy, tongue-clicking, rhythmic sounds. Yours truly dragooned keys, two guitars,
flute and a spoon on the drums, for accompaniment to a little song with lots of
Latin type riffs to the words ‘chick a boom’.
We ended with another mash, 12 musicians
on the stage, I detected something of the sound of an extended circus type
band, and it became very together, then ended quietly.
Well done to us all, we‘re back in normal
life now so far as I can tell.
Ann
Alex
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