Beatrix Ward-Fernandez (theremin); Derek Saw
(flugelhorn, valve trombone, tuba); Charlie Collins (drums, percussion).
Zoë Gilby (voice & electronics).
(Review by Steve H/photos
courtesy of Ken Drew)
There used to be a TV series - ‘Who
Pays the Ferryman?’ Jazz North East/Splinter seem to have created their
own similarly named series - ‘Who plays the Theremin?’ As the old adage goes
you wait decades for a jazz Theremin player to come along and then two come
along at once. The Beatrix Ward-Fernandez trio arrived hot on the heels of the Splinter
appearance of Bluebut at The
Bridge last November featuring Theremin player Pamelia Kurstin.
As the official BSH Theremin
reviewer, I can safely say that no two Theremin players are alike. Ward-Fernandez’s playing takes
a far more minimalistic approach than Kurstin’s so there were less melodic
solos but more punctuated interactions. The dominant force behind the trio was
the one man brass band Derek Saw who played tuba, valve trombone and trumpet
with considerable aplomb although not necessarily all at the same time. The
magnificently bearded Collins on percussion provided a great visual spectacle and
seemed to have more tricks up his sleeve than Paul Daniels which is somewhat
appropriate because any band which includes a Theremin in its line-up is
always going to be somewhat magical.
The event was part of the popular
‘Woman Make Music’ series and the first part of this impressive double bill saw
the launch of Zoe Gilby’s ‘Watching Sideways’ project. Zoe performed a set of
vocal pieces using a range of electronic effects to produce an incredible
virtuoso solo piece of performance art. There were some completely improvised
pieces and some based on well known tunes including Don’t Stop me Now and
a memorable version of Dolly Parton’s Jolene. The set ended
with a piece which contained the repeating lyric Crazy girl in the park,
I don’t know if this is autobiographical or not but at its conclusion the
packed audience responded with rapturous applause.
The final part of the evening saw
both halves of the double bill unite to perform an exhilarating final
collaboration. Yet another triumph for the Jazz North East’s Women Make
Music season.
Steve H.
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