Grew Quartet + Grew Watts Duo + Grew Quintet @ Lit & Phil - March 17.

(Review/photos courtesy of Ken Drew.)

This highly anticipated double bill was quickly re-arranged into a 3-set Jazz North East treat at the Lit & Phil.

First set – the quartet – all in together from the outset.  Stephen on the piano with very extensive and dynamic use of the keyboard, along with the left hand occasionally modulating the mid-strings as the right hand continued its workout along the keyboard.   Virtually all played throughout – no ‘solo’ spots as such creating a continuously complex and energetic sound, enthralling the audience. The clarinet at times competing with the piano – each urging the other on, with bass and drums constantly underpinning the mix.  Then a quiet passage – a bass solo – plucking both above and below the left-hand finger positions. Very enthusiastic playing!   Overall, very energetic interplay, and just like the local Wylam beer, very accessible and very tasty!!   A pity it was limited to just half an hour!!  What a superb opening set.

Duo set.   Trevor blasting in from the start with nice harmonics echoing from the openly-sustained piano.   Stephen on the piano producing such pyrotechnics from one pair of hands!!  Both hands a frenzy up and down the keys, with plucked individual strings along the way, yet in total unison with Trevor throughout.  I think Trevor was ‘leading’ but Stephen was surely only microseconds behind.  Again, such dynamics were demonstrated both across the keys and inside the grand too, with many fleeting  excursions inside to pluck individual strings with the left hand – each done mid-flight as there was much work to be done on the keys.  Constantly responding to the challenge from Trevor.  What a Masterclass!!  Two pieces expertly delivered, and each ‘closed’ neatly and succinctly by mutual aural agreement.

Third set, the Quintet.  Straight in from the off again, and all playing constantly, for the most part, each adding their own expressions yet following the mood and direction of the piece as it developed.  The ‘wind’ (Trevor and Matt) occasionally converging perfectly on glissandos.  Both were giving a good blowout, and were so well matched.  Stephen’s right hand picking harp-like at the upper strings of the grand, bass and drums energetically taking their own solo spots.   All players were in unison from start to finish, and concluded with a clean, nicely developed ending.

The audience, which was of a decent size, nicely filled the Lit & Phil’s performance room, aiding the acoustics which were very clear and were amply rewarded with a superb three sets by a quartet, a duo and a quintet, each with musicians of breath-taking ability exhibiting some high-velocity workouts.  We were later told that these 5 players had never played together before. Wow!! What an introduction!!  Following the most enthusiastic applause, a concluding remark noted it was ‘an example of Empathetic improvisation at its very finest‘.  Let’s hope we see a follow-up in the not too distant future.  

Ken.

Grew Quartet: Stephen Grew (piano); Seth Bennett (bass); Phil Marks (drums); Matt Robinson (clarinets).

Stephen Grew - Trevor Watts Duo: Stephen Grew (piano); Trevor Watts (alto & soprano sax)

Grew Quintet: Stephen Grew (piano); Seth Bennett (bass); Phil Marks (drums); Matt Robinson (clarinets); Trevor Watts (alto & soprano).