Gavin Lee (clarinet, alto sax, soprano sax); Ian Wynne (piano); Dave Rae (tenor guitar, banjo); John Robinson (bass)
(Review by Russell)
The north east of England's jazz scene continues to be documented by its many practitioners via a steady stream of new recordings. From Hot Club to swing, big band to contemporary, the broad spectrum of the music is well represented. Now, not before time, the music of New Orleans takes its place in the region's CD collection.
Gavin Lee and Ian Wynne have been in the recording studio at Washington Arts Centre to produce 'a tip of the hat' album 'to those who have gone before'. Hats Off comprises an opening three-part Buddy Bolden Suite and ten further tracks, all written by Lee. Pianist Wynne resides on the other side of the Pennines and during a flying visit earlier this year to play a concert engagement in Springwell stayed on to go into the studio with Lee, veteran banjo ace Dave Rae and redoubtable string bass man John Robinson.
Lee is heard playing, variously, clarinet and alto and soprano saxophones. Here Lee the clarinetist favours an earthy vibrato, Lee the saxophonist casually fleet-fingered on either reed. Traffic Warden Blues is a stand out track, Harold Lloyd Rag suggests the composer is a student of the musical form and the bespectacled comedic master of the silent screen.
Ian Wynne first came to wider attention as a teenage pianist working with the Rae Bros NOJB. Fast forward a good few years and here we have Wynne, a master of early jazz styles - rags, boogie-woogie, stride and blues - working with his one time 'employer' Mr Dave Rae. Completing the line-up is Mr Dependable, string bass man John Robinson. Hats Off speaks volumes as Lee and his band mates acknowledge the masters of the music and it would be good to see the Lee-Wynne Quartet take the project on the road. Hats Off (£12 + £2 p&p) is available from: www.neworleansjazz.co.uk
Russell
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