Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor &
soprano saxophones); Paul Edis (piano); Ken Marley (double bass); Russ Morgan
(drums)
(Review by Russell)
The twists and turns of County
Durham's back roads led to Church Hill as the second installment of Vasilis
Xenopoulos' three date mini tour called in at St Cuthbert's Centre, Crook.
Tables set with nibbles, a choice of bottled beers (the award winning McEwan's
Champion at a premium 7.3% abv the selection), tonight's performance started fifteen minutes early! It must have been something to do with the
end of BST.
By and large the set list followed
Friday evening's fantastic performance as Xenopoulos and the trio opened with
Dexter Gordon's Fried Bananas. What would the late, great American
saxophonist have made of his music being celebrated in a rural church hall in
the heart of the County Durham countryside? Tanya (a vehicle
for Ken Marley's accomplished, extended bass solo), Montmartre, Society
Red with the momentum of its many swinging sections, Xenopoulos was,
once again, on form. When isn't he on form?
A marvellous Guess I'll Hang
My Tears Out to Dry then a departure from the Opus 4 programme
with Boston Bernie closing the first set. And what a closer!
Xenopoulos and pianist Edis summoned from the heavens a Bach-inspired
contrapuntal exchange. If that had been it, it would have been worth the trek
to the back of beyond (apologies to the residents of Crook!) but another hour
or so would follow the serving of the legendary St Cuthbert's interval pizza.
Nibbles, pizza, another bottle of
beer to wash it down, a raffle, a bit crack, yes, Crook was beginning to look
like the epicentre of the jazz world! As the second set was about to begin
Vasilis X confided that the musicians' interval conversation was about the,
well, not to put to fine a point on it, the worst raffle prize on offer they
had come across at their many jazz gigs. Vasilis thought he had the best
story...a raffle prize in the form of half a dozen eggs. But wait, drummer Russ
Morgan said he once played gig where one of the prizes was, wait for it...a
cabbage! Only at a jazz gig...
Second set, Darlington Dexterology,
Crook Dexterologyy. This the one Vasilis X composition, it rightly
took its place in the set list with Mr D Gordon no doubt snapping his fingers
up there in the Jazz Club in the Sky. Vasilis' album of similar name - Dexterity -
is definitely one for your CD collection. Hanky Panky included
a quote or two, one of them Rollins' Alfie, courtesy of Edis' quick
(subconcious?) thinking. Is 'hanky panky' an English/British expression,
possibly lost on Americans? Perhaps it tickled Dexter Gordon.
Meditation (more quotations - Edis' referencing Chicago), I'm
a Fool to Want You (superb), Second Balcony Jump, it was
just about time to hit the road. Vasilis, Paul, Ken and Russ stepped down
from the stage, their work done. Not quite, from all sides the applause won an
encore. And what an encore - Cheese Cake! A third and final helping
of the music of Dexter Gordon/Vasilis Xenopoulos will be served at lunchtime
today (Sunday 27) at Blaydon Jazz Club. The Black Bull will be open for business
at noon (arrive early to bag a front row seat) with Vasilis and the boys
getting down to business at one o'clock. Don't be late!
Russell
1 comment :
I must point out that when Russell refers to having 'a bit crack' during the interval he was using a northeast expression meaning light conversation. Least I hope that's what he meant!
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