XPQ: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Nigel Price Quartet live streaming from Guildford Jazz - May 5

(Screenshot by Russell)

Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax); Nigel Price (guitar); Dario Di Lecce (double bass); Winston Clifford (drums)

The Boileroom is a music, arts and community venue Guildford Jazz calls home. This evening's concert featured XPQ, a quartet co-led by tenor saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos and guitarist Nigel Price alongside regular bassist Dario Di Lecce and ace drummer Winston Clifford. The set would draw upon XPQ's 2017 album Sidekicks comprising tunes written by famous saxophone-guitar collaborations.

(Screenshot by Russell)

The boys kicked-off with Lyresto (comp. J. Coltrane & K. Burrell). Sound balance just about right, a relaxed opening. Local lad Dave Cliff (Blaydon-on-Tyne) composed The Right Time with Geoff Simkins, and Price did justice to his fellow six-stringer, Dario Di Lecce chipping in with a concise solo followed by a polished round of fours.

(Screenshot by Russell)

Xenopoulos introduced If Ever I Will Leave You (comp. S. Rollins & J. Hall), not from the XPD album but definitely worthy of a place in tonight's set list. Taken with a Latin lilt, VX stretched out, making it look and sound so easy, Winston Clifford shining with a controlled, brief solo. Introducing Full House the irony wasn't lost on Price that they were playing to anything but a full house in the Boileroom. Ah, but we were a virtual house! Price reckoned the album of the same name was his favourite Wes Montgomery recording and with Johnny Griffin, correction, Vasilis Xenopoulos, alongside, it cooked, big time! So much so, at its conclusion VX laughed, saying they should play something a little slower to enable him to catch his breath. When Joanna Loved Me from the Paul Desmond-Jim Hall pairing gave him some respite. Stating the theme, VX stood in the wings listening to a most musical bass solo courtesy of Di Lecce. 

Full House notwithstanding, Mr P had been relatively subdued, until now...Ready and Able (Johnny Cuba and George Benson) 'without', said Price, 'a safety net'. And off they went, full pelt. All four tore it up...Yeah! Yeah! More! 

Jimmy Heath and Kenny Burrell's On the Trail, inspired by Ferde Grofé's early thirties' Grand Canyon Suite, concluded the live stream, VX blowing tremendous tenor to an empty room but a Wes Montgomery virtual full house. Superb. Ah! One more, a quick one, a blues, Price's Straight No Bounce, our composer saying it was a hybrid of Straight No Chaser and Billie's Bounce. Yep, superb. 

A Q & A followed. Several questions from the online audience...Favourite musicians? How was it in lockdown? How long did you/do you practice? Nigel Price summed it up saying: You've just got to put the hours in. Xenopoulos revealed he had doubts about the future for musicians, the possibility/prospect of retraining. Forget that, Vasilis, when you get back out on the road there will be an audience. You can bet on it.  

XPD is one of the great working units and as and when these guys hit the road again - and they will! - be sure to catch them. This is what live music is all about, no messing, honest, heart and soul stuff. 

This evening's concert was presented by Guildford Jazz in association with Berkhampstead Jazz, Colchester Arts Centre Jazz Club, Chichester Jazz Club, Fleet Jazz Club and Scarborough Jazz. 

Russell

Set list: Lyresto; The Right Time; If Ever I Will You; Full House; When Joanna Loved Me; Ready and Able; On the Trail. Straight No Bounce.