Festival organiser Wes announced that the concert was being recorded and would be broadcast later in the year on BBC Radio 3. It only took a few bars to realise it wouldn't be Radio 2!
The DownBeat critics voted Nicole top banana in the flute section of this year's annual poll edging out Charles Lloyd by 100 votes. Which is understandable as she is quite an amazing player.
Hawkins too is a virtuoso performer incorporating many of the improv tools of the trade such as the strumming of the piano strings and shaking various percussion items that he produced with magician like magic from inside the piano whilst still playing some equally amazing feats on the keyboard with his left hand. He also nodded towards the jazz side of the festival with a hint of stride and a few block chords.
Both players had some lyrical moments although they didn't always coincide.
Special mention of Nicole's word sounds which were quite unique and impossible to describe.
This was the other side of the coin compared to your average jazz festival and maybe secured some converts although, judging by the applause, most of those present had already reached Damascus.
To sum up, when it was good it was very, very, good ... Lance
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