A welcome return to Llandudno Jazz Club by Benn Clatworthy who'd played here some 12 months previously. This legendary player, born in Hastings in 1955, grew up in London. At age 19 he took lessons from Ronnie Scott. Active on the London music scene in the 1970s he moved to Los Angeles where he is still based but fortunately returns to the UK regularly. He has performed with Horace Silver, Cedar Walton and many many others. Last time I saw him he was armed only with a tenor sax. This concert he played tenor sax (a 1953 model), soprano sax and flute excelling on all three.
Benn moved between instruments
seamlessly. His tenor sax playing on tunes such as the jazz standard Invitation
and the Thelonious Monk tune Rhythm-a-Ning was impeccable. His
soprano sax reached soaring heights on the Duke Ellington song I Didn’t Know About You and The 84th Problem. His flute playing was
delicate and lyrical on Little Sunflower and complementing the trumpet of
Neil Yates. Ever modest Benn paid tribute to Neil, the curator of
Monday night jazz at the Llandudno Jazz Club, saying that whilst the USA has many
of the very best jazz musicians Neil is also an amazing trumpet player.
This concert had been billed as a Quintet
but the absence of a bass player did not detract from my enjoyment of this
concert. As usual the rhythm section of Gaz Hughes and Andrzej Baranek both
provided stellar performances. All musicians had plentiful
opportunities for solos. The music was varied from the ballad You Are Too
Beautiful, a song associated with Billie Holiday - Speak
Low to the finale Rhythm-a-ning
A very enjoyable concert. Whenever Benn
Clatworthy is in the UK do make an effort to see him live if you can. Meanwhile
Llandudno Jazz Club offers fabulous jazz musicians every Monday so please come
on down if you are in the locality. Richard Morris
Set list: Invitation; I Didn’t Know About You; Little Sunflower;
Speak Low; The 84th Problem; You Are Too beautiful; The Night Has a
Thousand Eyes; Rhythm-a-Ning
Llandudno Jazz Club, Penrhyn Arms,
Pendre Road, Penrhynside, Llandudno LL30 3BY
Mondays @ 8pm. £10 cash entry pp, no
booking required but recommended if dining.
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