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| © Richard Morris |
This concert took place on the second day (Saturday) of the first four day Jazz Festival at the Swan and Chequers. Last year they tipped their toes in the water by having just a big band concert which was a success so Rob Cope and his team organised this full festival which I hope is repeated in 2017.
Gavin and Dave are well known to me having seen Gavin play on numerous occasions. He has played in the UK and internationally with musicians such as Matthew Halsall with whom he has played for over 15 years and I have seen him play regularly in bands led by Dean Stockdale. Dave is a heavyweight on the UK jazz scene, much in demand and teaching at the Leeds Conservatoire. This was the first of three concerts he played at the Festival.
This was the
first time I had seen Dan and Richard playing live. One of the delights in attending
festivals is hearing musicians you have not heard before. Dan is a Professor of
jazz piano at the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham’s School. He is a
regular on the UK jazz club and festival scene. Richard, after leaving the
Leeds College of Music in 1980, founded the Creative Jazz Orchestra with Kenny
Wheeler and others. He worked with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra under
the direction of Tommy Smith. He is principal lecturer in jazz at Leeds College
of Music.
The repertoire was largely well known jazz standards. The band opened with a
swinging version of How Deep is the Ocean which concluded with a great
solo by Richard. Next up was a very cool Body and Soul with lush trumpet
playing by Richard and beautiful piano work by Dan. The Cole Porter composition
You’d be so Nice to Come Home to was a favourite of mine from this
concert and Gavin’s solo on this was very pleasing. All four musicians had solos
throughout the concert. On Skylark the band moved to trio format without
trumpet in an understated version of this classic ballad. Richard returned on Whisper of a Dream which was
swinging and up tempo with Dave in his element on the drums.
After the break
the quartet played It Could Happen to You and the tempo slowed in the
next tune Secret Love with some wonderful trumpet playing by Richard well
supported by bass and drums. Alone Together was a funky upbeat
number again in trio format with Dan’s virtuoso piano playing prominent and
Dave’s essential driving drums. The concert concluded with the Wayne Shorter
classic tune Footprints with
again energetic and impeccable drumming by Dave. A great concert by four high
class musicians appreciated by a good audience.
The Swan and Chequers is a modern, recently refurbished town bar in the historic market town of Sandbach, Cheshire. Housed in a historic late 19th century corn exchange, it features an open plan interior, a large outdoor courtyard beer garden and has a dog friendly policy. It hosts regular events such as live music including jazz and community gatherings. Richard Morris
Set list included : How Deep is the Ocean; Body and Soul; You’d be so Nice to Come Home
to; Skylark; Whisper of a Dream; It Could Happen to You; Secret Love; Alone Together; Footprints
Swan and
Chequers, 16 Hightown, Sandbach, Cheshire CW11 1AE Open 7 days
Facebook: Swan
& Chequers, Sandbach Instagram:
@swanandchequerssandbach
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