Joe Webb (piano); Will Sach (double bass);
Kai MacRae (drums)
© Richard Morris
Purdy’s Pop Up,
a live music and jazz club founded and hosted by Rebecca Poole (Purdy) and
Danny Ilett, opened the first jazz festival in Henley with the Joe Webb Trio
performing concurrently with a concert given by Clare Teal at the Kenton
Theatre.
The trio’s usual drummer Sam Jesson was on family duties so the very talented Kai MacRae stepped in. He had joined the band on a recent tour which included China and Asia. Kai leads his own band and I have seen him play multiple times. A big talent.
Joe needs
little introduction. A 2025 Mercury Music Prize nominee. Highly praised by
Jools Holland and Wynston Marsalis. One of the world’s top jazz pianists. Will
is a highly sought after bass player and band leader in his own right. As Joe
mentioned in the concert Will appears playing the late bass player Scott Lafaro
in the acclaimed 2026 film Everybody Digs Bill Evans.
This was a
beautiful intimate venue with round tables with a capacity of about 70. Along
one wall was a mirror from floor to ceiling so I suspect it is used for
ballet/dance classes/rehearsals. However, no pirouettes or grand jetes this
evening although such is Joe’s dexterity on the piano keys I would not put
anything past him. In the house on the table in front of us was TV football commentator
Clive Tyldlsey and his family. Clive is a big fan of Joe and jazz. Joe is a
massive football fan and many of his tunes directly refer to football.
Although I have
seen the trio many times each concert is different. Whilst he played tunes from
his two most recent albums Hamstrings and Hurricanes and Neath Beat he
also played some sparkling new tunes.
The band opened
with Goalmouth Scramble the opening track of the album Neath Beat. This
was followed by a medley of tunes from that album. Next up McMurchie dedicated
to the late Alistair McMurchie a Cardiff jazz promotor and key figure in the
South Wales music scene. 100 years of Bill and Lil is a beautiful tune
dedicated by Joe to his late grandparents. Munchin’ in Munchen is a
stand out upbeat tune.
There was a
great version of Oscar Peterson’s Noreen’s Nocturne followed by the
title track of Hamstrings and Hurricanes. Like Sach is the second track
on Neath Beat and dedicated to his loyal bassman Will. Following
a recent visit to Hong Kong where the band headlined a jazz concert a tune of
the name of the fabulous Bladerunner like venue Westcave was written by
Joe and performed here.
As well as
being a wonderful pianist Joe excels in introducing each track with the story
behind it. A new tune Clark Kent is one such tune. The story is too long
to relate in this review so go to a concert by Joe Webb and hear it first hand.
One new tune is
so fresh it currently does not have a name but it has heavy 1920’s ragtime influence.
James P from Neath Beat is dedicated to the stride piano player
James P Johnson and was a solo by Joe. Oscar was a new tune composed by
Joe dedicated to Oscar Peterson. The concert closed with I Get Ideas based
on an Argentinian tango originally composed by Carlos Gardel called Adios Muchachos.
Joe’s
virtuosity on the piano is staggering. His compositions lead me to believe he
is a musical genius. Kai and Will are worthy bandmates. I am looking forward to
seeing Will lead his own band in London on October 12 at Jazz in Kentish Town
(Bull and Gate) and I will see both Will and Joe play at Ronnie Scott’s
Upstairs on 1 December with Honey Boulton and Will Cleasby. Tickets still available for these. I am
looking out for where I can catch Kai again. Richard Morris
Set list included: Goalmouth Scramble; Is You is or is You Ain’t My Baby?; McMurchie; 100 years of Bill and Lil; Munchin’ in Munchen; Noreen’s Nocturne; Hamstrings and Hurricanes; Like Sach; Westcave; Clark Kent; Unnamed tune; James P; Oscar; I Get Ideas
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