Simon Woolf
(piano); Alex Clarke (alto sax); Jim Davison (trumpet, flugelhorn) Simon
Read (double bass); Richard Pite (drums)
© Richard Morris
An early start
(12.30pm) for this lunchtime concert in the basement of the well appointment
pub in the heart of Soho where the regular Monday lunchtime jazz is curated by
Richard Pite who this week was on drums.
Richard, in addition to being a renowned jazz drummer and multi-instrumentalist, is a jazz historian. Simon is better known as a double bass player, composer and arranger. However, he led this band from the piano at which he is also very adept. The repertoire comprised of tunes composed or arranged by Simon plus well known jazz standards.
The concert
kicked off with It’s Only a Paper Moon - a song about the depression era
that debuted in the 1932 Broadway play The Great Magoo. Fine playing by trumpet
and sax. The pace then slowed with the ballad Autumn Seranade. Seesaw, composed
by Simon, was enjoyed by the audience. Next up was a swinging upbeat take on It’s
Alright With me which showcased Richard’s drumming and Jim’s trumpet. The
rarely heard ballad Autumn Nocturne, a beautiful tune composed by Josef
Myrow in 1941, was well played by the ensemble. Bossa 26 is the working
title given by Simon to his, as yet untitled, tune. Had it not been so early in
the day I could be forgiven for not dancing to lively tune which featured
wonderful unison playing by Alex and Jim. The first set concluded with I Can’t
Give You Anything But Love on which Jim played flugel and Alex had a great
solo on alto.
The second set
opened with Autumn Leaves with an original by Simon inserted in the
middle. Some standards followed. If I Were a Bell from Guys and Dolls
and Simon’s arrangement (he called it a derangement) of Gershwin’s S’Wonderful
. On Up a Lazy River by
Hoagy Carmichael Alex stood down leaving Jim to star on trumpet. An
amazing solo pushing the instrument to its limits. Then, on I’ve Found a New
Baby Jim left the stage for Alex to return and star herself as Richard
power drummed his way through the number. A barnstorming tune composed by Simon
Guess You Can Make it was the final scheduled tune. However, due to the
extended and rapturous applause from a knowledgeable audience an encore was
played, namely Johnny Hodges’ bluesy tune Blue Hodge.
A wonderful way
to spend a lunchtime. The rest of the day in London was spent continuing the
enjoyment of jazz with Ewan Bleach at
Cafe Boheme and in the evening the Will
Sach Trio at Jazz in Kentish Town in the Bull and Gate. A great day. Richard Morris
Set list : It’s
Only a Paper Moon; Autumn Serenade; Seesaw; It’s Alright With me; Autumn
Nocturne; Bossa 26; I Can’t Give You Anything But Love; Autumn Leaves; If I Were
a Bell; Up a Lazy River; I’ve Found a New Baby; Guess You Can Make It; Blue
Hodge
Next week, October
19, the concert features pianist Dean
Stockdale and the renowned guitarist Nigel
Price. At an entry price of £10 pp it’s a bargain.
Spice of Life, 6 Moor Street, Soho, London W1D 5NA website www.spiceoflifesoho.com
No comments :
Post a Comment