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| Kenny Wheeler Quintet - East Side Jazz Club, London, 03/03/09 |
| Tuesday, 03 March 2009 10:15 | |||||||
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Neatly tucked away in the east end of London, the Lord Rookwood pub may not seem like the obvious place for such a reputable group of musicians to meet. However, this pub houses the East Side Jazz Club, a somewhat hidden gem, which was well worth battling ‘the UK’s worst snow in 18 years’ to find. Kenny Wheeler, who was in the spotlight with his own quintet, has worked with an array of jazz greats including Dave Holland, Keith Jarrett and Steve Coleman to name just a few. Apart from a few obligatory announcements and a joke about the lights being left up so the band could see their music, Sulzmann allowed the audience to get drawn into Wheelers compositions without interference. Perched on a bar stool, he took hold of his instrument microphone and introduced the members of the quintet; Stan Sulzmann on tenor and soprano saxophone, John Parricelli on guitar, Chris Laurence on bass, Martin France on drums and the bands leader Kenny Wheeler on trumpet and flugelhorn. Wheeler quickly proved he still had the extensive range and beautiful tone for which he is renowned and, despite a tentative start, navigated though the rich harmonies and exquisite melodies of his compositions with a confidence and ease that I presume only the writer of them can acquire. A particular highlight was a rendition of “Kind Folk” where Wheeler’s melancholy tone hung seamlessly over Laurence’s understated rhythmic pattern and Parricelli’s drifting chords, which combined to create a loose and airy texture that seemed effortless. Sulzmann soon joined, and a tender interplay of melodies between the two front line players ensued. The slow yet focused harmony of the piece primed both players for fluent solos. Sulzmann added some momentum with his faster articulate phrasing and flourishes of colour, while Wheeler contrasted long romantic phrases with penetrating shrieks that sliced through the pieces fluidity. The band finished off with “Everybody’s Song But My Own” which had a more up-tempo waltz feel. France showed his versatility and built gradually from an elegant ballad to driving swing with an unfaltering percussive feel. The solos were energetic and Wheeler’s furious high notes soared magnificently. The energy dropped for the tunes reprise and the last note gently faded with a warm applause from the audience. Kenny Wheeler shows little signs of slowing down with his next performance already set for 19th May with Leeds College of Music Contemporary Jazz Orchestra and Norma Winstone. Review: Luke Pinkstone
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