The most eagerly awaited gig of the year didn't let us down. Vasy (Greek tenor saxist Vasilis Xenopoulos) was on top of his game blowing some booting tenor very much in the Dexter Gordon mould complete with reworked quotes. The quotes are one of the facets of his playing that fascinate me; he turns them inside out and upside down making them sound completely fresh and unhackneyed.This was very much down to earth 40s/50s swing even if he did use Octivider type pedals on occasion creating a two sax sound. Electronic sorcery such as this I can live with.
The set opened with a boppy Tadd Dameron's "Our Delight", that was relatively restrained compared to some of the numbers that followed. A stomping "Almost Like Being In Love" and Neal Hefti's "Splanky" built up the tension that culminated in a wild "Cherokee". In between we had a ravishing version of "Don't Explain".
On piano, Paul Edis matched Vasy for swing and invention as did Adam Sinclair, drums, and Mick Shoulder bass.
If this wasn't enough excitement for one night, Ruth Lambert stood in for the previously advertised Jo Harrup and excelled on "No Moon At All" and "Secret Love" with more good solos all round. Vasy's blast on the latter was comparable with Teddy Edwards recording of the same tune.
I could go on all night extolling the virtues of all five performers but I guess you've got the picture by now.
Roly will be sad to have missed it but, in his absence, Cathy handled the MC duties with charm and eloquence.
Hi Lance
ReplyDeleteYour review of last night's gig at Blaydon is spot-on.The one thing I would add is that I do hope that at least some of the Blaydon regulars make the effort to hear Alan Glen at the Chillingham on Wednesday night or down at the Side Cafe in a week or two.
Russell