Jazz Northampton - NCJazz - promoting contemporary jazz in Northampton and Northants
A Night for the Titans
Thursday 12 January 2012 - Scott Hamilton, Alan Barnes and the Dave Newton Trio
On any view, this was an evening of outstandingly spectacular jazz. Before the audience were, probably, the world's leading tenor player in his style, Scott Hamilton; one of the most highly respected UK saxophonists, Alan Barnes; and a trio led by Dave Newton, one of the most popular and highly regarded pianists on the UK jazz circuit today.
From first note to last, the music reached the highest echelons of an exceptional combination of swing and modern jazz. Jazz such as this, played by artistes as accomplished as these, is a perfect introduction to this genre of music, and if more fashionable in the popular media, would surely have audiences flocking to jazz venues up and down the country.
Although boasting one of NC Jazz's record attendances - 200 or so - one could not help but feel that the quality of the music demanded an even larger platform. The programme consisted of various compositions by Duke Ellington's legendary alto saxophonist, Johnny Hodges, together with a mix of jazz standards and some compositions from previous recordings by the Quintet.
Scott Hamilton, Alan Barnes and Dave Newton are no strangers to each other, having recorded an album, Zootcase, in 2005. Their intimate appreciation of each other's musical needs showed in the fluency of their playing and the obvious enjoyment of their respective musical talents - there was one moment during Dave Newton's stupendous solo on the last number, Move, when Scott Hamilton and Alan Barnes exchanged bemused smiles suggesting that the pianist seemed so possessed they wondered how, if at all, the solo would end!
Scott Hamilton's style is one of elegance and composure. No matter the pace of a number, his playing is immaculate, self-possessed and relaxed. His influences are clear: Coleman Hawkins; Ben Webster; and Illinois Jacquet, although the excellent acoustics of the venue offered other intriguing possibilities. Several times, there seemed a an unmistakable throw-back to that excellent, but desperately underrated, tenor player, Ike Quebec, who bestrode Blue Note Records like a colossus before an early and untimely death.
He was to show some of his finest form in this gig. His solos on the ballads, First Class, Stella by Starlight and the encore, Body and Soul, were deeply emotional and held the audience in captivated silence. At other times, his playing was driving and frenetic, for instance, his fluid solo in The Jeep is Jumping and the romping break in Disorder at the Border which closed the first set.
His 'partnership' with Alan Barnes is in some ways curious. Alan Barnes is by instinct a be-bop sax player. In fact, quite a number of offerings, such as Zootcase, and Move, were 'boppish' deliveries and, here, Alan Barnes was in his element. Arguably, the two were at their most potent with Alan Barnes playing baritone. His skill with this instrument is consummate - his gently lilting and expressive solo on First Class had a distinct tone of the late, great, Gerry Mulligan. Perhaps his outstanding performance was his baritone solo on Lament, delivered with deeply affecting melancholia.
Dave Newton's trio added yet another layer of excellence. Dave Newton richly deserves his many accolades. It was no surprise that his many outstanding solos always brought spontaneous applause and cheers from the audience.
Feet tapping, body swinging, and head nodding rhythmically for a chirpy solo on Zootcase at one minute, then a heavy, somewhat solemn, bluesy solo on the Johnny Hodges composition, Hodge-Podge, at the next, the variety of his output during the evening was formidable. Never short of ideas and always revealing his influences - one solo was riddled with nods to Erroll Garner - he underpinned the front line partnership perfectly.
Bassist, Andy Cleyndert and drummer, Sebastian de Krom, both deserved their share of the plaudits. Andy Cleyndert's probingly exploratory bass was an excellent backdrop throughout, while Sebastian de Krom weaved rhythmic patterns throughout the evening, driving the Quintet ever forward.
Scott Hamilton is now surely, to take a hackneyed and grossly over-used phrase, a jazz legend up there with the very best of them. One has the feeling that very few players were ever more complete.
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