by Trevor Bannister
October 22, 2010
/ LIVE
Trevor Bannister gives a brief summary of the opening night of Kenny Wheeler's 80th Birthday Tour.
Kenny Wheeler’s 80th Birthday Tour
The Anvil, Basingstoke Thursday 21st October
It is impossible to find the right words to describe the magnificence of the opening concert of Kenny Wheeler’s 80th Birthday Big Band Tour at the Anvil, Basingstoke on Thursday 21st October. Suffice to say that in a two-hour plus concert devoted almost entirely to new music Kenny’s imagination is as fertile as ever, while the impact of his own playing on flugel-horn is neither diminished by time or physical frailty.
This was orchestral jazz of the first order played by a big band ensemble of world-class conducted by Pete Churchill: Diana Torto(v); Henry Lowther, Derek Watkins, John Barclay, Nick Smart (tp); Dave Horler, Mark Nightingale, Barnaby Dickinson (tbn); Dave Stewart(bs-tbn); Ray Warleigh, Duncan Lamont (alt); Evan Parker, Stan Sulzmann(ten); Julian Arguelles(bar); John Taylor (p); John Parriocelli (g); Chris Laurence (bs); Martin France (d).
The tour continues at the Turner Sims Hall, Southampton 22nd October, Royal Northern College, Manchester 23rd October, The Venue, Leeds College of Music, 24th October, The Sage, Gateshead, 27th October and concludes on 28th October at Belfast Festival at Queens.
Not to be missed! The performance here received a deserved standing ovation.
Ian Mann adds;
Kenny Wheeler becomes the first artist to receive TWO five star awards from the JazzMann. Tim Owen awarded five stars to Kenny’s quintet performance at The Vortex in London on January 7th 2009.
Congratulations Kenny, all at The JazzMann wish you a very Happy 80th Birthday.