I developed a love for Swing jazz as pianist with popular Hull swing jazz group in the 1980’s. More recently I am inspired by the elegance of Oscar Peterson (and others playing in this style) and by the beautiful simplicity in music such as by Tord Gustavsen.
As I am also a ‘cellist I like the possibility of incorporating the instrument into some tracks and I am inspired by Yo-Yo Ma in this respect.
One of the few nice things to emerge re the Covid19 crisis has been reconnecting with my friend and former band member Joe Martin who is now a prize winning and much sought-after fiddle player in London. ‘Moonglow’ is a laid back jazz Classic and I love the soulful feel especially Joe’s interjected violin phrases. Jazz in ‘Lock-down’ : ‘Moonglow’
In response to a request for musicians to play ‘Over the Rainbow’ recently and as a tribute to our brave NHS staff and carers in this health crisis I created my own studio version.
I was particularly struck by the fact that ‘Over the Rainbow’ despite being loved as a jazz theme, does not lend itself particularly to jazz. This suited the ‘cello, so with a few additions it plays the theme straight, allowing the piano to improvise around it.
This is not something I would do too often as it takes a long time to do! This is a transcription of a solo by Oscar Peterson of Gershwin’s ‘The Man I Love’. The process began with the sequencing of the Trio’s Bass and Drums. The rhythmic subtlety of Peterson’s improvisation is very striking and although even with a lot of practice it’s not possible to quite achieve it it does let you get under the skin of his playing and I learned a lot in doing so. It’s got a Chopin quality and the middle 8 is really a composition in itself.