Nice place. Nice music. Nice.
Andy Fawthrop
The Devizes Arts Festival has almost run its course, with only a couple of days to go, but still seven events left. But it’s not going quietly, and last night in the Town Hall’s Assembly Room was no exception……
British jazz saxophonist Julian Costello, a superbly gifted musician, composer and teacher from London, and who writes for various ensembles, was the Festival’s guest. Playing tenor and soprano saxophones, he was joined by John Turville on piano, Andy Hamill on upright bass and harmonica, and Tom Hooper on drums.
The quartet has recently released their third album, ‘And All The Birds Were Set Free’ on the acclaimed label 33 Jazz Records, and their two sets last night featured many tracks from the album. The album’s title is a reference to Costello’s idea that the musicians should be free to express themselves and able to fly. The pieces they played, including the title track, The Gecko, London Blue, Song For Anna and Sunflowers, were all good examples of this open, loosely-structured approach. Each musician took his various solos easily, improvising on the scenario, but slotting into the structure laid down at the start of each piece. The particular highlights of these for me were provided by John Turville’s piano passages.
The original material was tempered with a leavening of jazz classics, including material from John Coltrane, La Rosita by Benny Goodman, and Carlos Jobim’s If You Never Come To Me. Costello himself, leading the quartet very much from the front, moved over from tenor to soprano sax for his composition Connections, based upon the structure of an Indian raga. And bassist Any Hamill strayed onto a very welcome harmonica during the encore Song For Anna (written for Costello’s wife Anna Stearman).
Costello’s personal style was laid-back and chatty, bonding easily with the audience using dry humour, and the quartet were clearly very comfortable in each other’s company. Their enjoyment on stage was very evident.
After an absolute dearth of live jazz in D-Town, it was like drinking at an oasis after a long crawl through a musical desert. But, parched as I was, I was left very slightly wanting. The sets needed more variation in tempo, more contrast between light and shade. Each number they played was very good, but it was slightly one-paced across the whole programme. Don’t get me wrong – this was a hugely enjoyable affair, featuring some great music in a beautiful room. Sound and lighting were spot on (as usual). But I was left wanting just that little bit more. More jazz please!
Find out more at www.juliancostello.co.uk/
The Devizes Arts Festival continues until the night of Sunday 15th June at various venues around the town. Tickets can be booked at Devizes Books or online at www.devizesartsfestival.org.uk
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