JEFF WILSON QUARTET

JEFF WILSON QUARTET

at the Cramphorn Theatre, Chelmsford

17.01.2014

Jim Hutchon was at the cabaret-style Cramphorn ...

An evening of Jazz with Jeffery Wilson is a rare treat, which doesn’t come round too often, as his international commitments as “Chelmsford’s resident composer” keep him fairly busy throughout the year. Known more for his commitment to the Cramphorn’s Friday jazz sessions, Jeffery’s accomplishments as a jazz saxophonist are legendary.

Playing with his well established quartet, he took us through a varied and enlightening repertoire – a cool, haunting own composition, and some stompin’ standards much appreciated by his knowledgeable audience, many of whom are regulars.

The quartet he leads is made of Peter Marshall, the pianist who is also the group’s arranger. Pete never does things the easy way. He will take off on solo passages of rare improvisation which can leave us breathless. The drummer is another old favourite, Les Cirkel, who keeps them in order with reliable rhythms and his own style of impro. Dave Jenkins plays a double base that is only half-base, electronically enhanced. The sound is authentic, nowhere near the ersatz base of a bass guitar, and is played, again, with style and imagination.

The Cramphorn is to be congratulated for setting the auditorium as a jazz club with tables. It created exactly the right atmosphere for such an evening.