"Silver Thursdays" @ The Phoenix, York 2/9/2010!!!!

The 2nd album night was very successful and great thanks and kudos to the 2 marvellous musicians that stepped in at the last minute. Andy Cholerton on Piano and Russel Henderson on tenor Saxophone, did an absolutely tremendous job filling in for slackers John and Zezo.

The Album was "Horace-Scope" and it has some really challenging material. The real 'stinkers' on the album are Where You At?, Yeah!, Me and My Baby, however with great musicians involved it went almost without hick-up.

On top of the great tunes provided by Mr. Silver there were some great improvisations in particular Russ' solo on Where You At? and Andy's solo on Me and My Baby.

A thoroughly enjoyable evening and the bar has been set so John and Zezo have a some large shoes to fill!!!!

Cheers to all those who supported the event!.

5POS.

"Silver Thursdays" @ The Phoenix, York 5/8/2010!!!

Who would have thought playing the music of an entire album would be so enjoyable and so difficult??!! The Cape Verdean Blues album is one of my favourite Horace Silver and also one of my favourite Blue Note Albums, great music, great production and great perfromers!! Joe henderson plays an absolute blinding part in this record as did Woody Shaw and J.J. Johnson.

The arrangements and the tunes are great examples of Silver's great musical skills , his ability to write cutting edge, comtemporary and all the while accessible music an ability that sets him apart from many of his peers.

The most difficult tune of the evening was the collaboration between Silver and Henderson "Mo' Joe" but with a few moments of thought we managed to get to the end tenor saxophonist John Mckillup filling the role of Henderson excellently with the addition of a few Brecker-esque licks in there for good measure.

I particularly enjoy the tune "African Queen" a dedication to the late, great Miriam Makeba, one of Silver's ex-girlfriends!, a wonderful piece of music and two great performances from James Lancaster and Zezo Olimpio on the gig!!!

Thanks to Tim and Val down the Phoenix for letting us put on these evenings every first thursday of the Mont. Next Month we perform the music from the album "Horace-Scope".

Cheers. 5POS

5 Pieces of Silver @ The Burton Agnes Jazz Festival 6/8/2010!!!!

5 Pieces of Silver were given the great privilege of playing at one of the most promising festivals to emerge in recent years last friday. Absolutely beautiful setting and a thoroughly magnificent audience, attentive and giving. A great deal of thanks and kudos to it's organisers, Simon Cunliffe- Lister and Saffron Byass who along with co-workers have created a

n efficient, hassle free and enjoyable festival.

We got to open the festival and it was a delightful evening, there was a dark cloud looming however it was kept at bay and the backdrop of the burton agnes hall and the marvellous summer's evening was a beautiful sight. A wonderful experience playing the great music of Horace Silver in such a great setting. With the addition of great catering and the Wold Top Brewery providing great beers it was truly great event.

Cheers Guys.

6 Pieces Of Silver @ Scarborough Jazz 21/7/10

6 Pieces of Silver

Scarborough Jazz at The Cask

by Dick Armstrong

The 6 Pieces of Silver drew much enthusiastic acclaim from the Cask audience last Wednesday, and deservedly so. This fine band was formed to celebrate the work of legendary pianist and composer Horace Silver, and they play this music with verve and virtuosity.

For anyone familiar with this material it was wonderful to hear it played - and sung- with such spirit and joy. For those hearing it for the first time, it must have been revelatory ....

We were treated to all the favourites: Sister Sadie, Filthy McNasty, Senor Blues and the hypnotically beautiful Song For My Father.

Vocalist Louise Gibbs found much to do apart from expressively singing the lyrics. Often she was a 'third horn' in the front line, harmonising the melodies with the trumpet and tenor. Her scat singing was expert and plentiful, and on Tokyo Blues she provided wordless counterpoint to James Lancaster's trumpet solo.

The band is the brain-child of Paul Baxter who arranged the pieces to suit the particular instrumentation of the group, and whose rich, rounded double bass sound contributed strongly to he ensemble and whose solo work was delightful.

James Lancaster's trumpet playing was exc

ellent throughout with clean, articulate lines. Drummer Paul Smith drove the band with tremendous energy and was inventive, finding many subtle ways to detail his sound. The all-important piano duties were expertly filled by Zezo Olimpio, an astonishingly accomplished player.

The tenor sax parts were played by Stuart McDonald, a last-minute replacement who had to sight-read some complex music. He did that faultlessly and much more, Stuart is too good a musician to just fill a vacancy. He added to the spirit of the evening, producing many solos that were intelligent and heartfelt.

Altogether, the evening had plenty for everyone from the first number to the encore - The Preacher - which was given a party feel with an intentionally 'corny' revivalist quality that brought the house down.

Review Courtesy of Scarborough Jazz

Photo. Mike Jackson