RETURNING to the Cathedral Hotel after a hiatus, Lichfield Jazz hit the ground running with the talented alto saxophonist Chris Bowden.
Local musicians guitarist Tom Morgan, double bassist Tom Marsh and Nick Dewhurst on flugel horn and guitar provided strong support as they played extended versions of music by such names as Horace Silver, Jerome Kern, Steve Swallow and others.
With soloing provided by all four players, the attentive, enthusiastic audience watched as the quartet decided on arrangements on the fly, following each other with practised nods and hand signals. Many of the pieces were stretched out with generous, inventive soloing throughout.
They started with the classic Song for My Father by Horace Silver, with the strong central motif allowing for some inventive harmony playing. Jerome Kern’s Nobody Else Like Me was delivered as a slower ballad, while the jive and upbeat St Vincent closed the first half.
A rumbustious reading of the country and jazz standard After You’re Gone started off the second half, followed by a stylistically different reading of the ballad Falling Grace by Steve Swallow.
The expansive theme and lack of a drummer gave the music more space and time to develop.
Kurt Weil’s Speak Low was well played, while the jazz standard Billie’s Bounce provided a suitable ending to a concert that was clearly enjoyed by both the audience and band.